American Airlines: Miles To Australia, Worth The Effort?

how many american airlines miles to fly to australia

American Airlines AAdvantage® miles are one of the most versatile airline loyalty currencies available. They can be redeemed for flights to Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, and more. American Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance, which includes Qantas and Fiji Airways, which both offer easy access to Oceania and the South Pacific. The number of miles required for a flight to Australia varies depending on the class of service and the specific route. For example, a business class flight from Honolulu to Sydney can be booked for 65,000 AAdvantage miles, while an economy class flight within Australia costs only 10,000 miles.

Characteristics Values
Number of American Airlines miles required for an economy class ticket to Australia 40,000 to 47,500
Number of American Airlines miles required for a business class ticket to Australia 80,000
Number of American Airlines miles required for an economy class Qantas flight within Australia 10,000
Number of Alaska Airlines miles required for a Qantas business class flight to Australia 55,000
Number of Alaska Airlines miles required for an economy class flight to Australia 42,500
Number of Alaska Airlines miles required for a business class flight to Australia 85,000
Number of Avianca LifeMiles required for a United Airlines economy class flight from San Francisco or Los Angeles to Sydney 55,000
Number of United Airlines miles required for an economy class flight to Australia 40,000
Number of United Airlines miles required for a business class flight to Australia 80,000
Number of Qantas miles required for an economy class flight from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Vancouver to Sydney 47,500

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American Airlines AAdvantage® miles

AAdvantage miles can be used for flights on American Airlines, which is the most straightforward use of the miles. American Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance, which includes 13 member airlines, two of which are Qantas and Fiji Airways, which offer easy access to Oceania and the South Pacific.

American Airlines also partners with two non-Oneworld carriers that offer access to the South Pacific and Oceania: Air Tahiti Nui and Hawaiian Airlines. Air Tahiti Nui flies from Los Angeles (LAX) and Seattle (SEA) to its home in Papeete (PPT), as well as from both U.S. cities to Paris (CDG). While European routes can be booked with AA miles, travellers cannot fly from Europe to Papeete on a single award ticket due to American's routing rules. Hawaiian Airlines flights from Honolulu (HNL) to several destinations in Oceania and the South Pacific can also be booked with AAdvantage miles.

The number of AAdvantage miles needed for a flight to Australia can vary depending on the origin and destination airports, as well as the class of service. For example, a one-way flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Brisbane (BNE) in Qantas business class costs 80,000 AAdvantage miles, while a flight from Honolulu (HNL) to Sydney (SYD) in Hawaiian Airlines business or first class costs 65,000 miles. American Airlines also offers a flat rate of 10,000 miles for any in-country economy class flight within Australia.

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Qantas Airways

American Airlines offers excellent value when booking Qantas flights with your AAdvantage miles. For example, a one-way nonstop economy award ticket from Los Angeles to Sydney in mid-August 2022 costs 41,900 Qantas points, while American Airlines charges only 40,000 miles for the same flight. The value proposition becomes even more attractive when booking business class flights. American Airlines charges 80,000 miles for a business class seat on Qantas' 15-hour flight from the U.S. to Australia, which is the same number of miles charged for an eight-hour flight to Tahiti in business class. Additionally, American Airlines only charges 10,000 miles for an economy class Qantas flight within Australia, regardless of the destination.

Qantas Frequent Flyers can benefit from using their Qantas Points on American Airlines for Classic Flight Rewards and Points Plus Pay. By booking a QF codeshare flight, Qantas Frequent Flyers can earn more Qantas Points and Status Credits, as well as redeem flights across the American Airlines network. Eligible customers and their guests booked on a QF flight number on the codeshare routes can access lounges across the American Airlines network per the oneworld policy.

When planning a trip to Australia using American Airlines AAdvantage miles, it is important to consider the various options available. American Airlines partners with several carriers that offer access to the South Pacific and Oceania, including Qantas, Fiji Airways, Air Tahiti Nui, and Hawaiian Airlines. By utilizing these partnerships, travelers can take advantage of the extensive flight network offered by Qantas within the region.

