More great USA fares that arent to LA or San Fran! These are a bit specific, but I've never seen fares this cheap to Alaska before. Loads of dates, too - from June 2024 all the way through to March 2025 (excluding December). Two stops (LA, Denver) on the outbound, and one (San Fran) on the return flight.
Checked bags included.
Sydney to Anchorage $1002
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…and United are part of Star Alliance too ;-)
I don't think you could PAY me $1000 to fly United again.
i want to see the bears
Plenty on Oxford Street
Some ladies prefer to be with bears and not men.
The bears can have them
@1st-Amendment: why can't we discuss flights to Alaska without this turning into a dumpster fire what is wrong with you
why can't we discuss flights to Alaska without this turning into a dumpster fire what is wrong with you
What is stopping you from doing that?
Do you know which countries have higher CO2 per population than China?
I sure do, can explain why you think that is important? Do you think the atmosphere takes that into account when deciding how the weather works? Or do you think you've bought into a political trick designed to manipulate you?
If you get yourself to Fairbanks in February / March 2025 you’ll be able to catch the World Ice Carving championship!
Or if you are feeling like watching a spot of dog mushing around February next year the Iditarod will be starting in Anchorage and finishing up in Nome.
Of course there is also always skiing at Alyeska down in Girdwood…or just looking out for the Northern Lights over Denali National Park.
Heaps of things to do..
Have you been there? How much the stay costs etc?
A while back so it’s probably more expensive now than it was back then.
But it wasn’t particularly expensive.
Gotta factor in the Aussie $ being not so great at the moment.
But it is a fantastic place, just watch out for bears, and Moose…
Is it just one moose to watch out for, or are are there multiple meese ?
Cruises around the region are dirt cheap at this time of year. Sub $100 a day.
Assume that is for interior? You probably want at least oceanview if not balcony for Alaska.
@djkelly69: Balcony guarantee! They just about pay you for an interior room. Parents are cruising there right now.
They got mid ships, level 11, unobstructed. Not great, but far from terrible.
@tunzafun001: Great deal!
We are going in about a month on RC in a balcony guarantee and are paying about $200 a day which was way cheaper than everything else when we booked it about a year ago.
@djkelly69: I have basically "Schrödinger's cat" you on this one…sorry.
$200 a day is still good if you got the goodies thrown in
Fairbanks is a nice little town, midnight mine is a good bar!
Ozb meet-up?
Nah, A dump flight for all the dormant OzBargainers.
Any Ozbargainers travelled with United Airlines before? Are they any good?
Their reputation isn't great. I've never not flown on a US domestic flight that wasn't delayed or had some sort of issue.
They were wonderful to me once. I arrived late for a SF-LA flight and missed boarding, and they just popped me on a flight an hour later for no extra fee.
If they don't beat you up and throw you off the plane, it's good service!
Seriously though, the service is pretty hit-or-miss depending on the crew (like a lot of non-Asian airlines).
In economy, there is no complimentary alcohol, including beer and wine, even on their international flights. They also have a terrible boarding system, with six groups. Even if you are in group one, you need to wait for all priority guests to board before you are called. And then you have to fight your way past the lower priority guests who cluster around the entry points blocking other groups from passing.
But I do like their international IFE offering.
Yeah the boarding/seat allocation is pretty bad if you don't have status with the airline.
That's incorrect re: international flights and alcohol. Even in economy, alcohol is free on most international flights (between United States and Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, India, Israel, New Zealand, South America and Tahiti) but it's just wine or awful beer (American-style Stella Artois, if you're lucky, or Michelob ULTRA, which gives me a headache).
Sometimes they have a limited supply of a craft beer (IPA or similar) but not the last few times I've flown them.
i got free JD, when going SYD to SFO.. they weren't that bad. same as any others really, although i think they maybe didn't have in flight entertainment. was around 2013 though
I've flown with them (to LA and back) and thought they were pretty good (just as good as Singapore Airlines if not better). Seats were comfortable (economy class) and food wasn't bad either. Overall pretty good experience.
I've flown UA, to the USA, a few times.
They're just OK.
Just don't expect SQ or QR service.
Agreed, the service is a bit of a miss at times. I get the vibe that staff are there to just do their jobs and nothing else. No smiles or going above the minimum.
Flew UA Sydney to San Fran. Cabin crew were very disgruntled and the service was pretty poor. As mentioned there is no alcohol served on their international flights.
On the way back LA > Mel I paid extra for a premium economy seat which was much nicer and this time the cabin crew were friendly…
We were pretty nervocus flying them just over a year ago with 2 kids under 5, but they were actually amazing, and we found them as good as any other airline (Emirates/Etihad/Singapore etc)
I've flown LAX to SYD with United. They're fine. It's a decent economy seat, pretty good food and entertainment options, it's just… fine.
