For me it would depend on things like flight times, carrier and what planes they use, what class i'm flying on, lounge access, potential prices for the dates you're looking at; but since you've given none of that and we're answering a little blindly, I have a slight preference for transiting in AKL over SYD. Particularly as Air NZ's flights link up quite nicely ( a 2hr transit) along with NZ's excellent Boeing 777 J product the whole way (depending what class you're flying, of course). MEL-AKL-YVR (so avoiding LAX) in around 18 hrs on a lie-flast bed is a pretty good deal.
Yeh agree, Air NZ seem to be a little above Air Canada in my books. Fingers crossed we get a Melb-Yvr flight in the near furutre. Heard Air Canada are looking at it with there new 787s.
I'd state a rather large preference for connecting at AKL rather than SYD. AKL is such a painless connection. Same terminal, short security line and bam, you're airside again. No muss, no fuss.
I prefer the MEL-AKL-YVR option as it is generally cheaper than the MEL-SYD-YVR. I did the route 3 times last year. Could only do PE, not J. I believe there is no PE product via Australia. Avoiding LAX is important especially since I am not on J. I guess maybe United have MEL-LAX-YVR.
The transit in AKL is generally smooth and the Kiwi are very friendly.
MEL to YVR would be amazing as it would take a lot of pressure of SYD and LAX. However, I remember an Air Canada exec. saying that it would be too long. Apparently the flight would come in at a thigh numbing seventeen hours.
Transitting SYD can be scary, as some airlines have a very short MCT, they say they can meet it, but what if?
What if the incoming flight is late?
Not nice if you miss it due to it not being your fault.
Even you get to SYDd in time, you have to get the transit bus, either the QF one, bit better as its a specific service, vs VA one which is TBus and picks up in the terminal outside VA's arrival section, (apart from the gate near gate 46), before continuing to the SYDi terminal. This all takes up time.
I have transitted MEL, SYD, have not transitted AKL, but have used its int and dom terminals, but more relevant to you would be the int terminal, its very small, manageable, SYDi is huge!
Sorry about the waffle, but its AKL for me as well.
Seems to be AKL , Yeh Qantas are doing there seasonal flights again, however seems to be only for summer period and then nov-late jan, so flying outside those times its no good!
True but if you're accruing with QFF or OW, it's a waste to flush those points/miles down the drain. A little bit of hassle for a sizeable chunk towards your target. Seems obvious really...
Ed_G
Ed_G
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 21 Mar 2015
Total posts 12
Whats the preference MEL-SYD-YVR or MEL - AKL- YVR? Ignoring the painful transit at LAX.
domesticgoddess
domesticgoddess
NZ Elite
Member since 03 Jul 2014
Total posts 65
For me it would depend on things like flight times, carrier and what planes they use, what class i'm flying on, lounge access, potential prices for the dates you're looking at; but since you've given none of that and we're answering a little blindly, I have a slight preference for transiting in AKL over SYD. Particularly as Air NZ's flights link up quite nicely ( a 2hr transit) along with NZ's excellent Boeing 777 J product the whole way (depending what class you're flying, of course). MEL-AKL-YVR (so avoiding LAX) in around 18 hrs on a lie-flast bed is a pretty good deal.
Ed_G
Ed_G
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 21 Mar 2015
Total posts 12
Yeh agree, Air NZ seem to be a little above Air Canada in my books. Fingers crossed we get a Melb-Yvr flight in the near furutre. Heard Air Canada are looking at it with there new 787s.
Hugo
Hugo
Member since 12 Jun 2013
Total posts 216
I'd state a rather large preference for connecting at AKL rather than SYD. AKL is such a painless connection. Same terminal, short security line and bam, you're airside again. No muss, no fuss.
riley
riley
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 19 Mar 2014
Total posts 358
Muss? Jake the Muss?
nicholas_yue
nicholas_yue
Virgin Blue - Velocity Rewards
Member since 25 May 2011
Total posts 13
I prefer the MEL-AKL-YVR option as it is generally cheaper than the MEL-SYD-YVR. I did the route 3 times last year. Could only do PE, not J. I believe there is no PE product via Australia. Avoiding LAX is important especially since I am not on J. I guess maybe United have MEL-LAX-YVR.
The transit in AKL is generally smooth and the Kiwi are very friendly.
Ed_G
Ed_G
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 21 Mar 2015
Total posts 12
Yeh cheapest is always the trnasit through LAX, but id do anything to avoid that. The pits!
Yeh Air Canada dont seem to offer a PE service, so its a bit limited in that regard!
Jono
Jono
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 25 Jan 2013
Total posts 108
MEL to YVR would be amazing as it would take a lot of pressure of SYD and LAX. However, I remember an Air Canada exec. saying that it would be too long. Apparently the flight would come in at a thigh numbing seventeen hours.
RaptorNation158
RaptorNation158
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Aug 2014
Total posts 186
I would go for MEL-AKL-YVR since QF's seasonal routes to Vancouver seem to have gone for this year. But my prefrence would still be AKL.
Andrew Barkery
Andrew Barkery
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Mar 2011
Total posts 433
Transitting SYD can be scary, as some airlines have a very short MCT, they say they can meet it, but what if?
What if the incoming flight is late?
Not nice if you miss it due to it not being your fault.
Even you get to SYDd in time, you have to get the transit bus, either the QF one, bit better as its a specific service, vs VA one which is TBus and picks up in the terminal outside VA's arrival section, (apart from the gate near gate 46), before continuing to the SYDi terminal. This all takes up time.
I have transitted MEL, SYD, have not transitted AKL, but have used its int and dom terminals, but more relevant to you would be the int terminal, its very small, manageable, SYDi is huge!
Sorry about the waffle, but its AKL for me as well.
Ed_G
Ed_G
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 21 Mar 2015
Total posts 12
Seems to be AKL , Yeh Qantas are doing there seasonal flights again, however seems to be only for summer period and then nov-late jan, so flying outside those times its no good!
TheRealBabushka
TheRealBabushka
Member since 21 Apr 2012
Total posts 2,058
I don't get the fuss with LAX if you hold a friendly nation passport. Call me crazy but it's not that bad...
domesticgoddess
domesticgoddess
NZ Elite
Member since 03 Jul 2014
Total posts 65
I don't hate LAX, but given the choice I definitely prefer the direct AKL-YVR over transitting any day.
TheRealBabushka
TheRealBabushka
Member since 21 Apr 2012
Total posts 2,058
True but if you're accruing with QFF or OW, it's a waste to flush those points/miles down the drain. A little bit of hassle for a sizeable chunk towards your target. Seems obvious really...
domesticgoddess
domesticgoddess
NZ Elite
Member since 03 Jul 2014
Total posts 65
Not flushing anything if you also have/chase status with *A or VA ;)