Here’s when, and how, Qantas expects overseas flights to return
New Zealand and parts of Asia, along with London and North America, will see first flights from December 2021.
By David Flynn, August 26 2021
Qantas is ready to resume overseas flights in mid-December 2021, with the Airbus A380s soaring back from July 2022, according to the airline's international roadmap based on the Government's own forecasts.
However, the airline notes its plans are dependent on Government decisions once the national vaccination rate passes the 80% milestone by December, which will push Australia into the National Cabinet’s ‘Phase C’ Covid recovery plan and trigger the gradual reopening of international borders.
"It's obviously up to government exactly how and when our international borders re-open," Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce cautions, but says "the current pace of the vaccine rollout means we should have a lot more freedom in a few months' time."
Joyce added that he has shared his plans with the government "and they agree with our broad assumptions, and agree that our plan is reasonable."
Reason to celebrate: Qantas sees overseas flights returning from mid-December.
A crucial component will be the introduction of home isolation for people returning from low-risk countries – ideally for a reduced seven-day period – based on trials now underway in Adelaide, rather than the current requirement of 14 days in a hotel, for which travellers also have to pay $3,000.
"Levels of travel demand – and therefore, capacity levels – will hinge largely on government decisions on alternative requirements to mandatory hotel isolation for fully vaccinated travellers," the airline cautions.
Joyce said Qantas "is actively involved in the government's future quarantine plans."
Countries with similar vaccination levels to Australia of 70-80% by the end of the year – "which when we look at are the UK, the US... Singapore, and we think Japan will get there before the end of the year as well – those are the countries that should be on that list" for home isolation, Joyce suggested.
Alan Joyce is optimistic that some overseas travel will return by year's end.
"Some people might say we’re being too optimistic, but based on the pace of the vaccine rollout, this is within reach and we want to make sure we’re ready."
"With Australia on track to meet the 80 per cent trigger agreed by National Cabinet by the end of the year, we need to plan ahead for what is a complex restart process" in bringing back the necessary aircraft and people, along with rolling out its Travel Pass app "to help our customers prove their vaccine status and cross borders."
The return of Qantas' overseas flights
So when, and how, will Qantas' international flights come back – and where can you expect them to take you?
Here are the airline's current projections, based on the Government's commitment to reopening international borders and also taking likely travel demand to key destinations into account.
From mid-December 2021 flights would start from Australia to "Covid-safe destinations" which are likely to include Fiji, Singapore, the United States, Japan, United Kingdom and Canada. These routes will mainly rely on Qantas A330s and Boeing 787s, along with with the smaller Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s for Fiji.
Key markets like the UK, North America and parts of Asia "have high and increasing levels of vaccination", the airline says.
"This makes them highly likely to be classed as low risk countries for vaccinated travellers to visit and return from under reduced quarantine requirements, pending decisions by the Australian Government and entry policies of other countries."
London calling: allowing home isolation could see high demand for Australia-UK travel for Christmas 2021.
Joyce said he expected high demand for flights to London in December and took a shot at Western Australia's continued hardline stance on closing its border to other states.
"I think it would be a terrible shame, if when we got to Christmas, from NSW you could visit your relatives in London, but can't visit your relatives in Perth," he suggested.
Flights between Australia and New Zealand will come back on sale for travel from mid-December 2021 "on the assumption some or all parts of the two-way bubble will restart."
However, it's likely that the Trans-Tasman Bubble 2.0 will be restricted to fully-vaccinated travellers and and require a Covid-19 test prior to departure.
Flights to Hong Kong will restart in February 2022, although Joyce confirmed to Executive Traveller that the airline's Hong Kong lounge will be permanently closed.
April 2022 is the soonest Qantas expects to fly to many destinations which "still have low vaccine rates and high levels of Covid infection" – including Bali, Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City and Johannesburg.
The rest of the Qantas and Jetstar international network "is planned to open up from April 2022, with capacity increasing gradually."
Airbus A380s back from July 2022
The first Qantas A380s are slated to return to the Sydney-Los Angeles route in July 2022, with Sydney-Singapore-London to follow from November 2022.
