Best use of qantas FFpoints

[JohnCarrWestwood]

We will be traveling to UK for October 16 and to NZ for xmas 16.

I have about 200k Qantas FF points. Using some or all of them is there any advantage in using them on one trip or the other?

 

[mannej]

How many is in the traveling party? That will give a better indication as to how useful the points may be on either trip.

 

[JohnCarrWestwood]

How many is in the traveling party? That will give a better indication as to how useful the points may be on either trip.

either 2 adults or 3 to NZ or 2 to UK

 

[Mattg]

It depends on the class of travel, and what the airfare would be if you paid in cash. I would work out the cost of each of those trips, both in cash and in Qantas points. Then, you can compare the value you'd get from the points for each redemption.

Here are some "back of the envelope" calculations I did:

Sydney-London in October:
Qantas fare: $1,884
Classic Reward: 120,000 points + $694
So, you would be effectively spending 120,000 points to save $1,190. That gives each point a value of 0.99 cents.

Sydney-Auckland around Christmas:
Qantas fare: $721
Classic Reward: In theory, 36,000 points + $203. (However, I can't see any reward seats on the SYD-AKL route after 14 Dec.)
Assuming you did find an award seat, that's 36,000 points to save $721, or 1.44 cents per point in value.

So, using points for NZ would be better value.

Note that this is for economy. If flying Business, I would use the points for the Europe trip - if you can find award availability.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If flying Business, I would use the points for the Europe trip - if you can find award availability.

If flying business (not an upgrade - which would be unlikely unless platinum or higher), I would suggest getting a few more points and using those for business return to Asia, then picking up a revenue fare ex Asia in the $2000 range.

200K points aren't going to get the OP to Europe for 2 pax.

 

[big_RED]

Similar question to the OP. I've been on this forum for a while now and have reviewed various FF 'white-papers' that this forum create to better educate members, however I'm starting to wonder what the point of it all is.

I'm a Qantas loyalist. Every credit card I get is to accumulate FF points, and I always 95% of the time fly Qantas (however I only fly a couple of times a year). My issue is I have no status, but nearly a million Qantas points burning hot in my pocket. And I want to USE them!
However, as I have no status, award seat availability is pretty much none-existent for the SYD-LAX flight I take 1-2 times a year. And to make the most of my points I'd like to treat myself to business class which those award seats are even harder to find.
There isn't any point buying a non-sale economy fare and bidding for an upgrade due to my low status as well.

So how am I suppose to use the points?? Do I find someone with high status and get them to purchase flights for me and transfer points to them? (however not being a family member I assume Qantas say this is illegal).

I'm out of ideas for how I can actually make use of all the hard work I've done churning credit cards to get the sign up bonuses etc

 

[cjd600]

Similar question to the OP. I've been on this forum for a while now and have reviewed various FF 'white-papers' that this forum create to better educate members, however I'm starting to wonder what the point of it all is.

I'm a Qantas loyalist. Every credit card I get is to accumulate FF points, and I always 95% of the time fly Qantas (however I only fly a couple of times a year). My issue is I have no status, but nearly a million Qantas points burning hot in my pocket. And I want to USE them!
However, as I have no status, award seat availability is pretty much none-existent for the SYD-LAX flight I take 1-2 times a year. And to make the most of my points I'd like to treat myself to business class which those award seats are even harder to find.
There isn't any point buying a non-sale economy fare and bidding for an upgrade due to my low status as well.

So how am I suppose to use the points?? Do I find someone with high status and get them to purchase flights for me and transfer points to them? (however not being a family member I assume Qantas say this is illegal).

I'm out of ideas for how I can actually make use of all the hard work I've done churning credit cards to get the sign up bonuses etc

Same situation here.
If you don't mind via BNE, there is still low status J releases to LAX, ( or SYD-SFO direct), albeit around T-310 rather than the previously usual 353 days.
Or ditch QF and burn on CX...(more pints, less 'carrier charges')

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Similar question to the OP. I've been on this forum for a while now and have reviewed various FF 'white-papers' that this forum create to better educate members, however I'm starting to wonder what the point of it all is.

