It’s no secret getting flights from Australia to the USA, or the opposite is getting extremely difficult to travel to, especially in a premium cabin. The route is popular with both tourists and business people making it an extremely popular route.

The route can be VERY expensive for both off-peak and peak seasons which isn’t affordable for many. Luckily points bring down the price dramatically. However, it takes some patience, persistence, and flexibility.

Qantas

Departure Ports:

Queensland

• Brisbane – Los Angeles QF15/16 & QF55/QF56

New South Wales

• Sydney – Los Angeles – New York QF11/QF12 (A380 & 787-9)
• Sydney – San Fransisco QF73/74 (747-400)
• Sydney – Dallas QF7/QF8 (A380)
• Sydney – Honolulu QF3/QF4 (A330-300 & A330-200)

Victoria

• Melbourne – Los Angels QF93/94 & QF95/QF96 (A380 & 787-9)

What are the best points to use?

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

• First Class – 70,000 points one-way in First Class
• Business Class – 55,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Premium Economy – 47,500 points one-way in Premium Economy
• Economy Class – 42,500 points one-way in Economy

American Airlines AAdvantage

• First Class – 110,000 points one-way in First Class
• Business Class – 80,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Premium Economy –
• Economy Class – 40,000 points one-way in Economy Class

Qantas Frequent Flyer

• First Class – 144,000 points one-way in First Class
• Business Class – 96,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Premium Economy – 72,000 points one-way in Premium Economy
• Economy Class – 41,900 points one-way in Economy Class

he Qantas A380 has a total of 484 seats with 14 First Class suites, 64 Business Class seats, 35 Premium Economy seats and a total of 371 Economy Seats.

The First cabin is in a 1-1-1 configuration with every seat featuring a pitch of 79” and a width of 22.” The Business cabin is fitted out in a 2-2-2 configuration and feature a pitch of 78”and width of 21.5.” The Premium Economy cabin is laid out in a 2-3-2 configuration and every seat has a pitch of 38-42” and a width of 19.5.” The Economy cabin of the A380 is configured in a 3-4-3 layout and the seats have a total pitch of 31” and a width of 17.5.”

The 747 is only used on two routes and it features 3 cabins, Business, Premium and Economy and totals 364 seats. The Business cabin is laid out in a 2-3-2 configuration except for the nose area and top deck where the cabin is 2-2. These seats feature a pitch of 60” and a width of 21.5.” The Premium Economy cabin is fitted out in a 2-4-2 layout, these seats feature a pitch of 38” and a width of 19.” The Economy cabin is the exact same specs as the A380 above.

The 787 Dreamliner is Qantas’ baby and it offers the best Business product out of all the other QF aircraft. The 787 features a Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabin totalling 236 seats. The Business cabin is configured in a 1-2-1 layout with each seat having a pitch of 46/80” and a width of 24.” The Premium Economy cabin is laid out in a 2-3-2 configuration and those seats feature a pitch of 38” and a width of 20.5.” The Economy cabin is in a 3-3-3 configuration and the seats have a pitch of 32” and a width of 17.2.”

Qantas’ A330-300 and -200 aircraft are very similar product with only a few differences being the fabric covering on the Business suites and the overall amount of seats on the actual aircrafts. The -300 features a total of 297 seats split into a Business & Economy cabin. The Business cabin consists of 28 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. These suites have a pitch of 73” and a width of 23.”  The Economy cabin if laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration with the seats having a pitch of 31” and a width of 17.”

The A330-200 features a total of 28 suites in the same configuration but these ones feature a pitch of 78” and a width of 21.5.” The Economy cabin is also laid out the same way but these seats have a pitch of 31” and a width of 17.5.”

Virgin Australia

Departure Ports:

• Brisbane – VA7/VA8
• Sydney – VA1/VA2
• Melbourne – VA23/VA24

What are the best points to use?

Virgin Australia Velocity

• Business Class – 95,500 points one-way in Business Class
• Premium Economy – 71,700 points one-way in Premium Economy
• Economy – 44,800 points one-way in Economy Class

Singapore Airlines Krisflyer

• Business Class – 132,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Premium Economy – 96,000 points one-way in Premium Economy
• Economy Class – 59,000 points one-way in Economy Class

Virgin Australia’s 777-300ER’s feature a total of 339 seats spread across 3 cabins, Business Premium Economy and Economy Class. The Business cabin contains 37 suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, 24 Premium Economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration and 278 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 layout.

The Business suites have a pitch of 76-80” and a width of 23”, Premium Economy seats have a pitch of 41” and a width of 18.5” while the Economy seats feature a pitch of 32” and 18.5” for the width.

American Airlines

Departure Ports:

• Sydney – AA72/AA73

What are the best points to use?

American Airlines AAdvantage

• Business Class – 80,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Premium Economy –
• Economy Class – 40,000 points one-way in Economy Class

Qantas Frequent Flyer

• Business Class – 170,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Premium Economy – 127,500 points one-way in Premium Economy
• Economy Class – 60,400 points one-way in Economy Class

American’s 787-9 Dreamliner has a total of 285 seats spread 4 cabins but only 3 are bookable with points, Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class. The Business cabin consists of 30 seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 21 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 layout and 234 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.

The Business Class seats have a pitch of 61-77” and width of 21”, The Premium seats have a pitch of 38” and a width of 19 and the Economy seats feature a pitch of 31” and a width of 17.2.”

American Airlines 787-9 Business Class

United Airlines

Departure Ports:

• Sydney – Los Angeles UA842/UA843 (787-9)
• Sydney – San Fransisco UA870/UA871 (787-9)
• Melbourne – Los Angeles UA99/UA100 (787-9)

What are the best points to use?

United Airlines MileagePlus

• Business – 80,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Economy Class – 40,000 points one-way In Economy Class

Singapore Airlines Krisflyer

• Business Class – 130,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Economy Class.- 60,000 points one-way in Economy Class