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Add to del.icio.usBusiness and First Class airfares from the US to Australia are among the highest in the world, but there are still a few strategies for scoring discount Business Class travel.
When flying trans-Pacific, the cheapest way to get from destination A to destination B and back may be to fly in a circle, specifically with a “Circle Pacific” Business Class airfare strategy.
These fares require at least one stop in the North Pacific and one in the south (Australia and/or New Zealand) They’re tailor-made for the executive who has to hopscotch around the Pacific Rim or who wants to cap a business trip with a few days of leisure travel.
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And they’re flexible -- only the first flight leg has to be booked before departure, plus, they’re usually far cheaper (20% to 60%) than many point-to-point itineraries.
Here’s how you can use Circle Pacific for Discount Business Class travel to Australia.
Qantas’ round-trip Business Class airfare from San Francisco or Los Angeles to Sydney can be as much as $14,473, while a Business Class Circle Pacific fare is $4,979. In order to save the difference -- $9,494 –- you need to make two stops in cities like Bali, Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, or Tokyo on the return. That’s not much of a sacrifice for obtaining discount business class travel to Australia.
Alternatively, a round-trip in Business Class from New York to Sydney on Qantas/American (Oneworld) costs $11,458. The Circle Pacific fare is $5,062, a savings of $6,396.
Honolulu qualifies as a stop-over on this itinerary. That’s not much of a sacrifice for obtaining discount business class travel to Australia either!
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I want to fly Miami-Beijing in July with my family and then go to either Hong Kong or Sydney for a week before returning home. I would like to find the cheapest business class fares, any suggestions?
I am travelling to Hong Kong, 2 persons, on November 29, 2007 and returning on December 7, 2007. I was looking for the best fare Business Class from San Diego to Hong Kong with only one stop.
Split this ticket, look for alternative gateways. Booking from St. Louis to Melbourne in March. Most routings go through LAX, so I tried SFO. $10,690 on United in Business, change in Denver, LAX or SFO, and Auckland. Booked Cathay Pacific through AA website SFO-MEL, change in Hong Kong (search schedule, oneworld, maximum # of flights) $9948. Booked STL-SFO separately, $1090 RT Nonstop. Get AA points/miles, a ton of Asia Miles, and CP's awesome business class for an extra $358 over United. Same strategy also works for 1st class: $16,361 SFO-MEL, +1090 first class nonstop from STL to SFO. It's a long trip via Hong Kong, but if time is NOT important, this will save you money.
AIR NEW ZEALAND sells First Class-style Seats as BUSINESS CLASS!!! They are full lay down sleeper-seats with your full privacy & all the acroutements of Qantas's First Class.....terrific food, individual entertainment systems, personal 'pamper packs' & wonderful service. In other words, ANZ gives First class seats as Business Class for less than $5000 round trip from NY. Only catch is you have to stop in Auckland.....which isn't exactly the end of the world, but close!
I live in Gulfport, MS and will be flying to Australia at the end of February. Need to know the closest and cheapest first/business class fare to Sydney. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Coorection on last post. Will be leaving end of March.
Try this: http://www.oneworld.com/ow/air-travel-options/multi-sector-intercontinental-fares/circle-pacific-fare You should be able to get away with 26000 miles, under $7000 as long as you are willing to fly through Hong Kong in one direction.
My family of 6 needs to fly from LA to Auckland on December 15, 2008 and from Sydney, Australia back on Jan 4th. We'd like 2 business class tickets and 4 economy. Any suggestions?
BEEN IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY FOR 50+ YEARS... WILL SEE HOW THIS WORKS I ALWAYS TRY TO KEEP UP.. BUT DO MISS...NEED SOMEONE LIKE YOU TO KEEP ME UP TO DATE,... TNX GP
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