I'm a Qantas loyalist. Every credit card I get is to accumulate FF points, and I always 95% of the time fly Qantas (however I only fly a couple of times a year). My issue is I have no status, but nearly a million Qantas points burning hot in my pocket. And I want to USE them!
However, as I have no status, award seat availability is pretty much none-existent for the SYD-LAX flight I take 1-2 times a year. And to make the most of my points I'd like to treat myself to business class which those award seats are even harder to find.
There isn't any point buying a non-sale economy fare and bidding for an upgrade due to my low status as well.

So how am I suppose to use the points?? Do I find someone with high status and get them to purchase flights for me and transfer points to them? (however not being a family member I assume Qantas say this is illegal).

I'm out of ideas for how I can actually make use of all the hard work I've done churning credit cards to get the sign up bonuses etc

Australia-USA is a highly competitive route for FF members trying to redeem travel. Not only do QF members want the seats, but so do AA's.

QF however gives its own members a slightly longer window to snap up the seats before they are released to partners (including AA). Your best bet is to book at midnight (or whatever it is) on the day, a year in advance, when the seats are released.

it requires significant forward planning!

You alternatives are Cathay via Hong Kong or Japan Airlines via Tokyo. Both of those have greater availability, and CX often releases plenty of last minute availability (say two weeks before departure). Those options have longer flight times, and will cost you more points, but arguably have equipment, better product, and better service.

 

[cjd600]

Australia-USA is a highly competitive route for FF members trying to redeem travel. Not only do QF members want the seats, but so do AA's.

QF however gives its own members a slightly longer window to snap up the seats before they are released to partners (including AA). Your best bet is to book at midnight (or whatever it is) on the day, a year in advance, when the seats are released.

it requires significant forward planning!

You alternatives are Cathay via Hong Kong or Japan Airlines via Tokyo. Both of those have greater availability, and CX often releases plenty of last minute availability (say two weeks before departure). Those options have longer flight times, and will cost you more points, but arguably have equipment, better product, and better service.

The year in advance (353 days, 10am depending on time of year) advice may have been prudent up until about 2 months ago, for low status members. But, as well documented and discussed, there are now zero releases above Y at this point for NB.
New release patterns are emerging, as I have alluded to above, and seem to be consistent at this point. One just needs to adjust to accommodate this and there are QF J seats for NB to be had, as always.....you are right in saying forward planning is required, but the traditional 'trigger date' has changed (for NB).
I see multiple days with 4xJ SYD-SFO or SYD-BNE-LAX of late, so it's there if you know when/where to look

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The year in advance (353 days, 10am depending on time of year) advice may have been prudent up until about 2 months ago, for low status members. But, as well documented and discussed, there are now zero releases above Y at this point for NB.
New release patterns are emerging, as I have alluded to above, and seem to be consistent at this point. One just needs to adjust to accommodate this and there are QF J seats for NB to be had, as always.....you are right in saying forward planning is required, but the traditional 'trigger date' has changed (for NB).
I see multiple days with 4xJ SYD-SFO or SYD-BNE-LAX of late, so it's there if you know when/where to look

Ok - fair point regarding the new release dates for bronze members - I'm not across those in much detail.

however - the CX/JL availability should be a worthwhile option.

 

[junbugging]

I don't think T-310 is a new "rule" per se. At least for the past few years, availability on many routes has been slow to load during fiscal 4Q. And I can find some exceptions for NB even now.

 

[cjd600]

I don't think T-310 is a new "rule" per se. At least for the past few years, availability on many routes has been slow to load during fiscal 4Q. And I can find some exceptions for NB even now.

I haven't noted that on this particular route over the past few years. Can you share an example of an exception, every bit of info helps.
Maybe not a rule per se, but a different pattern....time will tell if it is only temporary for Q4 fin year and all springs back to 'normal' on 1 July.
I don't mind the current &pattern' - at least there is good availability,unlike 3-4 weeks in March when there was only Y NB international award releases...

 

[big_RED]

The year in advance (353 days, 10am depending on time of year) advice may have been prudent up until about 2 months ago, for low status members. But, as well documented and discussed, there are now zero releases above Y at this point for NB.
New release patterns are emerging, as I have alluded to above, and seem to be consistent at this point. One just needs to adjust to accommodate this and there are QF J seats for NB to be had, as always.....you are right in saying forward planning is required, but the traditional 'trigger date' has changed (for NB).
I see multiple days with 4xJ SYD-SFO or SYD-BNE-LAX of late, so it's there if you know when/where to look

Sorry, do you mind explaining or linking me to these new 'rules'? Have done a search but can't find the thread.

