How to get to New York using points

New York is one of the harder major cities for Australians to reach on points, for a simple structural reason: there is no non-stop flight from Australia, so every redemption requires seats on at least two flights rather than one. That doubles the availability problem. The compensation is that an unusual number of programmes and alliances can get you there, so if one door is shut another is often open.

This guide covers the practical routings, what each costs in points, the lounge landscape at JFK and Newark, and how to make hotel stays in the city earn something.

Choosing a routing

Most travellers connect through another North American city — Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas/Fort Worth, Honolulu or Vancouver. Singapore is the other serious option, because Singapore to New York JFK is the world's longest flight and puts you on one carrier for the whole journey. Auckland is a third, with both Qantas and Air New Zealand flying to New York from there.

Qantas Points: Qantas and American Airlines

Qantas flies non-stop to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas/Fort Worth, with American Airlines connections onwards to New York. American also operates Sydney–Los Angeles and Brisbane–Dallas. Because American sits on the same Qantas reward table, mixing the two carriers does not penalise you.

Routing Economy Premium Economy Business First
Australia to LA, SFO or DFW, plus onward to New York; or Australia to New York via Auckland 63,500 124,700 166,300 249,400
Auckland to New York 58,900 113,900 151,800 n/a

Figures are Qantas Points per person, one way, with taxes, fees and charges payable on top and varying by route. The rates apply from any Australian city including a domestic connection where one is needed. Premium Economy and First are only offered on selected flights and aircraft.

Hawaiian Airlines moved from the Virgin Australia camp to Qantas, which adds a Sydney–Honolulu–New York option bookable with Qantas Points: 76,100 in Economy or 182,900 in Business, one way. Availability is not generous, since Australia–Honolulu reward seats are sought after in their own right, but the flights do now appear on the Qantas website.

Velocity Points and KrisFlyer miles: United, Singapore Airlines and Air Canada

United flies Sydney and Melbourne to Los Angeles and San Francisco, plus Brisbane–San Francisco and Adelaide–San Francisco. As Virgin Australia's flagship US partner it can be booked with Velocity Points, and as a Star Alliance member it can also be booked with KrisFlyer miles.

One important search tip: United's New York hub is Newark, so enter EWR rather than a general New York search when hunting for reward seats. Neither Velocity nor KrisFlyer can book United Premium Economy.

Airline and routing Programme Economy Premium Economy Business
United: Australia–LA/SFO plus onward to New York Velocity 80,000 n/a 158,500
United: Australia–LA/SFO plus onward to New York KrisFlyer 69,500 n/a 161,500
Singapore Airlines: Australia–Singapore–New York Velocity n/a 142,000 158,500
Singapore Airlines: Perth or Darwin–Singapore–New York KrisFlyer n/a n/a 150,000
Singapore Airlines: other Australian cities–Singapore–New York KrisFlyer n/a 117,500 157,000
Air Canada: Sydney or Brisbane–Vancouver–Newark Velocity 80,000 n/a 150,000
Air Canada: Sydney or Brisbane–Vancouver–Newark KrisFlyer 69,500 n/a 161,500

All figures are per person, one way, with taxes and fees payable separately. Note there is no Economy column for the Singapore Airlines routing: the non-stop Singapore–New York aircraft carries only Premium Economy and Business. Premium Economy on the Australia–Singapore sector is limited to selected Sydney and Melbourne flights.

Air Canada deserves particular attention. From Brisbane, routing via Vancouver gives the shortest total travel time to New York, and Sydney is close behind. Vancouver also has a US Preclearance facility, so you clear US customs and immigration in Canada on arrival from Australia, without collecting your bags. You then land in New York as a domestic arrival and walk straight out. Air Canada award seats do not usually appear on the Singapore Airlines website, so a KrisFlyer booking may require a phone call.

Delta via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta flies Sydney–Los Angeles, plus seasonal Melbourne and Brisbane services, and connects onwards to New York. Delta is no longer a Velocity partner, but Virgin Atlantic Flying Club — a different Virgin, based in the UK — can still book it.