They are okay. Flight attendants are pretty uninterested in talking to you. At one point after pushing the "attendant required" button the FA came up and said "You want something?". Wow. Ignored her tone and asked for a beer which I did get but they really weren't that happy. Upgrades to extra legroom seats are quite expensive too.Around $250-$300usd. I'm not saying I wouldn't fly them again, but they are quite a way down on my preference list.
I flew with United in 2012 from Sydney to LA. No in-flight entertainment (aside from the odd movie or two they'd show on the large screen) and the staff were very rude (asking for a glass of water was like asking them to draw blood from a stone). I'd never fly with them again.
Numerous times when I was studying in US both international and domestic. They are alright but had one occasion they let us waited 4 hours while all other flights were cancelled then boarded us on aircraft waited a another hour or so then kick us out cuz all pilots exhausted their flight time due to delays from heavy snow :(
You can build a four-leg flight like this and visit both west and east coast - https://imgur.com/a/mpitIdQ
And don't forget the Amex deal, that is $200 less so only $800 in total :-)
Thanks @Aloa ! Which one's the amex deal ?
Thanks!, can't find it n mine though, definitely targeted
Thanks for this, "little" tidbit :-D
I found it in my AMEX Essentials card now!
Nice find!
This is the way!
Nice
How did you find the dates that aligned with cheap prices? Tools like Date grid/graph seem to become unavailable with multi-city & if I use SYD-DCA on 4 June one-way, it's over 3k for a single leg.
That comes out at US$1,344. Were you employing a VPN set to somewhere in the US?
Nope, just use Google Flight.
I replied a couple of PMs and want to add this comment so that people know a bit more of how this works:
There are certain restrictions when it comes to UA's Excursionist Perk, for example the flight from Australia to US has to be between Mon and Thurs, and between Sun and Wed when coming back, make sure to plan your trip like so.
You can transfer up to 3 times within the US
There are other cities you can make a transfer, such as Denver or Chicago
Embedded surface sector is allowed
It takes a bit of trial and error to find the optimal route, so try to adjust to your own plan.
Thanks. Good info.
Awesome. One of the best places I've ever been to.
What was the key highlight for you?
The Alaska Marine Highway Ferry from Bellingham, Washington State to Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau and Skagway. It was 2 or 3 nights to Ketchikan on the first leg. At the back of the ship there's a covered glass roofed solarium with space heaters. You lay your sleeping bag out on a camp bed under there and that's where you sleep. The ship hugs the shore so you get to see bears, otters, dolphins, whales, Orcas etc. The scenery is stunning. There is a canteen, showers etc on board, also cabins if you want to pay more. As It's run by the government and is an essential means of transportation, It's not expensive at all - much cheaper and better than on a cruise ship as you're so much closer to land. Ketchikan is nice and Sitka, an old Russian town from when they owned Alaska is lovely. You can do the journey in reverse.
Glacier bay is awesome - you will have seen pictures and video of it. Basically, glaciers are breaking off into the sea all the time and it's stunning.
Denali National Park and seeing the Aurora over Mt McKinley (the highest peak in North America).
Driving to the Arctic Circle and camping for the night - the vastness of the Tundra and the sun that goes under the horizon but doesn't set. Nobody else around.
Go for it.
Sounds amazing. What season did you travel in?
If you are gold or platinum with another airline, don't forget to request your status match. You will get full privileges during the 90 day qualification period (economy x. lounge entry for international legs, etc). And you can set the day you want the 90 days to commence on (can apply ahead of time).
Can you do stopovers both ways? I'd really love to see Denver and SF.
Anchorage sounds boring to me? A smallish town (250k) in the middle of nowhere… how exciting can that be?
“Hey ChatGPT, how exciting can Anchorage be?”
Anchorage, Alaska, offers a unique blend of urban amenities and outdoor adventures, making it an exciting destination. Here are some highlights:
Natural Beauty: Anchorage is surrounded by stunning landscapes, including mountains, glaciers, and coastlines. Activities like hiking, wildlife viewing, and glacier tours are readily accessible.
Northern Lights: From late fall to early spring, Anchorage provides excellent opportunities to see the Northern Lights, a breathtaking natural phenomenon.
Cultural Attractions: The city is home to several museums and cultural institutions, such as the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center, where you can learn about the rich history and cultures of the region.
Wildlife: Anchorage offers numerous opportunities to see wildlife, including moose, bears, and whales, either in the wild or at places like the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
Outdoor Activities: With long summer days, you can enjoy activities like fishing, kayaking, biking, and even flightseeing to get a bird's-eye view of the stunning scenery.
Winter Sports: In winter, Anchorage becomes a playground for snow sports enthusiasts, offering skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, and more.
