Best price for airfares to Orlando

[Melbourne5]

2009 Mel-lax $999rtn adults $750 kids qantas
2010 Mel-lax $1100 rtn adults $850 kids qantas
2011 Mel-mco-JFK $1250 rtn adults $1000 kids qantas/American

2009 was when virgin started flying so lots of competition and cheap fares. 2011 was the launch of the qantas Dallas flights.

I am a platinum qantas ff so we got upgraded to premium economy ( all 5 of us ) in 2010&11!!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

2009 Mel-lax $999rtn adults $750 kids qantas
2010 Mel-lax $1100 rtn adults $850 kids qantas
2011 Mel-mco-JFK $1250 rtn adults $1000 kids qantas/American

2009 was when virgin started flying so lots of competition and cheap fares. 2011 was the launch of the qantas Dallas flights.

I am a platinum qantas ff so we got upgraded to premium economy ( all 5 of us ) in 2010&11!!

My husband is a platinum qantas ff too but we have never flown with the internationally because the prices are so expensive when we've been booking. We were considering looking at Qantas for this trip because it will be the middle of winter over there and we were thinking that it might be good to have the use of the business lounges if we get snowed in at JFK etc. Have you visited the lounges at LAX and JFK and if so were they nice?

Also, how did you get upgraded? Did you ask or did they just bump you up? Did you book directly with Qantas for your flights or through a flight centre?

Sorry for all the questions , this is just very timely for me.

 

[Tara2004]

In Nov of 2011 it cost family of 4 to go from MEL to LAX to MCO return $8600

Qantas MEL to LAX then Delta to MCO

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

In Nov of 2011 it cost family of 4 to go from MEL to LAX to MCO return $8600

Qantas MEL to LAX then Delta to MCO

Tara, that seems expensive? Was it premium economy?

 

[aussietravellers]

Have you visited the lounges at LAX and JFK and if so were they nice?

I have used the AA lounges at LAX, JFK (and DFW), the Admirals Club they are called. Spend many many hours in the LAX one over the years actually, know that one quite well (our longest stint was about 7 hours, but we have done a few of that length 4 to 6 hours). There isn't an AA lounge at MCO (well I certainly hope there isn't, we always head straight to the lounge if there is one)

The AA lounge in terminal 4 at LAX has a qantas desk too. You get free wifi, but you have to ask for a card when you check in and the card will give you the passcode to access it.
You only get a free drink voucher for each person If you want anything substantial to eat you have to buy it. There are some very light snacks available for free, bananas, crackers, etc. We have had dinner off the menu many times before and the purchased food isn't too bad. There is a kids room with games but my DS hasn't used that in the last few years as he's getting a little older now, but when he was younger he liked hanging out in there and there have never been many kids in there. A good spot to go and hide is to go left, when you get in and are looking out at the planes, go right past the bar/food ordering area, around the corner to the left and there is a room with a tv. There are ottermans with really comfy chairs and it's the best place to go and hide and recline in relative peace.

JFK is a nice lounge, I've only been to that one once. Didn't notice a kids area. We had breakfast in there but much of the menu wasn't available Same thing, you get your free drink card. I didn't ask about the free wifi because I had my trusty virgin mifi thing that I had bought in NY and that was working fine. We weren't there long, only about an hour, it wasn't too busy, clean and comfortable.

DFW if you ever have to stop there, it was miles away from where we were, we felt like we were walking for days But it was the same deal, free drink card per person, limited snacks, can buy better food.

We have never not been able to get a seat at any of the lounges (with the exception of Honolulu), if you go there its a Qantas Club and it's the size of my bathroom here at home (no not really, but it is seriously small, About the size of two hotel rooms, tiny). You should have seen that place back when the flights were leaving around 1am, once it was delayed until about 5am and everybody was trying to sleep, there were no enough chairs in the place for about half the people crammed in, they ran out of food, drinks. Nightmare!

Anyway getting off track with my Hawaii story But the Admirals lounges are ok, I don't feel they are as good as our lounges here, there certainly isn't the free food selection that there is here, but they are big, bright and comfortable.

 

[Kangarucci]

The Qantas Club in Honolulu (2004) is the only lounge (QF /AA) that were not going to allow us in as they were nearly at their capacity. We had two young children with us and that may have swayed them.

AA lounges are disappointing compared to QF but they are still great to get away from the mob.

There is no QF/AA lounge at MCO but you can purchase a 30 day membership and access the Delta Club lounge. I think that it is $90 and will allow your family entrance.

 

[Melbourne5]

Tara, that seems expensive? Was it premium economy?

Hi
At JFK the admirals club ( which you can use as your husband is a platinum flyer) is good but as mentioned not much by the way of food unless you pay. You can get most drinks on chits ( ask fornthese on entry) and wifi access too.

At lax I have only used international terminal ( called tbit). This one has a one world lounge for business and one for first class. If you are with a platinum you can use the first class one. It's used by Qantas, British airways, Cathay etc. Is always been busy when we have visited but has food and drinks ( self serve). You can access showers etc ( which is great for late night departures when you have spent the day in the parks.)

Best part about having a platinum in the family is access to Qantas first class lounge at Sydney or Melbourne international terminals. They have to be seen to be believed....even with kids ( we have 3) it all seems relaxed after your first glass of moet...and restaurant meals as well. ( all this even if you are on discount economy fares).

Upgrades were at gate on all 4 occasions. In Qantas land first dibs on upgrades ( ifnthey have to move people around ) are chairmans lounge members, platinum, gold , silver then bronze. This happens a lot when people need to move seats, families seated together, cancellations etc... Mostly Qantas find a way to move it's higher tier flyers into it's premium cabins ( pe, bus or first).... We have just been lucky as there is 5 of us and only I am a platinum.

Its a bit of a lottery but for us it's been a great payoff these past 2 trips. And very very cheap flights tonstart with.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I have used the AA lounges at LAX, JFK (and DFW), the Admirals Club they are called. Spend many many hours in the LAX one over the years actually, know that one quite well (our longest stint was about 7 hours, but we have done a few of that length 4 to 6 hours). There isn't an AA lounge at MCO (well I certainly hope there isn't, we always head straight to the lounge if there is one)

The AA lounge in terminal 4 at LAX has a qantas desk too. You get free wifi, but you have to ask for a card when you check in and the card will give you the passcode to access it.
You only get a free drink voucher for each person If you want anything substantial to eat you have to buy it. There are some very light snacks available for free, bananas, crackers, etc. We have had dinner off the menu many times before and the purchased food isn't too bad. There is a kids room with games but my DS hasn't used that in the last few years as he's getting a little older now, but when he was younger he liked hanging out in there and there have never been many kids in there. A good spot to go and hide is to go left, when you get in and are looking out at the planes, go right past the bar/food ordering area, around the corner to the left and there is a room with a tv. There are ottermans with really comfy chairs and it's the best place to go and hide and recline in relative peace.

JFK is a nice lounge, I've only been to that one once. Didn't notice a kids area. We had breakfast in there but much of the menu wasn't available Same thing, you get your free drink card. I didn't ask about the free wifi because I had my trusty virgin mifi thing that I had bought in NY and that was working fine. We weren't there long, only about an hour, it wasn't too busy, clean and comfortable.

DFW if you ever have to stop there, it was miles away from where we were, we felt like we were walking for days But it was the same deal, free drink card per person, limited snacks, can buy better food.

We have never not been able to get a seat at any of the lounges (with the exception of Honolulu), if you go there its a Qantas Club and it's the size of my bathroom here at home (no not really, but it is seriously small, About the size of two hotel rooms, tiny). You should have seen that place back when the flights were leaving around 1am, once it was delayed until about 5am and everybody was trying to sleep, there were no enough chairs in the place for about half the people crammed in, they ran out of food, drinks. Nightmare!

Anyway getting off track with my Hawaii story But the Admirals lounges are ok, I don't feel they are as good as our lounges here, there certainly isn't the free food selection that there is here, but they are big, bright and comfortable.

Thanks for all of this amazing info Aussietravellers. Sounds like the lounges aren't as generous as our domestic ones. I definitely think it is not a deal breaker for us. We had been thinking about buying me a QFF membership as well because they are fairly reasonable for spouses and with 2 international trips planned so close together we thought it might be worthwhile and make it easier to get the kids in. With that said, I think we could put that membership money to pretty good use outside of the QFF lounges instead, especially since it looks like the offerings inside the lounges aren't all that special. I think we will keep Qantas on the radar but if a better deal comes along, we will take it instead.