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Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

If you're looking to fly to Australia using the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, Alaska Airlines is a part of the Oneworld Alliance, which includes American Airlines and Qantas, both of which offer direct flights from the US to Australia. This means you can use your Alaska Airlines miles for flights with these partner airlines.

Redeeming your Alaska Airlines miles for Qantas flights can be a great option, especially if you're interested in business class. Qantas' international business class offers top-notch dining, lounge access, and comfortable seats that recline into beds. A one-way Qantas economy flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) can cost as little as 42,500 Alaska miles and $45 in taxes and fees. Alternatively, you can fly business class from Honolulu (HNL) to Sydney (SYD) for 75,000 miles and about $45 in taxes and fees. It's important to note that award availability for these flights might be challenging, and the program's devaluation could make this option less attractive.

Another option is to use your Alaska Airlines miles for American Airlines and British Airways flights to Australia. You can mix and match partners to travel farther, and award travel on global partners starts at 4,500 miles one-way. Additionally, Alaska Airlines has over 20 airline partners, so you can explore various redemption options. Keep in mind that when redeeming miles for an award ticket from your Alaska Mileage Plan account, you cannot enter another airline's frequent flyer number and receive benefits from another program.

To earn Alaska Airlines miles, you can sign up for their Mileage Plan, a loyalty program designed for travel enthusiasts. You can earn miles through flights, dining, shopping, and paying your bills with the Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card. Additionally, you can earn miles by booking trips, renting cars, and staying at hotels through their partner network.

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Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca is Colombia's flag carrier and one of the largest airlines in South America. Its loyalty program, Avianca LifeMiles, is popular among points and miles collectors due to its numerous sweet spots and excellent flight redemptions on its partner carriers. The program is also very "hackable", with many opportunities to pay less than the official award chart rates. For example, LifeMiles prices mixed-cabin awards based on a rough percentage of the distance travelled in each cabin, which can create great opportunities for savings.

LifeMiles can be used across more than 25 different airlines, including Avianca and Star Alliance partners. This makes it ideal for globetrotters. There are some great sweet spots between Australia and Asia, and between North America and Australia. For example, a one-way flight from San Francisco (SFO) or Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) in United economy costs 55,000 LifeMiles plus around $61 in taxes and fees.

LifeMiles has four elite tiers, each offering reciprocal Star Alliance perks with all partner airlines. However, to earn these elite membership cards, you will need to fly Avianca a lot. The first step on the elite status ladder, Silver, requires 6,000 miles (at least 1,000 miles with Avianca). Silver status benefits include priority airport check-in, miles that expire after 24 months instead of 12, priority phone service, and courtesy upgrades to Business Class on selected routes.

There are dozens of ways to earn Avianca LifeMiles. The easiest and quickest way is through credit card welcome offers. Avianca offers two credit cards for US applicants, each with a sizable sign-up bonus. Another way to earn LifeMiles is to take advantage of the airline's buy LifeMiles promotions, which can allow members to rack up bonus LifeMiles when purchasing them outright. It is recommended to wait for one of these promotional offers, as Avianca often offers bonuses of up to 200%.

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Cathay Pacific

The flight time between Australia and Hong Kong depends on the departure point. For example, a flight from Sydney to Hong Kong takes an average of 9 hours and 15 minutes, while a flight from Perth to Hong Kong takes 7 hours and 35 minutes.

It's important to note that due to the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. transit passengers were banned from Cathay Pacific's Hong Kong (HKG) hub.

Frequently asked questions

American Airlines AAdvantage® miles are one of the most versatile airline currencies you can earn. You need 40,000 miles for an economy class ticket and 80,000 miles for a business class ticket.

American Airlines only charges 10,000 miles for an economy class Qantas flight within Australia.

Redeeming Alaska Airlines miles for Qantas or American Airlines flights is a great way to fly to Australia. Alaska Airlines prices for a one-way economy class flight from the US start at 42,500 miles, while prices start at 85,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles for a one-way business class flight on Oneworld partner Qantas.

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