Qantas unveils New York to Auckland to Sydney route, and you can book with miles
Qantas will once again land in New York, but its return will come a bit differently than originally planned.
The flag carrier of Australia announced on Thursday that it would soon connect New York-JFK with Auckland Airport (AKL) in New Zealand.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
The airline will use flight numbers QF3 and QF4 for the eastbound and westbound services, respectively. All flights will be operated by the airline's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. (The airline expects to receive three new Dreamliners from Boeing next year to help support this route and its existing long-haul services.)
The new route will operate as a fifth-freedom flight from New York-JFK to Auckland and then connect onward to Sydney. As such, passengers can book the New York to New Zealand flight without needing to purchase a ticket all the way to Sydney.
The thrice-weekly service connecting the Big Apple with Down Under will begin on June 14, 2023.
The new Qantas service will go head-to-head with Air New Zealand's nonstop New York service, which is scheduled to launch in just a few weeks, on Sept. 17, 2022. Despite being an Australian airline, Qantas can operate this flight from New Zealand due to fifth-freedom rights.
Qantas will also completely redesign its Auckland lounge to offer enhanced amenities that travelers expect before long-haul flights.
This won't be the first time that Qantas has served New York-JFK, and it won't be the last, either. Before the pandemic, the carrier connected Sydney with New York with a route that stopped in Los Angeles (LAX) in both directions.
Looking ahead, the carrier still plans to launch its hotly-anticipated new Project Sunrise routes, connecting the Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) with both New York and London. These two flights are still poised to become the two longest commercial flights, at 10,573 miles and 9,950 miles, respectively. They will take roughly 20 hours from wheels up to wheels down.
The airline recently placed an order for specially designed Airbus A350-1000 ultra-long-haul aircraft that'll be uniquely configured for the airline's longest missions. These routes are scheduled to start at a yet undisclosed date in 2025.
While the route itself is quite exciting, there's even a way for flyers to redeem miles for an award seat.
The deal
Airlines: Qantas.
Routes: Sydney (SYD) to New York-JFK via Auckland (AKL)
Cost: One-way flights in business class can be purchased for 55,000 Alaska miles + ~$55 with Alaska Mileage Plan miles, 80,000 miles + ~$80 with American Airlines AAdvantage miles or from 136,000 + ~$300 if booked via Qantas.
Dates: June 21, 23, 28 and 30.
Pay taxes/fees with: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline; on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), Chase Sapphire Reserve (3 points per dollar on travel) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2 points per dollar on travel) for travel protections on the award flight.
Qantas has designated both the eastbound and westbound flight on June 16, 2023, as a "Points Plane," meaning that every seat on each service will be available as a reward redemption. Be sure to book fast, as these seats are being snatched up quickly.
One of the easiest ways to check award availability is by using ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG's parent company, Red Ventures).
If you decide to book your ticket with Qantas Frequent Flyer points, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards at a 1:1 transfer ratio. On Qantas, one-way flights between New York-JFK and Sydney cost 144,600 points in business class.
Alternatively, if you decide to book using American Airlines AAdvantage miles, you can transfer Bilt Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio to boost your balance.
Whether you go for Auckland or Sydney, it will set you back 55,000 miles with Alaska Mileage Plan or 80,000 miles when booking with AAdvantage.
As these new flight itineraries were just uploaded into the schedule, you'll need to call American Airlines to book.
There's plenty more availability if you're looking to fly in premium economy or economy. These rates start at 108,400 points for premium economy and 55,200 for economy for a one-way flight from New York to Sydney booked with Qantas frequent flyer.
Related: A perfect hop across the Pacific: Qantas 787 business class
Bottom line
While Project Sunrise is still on the horizon for a 2025 launch, Qantas is returning to New York a bit sooner than expected with a new route to Auckland.
This will give flyers a new option for getting between the United States and Oceania, and it'll compete head-to-head against the new service that'll soon be offered by Air New Zealand.
Additional reporting by Zach Griff.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). |
3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). |
3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. |
Intro Offer
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.60,000 bonus pointsAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees