Virgin Atlantic: business class from the US West Coast to Oceania from 62,500 points

Virgin Atlantic's Air New Zealand chart is one of the best prices to the South Pacific: 62,500 points one way in business from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Auckland. Virgin prices each segment separately, so Australia via Auckland is only 15,000 more, at 77,500. The catch is that Air New Zealand rarely releases business seats to partners.

From 62,500 points Starting 62.5k Availability: Very limited (Air New Zealand)

Airlines you will fly

Air New Zealand, ANA, Delta

Hubs

Auckland AKL, Tokyo HND/NRT

Book on

Call Flying Club

Transfer points from

AmexChaseCapital OneCitiBiltWells Fargo

How Virgin Atlantic prices this route

USA West → Oceania · business, one way

Booking typeWho you flyBusiness one way

Air New Zealand partnerPriced LAX/SFO ↔ AKL

Air New ZealandAir New Zealand-operated flights only; Business partner availability is very limited.

lowest62,500

Air New Zealand partnerPriced USA West ↔ Auckland ↔ Australia

Air New Zealand62,500 USA–Auckland + 15,000 Auckland–Australia. Both segments need partner seats.

from77,500

ANA partnerPriced USA West ↔ Tokyo ↔ SYD/PER

ANA52,500 USA–Japan + 52,500 Japan–Australia. Both segments need partner seats.

105,000

Connecting awards need partner award seats on both segments. Virgin prices each segment separately, and multi-segment partner awards are booked by calling Flying Club.

Connecting itineraries

USA West → Oceania · business, one way · Virgin Atlantic prices each segment separately

Air New Zealand via Auckland

US gateways: LAX/SFO.

ToUSA West → AucklandAuckland → destinationTotal

SYDSydney62,500 + 15,000

62,50015,000

lowest77,500

MELMelbourne62,500 + 15,000

62,50015,000

lowest77,500

BNEBrisbane62,500 + 15,000

62,50015,000

lowest77,500

PERPerth62,500 + 15,000

62,50015,000

lowest77,500

Air New Zealand-operated flights only. Business partner seats are very scarce on both segments.

ANA via Tokyo

ToUSA West → TokyoTokyo → destinationTotal

SYDSydney52,500 + 52,500

52,50052,500

105,000

PERPerth52,500 + 52,500

52,50052,500

105,000

ANA's published zone prices, not distance-based. ANA-operated flights only.

Delta One nonstops between the US and Oceania

Virgin Atlantic · Delta One · one way, by distance

PPTTahiti

AKLAuckland

BNEBrisbane

SYDSydney

MELMelbourne

LAX

105k- 4,095 mi

165k- 6,505 mi

165k- 7,161 mi

165k- 7,488 mi

165k- 7,921 mi

Hover a cell to see the full price for that route.

105k business130k business165k business ● good pick · ~ near a band edge

Every Delta nonstop to Oceania leaves from Los Angeles. LAX–AKL is seasonal. Delta One availability through Virgin is limited and not released on a set schedule. Distances shown are straight-line airport-to-airport.

Good to know

Virgin Atlantic awards are one way, so you can book the return with another program.
Book both segments on one ticket so you are protected if the first flight is delayed.
Tahiti is the bargain on Delta: LAX to Papeete is just over 4,000 miles, so 105,000 instead of 165,000.

How to find seats

1 Set alerts for Air New Zealand from LAX or SFO to Auckland first. It is the cheapest option and the hardest to find.
2 For Australia, find the Auckland flight first, then look for the 15,000 connection to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth.
3 If Air New Zealand never opens up, try ANA via Tokyo (105,000 to Sydney or Perth) or watch Delta One from LAX. Once every segment shows seats, call Flying Club and transfer your points.

Other programs on this route

Qatar AirwaysFiji Airways, Qatar Airways, Qantas, AmericanAmex, Chase, Capital One, Citi, Bilt, Wells Fargofrom 77,250 AeroplanAir New Zealand, ANA, Singapore AirlinesAmex, Chase, Capital One, Biltfrom 85,000 Flying BlueAir FranceAmex, Chase, Capital One, Citi, Bilt, Wells Fargofrom 90,000 KrisFlyerSingapore Airlines, United, Air New ZealandAmex, Chase, Capital One, Citifrom 137,500

The return trip: Oceania → USA West

Virgin AtlanticAir New Zealand, ANA, DeltaAmex, Chase, Capital One, Citi, Bilt, Wells Fargofrom 62,500

Questions people ask

Is 62,500 to New Zealand realistic?

It is a published price, but Air New Zealand business seats for partners are rare. Be flexible on dates and set alerts rather than searching one day at a time.

Why would I pay 165,000 on Delta?

Because the cheap seat you cannot find is only theoretical. When Air New Zealand has nothing and Delta releases a few Delta One seats from LAX, 165,000 can be the difference between going and not going.