enzian

We have plenty of Alaska Airlines miles and British Airways Avios and would like to use them to book a flight to Australia in early 2015. I know I cannot book it until March ( for February 2015 travel) but t have been exploring our options ahead of time. Would love to fly business class on Qantas but I know those seats are nearly impossible to get. I do see quite a few seats in Premioum Economy if I look 11 months from now. I know those aren't flat bed seats like business class, but are they otherwise pretty nice for the Longhaul flight? We are slender and don't need wide seats but do like to recline as far as possible.

Or should we go with Business Class on Delta, which appears to be more readily available? One problem with Delta is that we cannot book one way at a time on the Alaska website, as we can withQantas. Also, . . . It's Delta. I have heard so many stories about poor customer service, delays, etc. on Delta. Is their business class product good enough to make up for these shortcomings?

Gardyloo

Qantas isn't always impossible, particularly if you're willing to fly to Melbourne or Brisbane and then connect.

Delta's longhaul business class product has improved hugely over the past years; it's a lie-flat seat with easy aisle access (important on such a long flight) and their catering is also up to snuff. I'd certainly go with the DL alternative instead of premium economy on Qantas.

Or for a few thousand Alaska miles more, Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong is an incredible deal. You could also stop over in HKG on the way down or back, and you could also avoid LAX by flying out of Vancouver. Now <i>there's</i> a business class experience.

enzian

Thanks, Gardyloo. As usual you are very helpful. I have not seen the Cathay Pacific option offered on the Alaska website; maybe we have to call to book that? Or do I start in Vancouver in the web search? I'll give that a try right now. If it ismany extra miles we will have to get busy on that.

It's good to know it is not impossible to get Qantas flights if we fly to Brisbane. That would work fine for our plans. I think our chances of getting seats are much better if we book one way at a time, since our flights will be a month apart. We can do that with Qantas, using eitherAvios or Alaska miles. Of course with Avios there is a hefty fee involved, but if we can get Biz class on Qantas I don't mind the fee.

Gardyloo

You'd have to phone Alaska for Cathay Pacific bookings; they're not online yet with AS as far as I know.

I'd use Avios on US domestic itineraries, or on AA or Cathay Pacific flights over the Pacific, or on AA or Lan to Central or South America. No fuel fines on those routes.

enzian

We don't have enough Alaska miles or Avios for the Cathay Pacific option, but we could break up the journey, AK miles from SEA to HKG, and Avios from HKG to SYD. The least-cost way to do that would be to fly Emirates from SEA to HKG, with an overnight stop in Dubai. With a return across the Pacific, we would end up going around the world. Interesting thought, but it does make for a much longer outbound journey. and it would pretty much use up all our miles in both plans.

We've never had Dubai on our "list", but we've heard good things about flying on Emirates.

Gardyloo

I think the Delta option is cheaper (Alaska miles) and easier. Using Avios on Qantas metal (not sure about Cathay) will incur BA fuel surcharges on the ticket - big bucks.

Many of Qantas' planes still have the old "Skybed" seats (not lie-flat) in business and many of Cathay Pacific's planes (especially the A330s and 747s) have their flying coffins in business class - really claustrophobic (for me at least.) Delta may not have food equal to Cathay's but their new seats are likely to be better than either QF or CX on the non-transpacific sectors.

Going to Oz from the Pacific NW via the DXB shopping mall sounds like a ring of hell. Just my view, of course.

enzian

I feel the same about Dubai; it was only briefly appealing to my husband because of the round the world aspect. But then he came to his senses and nixed the idea. Mand I was wrong about the cost; it only appeared cheaper ( in terms of miles) because I was looking at one-way travel. Delta charges as many miles for one-way as round trip.

I believe the Delta option via LAX is our best bet for the outbound, as you identified. Some of the options offered on the AK website for a RT have Delta outbound (to Oz) and Qantasnonnthe return. Of course things could be different when it comes time to book, but I will be flexible on dates and keep,trying.

I'd rather not use Avios for this trip,anyway. In addition to the cost ( which actually is not bad on CX from HKG to SYD, there is the consideration that I have a 2-4-1 certificate that can only be used on BA. We are going to Scotland for the first time in May, and that flight is booked, but I suspect that we will,love it there and want to return---using the 2-4-1.

Thanks again for your help.

MissGreen

Qantas Premium Economy or Delta business. Can't believe you're pondering. Go business!

After many long haul flights, I couldn't care less if I wasn't fawned over or given an extra prawn or caviar for dinner, I just want to be able to lie down to go to sleep.

The flat Delta seats I have seen look fabulous. Not sure what planes or routes they are on.

NoFlyZone

Just got back to the states yesterday, flying Delta LAX-SYD-LAX in Business. Absolutely nothing to bark about. Seats were excellent, catering was excellent and on board service was top notch.

No reason whatsoever to book away from DL other than award availability/routing.

(And VA business DRW-SYD was equally at the top of the game.)

enzian

Thanks! I am convinced. delta it shall be assuming seats are available at the time we are ready to book.

northie

always use Qantas premium economy when long haul flying when paying ie to Us and Europe from OZ. the planes are are all 380's and the seats are great as is the service. Can't afford the business fare but see PE as a good option.
The Delta option would be with Virgin as its code share. Delta no longer fly from Oz.

Gardyloo

<i>The Delta option would be with Virgin as its code share. Delta no longer fly from Oz.</i>

Delta flies on its own metal daily and <i>also</i> codeshares with VA on a different flight.

NoFlyZone

>The Delta option would be with Virgin as its code share. Delta no longer fly from Oz.

Incorrect. And I was on the Delta metal flight last Thursday, SYD-LAX. (They also do have several codeshare flights with VA.)

Crif

Hi,
Qantas is not impossible, particularly if you're willing to fly to Melbourne or Brisbane.But as far as my opinion is concern Availability of seats in delta are always max, it is easy to get as well.

northie

Oops hadn't realized delta was flying from Oz.

enzian

Actually, it looks like the Delta flights between LAX and SYD stop in mid-October, 2014. At least they don't show up at all on Kayak. The Delta website still shows it for dates after Oct. 15, but it is the VA codeshare.

Gardyloo

<i>Actually, it looks like the Delta flights between LAX and SYD stop in mid-October, 2014. At least they don't show up at all on Kayak. The Delta website still shows it for dates after Oct. 15, but it is the VA codeshare.</i>

I'm seeing daily DL flights (DL417) departing at 9:18 pm for Oct 19, 20, and 21, and haven't looked further. The VA codeshare is the earlier flight.

NoFlyZone

Delta.com is showing DL417 right up through 29 Oct (the furthest out you can book a flight with Delta).