I just returned from a 6 day round trip from Sydney to NY using QF/JL via Haneda. It was the easiest US trip ever and at 28 hours door to door not much longer than via LA. Transfer at Haneda was easy with great Sakura lounge for the 4 hour transit wait. Excellent sleeper beds in Bus on both sectors. Arrival at T1 JFK the fastest ever. Using my APEC card I was through immigration and customs within 30 mins of landing, avoiding the huge queues and hassle of domestic US flying via LA or Dallas. Great timing both ways - this is the most hassle free flying to US there is!
I am delighted to see that you have finally discovered this entirely new and totally unexplored route too...
By the way, Korean Air via Seoul, Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong or China Airlines via Taipei to NYC are worth trying as well (and are usually quite a bit cheaper than going via LAX/SFO/DFW/IAH/YVR)
At 6+ hours longer, it isn't worth doing it just for a quicker immigration experience?
Definitely worth it to via Asia if prices were right. LAX TBIT immigration is pathetic, to the point it takes two hours to go through immigration, very often that NZ AKL-LAX-LHR or AF/TN PPT-LAX-CDG delayed above an hour because of slow immigration speed (US does not offer airside sterile transit).
From Perth you can avoid both SYD and LAX with CX PER-HKG-JFK. Consistent product on both sectors and a good transit experience in HKG. I guess there will be another one stop option soon with SQ on the A350ULR.
Also one stop with all the ME3 carriers - does anyone know if it is quicker to go via Middle East to JFK from Perth then it is via Asia and Pacific?
24.5 hours with Cathay with 1 hour in HKG, 27.5 hours with Emirates with 2 hours in DBX. 29.5 hours with Qantas with almost 7 hours between BNE and LAX.
@biggles69 thanks for the note. Am flying JAL in J class next month to the east coast. Couldn't get seats on QF/JL combo so had to do JAL all the way. Looking forward to the Dreamliner experience. Have done QF through DFW which was easy and also done Cathay via HK and Asiana via ICN to the US. All good options any day leaving LAX out. The fares via Asia are very competitive.
biggles69
biggles69
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Oct 2015
Total posts 8
I just returned from a 6 day round trip from Sydney to NY using QF/JL via Haneda. It was the easiest US trip ever and at 28 hours door to door not much longer than via LA. Transfer at Haneda was easy with great Sakura lounge for the 4 hour transit wait. Excellent sleeper beds in Bus on both sectors. Arrival at T1 JFK the fastest ever. Using my APEC card I was through immigration and customs within 30 mins of landing, avoiding the huge queues and hassle of domestic US flying via LA or Dallas. Great timing both ways - this is the most hassle free flying to US there is!
MarkJohnSon Banned
MarkJohnSon Banned
Member since 19 Jan 2018
Total posts 41
I wouldn't have thought so, no. Absolutely not.
dimi
dimi
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 13 Jul 2012
Total posts 154
I am delighted to see that you have finally discovered this entirely new and totally unexplored route too...
By the way, Korean Air via Seoul, Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong or China Airlines via Taipei to NYC are worth trying as well (and are usually quite a bit cheaper than going via LAX/SFO/DFW/IAH/YVR)
pab2025
pab2025
Member since 25 Jun 2012
Total posts 126
At 6+ hours longer, it isn't worth doing it just for a quicker immigration experience?
btaus
btaus
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 15 Dec 2016
Total posts 171
Definitely worth it to via Asia if prices were right. LAX TBIT immigration is pathetic, to the point it takes two hours to go through immigration, very often that NZ AKL-LAX-LHR or AF/TN PPT-LAX-CDG delayed above an hour because of slow immigration speed (US does not offer airside sterile transit).
GregXL
GregXL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 26 May 2014
Total posts 320
From Perth you can avoid both SYD and LAX with CX PER-HKG-JFK. Consistent product on both sectors and a good transit experience in HKG. I guess there will be another one stop option soon with SQ on the A350ULR.
Dan22
Dan22
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Aug 2013
Total posts 165
Also one stop with all the ME3 carriers - does anyone know if it is quicker to go via Middle East to JFK from Perth then it is via Asia and Pacific?
GregXL
GregXL
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 26 May 2014
Total posts 320
24.5 hours with Cathay with 1 hour in HKG, 27.5 hours with Emirates with 2 hours in DBX. 29.5 hours with Qantas with almost 7 hours between BNE and LAX.
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 731
The DFW transit is very quick as the QF flight comes in when the immigration queue is shorter.
KT
KT
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Jan 2018
Total posts 13
Agreed. Have been thru DFW a couple times and the place was empty. Beats LAX hands down.
sanj747
sanj747
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 01 Nov 2016
Total posts 146
@biggles69 thanks for the note. Am flying JAL in J class next month to the east coast. Couldn't get seats on QF/JL combo so had to do JAL all the way. Looking forward to the Dreamliner experience. Have done QF through DFW which was easy and also done Cathay via HK and Asiana via ICN to the US. All good options any day leaving LAX out. The fares via Asia are very competitive.
NBShone
NBShone
Qantas
Member since 02 Sep 2015
Total posts 18
Try Melbourne to Hawaii QF.
barecub
barecub
QF
Member since 27 Jul 2016
Total posts 21
I've done this both for business and leisure, and the beauty is not having to do the luggage jiggle on arrival stateside
and with a new passport or ESTA (yes, they do expire) then 1 less thing to worry about is a bonus