I am going to visit the Stern Factory next year, and the trip will coincide with one of Sterns new releases after Avengers. (Probably John Borgs new title which is next in line I am told or may be just pipped at the post by Steve Ritchies next title)
I went and asked my local Travel Agent for the airticket costs to travel via a modern-new airline with brand new aircraft like Virgin, and was pleasantly surprised to find out -
ECONOMY
Depature Brisbane - land LAX USA, then fly to Chicago O'Hare Airport which is closest to Sterns Factory...
Return - leave Chicago for LA, then LA back to Brisbane.
Total cost return flights, with food n drinks incl on all international and domestic USA flights > less than $1500 return, and that was without even trying to secure any "special" pricing....but from what I am told, its getting close to the lowest general return pricing for such a trip........
Note - If you want to fly PREMIUM (half way between Economy and Business, to get bigger seats n more room between seats, better food n drinks n more leg room and more seat rake backwards, its apx an extra $800 total incl all flights)........the only other trick I have used on previous Economy flights to the USA is to book emergency exit seats which means you get great leg room, and only a maximum of 3 seats side by side, which makes getting out of your isle for restroom breaks much easier plus the no one sitting right in front of you bonus.
Anyway, anyone considering a trip next year to the USA, its not as expensive as u may have thought.....maybe its something other AP members might also be interested in doing yourself oneday, if u are a Stern buyer/collector.
Cavey !