Redeeming miles for travel to/from Australia can be really tough. That’s especially true when originating in the US, though true from other regions as well, especially if traveling during peak season.
Anyway, Qantas is resuming their flight between Tokyo Narita and Melbourne, and it has tons of business class award availability. The flight will launch as of December 16, 2016, and will operate with the following schedule:
QF79 Melbourne to Tokyo departing 9:15AM arriving 5:30PM
QF80 Tokyo to Melbourne departing 7:00PM arriving 7:30AM (+1 day)
The flight will be operated by an A330 featuring Qantas’ staggered business class product, which is the same excellent product I recently had in SAS business class between Los Angeles and Stockholm.
Qantas A330 business class
Qantas A330 business class
It’s amazing how many dates have award availability, even in peak season. For example, here’s the calendar American shows for nonstop Qantas business class award availability between Tokyo and Melbourne over peak season:
Many dates even have up to four business class award seats.
American AAdvantage charges only 40,000 miles for a one-way business class ticket between North Asia and Australia, and there are no fuel surcharges. That’s pretty incredible, given that this is a 10+ hour flight in a great product.
So, who could benefit from this availability?
- Anyone in Japan looking to travel to Australia, or anyone in Australia looking to travel to Japan
- Someone in the US could book a separate ticket to Japan (perhaps a paid ticket with an upgrade, given how many cheap fares we’ve seen lately), and then an award from Tokyo to Melbourne on this flight, especially if traveling in peak season, given how tough it is to otherwise secure award space
Melbourne, Australia
Bottom line
This is a fantastic opportunity to redeem miles for business class between Asia and Australia at a very reasonable cost. Given American’s recent devaluation, 40,000 miles for a one-way business class award ticket on a 10 hour flight (with the opportunity to add connections on either end) is a great deal. If you’re looking to go to Australia, especially in peak season, I’d seriously consider this.
It’s certainly not for everyone, though hopefully some can benefit from this space.
(Tip of the hat to AusBT)
Heads up, you can also fly onto New Zealand for the same amount of miles. Qantas Jet Connect is a subpar business across the Tasman but Qantas' business lounges more than make up for that!
@Lucky
Could you book this as one award from LAX to MEL with a connection in NRT using AA miles? I know the cost would increase to 80,000, but I was just curious if that was possible?
@ passengerpoldberg -- You'd have to book that as two awards, unfortunately.
Thanks for such a great finding! Just booked two C seats PER-MEL-NRT for honeymoon!
Wouldn't expect this to last long.
Totally awesome tip. Booked Atlanta to Tokyo on skymiles for 80k in Biz, then NRT to Christchurch for 40k via BNE using my AA miles. Thanks. Lots of ways to use this into NZ too.
@Lucky
I've just checked a few of these dates on BA, and they don't seem to be showing any of this space at all. Do you have any idea why that could be?
@ SC -- It sometimes takes websites a bit longer to update availability. It should be bookable through BA if you call. Otherwise I suspect it will be updated shortly.
dang, when were your screenshots taken? It fits my travel plans perfectly but when I went online to try and book, those dates in mid january no longer have the availability that I need......bummer
@ alex -- Took them just a bit ago. Did you try calling as well? It could be that they're just a bit delayed in correctly showing the space online. Or perhaps someone just booked the exact dates you were looking at.