"The A380s work well on these long-haul routes when there's sufficient demand, and the high vaccination rates in both markets would underpin this," the airline says.
LA and London will account for five red-tailed superjumbos, with five more are due to return to service by early 2024, although two will be retired "because they will be surplus to requirements."
Read more: Qantas A380s to return from July 2022
London via Darwin?
Qantas expects its ability to fly non-stop between Australia and London "to be in even higher demand post-Covid," with the potential to use Darwin "as an alternative (or in addition) to its existing Perth hub, given conservative border policies in Western Australia."
Darwin has served as the main entry for Qantas repatriation flights, and in early 2020 was briefly tipped to take over from Singapore as a temporary stop-over for the Kangaroo Route.
"Discussions on this option are continuing," the airline says.
Read more: Qantas eyes regular flights to London via Darwin
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
11 Jul 2020
Total posts 75
If the government does not open up our international borders for travel it's pretty pointless. Even if we can travel overseas unless travel insurance covers vaccinated covid-19 people in their policy it will be pointless travelling unless you are willing to take the risk and pay the huge hospital costs out of your own pocket should you have mild covid-19 symptoms that require a short stay in hospital.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
you can get travel insurance covering covid now. Plenty of business people going overseas right now & plenty who say they have business overseas.
11 Jul 2020
Total posts 75
Sone do some don't all I'm saying make sure you are covered for covid-19 and read the fine print that it covers all covid-19 variants including ones we haven't seen yet. Nobody wants an expensive hospital bill that you have to pay out of your own pocket.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Oct 2016
Total posts 20
Travel insurance policies have gone through the roof.
Previous to Covid 19 I was paying on average $695.00 for an annual travel insurance policy offered through Qantas bookings.
Tried to purchase the same annual policy again through Qantas bookings. Policy was being provided by NIB this year again. Cost of annual Travel Insurance policy had increased to $4,500.00.
14 Feb 2015
Total posts 15
Alan is still in dream land. Until there is a 100% guarantee of no quarantine - which I highly doubt by November/December, it just ain't gonna happen. He needs to calm down and quit these ridiculous "Overseas opens this date!" announcements.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
why would there by any quarantine for vaccinated persons ? None in UK. Don't why we can't fly to UK, USA without telling lies about need to go for business, the minute we hit 80%.
Any premier who trys to tell us we can't go, will have protestors at their door !!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2014
Total posts 319
Sydney is primed to take advantage of this with their high vaccine rates, it could well be that flights to and from Australia will all come through Sydney for at least the first few months.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
there's only a few % points difference between states. No one in BNE or MEL wants to go anywhere near bloody awful SYD airport. Wish they would bulldoze it & start again.
eg. BNE/LAX is around 5 to 6 hours quicker than BNE/SYD/LAX in each direction.
95 min flight BNE/SYD - min connecting time(2 hours if you are game, but 3 to play it safe), all the stuffing around to change terminals, extra hour flight SYD/LAX cf. BNE/LAX
Am sure Air NZ & Fiji Airways & others will offer options from BNE & MEL to eg. LAX without going via SYD.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
06 Apr 2012
Total posts 125
Quite interesting to hear the part of the announcement that Qantas intends to modify it's A330-200 aircraft to be suited for trans-pacific journeys such as BNE-LAX and BNE-SFO. Could that imply that the airline is intending to focus it's 787 fleet on servicing more ultra long-haul destinations in Europe & east-coast USA ?
16 Aug 2017
Total posts 21
Having got back on one of the LHR-DRW-SYD flights 16 months the idea of nonstop back to London next time does sound appealing.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
11 Dec 2016
Total posts 74
@wdeguara no. Not possible. The A330 doesn't have the range to get to the USA unless a stopover in Hawaii is scheduled. Not economical to do so. A 787 is used there.
The A330 will be as always, only for regional flights into Asia, NZ and some of the Pacific islands when they're opened up.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
11 Dec 2016
Total posts 74
Scrub that. Just saw the other article saying exactly that they are planning to do this. Impressive though. Didn't expect the A330 to have that capability.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
wonder how many seats they'll have to pull out ? No freight ? Very tight baggage weight limits ?
