American Airlines unveils newest route to Australia, launching in December
American Airlines is planning to fly Down Under with a second route from its West Coast hub this winter.
The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier on Monday announced it will launch nonstop service this December from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Brisbane Airport (BNE) in Australia.
It'll be the carrier's second nonstop link to the Australian city and its third route overall to the continent.
The new service will launch Dec. 5, just as the peak summer travel season in the Southern Hemisphere ramps up.
American's new LA-to-Brisbane announcement came as its Oneworld alliance partner, Australia's Qantas, revealed it would increase its flight offerings between the two countries.
"Together, we offer the most comprehensive service connecting the United States with Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific," Steve Johnson, American's vice chair and chief strategy officer, said in a statement announcing the news.
American's new Australia route
Headlining American and Qantas' announcement about December and January 2025-26 service was the U.S. carrier's new nonstop route to BNE, situated some 575 miles north of Sydney on Australia's east coast.
American will operate its LAX-BNE route three times weekly between early December and the end of January 2026.
Passengers booking American's new Brisbane flights from Southern California will fly aboard one of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. However, we should point out that these will be from the existing 787-9s in its fleet — not the new "787-9P" aircraft featuring the carrier's brand-new Flagship Suites that debut next month.
Passengers hoping to score one of those suites, with their sliding privacy doors, should instead opt to book a seat on American's BNE route from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), which picks back up for the peak Australia travel season Oct. 26 after that route debuted for the carrier last year.
American's new Australia flight will give the carrier a total of three routes Down Under this coming season: its LAX and DFW service to Brisbane, plus its nonstop LAX service to Sydney Airport (SYD).
Brisbane sees more flights
Brisbane, for its part, continues its growth as a destination for U.S. travelers. Peak-season routes from the U.S. include:
- American, from DFW and LAX
- Qantas, from LAX
- Delta Air Lines, from LAX — which TPG's Clint Henderson recently flew, scoring a Delta One suite on the carrier's Airbus A350-900
- United Airlines, from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Brisbane hotel review: Perfect for the location: What it's like staying at Hotel X Brisbane Fortitude Valley, Vignette Collection by IHG
Qantas adds A380 to the mix in DFW
As previously mentioned, Qantas is also scaling up its flight offerings between its home country and the U.S.
Between Dec. 3 and the end of January, the Sydney-based carrier will shift to daily flights on its route between DFW and Melbourne Airport (MEL).
It'll increase the number of passengers it can carry on its DFW route to SYD with the help of its Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger plane.
Qantas currently flies its superjumbo jet from Melbourne and Sydney to LA. Its A380 offers a four-cabin configuration featuring 14 first-class seats, 70 business-class pods, 60 premium economy recliners and 341 economy seats — for an eye-popping capacity of 485 passengers (such is the A380!).
Qantas first-class flight review: The most comfortable way to fly Down Under
How to book American Airlines or Qantas to Australia
Travelers hoping to book seats on American or Qantas can use American Airlines AAdvantage miles or Qantas Frequent Flyer points for award flights on either airline.
Qantas is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One.
You can also find seats on either carrier through partner Oneworld programs, such as Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, British Airways Club and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, among others.
Related reading:
- Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
- American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- American Airlines basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.