Value of KrisFlyer mile?

[kpc]

Just wondering how the AFF gurus value a KrisFlyer mile. I often hear and see people valuing it more than QF / VA but just wondering how others value a KrisFlyer mile. I personally value it between 2 and 3 cents per mile. On that note, would you buy (legitimately of course) KrisFlyer miles at 0.97 cents per mile?

 

[Pleb Status]

Not if you can't redeem them.

Every time I've tried to redeem KF I run into problems. With QFF points I have the opposite experience. Hence why I indicated 'much better value in QFF points'.

True.

I have 1.3M+ QFF points and cannot get rid of them. When it may be possible, you are up for thousands of dollars in extra surcharges.

I cannot get enough KF miles to make all the bookings I want.

On a recent PER-LHR J award booking, SQ was available everyday and almost AUD1000 rtn cheaper. Nothing available within a week on any QF partner. This is the rule rather than the exception......

 

[dajop]

Every time I've tried to redeem KF I run into problems. With QFF points I have the opposite experience. Hence why I indicated 'much better value in QFF points'.

It all depends on the route, the class, the time you want. The big advantage of KF is ability to wait list on SQ flights. Some may find QFF better ( I wish everyone agreed with you!), whilst some find KF better for availability. I've had a steady balance of 500,000 QF points in my account for years that I find difficult to make a dent it, whilst have no problem consuming KF miles before their 3 year expiry. But my home port helps with that side of things.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

You can buy KF miles if you are a member of Velocity and have a balance. Twice a year, you can buy up to half your balance of Velocity points to a maximum of 50,000 Velocity in each transaction. You can then trade these for KF miles.

Being pedantic you are not actually 'buying' KF pts rather you are 'harvesting' KF pts by sowing the seeds in VA then stripping and bagging into KF.

 

[boomy]

Not if you can't redeem them.

Every time I've tried to redeem KF I run into problems. With QFF points I have the opposite experience. Hence why I indicated 'much better value in QFF points'.

QF points are only valuable if one holds QF Plat or higher and can release extra award seats otherwise it’s hard to find availability. Much easier to find availability on SQ with zero status.

Another issue with QF are the enormous taxes which are an absolute ripoff. $800 to LHR on an outdated J and F products, no one in their right mind would redeem points and pay the taxes for that.

 

[cove]

We both did a QF run in first to LAX and back using points for a work trip. That worked.

 

[JohnK]

I would. 0.97c means F to Europe cost $1,435.6 plus taxes if my math is correct.

And a one way in business to SE Asia costing ~$650. Doesn't SQ sell them for 4x that cost?

 

[Mr H]

Judging the value of points by looking at single airline redemptions on common routes is likely to leave you wanting. The value for me is being able to do obscure routes with mixed airlines in premium cabins with an opportunity to stop off at cities along the way. I remember doing IST-BEY-CAI-JNB-CPT on a BD redemption using TK, MS and SA metal just because I wanted to eat Lebanese food at source - so built in a 23ht 55min non-stopover. Or there was SYD-ICN-HKG-SIN-FRA-EDI on OZ, SQ and LH metal with a couple of days in Seoul. These routes would just be impossibly expensive using revenue fares.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Not if you can't redeem them.

Every time I've tried to redeem KF I run into problems. With QFF points I have the opposite experience. Hence why I indicated 'much better value in QFF points'.

Well we can all have different experiences. Might be your destination??

FF Burn and Earn is different for each of us as our criteria are different.




It is very rare that I do not get exactly what I want via KF, and when I have not I have then gained it only a day or so different.

My last flight in Suites to London via KF cost $86. Like to see QFF match that.

QFF Fuel fines are often horrendous and so if you value KF at only 1 cent what do you value QFF at taking into account this?

Personally I find redeeming via KF on SQ or partners or *A excellent and that is at times for 5 pax. QFF I find very difficult as I have no status as I generally want 2 or more tickets in premium cabins.

With QFF I generally find it costs more points, more $$ due to fuel fines and with less availability. Plus I think the KF product is better. Hence I value KF points at about double a QFF point.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I would have thought an accurate definition of ‘buy KF points’ was a stand alone transaction where you exchange currency for a pre agreed quantity of KF points.

I personally ‘cultivate’ and ‘harvest’ millions of KF pts annually but have never ‘bought’ any.