The DFW/BNE or was it DFW/SYD flight often had to make a tech stop in Pacific for fuel, if winds weren't right. Same might happen for A332 from LAX or SFO. Scheduled nonstop, but planned for direct via eg. NAN.
Think Qantas & Fiji Airways might have to actually cooperate. Qantas still owns 46% of Fiji Airways, but you wouldn't know it.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1029
The A330-200, of which QF has 18, has a base range of 13,450 km. The -300 (QF has 10) has a base range of 11,750 km.
AKL-LAX 10,467km
SYD-LAX 12,051km
BNE-LAX 11,525km
The old QF25/26 ran MEL-AKL-LAX. For the last few years before AKL-LAX was pulled, it operated with an A330 on the AKL-LAX leg.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
himeno
think the 13,450 km range is probably Airbus sales pitch, in a perfect world, winds in right direction, with minimal seating.
Qantas have already said they would still need to pull some seats, but how many ? & they might still have to do a stop for fuel westbound. Can't land an A332 on Norfolk Island, so NAN, NOU, APW & where else ? What is pilot going to say departing LAX ... oh due to headwinds we have to make a brief stop for fuel en route, otherwise we go swimming ala MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON.
I can see Qantas finally working in with Fiji Airways, who have 3 aircraft types than can do LAX/NAN or SFO/NAN, A350s, A332s & an A333. The Fiji Airways flights to USA are already codeshared with Qantas/American/Air NZ. Have spoken to many who've flown the Fiji A350s in business class who have said better than Qantas product.
It seems insane that Qantas group(Qantas & Jetstar) fly SYD/NAN/SYD using B738s/A320s when Fiji Airways have far superior A350s doing route daily. Maybe initially a daily Fiji Airways A350 SYD/NAN & then the A350 continues onto LAX 6 days a week (they can't do daily with A350s as only have 2) & Qantas has an A332 going to SFO &/or YVR some days a week, remembering that feed to Fiji Airways USA flights comes also from BNE, MEL, AKL, CHC & WLG & other small Pacific Island nations.
Or perhaps Qantas could fly an A332 ADL &/or PER/NAN/SFO. Air NZ does or did ADL/AKL to connect with LAX, SFO, YVR & also PER I think.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1029
regular flyer
The claim was made that an A330 doesn't have the range to operate from the SW Pacific to the US West Coast without a stop at a mid Pacific location such as Fiji or Hawaii.
I was pointing out that this is not the case, as shown by the fact that Qantas operated A330-200s non stop between New Zealand and LA between July 2010 and May 2012.
The Airbus provided ranges assume full loading with their default config and "average" winds.
As for needing to stop for fuel on days of strong headwind on the return, they can just do the same thing as they did when QF8 was operated via BNE in the 747 and early A380 flights on the route. There are heaps of places in the south pacific they could go to, depending on when they decide to divert.
07 May 2020
Total posts 151
You are right on the money flyboy255. Australia will not give up its quarantine for inbound travellers regardless of vaccination status until well into 2022. Anybody should just take a closer look at what is happening in Israel to see what to expect here.
16 Aug 2017
Total posts 21
I'm not sure when but home quarantine for the fully vaxxed will come first. Dec does sound pretty soon though.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
mid DEC is over 3.5 months away !!!
A day is a long time in politics
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
disagree. UK has no quarantine requirements now for vaccinated form over 100 countries inc USA, Australia
08 May 2020
Total posts 48
I think the states will have to accept home quarantine once the federal gvt open the borders. There aren’t enough hotels so they will be forced into a decision there. They will have to reserve the hotels for the hoghest risk travellers. I don’t think Sco Mo will turn down the opportunity to let people travel to see their families for Christmas.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
why would anyone quarantine if vaccinated ?
26 Aug 2021
Total posts 3
Is there a concrete plan as yet as to how or what travellers will have to do on return?
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
Travelfranny that is being trialled in SA now and that is home quarantine for fully vaccinated passengers. Whether it is one or two weeks is being thought through so I think we will still have quarantine but it is most likely to be at home.