Routing Economy Business
Australia–Los Angeles plus LA–New York 87,500 231,500

The Business figure looks punitive because Flying Club prices each Delta flight separately: 165,000 points for Sydney–Los Angeles plus 66,500 for Los Angeles–New York. Treat it as a fallback rather than a plan. Flying Club points are most easily obtained by converting American Express Membership Rewards points, typically at 2:1 for most members. Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic are partners but you cannot move points directly between them. Always confirm reward seats exist before transferring.

Other one-stop options

If the main routings are full, a long list of carriers can still get you there with one stop, though availability is often tight and some journeys are considerably longer. Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana and EVA Air are bookable through KrisFlyer and other Star Alliance programmes. Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, LATAM, China Airlines and Emirates can be booked with Qantas Points or other partner currencies. Etihad and Qatar Airways are reachable through Velocity and various oneworld and partner programmes, and China Eastern through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and other SkyTeam programmes.

Airports and lounges

JFK has lounges spread across Terminals 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8. Terminals 3 and 6 were demolished and the remaining terminals were never renumbered; Terminal 2 has closed and its flights moved to Terminal 4. The AirTrain links terminals and connects to the subway.

Which lounges you can use depends on your airline, terminal, status, memberships and cards. Some that matter to Australians:

Newark is in New Jersey but functions as a New York airport. Trains reach New York Penn Station, under Madison Square Garden, in well under 30 minutes. It has three terminals, A, B and C, and is United's New York hub. Lounge options are thinner than at JFK: Admirals Club access in Terminal A for eligible oneworld travellers, the British Airways Club Lounge in Terminal B, and United Club and Lufthansa lounges for Star Alliance Gold. There is currently no Priority Pass lounge at Newark at all, which is worth planning around.

LaGuardia is the third airport, but local rules restrict it to shorter flights — domestic services and flights to Canada. It is useful if you are continuing beyond New York.

Hotels

For chain hotels, book direct. Most programmes only credit points and recognise elite status on direct bookings; a third-party booking usually earns nothing and confers no status benefits. Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy all have extensive New York footprints, as do Accor Live Limitless, Best Western Rewards, Choice Privileges, GHA Discovery, World of Hyatt and Wyndham Rewards.

Third-party portals make more sense for independent and boutique properties where you would otherwise earn nothing. Qantas Hotels credits Qantas Points on cash bookings, with higher rates for Points Club and Points Club Plus members. Virgin Australia's hotel portal, powered by Hopper, credits Velocity Points. Rocketmiles earns a currency convertible to KrisFlyer miles and to points with a long list of other programmes.

Qantas Points can also be redeemed against hotel bookings. It is rarely the strongest use of points, but Qantas has reduced the points required on some bookings, which narrows the gap.

American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, available to Platinum and Centurion cardholders, layers on benefits at luxury properties: daily breakfast, a guaranteed late check-out, a property credit and room upgrades where available.

Practical tips

Frequently asked questions

Why is New York harder to book on points than other destinations? There is no non-stop service from Australia, so a reward booking needs award seats on at least two flights. Flexible dates materially improve your chances.

Which airport should I aim for, JFK or Newark? It largely follows your airline and where award seats exist. United and Air Canada serve Newark, so search EWR specifically for those. Newark is well connected to Manhattan by rail in under half an hour.

Can I book Singapore Airlines' Singapore–New York flight in Economy? No. The non-stop aircraft is configured with Premium Economy and Business only. Singapore Airlines does offer Economy to New York via Frankfurt, but that is a two-stop journey from Australia.

What is the advantage of routing through Vancouver? Vancouver has a US Preclearance facility, so you clear US immigration and customs in Canada without reclaiming your bags, and arrive in New York as a domestic passenger.

Can I still use points to fly Delta? Not with Velocity Points. Delta can be booked through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, though Flying Club prices each sector separately, which makes Business Class expensive in points.

Should I book my New York hotel direct or through a portal? Book direct with chain hotels so the stay earns points and recognises your status. Use a points-earning portal for independent or boutique hotels where you would otherwise earn nothing.

This information is general in nature. It does not take your personal circumstances into account.

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