Hoping to book our flights in January for August departure. The children are wanting to visit Disney.Container is going to take 8 to 12 weeks so the longer it takes for us to arrive in Oz the better.
The rough plan is Manchester to Orlando, Orlando to San Francisco/LA, LA/San Francisco to Brisbane/Cairns.
I have found Manchester to Orlando for £350pp. But have no idea best and cheapest route east to west of States. Can anyone help?
Also which is best to exit from LA or San Francisco?
Cairns is final destination but don't mind buying a car in Brissie and doing the Eastcoast.

Maybe ask the U.S. forum?

Probably a good move
Only thing I know is that LAX is the airport mentioned most often by people flying to Qld from the US west coast, rather than San Francisco.

Doesn't really matter if you're just leaving, LAX is the one you avoid transiting if you can though. From LA you will at least have an option of a direct flight to BNE, only with Qantas I think. There are no flights between BNE and SFO.

This was pretty much the standard route for Air New Zealand. Don't know if it still is, but member of family came with them a few years ago and went LHR - LAX - Aukland - Sydney.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Looks like it will be thefollowing:-
Manchester to Orlando – Thompson (£359)
Orlando to San Francisco - Frontier and Spirit and Allegiant (US$130)
LA to Brisbane - ???

Well, that's a roll call of shitty airlines! Are you actually planning to stop off in places between Florida and California?

I would avoid this lot and look for options on Southwest. Note that they have a bit of a strange advance booking period so fares for August are not currently available, but you will get the idea if you look at the ones that are currently available (up to early June). Your fare will include 2 checked bags and probably several rounds of sodas and snacks.

For San Francisco you can check availability into San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose...not a whole lot in it in travel time into the city.

Virgin Australia are daily to brisbane, direct. No LAX to melb any more, have to fly up to brisbane or sydney first.

That's true, forgot about VA.

I also thought that depending on the day the OP could book with Cathay as they do some days have a HKG-CNS flight. So LAX-HKG-CNS, without having to clear customs at say BNE or SYD. Assuming CNS is the final destination and they don't actually really want to drive up there from Brisbane.