26 Aug 2021
Total posts 3
To book or not to book that is the question… quarantine at home would be ok, we can only hope it won’t be at hotels
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
you can now book flights to USA right now, with no money down (until 2 months prior & that date could be changed to later) & fares to USA in late DEC/early JAN are cheapest they've even been, in real terms. Saw plenty from $999 to $1499 return in economy & you can upgrade straight to business class.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Oct 2016
Total posts 20
Fares to USA are always cheaper in December and January as it is winter.
The beef another writer related to was tickets to USA being over $3,000.00 in May and June 2022. The reason why tickets are expensive is that it is the USA summer period.( High Season for Australians)
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
anthony SYD
No, mid-Dec to mid-Jan departures are peak season. You might find some cheaper flights when school holidays start in Qld mid-Nov to early DEC or even in late JAN, after about 14JAN. (15JAN depart, back in Australia by 23JAN, only gives you 6 days in USA/Canada, which is not usually long enough for a family holiday)
Go to USA many times a year, but usually expect to pay $2000 to $2700 return in economy if depart late Dec/early Jan to get back in time for kids to go back to school. Most school next year start back just before Australia Day.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
why would there by any quarantine ? There was none when we had a NZ bubble ?
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
Regular the quarantine is to see even if vaccinated you’ve picked it, which is possible particularly from the US, and thus have the (lowered) potential to spread it further. They will rethink quarantine when more countries vaccination gets up, e.g the US is stubbornly low, and we have our boosters. Mine will be feb-March or so.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
patrick you are confusing cases with deaths.
Stuff all deaths in Australia cf. overseas. Look at UK - lately 25,000 to 30,000 new case a day, but very few deaths & their borders are open to incoming vaccinated from 100 countries. No quarantine or stupid lockdowns. You cannot ever eliminate the virus.
Everyone gets covid eventually & it will simply be treated as just another flu.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
Regular like you I’m less concerned with cases but unlike you more concerned with hospitalisations. In the UK it is currently 2,000 per day. Allowing for population of slightly less than a third it can be up to 1,000 a day which as we are seeing will stretch our hospital system. It makes sense to keep the numbers well below that hence continued public health measures including some checks on vaccinated people some of whom end up in hospital. We need to check what that looks like with 80% vaccination rate which we may not reach.
07 May 2020
Total posts 151
patrickk...the trials and tribulations of quarantine and travel bubbles. They pop very easily and repetitively. When do you think SA will announce the great success of its trial?
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
I suspect it will be announced sometime in October as part of Sco-Mos ongoing campaign to look good. SA won’t be announcing it as Sco-Mo wants to take the glory. That is why a Labor state was not chosen.
Qantas
02 May 2016
Total posts 62
IMO this plan will go ahead, many pundits say Federal Election in March, ScoMo will want as much as possible back to some normality to have any hope of winning. He’s said a number of times he wants everyone around the table at Xmas….it’s the election he cares about. Mid December as late as you can go and have people back for Xmas, in January everyone will feel good and be riding high about borders being open, he’ll call election early Feb and go in March hoping to ride the wave. If the country goes to crap with COVID again by June he won’t care as it’ll be 3 years till next election. Nothing to do with quarantining or vaccinations, will be all about re-election.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Aug 2013
Total posts 248
As is the situation with the state premiers. But with Albanese announcing support for the national covid plan - you got no choice and frankly never had regardless of whose in power how the covid restrictions will apply in Aus.
Qantas
02 May 2016
Total posts 62
Yes but state premiers have benefit of time, VIC not till Nov 2022 and NSW Mar 2023, ScoMo will win or lose on NSW and VIC voters, IMO he’ll open up otherwise he’s already cooked and done - and if he opens up and by end March wins and it’s all gone sideways he’ll shut it all back down and won’t care as he’s been re-elected.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
my guess now is around Australia Day which is a Wed, so maybe 29 JAN for election. Almost 100% of families will be back from overseas by then, felling good after a holiday. Why would country go to crap after that. Covid is over. From now on, it will be treated just like any other flu.
