Do you have velocity status? Platinum or Gold?
Where are you flying from SYD/BNE/MELB?
So you’re flying out on the 19th September - you may have found availability 210/280/300/310 days out. I’m getting married in the USA next week and scoured Velocity every day from 320 days out and I have secured J class flights Per-Bne-Lax (280 days out) and return Lax-Bne-Per (215 days out).
Couple of options:
- UpgradeMe Points - If you have Platinum/Gold Status, buy a Premium Economy ticket - and upgrade when availability shows up 3 to 7 days out from departure. I scored this 2 years ago from Syd-Lax - best flight I have been on - spent the whole time at the bar with other passengers.
- UpgradeMe Bid with Cash - pay for the difference from a Premium Economy ticket - bids start from $800 one way each (check out the AFF forums for successful bids). Usually get the bidding option 3 to 7 days out from departure.
Risky Option - this method is where you book your flights 2 to 7 days out from departure using points only. Not the best option for highly organized people who like to book months out :)
You will find Business Reward Availability 2 to 10 days out from departure from BNE/SYD/MEL and also return from LAX (BNE seems to be the winner here with available seats) - if you do a booking with Points right now, you will see at least 2 seats per plane scattered from BNE, MEL and SYD to LAX over the next 5 days - even saw some at 14-21 days out (- check, Use Points+Pay, search One Way only for 2 guests (not return flight)). If booking from SYD - make sure it is a VA flight, not Delta if you want the better VA plane with bar and seat selection.
As sixtyeight mentions - pay for your taxes in cash and not points.
Best to find flights on a Mon/Tues/Wed both ways for better availability - try to avoid weekends as harder to find (stay away from the Saturday BNE-LAX 11am morning flight if you are flying back from the USA east coast - I made this mistake, as you will need to fly back to LAX on the Friday with accommodation overnight ).
Book all your accommodation which allows 24hr cancellation - with this option, due to the time sensitivity of booking the flights, if you don’t get the timing right, you can cancel the hotel etc with no penalty… (check Expedia/Booking dot com etc)
It’s a great flight if you can get onto it - don’t give up - if you let me know exact dates you will be leaving and returning, I can let you know if they pop up.