The Qantas Club in Honolulu (2004) is the only lounge (QF /AA) that were not going to allow us in as they were nearly at their capacity. We had two young children with us and that may have swayed them.

AA lounges are disappointing compared to QF but they are still great to get away from the mob.

There is no QF/AA lounge at MCO but you can purchase a 30 day membership and access the Delta Club lounge. I think that it is $90 and will allow your family entrance.

Thanks for the Delta membership heads up, that may be something to consider. We have flown Delta both of our last 2 trips so I wish I had known about that

Hi
At JFK the admirals club ( which you can use as your husband is a platinum flyer) is good but as mentioned not much by the way of food unless you pay. You can get most drinks on chits ( ask fornthese on entry) and wifi access too.

At lax I have only used international terminal ( called tbit). This one has a one world lounge for business and one for first class. If you are with a platinum you can use the first class one. It's used by Qantas, British airways, Cathay etc. Is always been busy when we have visited but has food and drinks ( self serve). You can access showers etc ( which is great for late night departures when you have spent the day in the parks.)

Best part about having a platinum in the family is access to Qantas first class lounge at Sydney or Melbourne international terminals. They have to be seen to be believed....even with kids ( we have 3) it all seems relaxed after your first glass of moet...and restaurant meals as well. ( all this even if you are on discount economy fares).

Upgrades were at gate on all 4 occasions. In Qantas land first dibs on upgrades ( ifnthey have to move people around ) are chairmans lounge members, platinum, gold , silver then bronze. This happens a lot when people need to move seats, families seated together, cancellations etc... Mostly Qantas find a way to move it's higher tier flyers into it's premium cabins ( pe, bus or first).... We have just been lucky as there is 5 of us and only I am a platinum.

Its a bit of a lottery but for us it's been a great payoff these past 2 trips. And very very cheap flights tonstart with.

Sounds like there is the potential to get upgrades if they are available. It would be absolutely lovely but if we can save $200 per flight on booking with another airline I'd rather the money in my pocket but if we can get a good Qantas deal then it's definitely an added bonus if an upgrade was available. Thanks for all the info.

 

[aussietravellers]

Ms.Shuttergirl. You can also buy single visit to Admirals clubs, I think it's around $50 per adult and each adult gets in up to three kids to the age of 17. I haven't used this myself but I was looking at it once when it looked like a friend may be travelling with us and she and her kids wouldn''t have access to the lounge.

There is also a 30 day membership, think that's around $99. For unlimited entry to Admirals clubs around the USA for 30 days. So that's an option too if you are doing lots of travel in the US and your DH already has access with his OneWorld status, and you can get a membership and the kids can go in on yours at no extra cost

Even though Admirals Club are not as nice as the QC, they are nice to get away from the crowds and have somewhere to relax when you have a long layover in LAX.

 

[Kangarucci]

Ms.Shuttergirl- You don't need to be flying Delta to use their lounge!

 

[aussietravellers]

There is no QF/AA lounge at MCO but you can purchase a 30 day membership and access the Delta Club lounge. I think that it is $90 and will allow your family entrance.

Kangarucci, thanks for posting this info. That is so great to know for future trips.

 

[australiankaren]

hey

re delta lounge access, we have done the membership a few times and most of the time they will ask for your delta boarding pass (we have used LA, Tampa, Orlando, Dallas etc)...so it may just depend on the Lounge dragon.......we were always flying delta, so no issues, although even when you are flying domestic first class, that doesnt give you entry, you have to have a pass.

It always pays to print off the terms and conditiions and have them with you to show the dragon......

LAX delta club is new, as is Tampa....big on drinks, little on snacks, but free wifi and space to relax.

 

[cola]

Nov 2009 $970 United Sydney-SFO-Las Vegas-Orlando-SFO-Sydney (SFO was just changing planes)

United had Sydney-anywhere in US for $940 return, $30 for each additional stop. Since then I've only seen that type of pricing for LAX or SFO only a couple of times.


Oct 2010 $1180 United Sydney-LAX-ORD-Miami Orlando-LAX-Sydney