07 May 2020
Total posts 151
The situation emerging in Israel is going to blow away any dreams of Australia and Qantas from international flights going ahead long into 2022.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
why ? Cases don't mean deaths. Only the unvaccinated will ever die from covid.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
The issue is hospitalisation and at the moment Sydney is running out, that is what they are waiting to see. The UK still has a fairly high hospitalisation rate, even with high-ish rates of vaccination. A low proportion of a very large number is still a large number.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
GoRobin the Israel news brings Pfizer to the same level as A/Z very remote chance of anything.
06 Oct 2018
Total posts 12
Let's just be hopeful.
14 Jan 2019
Total posts 24
Ambitious and wont happen
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
suzanne, I think rather than mid Dec 2021, should be mid Nov 2021. Airlines like Qantas could start with say 2, 3 or 4 flights a week BNE, SYD & MEL/LAX as school holidays start in mid Nov for some & by mid Dec almost all schools in Australia are on holidays. If using smaller capacity aircraft, they could either increase frequency or increase size of aircraft.
Air Canada - Aeroplan
28 Feb 2015
Total posts 115
Mid-December? Unlikely. 80% by November? Unlikely. If Canada is anything to go by, early vaccination number roar ahead, and then they hit a wall around 55% (of total population) - the US hit their wall at 49.5% or thereabouts. And Canada started vaccinating in December last year, though limited vax supply meant it didn't really ramp up until March. Vaccine approved for kids 12+ not long after. Vaccinations continue, but slowly, so even now, when the country is awash with vaccine, the numbers are 66% fully vaxxed, 73% at least one dose (75.6%/83.6% of eligible). Vaccinations may be roaring ahead now in Australia, but I expect it will hit a wall well short of 70%, let alone 80%.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
End of Oct ? Likely to hit 80% at current rates & some anti-vaxxers getting shots as a few anti-vaxxers die.
07 May 2020
Total posts 151
In Israel right now with a highly vaccinated population, the no of infections is at an all time high. So many fully vaccinated people are getting infected. The subsequent death toll is not as high as their last big infection wave, but it is growing. The point is that Australia can expect a similar trend. So which state premier is going to relax restrictions including quarantine knowing that there will most likely be a similar situation occurring in Australia? Australia would need to radically alter it's approach, and with so many different states, I think this will take a long time. Well into 2022.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
gorobin
fact 1. Covid will never ever be eliminated
fact 2. being vaccinated, doesn't stop you getting covid & spreading covid, it will just stop you dying
I don't think anyone would disagree with above, so based on this, we'll never ever open our borders, because a few unvaccinated will die. Who cares about them ? The anti-vaxxers were already killing people before covid, eg. whopping cough.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
GoRobin I checked the news on Israel and like the UK they lifted public health measures too soon. They are now clamping down big fines for not wearing masks etc I think Australia will keep most of its public health measures short of lockdown QR code’s linked to vaccination certificates etc. I may be wrong but I’m sure the borders will open for fully vaccinated with home quarantine. This won’t suit business people but looking at the qantas time table it won’t be until mid year when they ramp up capacity with some of the A380s returning and not until 2023 with a pre covid time table. The issue for NSW as the papers today said they have to get contact tracing back on track. WA may keep being WA.
07 May 2020
Total posts 151
regular flyer...I agree with you on your 2 facts. Given how risk adverse the premiers are, it will be a long haul for Australia before it opens up for international travel without quarantine, vaccinated or not. There is a lot of huff from the Prime Minister, but what we have seen and know, it is just huff. He has no influence on the premiers. My guess it that he will try to huff and puff about some sort of opening in March 2022 when he calls the election. As somebody said in this blog, if he wins, he then has another 3 or 4 years to try to navigate through the situation where the states rule. If he loses, the next PM will still be in the same situation whereby the premiers rule. I wish I could be more optimistic, but nothing indicates to me to be so.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
GOROBIN
but premiers don't control international borders. As Joyce said in last few days to effect (don't have exact wording in front of me), it would be crazy if east coasters can fly to London, or LAX but not Perth.
07 May 2020
Total posts 151
But premiers control quarantine through their Health Orders. The PM can declare borders open, but that's it.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
GoRobin,
I suspect those to open Qld (their own quarantine centre for unvaccinated); NSW; maybe Victoria (if new quarantine centre open); and maybe not WA, as it won’t reach 70-80% by then, but it could have its own hub with Singapore and/or NT.
