Which Airlines Fly Between Australia And America?

by Jason Dutton-Smith

The number of airlines flying between Australia and the USA has grown to seven, thanks to the recent launch of daily American Airlines flights to Los Angeles. With multiple daily non-stop services, the competition has never been hotter, and for passengers, it’s never been a cheaper time to travel.

Just this week I purchased a flight to Los Angeles for under one thousand dollars on Virgin Australia. Of all the years I’ve been visiting the USA, never have I seen fares this low consistently. And with the airlines constantly upgrading their products and services to court both leisure and corporate travellers – it’s passengers who are reaping the rewards.

The Aussie dollar may have slipped against the green back recently, but research is showing that Australian’s are still visiting America in record numbers. While we may not be spending as much time on the ground state-side as we did a few years ago, airlines have reduced their fares to record lows in a bid to attract passengers.

Virgin Australia

Flights from: Daily from Brisbane and Sydney to Los Angeles
Equipment: 777-300ER
Cabin Classes: Economy, Premium Economy, Business Class
Code-Share Partners: Delta Airlines, Virgin America. Alaska Airlines

Australia-wide domestic connections meet with Virgin Australia’s daily departures to Los Angeles, from both Sydney and Brisbane. With three cabins to choose from, each cabin is famed for the Virgin Australia service and unique touches. Virgin was also the first airline to introduce Premium Economy between Australia and the US.

With a cabin refresh in 2016, Australia’s second largest airline is high on service, yet low on fares. Connections can be made from Los Angeles and beyond with code-share partners, offering daily connections throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Virgin Australia 777-300ER at Brisbane Airport (Image: Jason Dutton-Smith)

Virgin Australia 777 Business Class (Image: Virgin Australia)

Virgin Australia 777 Premium Economy (Image: Virgin Australia)

Virgin Australia 777 Economy (Image: Virgin Australia)

Qantas

Flights from: Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Dallas
Equipment: A380, 747-400 (soon to retire), A330
Cabin Classes: Economy, Premium Economy, Business Class, First Class (First Class A380 aircraft only)
Code-Share Partner: American Airlines

Australia’s largest airline, and second oldest airline in the world, Qantas offer multiple daily flights between Australia and Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Dallas. With code-share partner American Airlines, flights throughout North America and the Caribbean are available daily. With four cabins to select from, the flying kangaroo has the most daily flights between Australia and the USA.

Qantas A380 over Sydney Harbour (Image: Qantas)

Qantas A380 Economy Cabin (Image: Qantas)

Qantas A380 Premium Economy (Image: Qantas)

Qantas A380 Business Class Seat (Image: Qantas)

Qantas A380 First Class (Image: Qantas)

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United Airlines

Flights from: Sydney to Los Angeles, San Francisco plus Los Angeles to Melbourne
Equipment: 787 Dreamliner, 777-200LR (mid-2016 will see an all 787 fleet to Australia)
Cabin Classes: Economy, Business Class, First Class (First Class on 777 aircraft only)
Code-Share Partners: Virgin Australia, Qantas

United Airlines has been flying to Australia since the early 1980’s, after purchasing the flying rights from Pan Am. Well established on the route between Los Angeles and San Francisco to Sydney, plus Los Angeles to Melbourne, United’s hub at LAX places it well to connect to cities throughout all of North America.

2016 will see United switching to an all 787 Dreamliner fleet to Australia, which reduces seat capacity, while improving the customer experience (read our story on United’s upgrade here).

United Airlines Boeing 777-200 (Image: United Airlines)

United Airlines Global First Class (Image: United Airlines)

United Airlines Business First Seat (Image: United Airlines)

United Airlines Economy Seat Back Entertainment (Image: United Airlines)

Delta Airlines

Flights from: Daily between Sydney and Los Angeles
Equipment: 777-200LR
Cabin Classes: Economy, Business Class
Code-Share Partners: Virgin Australia

With code-share partner, Virgin Australia, Delta fly daily between Sydney and Los Angeles with connections throughout North America. Although only two cabins are available for sale, economy and business, ‘Economy Plus’ is an additional option for a fee in economy, or free to reserve seats for higher tiered frequent flyers. Placed at the front of the cabin, a few extra welcomed inches of legroom are available, although all seats and service are still standard economy.

With Delta’s large hub at Los Angeles Airport, connections throughout North America and the Caribbean and Canada are easy and seamless, with Australian domestic connections with partner Virgin Australia.

Delta Airlines 777-200LR (Image: Delta Airlines)

Delta Airlines Main Cabin (Image: Delta Airlines)

American Airlines

Flights from: Daily between Sydney and Los Angeles
Equipment: 777-300ER
Cabin Classes: Economy, Premium Economy (launching 2016), Business Class, First Class
Code-Share Partners: Qantas

The newest airline to fly the highly competitive Sydney to Los Angeles route is American Airlines. Launched Dec ’15, with code-share partner Qantas, the daily 777-300ER flight offers three cabins to choose from. A new fourth cabin, Premium Economy, will be introduced in 2016 to match the Qantas service offering.

As the world’s largest airline, American offers connections throughout North America from their hub in both Los Angeles and Dallas. Onward flights within Australia are with partner Qantas.

American Airlines 777-300ER landing in Sydney, Australia (Image: American Airlines)

American Airlines Economy Cabin (Image: Jason Dutton-Smith)

American Airlines Business Class Cabin (Image: Jason Dutton-Smith)

American Airlines First Class Cabin (Image: Jason Dutton-Smith)

Hawaiian Airlines

Flights from: Brisbane and Sydney to Honolulu
Equipment: A330-300
Cabin Classes: Economy, Business Class
Code-Share Partners: Virgin Australia

Hawaiian Airlines has daily flights Sydney to Honolulu, with several weekly flights from Brisbane to Honolulu. Hawaiian has one of the more generous economy class baggage allowance, with 32kg of checked baggage per passenger.

Recently upgrading to new A330’s from tired B767’s, and with 2016 to bring a refreshed cabin to both economy and business class cabins, customer satisfaction should grow with the new service and cabin promises. While considered a full service airline, Hawaiian Airlines do not offer an international flight service to Australia, opting for a domestic USA flight service instead for service offerings and meals.

Hawaiian Airlines A330 (Image: Hawaiian Airlines)

Jetstar

Flights from: Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to Honolulu
Equipment: 787 Dreamliner
Cabin Classes: Economy, Business Class
Code-Share Partners: Qantas

The low-cost Qantas off-shoot, is a no frills operator from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to Honolulu. Sporting an all new 787 Dreamliner fleet, with economy and business class (although business class is more premium economy), this a-la-carte style airline offers low fares year round with passengers only paying for what they need including meals, entertainment, blanket packs and baggage.

Jetstar‘s domestic routes, and big brother Qantas domestic network, connect travellers to Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. Note – 2016 will see Jetstar dropping their non-stop Brisbane to Honolulu flight.