VA or ANZ to LAX

I've got a hectic month of travelling planned for July and just been told I have to visit LA too. I've checked pricing for a PE return ticket between LHR and LAX and have found that I can save about £480 by flying business class with ANZ.

I guess the obvious benefit is the flat bed that seems similar to the VA UC suites. Can anyone guide me which I should choose? I'm looking for comfort as well as TP and FC miles earning potential. I could be swung to stay with VA as I need 11 more TP to get to AU.

Any advice?

ANZ business class is much better than PE and you will still get one TPs.

Originally posted by manymiles
ANZ business class is much better than PE and you will still get one TPs.

The flat bed really swung it for me. I'm all booked. Thanks!

Originally posted by Clarkysun
I've got a hectic month of travelling planned for July and just been told I have to visit LA too. I've checked pricing for a PE return ticket between LHR and LAX and have found that I can save about £480 by flying business class with ANZ.

I guess the obvious benefit is the flat bed that seems similar to the VA UC suites. Can anyone guide me which I should choose? I'm looking for comfort as well as TP and FC miles earning potential. I could be swung to stay with VA as I need 11 more TP to get to AU.

Any advice?

I have done both, absolutely right to choose ANZ J over VS PE for the same money. You do get two TPs each way and miles to your VS account.

I think the main differences are that the ANZ cabin environment is not as nice as VS, no mood lighting, harsher colours, and of course no bar nor IFBT. However the seats are almost identical (they don't give you ninja suits though), but the food and wine is much better and I remember the service being very good. At LHR you get the horrid United lounge, and in LAX the ANZ lounge which is the one VS uses.

If you do not mind me asking how much as the ANZ business class fare?

I have looked a few times and they have always been more expensive that VS PE on the dates I needed.

Originally posted by manymiles
If you do not mind me asking how much as the ANZ business class fare?

I have looked a few times and they have always been more expensive that VS PE on the dates I needed.

I eventually got NZ Business MAN-LHR-LAX-LHR-MAN for £2023

Virgin were offering the same route in PE for £2445


In summary I'll have an extra £422 in my pocket, a bed, lounge access and 2 less tps than I would have had if I had chosen VS PE.

Originally posted by Clarkysun
Virgin were offering the same route in PE for £2445

£2445 per person for PE??? That is insane!

Boo

Originally posted by Boo Boo
£2445 per person for PE??? That is insane!

I've noticed that the VS pricing for the West Coast in PE is *very* expensive if you end up having to pay high-season weekend 'W' fares, but more worrying is these very high fares are also continuing into September as well.

I have to head to SFO in September, and Albuquerque in October, and I'm seriously contemplating using ANZ via LAX for the ABQ trip (despite it involving LAX), as it gets me some all important Star Alliance miles!

ANZ PE is currently showing as £1195 all-in as the cheapest fare around the days I want to travel, which seems to be somewhat cheaper than the similar VS offering. ANZ PE is a very nice service, as it shares the same basic food service with their J cabin.

When they have fare sales, ANZ is excellent value.

Mike

Originally posted by mike-smashing
I've noticed that the VS pricing for the West Coast in PE is *very* expensive if you end up having to pay high-season weekend 'W' fares, but more worrying is these very high fares are also continuing into September as well.

That is just mad... Must admit that I have never flown PE - we always try to fly Club World/UC or similar. We do a lot of MFU with BA, but if we pay for Business Class then we don't pay more than £1600 per person (always seem to find a good deal somewhere on a good airline for that sort of price). So £2445 per person in PE seems insane.

Another option for people on that route (if they don't feel the need for full business class) is Maxjet - http://www.maxjet.com/ . They are starting London to LAX flights (at a VERY reasonable price - under £800 return) at the end of August. They also fly to LAS.

Looks like the OP is already booked, but it might help others.

Boo