It would be an understatement to say that the availability of business class awards to Australia and New Zealand has been constrained.
But if you move quickly, you can use the Alaska Mileage Plan to book a business class flight on Fiji Airways to Australia and New Zealand for just 55,000 miles.
Even better, Alaska allows free stopovers, so you can pause on your way down or back and spend some time in Fiji.
Given that American AAdvantage charges 80,000 miles each way and does not allow complimentary stopovers, these awards are a good value at just 55,000 Alaska miles.
Fiji Airways offers flights to San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on the continent of the United States (SFO).
You'll find the most availability on the LAX routes, which are almost entirely served by the Airbus A350, while there are just three SFO flights each week that use the smaller Airbus A330.
The deal
Fiji Airways is an airline.
Routes: LAX/SFO to/from NAN/AKL/SYD/MEL.
Cost: One way business class travel starts at 55,000 Alaska miles plus as little as $19 in taxes and fees.
Feb. thru June. 2023 (some availability this fall too).
Pay taxes/fees with: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline; on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), Chase Sapphire Reserve (3 points per dollar on travel), or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2 points per dollar on travel) for travel insurance on the award flight.
Alaska Miles earning
Since Alaska miles cannot be transferred from programs like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards, they are renowned for being more difficult to earn than some of the other main points currencies.
Through the Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card, one of the finest ways to accrue Alaska miles is available.
With a minimum spending requirement of $4,000 within the first three months of account activation, this card presently offers a heightened welcome bonus of 70,000 miles.
If you need to earn Alaska miles quickly, you can also shop through the Alaska Mileage Plan website or eat at a restaurant that accepts Mileage Plan Dining.
And of course, you can always purchase Alaska miles, though it's rarely a decent price.
In conclusion
This is good news because Oceania typically doesn't have enough business class redemptions available.
A trip to Australia for spring break may be best booked right now.
Make sure to use a card that gives travel insurance and gets extra points on flights when paying award taxes and fees.
The American Express Platinum Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are a few cards that meet the criteria.
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