07 May 2020
Total posts 151
patrickk...Looking into the crystal ball with a lot of fog inside. At least the UK made a plan and followed through on that plan.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
GoRobin Scotland with a similar population to Sydney May be soon walking back on the plan, and heading to what is being proposed in Australia including vaccination passes etc, but with 60% vaccinated hospitalisations as a proportion of total positives is lower. Like Israel they opened up too much too early with too low a vaccination rate.
07 May 2020
Total posts 151
patrickk...great to see that you think that Australia has the better plan that others should want to follow. Coming from way behind to lead the pack by a mile!!
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1429
I wasn’t suggesting anybody follow Australia’s plan per se. It is too late for that. Scotland is going back to where they were a couple of months ago which Australia is probably following but with different quarantine conditions. I agree Australia is too far behind particularly on sensible vaccination and quarantine policies. Thanks Sco Mo.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
just looked at Qantas website & fare BNE/LAX 5JAN, back 2 weeks (both nonstops) later is $3557, while air nz via AKL in both directions is $2976 & Fiji Airways is $1736. Would suggest that Fiji Airways has the best long haul aircraft NAN/LAX/NAN. Few hours to kill at NAN, but can get into their very doo lounge for around AUD$62 & can upgrade straight to business by bidding online. The Fiji air A350 must be the best aircraft of all 3 airlines & also the best business class. Bidding on a long haul sector starts at AU$865, I was told when phoned airline.
11 Jul 2020
Total posts 75
Currently, on the Qantas website, a flight to LA is up $700-$800 dollars more for a return flight for May and June 2022. Over $2,000 for a return trip.
Before the pandemic, I could get a return flight for the same months around $1,100-$1,200. I won't be going OS at these higher prices.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
ozpeke777
fares on airlines websites are never very cheap. Wholesalers are the way to go & not online.
Right now I can get a SYD/LAX direct flight January 6, 2022, back direct January 21, 2022 for AU$999/adult or more specifically AU$3996 for 4 adults, including everything (& that includes seat selection, 2 checked bags each & low cost upgrades to the best business class). It might be more than AU$999 for only 1, as often now, if gets cheaper per person, the more booked at the one time, on exactly the same itinerary.
Flights are not on Qantas metal, but rather Qantas codeshare, on better aircraft than any in the actual Qantas fleet.
Family is booked. No deposit at all required. $100/person next month, if we go ahead. Balance in November, if we are still going. By Nov the country should be well over 80% vaxxed. In Brisbane on Thursday night & saw a massive queue at the convention centre. Thought they must have been giving away free beer, but no, vax q. Must have been well over 1,000 people in Q to get Pfizer, while in the CBD, went to a chemist in the Myer centre, who had no Q whatsoever to get AZ. It's finally being cranked up even in the land of Palacukka, who somehow believes she's "saved" everyone.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Oct 2016
Total posts 20
December and January are the cheapest times to visit USA as this is their Winter season.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
not mid Dec to mid JAN departures. They are peak season ex Australia.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
Anthony SYD - northern winter in school holidays is peak season. tens of 1000s of Australians & Kiwis go skiing & most locked into school holidays. The really scary flights are to Vancouver in early Jan. Qantas & Air Canada get up to $3000 to $3700 return in economy. (that's the price for nonstops from BNE, SYD, MEL), however the Air Canada costs include a flight to Kelowna, Kamloops, Calgary or other BC airport, at the same price as if going only to Vancouver, which is why many price conscious Australians, fly to LAX or SFO on cheap tickets like $999-$1499 return & then get separate tickets to Canada. The massive savings could pay for much better accommodation in Canada or for a very nice hotel in SFO, Napa, LA or San Diego for a few nights. I'd put up with a few hassles to save roughly $2000 per person. Might even use it to upgrade to business class in at least 1 direction.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Oct 2016
Total posts 20
Price of tickets are usually this price because this is summer season in USA.
Not sure where or how you usually purchase your tickets but in Summer Season in the USA fares have usually been around the $2,000.00 mark on Qantas.
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