Events and Festivals: The city hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Anchorage Fur Rendezvous (Fur Rondy), and the Alaska State Fair.
Local Cuisine: Anchorage's dining scene features fresh seafood, local produce, and unique Alaskan specialties, offering foodies plenty of exciting options.
With its mix of adventure, natural beauty, and cultural experiences, Anchorage can be an exhilarating place to visit.
It might not be as cool any more, but there’s[plenty of useful and fascinating info on Wikipedia: (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorage,_Alaska
And legalisation, if that is your thing!
Sounds like it might have a few things going for it. But 15 degrees in June… generally I want to be somewhere warm when I'm on holiday.
Maybe not everyone is looking for an Ibiza like experience everywhere they go?
Easy to get out of and some great things to see and do nearby. Roads are excellent so you can head inland to Denali, Fairbanks, go up to the arctic circle. Get on the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry system to get to Sitka, Ketchikan, Skagway, out to the Aleutians etc. Not too expensive either.
An incredible place to visit and the people are some of the friendliest you'll meet on planet Earth.
Might go and do some snowboarding at Bull mountain.
'Dont go changing!'
can also stack with AMEX Spend $1000, get $200 promo
Will we joyride on with turbulence on the trip?
Anchorage is a fantastic base to explore the surroundings. City itself is small and almost nothing to do apart from walking/biking along some paths near the coastline. But so many national parks and beautiful hiking places to relax. I was there in a summer so don't know much about snow activities, but seems very popular in the winter too. Mount flattop is easy to access from the city as there are so many tours from there. Also renting a car is easy and affordable.
Do not forget the train ride from Anchorage to Whittier. Glass roof carriages and scenic with a chance of seeing wildlife and for sure beautiful glaciers. Please check here https://www.alaskatrain.com/routes/anchorage-whittier.html
Then from Whittier you can hop on a boat to explore Prince Williams Sound. We saw many wildlife including Whales and Seals. And of course a lot of glaciers and you'd probably see them breaking into the water. A great experience.
Overall a great experience and I found the people are friendly and polite over there. And shopping is cheaper compared to other US major cities as there are no sales tax.
Enjoy your trip.
.. and we paid nearly 2K for a return ticket. Sigh!
So this is a good deal. :-)
Putting in Melbourne rather than Sydney literally doubles the price..
B737 Max 8 Aircraft…… mmmm
hmm this is a big problem…
gpt: The safety of the Boeing 737 Max 8 has been a topic of significant concern and scrutiny, especially following two fatal crashes in October 2018 (Lion Air Flight 610) and March 2019 (Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302). These incidents led to a global grounding of the aircraft in March 2019. Since then, extensive investigations and modifications have been carried out to address the issues that contributed to the crashes.
If it's Boeing, I ain't going
Those 737s have a longer range than I thought!
Why would i want to go to an expensive third world country?
New Zealand?
Nah, usa wins. Dysfunction of a third world country plus overpriced healthcare and a side of gun violence.
Has anyone booked this with stopovers? and when would be the best time to visit?
Winter, snow activities
Summer, outdoor walking/riding activities
Why double prices from Melbourne? Are we still paying the covid lockdown penalties
Love of socialism needs to be severely punished.
You could just book a return flight to Sydney with Jetstar, then connect on.
This is not a very direct flight, stopping in both LA and Denver. If you look at a map, Denver is really not on the way and stopping there significantly extends the journey. You'd be exhausted and cursing flying after arriving in Anchorage.
Otherwise price is great, but this is not for the feint of heart. If you're a fit 22 yr old with little cash, and wanting to see Alaska this is the way.
A stop over for 1 or 2 nights would definitely help break up the trip after such a long journey.
The cheap flights are enticing but everything else is expensive. The unfavourable $AUD definitely doesn't help. There is only a very few backpacker hostels in Alaska and most of them appear to be almost fully booked out for the summer months and then closed for the entire winter (Oct - Apr). As I prefer to travel in the winter, I would need to stay in a hotel/motel, these average about $200 p/n. And that's off-season pricing!
I was about to book for June but luckily I did some research! Americans love to holiday in Anchorage in the summer and must plan a yr in advance. There’s very low stock of rental cars. I got a quote of US$2500 for 3 days car rental but most quotes came back zero in stock!
Need a car to get around or else do a tour USD $300 to $500 ave pp for a day tour.
At this point I think the Alaska cruises are great value!
No wonder the flights are cheap to Alaska.
Cheaper to go to Finland. The ski lift prices are high too.
Wine and beer are free on United Economy® and all other flights between mainland U.S. and Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Israel, New Zealand, South America, and Tahiti.
https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/inflight/dining-menu…
Deal finished 😭
Cheap