I would believe that if it cost you extra $and/or extra time hen in effect you have bought points. I tend t be hard nosed about it and I while I actively hunt points I recognise that if it costs me extra $ and/or time that I am effectively "buying" points.

Now some points are virtually free, some points I even make money on (!) but sometimes there is a surcharge or card fee involved. Sometimes the time is minuscule, but also sometimes I weigh up that I am better off working more in my business than taking advantage of a particular point earning opportunity.


Equally with others valuing points at 4 cents are not taking into account ways of buying points for less than that.

 

[boomy]

And a one way in business to SE Asia costing ~$650. Doesn't SQ sell them for 4x that cost?

Almost any route you’ll chose will be good value but obviously the further you go both in class and distance, the better values you’ll get for your points.

 

[JohnK]

Almost any route you’ll chose will be good value but obviously the further you go both in class and distance, the better values you’ll get for your points.

I'm not sure I entirely agree. Here's my reasoning.

BNE-SIN-BKK on EK/3K economy each way outbound in March inbound end April is ~$2200 for 2 adults and 2 year old earning SCs and ~26,800 QFF points.

The cheapest possible return business class for 3 would be $4000 or more. I just cannot justify buying points to travel business. It's not worth the money needed over economy.

 

[boomy]

I'm not sure I entirely agree. Here's my reasoning.

BNE-SIN-BKK on EK/3K economy each way outbound in March inbound end April is ~$2200 for 2 adults and 2 year old earning SCs and ~26,800 QFF points.

The cheapest possible return business class for 3 would be $4000 or more. I just cannot justify buying points to travel business. It's not worth the money needed over economy.

Flying J on points will almost always cost more than buying discounted Y fare so I don’t think it’s a fair comparison. What needs to be compared is the most discounted J fare vs using points.

Using your example above I agree it’s not a great deal for you because the little one requires a seat. If you could book only two J seats and use the basinet then flying J would look like a great deal.

 

[JohnK]

Using your example above I agree it’s not a great deal for you because the little one requires a seat. If you could book only two J seats and use the basinet then flying J would look like a great deal.

Still not sure it's a great deal. Airfares for 2 are ~$1650 yet buying points at the best rate possible would still be ~$2600 to travel in business.

I know you rate business highly but wife doesn't drink and hardly eats in flight so even ~$950 is a lot to pay for 8-9 hours.

I need to get smarter and earn more points and shout them a business class flight once in a while.

 

[Chicken]

I know you rate business highly but wife doesn't drink and hardly eats in flight so even ~$950 is a lot to pay for 8-9 hours.

hindsight : should have married someone on AFF instead
foresight : Have you considered pet flying services? Virgin "Members will earn a minimum of 300 Points per pet container/crate for each flight sector flown"

people valuing it more than QF / VA but just wondering how others value a KrisFlyer mile. I personally value it between 2 and 3 cents per mile.

My friend seems to fly a lot more than I do, despite I am the person teach her on how to do this.

She used her SQ miles and booked VA metal to fly SYD HKG on 2019/2/1 return 2019/2/17.

She is flying J so she paid 108k miles. This ticket is currently worth $4000 (plus charges) this moment, which values each mile at 3.7c

If we were to argue that she would never pay cash for a J seat, then her ticket would cost 52k miles in Y. This ticket is currently as of now worth $750 (plus charges), which values each mile at 1.4c.

Despite both herself and I would not pay cash for a J seat, both of us would be happy to pay cash for exit row in Y, which further buffers the minimum value of 1.4c

Conclusion: I am happy to value each SQ mile at 1.4c.

On that note, would you buy (legitimately of course) KrisFlyer miles at 0.97 cents per mile?

Of course I would from my calculations! I already do in fact, paying surcharge and using gift cards.

 

[cove]

Just did the Suites run to London. Took Mrscove and she doesn’t do the Krug, icy vodka, the caviar nor the French red. I did make up by having extra.
Next I used 2 Suites because 3A wasn’t being used. The product suits us.
Kris Miles are worth a lot due to availability of seats.

 

[burmans]

Not if you can't redeem them.

Every time I've tried to redeem KF I run into problems. With QFF points I have the opposite experience. Hence why I indicated 'much better value in QFF points'.

Funny how everyone's experience differs. I have found KF much easier to use than QFF, lower miles and lower fees.