Any tricks for booking AU-Shanghai for $6k return for two people in Business?

Hi Guys! My Father and I are planning to fly from Brisbane or Sydney to Shanghai at the end of this month in Business. I was wondering if anybody knows any tricks like maybe purchasing miles or others as he has given be a max price of $6000. We would prefer to travel with Qantas as it's direct but if there are any cheaper flights with airline such as Singapore or Cathay, It would be great. So if anybody knows some tricks up their sleeves, It would be much appreciated. Thanks

Hi djcz,

You may find these AusBT articles useful in your quest:

Buying US Airways Dividend Miles for low-cost Oneworld flights

Low-cost Qantas business, first class buying AA frequent flyer miles

Hi Chris,

I looked at the US airways Award and AA award flights but they don't show many avaliable award flights. Would I have a better chance phoning up to see if there are any more avaliable? 

It doesn't hurt – and with US Airways that's the only way to book partner awards as mentioned on the link – although bear in mind that Shanghai is a popular destination for Australian business travellers and that you chance of finding two award seats in business class just a few weeks out may be limited.

Hi DJCZ,

If you have enough US Airways miles for the tickets, you should use united.com to search award availability on Air China.  Air China isn't a member of oneworld, but it is a redemption partner of US Airways.  They will often have quite good availability on their service between Sydney and Shanghai. 

Check out OW Circle Asia fares. They used to be around that mark. You would need to fly "through" TYO in one direction as that was (from memory) part of the "north asia" rule.  It allows 11000 miles as I recall.  Get your travel agent to check it out.

Would think unlikely at that price on any of the premium airlines, even under a sale, which is hard given you want to travel in under a month.

And also very unlikely to be able to get FF tickets in that timeframe

Even AirAsiaX is looking at $5k return in under a month,

Too easy mate. If you have purchased some lifemiles when there were on sale at the rate of 15USD for 1k miles, it is extremely useful for Australia-North Asia (rates have surprisingly improved despite recent devaluation for most routes).

40k miles one way business with Star Alliance carrier (Thai, Singapore, Air china, etc) + Taxes & 25USD redemption fee

All in all it will cost about 1700AUD  per person for a return business ticket to North Asia

I have just checked availability for end of this month, business availability: 26 NOV - SYD-PVG via BKK (thai airways), 2 DEC PVG-SYD (air china).

If you don't have enough lifemiles, don't worry. As long as you have about 40% of the points needed you can do 'Miles + cash'. Amazingly, the cash component will also give you miles at 15USD for 1k miles. Go figure. 

@DJCZ it's highly unlikely that you'll find 2 redemption seats on QF/CX/SQ for the said period on the same flights. Your best bet might just be MH using US. 

@enojet, if I know a thing or two, the OP seems pedantic about his airlines/routes (and even maybe earning miles on his dad's QF account).

If 6K return for 2 PAX is his max, you should be able to get CX PE for around 5K, although as its been discussed over and over, its debateable if it's worth forking over for CX PE.