My issue is being able to plan travel that far our. For example I'm heading to the USA for Christmas. And from searching on CX, BA and QA there doesn't seem to be any award availability at all. Perhaps I haven't reviewed every flight path I can think of as suggested above so will try that over the weekend.

However I have a trip in May next year so will be trying hard to book a year out this time!!

 

[travelislife]

Sorry, do you mind explaining or linking me to these new 'rules'? Have done a search but can't find the thread.

My issue is being able to plan travel that far our. For example I'm heading to the USA for Christmas. And from searching on CX, BA and QA there doesn't seem to be any award availability at all. Perhaps I haven't reviewed every flight path I can think of as suggested above so will try that over the weekend.

However I have a trip in May next year so will be trying hard to book a year out this time!!

You are most likely too late for Christmas this year. Peak travel time and all. What engine are you using to search for the other airlines award seats? Maybe give the BA engine a go. But yes generally need to be planning 12 months out.

 

[cjd600]

Sorry, do you mind explaining or linking me to these new 'rules'? Have done a search but can't find the thread.

My issue is being able to plan travel that far our. For example I'm heading to the USA for Christmas. And from searching on CX, BA and QA there doesn't seem to be any award availability at all. Perhaps I haven't reviewed every flight path I can think of as suggested above so will try that over the weekend.

However I have a trip in May next year so will be trying hard to book a year out this time!!

Agree with Travelislife, Xmas this year will be a stretch/impossible, (on QF, or otherwise) now, and is even a little challenging a year out.
I recall there were USA releases at the time (T-353 back then) for early-mid December 2016....we were having a white xmas in Colorado, and the J tickets (and we need 4) were being released for 2016 xmas as I tried to twist arms that we should book again. Award seats all gone now obviously.

There are no 'rules' as such, my poor choice of words. All I have are my 'observations' of the release patterns which do appear to have (temporarily or otherwise) changed for NB.
NB will see usual Y inventory at t-353, but no J.
Now, at T-310 or so (e.g. this week has seen March 12-18 2017 released/ visible for me as NB, for example).
So, to plan May travel next year, at this rate, you would be seeing those dates released Mid-July.
Still zero/very little SYD-LAX direct.
But decent SYD-SFO or SYD-BNE-LAX as I mentioned.
May is out of AU school hols, so that will help as well.

 

[big_RED]

Thanks guys. I've used the QA, CX and BA online website search tools. As well as AA for internal American flights.

I knew Christmas would be a long shot. We're also going back in May so I'm hoping now we have that planned I can use some!

Can you confirm please. If I do find flights on CX or BA. I just give QA a call and tell them of the flight numbers?

 

[Mattg]

Thanks guys. I've used the QA, CX and BA online website search tools. As well as AA for internal American flights.

I knew Christmas would be a long shot. We're also going back in May so I'm hoping now we have that planned I can use some!

Can you confirm please. If I do find flights on CX or BA. I just give QA a call and tell them of the flight numbers?

The first step would be to try to book on the Qantas website. CX and BA flights should show up, even if you have to "force" them using the multi-city booking tool. If you can't find them, you could call Qantas to book. There will be a phone booking fee of around $60. This is waived however, if what you are trying to book cannot be done online.

Normally you would only need to call up to book Malaysia Airlines, Japan Airlines or S7 flights using QF points.

 

[big_RED]

The first step would be to try to book on the Qantas website. CX and BA flights should show up, even if you have to "force" them using the multi-city booking tool. If you can't find them, you could call Qantas to book.

Great. Thanks. Thought that was all the case.

 

[Pushka]

I am looking for J award seats to the USA as WP twelve months out. And will grab them as soon as they are released. The only way.

 

[casanovawa]

The best use of Qantas points is 140k/280k Y and J One World awards... You get to travel 35,000 miles, 5 stopovers and a limit of 16 legs (including ground legs)

With 1 million points you could nearly book 4, certainly 3 of these trips that can be used for RTW itineraries...

You don't need to have any status, just find the flights and book them yourself using the multi city took or call up Qantas.. they can come with a bit of a large surcharge slug, especially if you use BA or IB, but this lets you use flights on any of the One World airlines....