If you've been planning a family trip to Australia for next summer, this is a reasonable time to book. United MileagePlus is pricing economy awards from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) at 55,000 miles each way, with just $37 in taxes and fees. Availability on August 13, 2026 looks wide open, which is helpful when you need to book multiple seats together.
This rate comes in about 8% below the roughly 60,000 miles United typically charges for this route in economy. It's not a dramatic discount, but those 5,000 miles saved per person add up quickly for a family of four. The low taxes are also a nice feature on this particular routing.
August falls during winter in Australia, which means cooler temperatures and fewer crowds at major attractions. It's also prime whale watching season along the east coast if that's on your family's list.
How to book
Search for award availability and book directly through United at united.com/en/us/book-flight/united-awards/search. Availability can shift, so if this works for your dates, don't wait too long to lock it in.