In Which I Experience Sticker Shock

[serinde]

Is $2k the usual rate to fly to Australia, or is this the "you are planning way too early, which is Un-American; come back about six weeks before you want to fly" tax?

And this is cattle class. I'm afraid to even look at upgrades.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nicolai_/]

I would be reckoning on about GBP700, so $1500 or so, at least.
Basically yes. Your currency is in the toilet.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nicolai_/]

When, to where?

[syringavulgaris.livejournal.com]

End of March/beginning of April. Plan is to fly into Melbourne and out of Sydney, but even restricting to a straight-up round-trip to either city does not seem to impact the price.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nicolai_/]

Try a round-the-world trip, might be cheaper (this really worked for someone I know, a week or two ago).
Easter is March 23rd which probably causes slightly higher prices. A week after Easter I get $100 less for JFK/SYD.
Overall it's going to cost you.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nicolai_/]

If going for a RTW trip, consult some travel agents specialising in independent travellers, like STA travel in the UK.

[reddragdiva]

Sounds about right. Remember that the US presently uses banana skins as currency.

[syringavulgaris.livejournal.com]

I HAVE SHARK TEETH. GIVE ME FIREWATER!

[querldox.livejournal.com]

Well, for what it's worth, I believe my SFO-SYD rd. trip in November 2006 was around $1000.

Possible odd route; New York to Honolulu on some US airline, then Honolulu to Sydney on Jetstar, Quantas' lower price airline. You'd probably want to spend a night on either side in Honolulu to avoid flight delay problems.

[(Anonymous)]

Sadly, 2K is about par for the course for when you are going. One tip: Look at Air Tahiti Nui (which we took last time), even if it's no cheaper, changing in Tahiti is SO MUCH NICER Then changing in LAX or SFO I can't even describe.

We are in the process ourselves and it's really annoying. Despite having enough United miles, UAL is basically telling us, "Sorry, tough, the miles won't work anytime". Fuckers.

-mcrosby

[syringavulgaris.livejournal.com]

Alas. They don't have flights on the days I want (or even close). And on the closest one outbound, there's an overnight at LAX. Blech.

[damned-colonial.livejournal.com]

That's about normal, yes.

[missionista.livejournal.com]

I think that's within the range of normal, but specials can be had, where the R/T fare is around $1000. Qantas often has such specials. Also check Air New Zealand, Ansett, Air Tahiti Nui, Garuda (Indonesian).

[blarglefiend.livejournal.com]

If you're sugggesting Ansett then your information may be a little out of date. They went out of business almost a decade ago.

Return MEL<->JFK in the past has been around AU$2500, so US$2k doesn't seem entirely out of the reasonable range particularly with the current relative state of currencies.