Hello!
I’m very new at this, so please excuse a newbie question. I’m trying to get to Vancouver from Brisbane and wondering routing options/programs that others have used in the past. I have seen many examples for the US, but few for Canada.
Thank you!
JJ
Try Brisbane to Sydney then onto Vancouver operated by Qantas. It’s a seasonal service so it depends when you want to go. This would be bookable using either AA miles, Qantas or any Oneworld carrier’s miles.
Air Canada are scheduled to start direct flights from Brisbane in June 2016
http://www.ausbt.com.au/air-canada-tips-new-brisbane-vancouver-route-for-boeing-787
Or you could fly Cathay via HKG. Qantas points or Alaska miles.
Philippine Airlines might also have fairly cheap revenue fares in both economy and business.
I’m looking at options to get to Canada next June.
Given the poor options and connection with Qantas / OW I’m looking at going from SYD-LAX-Seattle, spending a night or two there and catching the Amtrak Cascades from Seattle to Vancouver. It seems easier than stuffing around with the connections from LAX to Vancouver!
I live in BNE, I’m s Brisbanite so I can give you some advice.
As some have already said, if you are leaving after next June, then Air Canada is the best bet. LM charges 80K one way BNE to YVR and availability is quite good if you don’t mind departing on Tues. I’ve seen up to 3 seats in business class per flight.
You can forget about using points on Air NZ. It doesn’t exist. So that option is out.
QF either direct or via LAX will also be hard to find, although if you are willing to book 12 months in advance you shouldn’t have problem finding seats departing BNE. But you can’t depart on weekends. You can use QFF or Asia Miles. Alaska and AAdvantage calendar opens at 330 days, it’s full 30 days behind QFF and Asia Miles. So chances are many of these seats are taken.
Routing through Asia is easier to find seats as many have suggested. Cathay should be easy to find seats using QFF or Asia Miles. But it can be very expensive. AA won’t let you route through Asia so Alaska is your best bet at 60000 one way.
If you are willing to depart from SYD you have more choices. Just buy a cheap ticket between BNE and SYD.
Alternatively, you can consider buying revenue ticket. EVA from BNE-YVR is about $5000 rt. Not cheap, but consider the exchange rate is not so good, buying miles is not as good value as it used to be. So if you are less flexible in time or if can’t find award seats on the day you want, I personally would highly recommend EVA.