Best way for my situation to use QFF points

[SOPOOR]

Can a few experts give me some pointers.


I just want the best bang for buck for flights

Unless I can convert to cash or gift cards etc which I've learnt is the worst way(unless I'm wrong)
Not interested in local flights

I don't travel for work at all,

Ideally id rather get free economy flights to overseas

However, recently I redeemed a flight to Bali, it was something like 60,000 points plus $450 in taxes when they used a Jetstar plane and sale fares were like $440, so I felt pretty silly

Ive been told the best bang for buck to buy an economy ticket from melb to Europe or uk or USA on a premium airline (not Jetstar, not virgin, not air Asia), and then to use points to upgrade to business class as points required is the same as two economy flights.

Ive been told that for example, melba to LA is about $1600 for the ticket or 128,000 points plus $600 in taxes, or biz class is like $6k or 256,000 points plus $1200 in taxes

If the above example is generally correct, is this the best method to redeem my point

I'd rather use it on a big flight such as melba to USA/uk/Eu travelling business clss

Feedback apprecited

 

[RooFlyer]

You are correct in that economy flights using points usually attract additional charges about the same as a paid economy sale fare. Not a good use of points (assuming QFF points due to the forum you are posting in)

Also correct that upgrading Y to J using points is a reasonable use of points. However, such upgrades are in short supply, usually. The higher status QFF members get first dibs - you don't mention any status you have, so I assume not Platinum or P1 (sorry if I have that wrong).

Full points J fares are also in short supply and again high status members get first dibs.

Yes, its an issue for occasional flyers who want to use their points.

Sorry, I don't have a solution - but others, cleverer than me, hopefully will have.

 

[mannej]

Do you need a new toaster?

 

[11sjw]

Look as far in advance as you can and book directly into J or F.

 

[SOPOOR]

Ha ha I have enough toasters

I'm happy to buy well in advance

Looks like buying tickets with cash via cash plus points upgrade via business is the way to go

Question: if you book via points and the tax for economy is 500 and biz class is 800 for example

If you buy a flight with cash and upgrade with points, do you pay 300. In tax?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

You would have to pay the full J worth of tax.
In the past few years, airlines are now smarter, ie, fuel levy, now they even have a name for it, not like before, when you just bought an airline ticket, and the airline paid for the taxes out of the revenue, but not now.
Now, they collect all the relevant levies, fuel, security, airport charges etc, as separate charges, and I bet a separate account for each, each have their own coding too, and it sits in that account earning the airline interest.
Then when you fly, they send the $ to the relevant authorities, and keep the interest.
Fuel levies on some airlines can be quite a lot of money.
I fly quite a lot, and a lot of the time, somewhere you will find AU Passenger Movement Charge, Security Charge, Noise Levy, Fuel Levy etc, all hidden, but its there.
I have an Aud$159 Air NZ flight coming up, the actual revenue to the airline is only Aud$99! The rest in all the taxes and levies, Aud$55 is the Passenger Movement Charge (outgoing from Australia, nowadays).
Your idea, is that in getting the reward, that someone else should foot the $500, and you pay the difference in taxes of $300, totalling $800 in taxes, nope, they don't work like that.

 

[Spongbob]

Also note that a $1600 (discount economy) fare MEL-LAX-MEL most likely does not allow upgrades. A "saver" would allow upgrades, bit the cost is about $1900 plus.

 

[JohnK]

Your idea, is that in getting the reward, that someone else should foot the $500, and you pay the difference in taxes of $300, totalling $800 in taxes, nope, they don't work like that.

I am not sure I understand this point but in my opinion (and the opinion of most on AFF) you should not be paying a fuel surcharge on award tickets. It is not a genuine tax. It is a surcharge.

Why isn't a fuel surcharge included in the base airfare? It is a cost of doing business. Is a pilot salary surcharge levied separately justifiable? Is a cabin crew salary surcharge justifiable? How about a catering surcharge? Each of these is a cost of doing business and factored into the base airfare.

Why is a fuel surcharge any different?

 

[kitkatff]

Why isn't a fuel surcharge included in the base airfare? It is a cost of doing business. Is a pilot salary surcharge levied separately justifiable? Is a cabin crew salary surcharge justifiable? How about a catering surcharge? Each of these is a cost of doing business and factored into the base airfare.

shh, you're giving them ideas ...


To the OP: as noted above, if going buy + points upgrade, avoid the cheapest fares, usually there is a condition that you can't upgrade them at all. Compare the fare types on the QF site before booking.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Can a few experts give me some pointers.


I just want the best bang for buck for flights

Unless I can convert to cash or gift cards etc which I've learnt is the worst way(unless I'm wrong)
Not interested in local flights

I don't travel for work at all,

Ideally id rather get free economy flights to overseas

However, recently I redeemed a flight to Bali, it was something like 60,000 points plus $450 in taxes when they used a Jetstar plane and sale fares were like $440, so I felt pretty silly

Ive been told the best bang for buck to buy an economy ticket from melb to Europe or uk or USA on a premium airline (not Jetstar, not virgin, not air Asia), and then to use points to upgrade to business class as points required is the same as two economy flights.

Ive been told that for example, melba to LA is about $1600 for the ticket or 128,000 points plus $600 in taxes, or biz class is like $6k or 256,000 points plus $1200 in taxes

If the above example is generally correct, is this the best method to redeem my point

I'd rather use it on a big flight such as melba to USA/uk/Eu travelling business clss

Feedback apprecited

I would save 120,000 points for an outright business class ticket from Australia to somewhere like singapore, and then buy a separate business class ticket from Singapore to Europe with cash - these can be around $2000-2500 for a full flat bed. Using your points to singapore, and the paid cash fare from there, you get a very comfortable flight all the way to Europe. No need to play the upgrade lottery.

 

[SOPOOR]

Just got this in my inbox this morning from qantas

IPHONE6
132,000 Qantas Points[SUP]#[/SUP], or from 79,200 Qantas Points and $406.56 with Points Plus Pay^.

given that an iphone6, is $900 for the base model unless im mistaken, and you cant get discounts on apple products,

$900 for 132,000 points seems ok? or is this a terrible ratio?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just got this in my inbox this morning from qantas

IPHONE6
132,000 Qantas Points[SUP]#[/SUP], or from 79,200 Qantas Points and $406.56 with Points Plus Pay^.

given that an iphone6, is $900 for the base model unless im mistaken, and you cant get discounts on apple products,

$900 for 132,000 points seems ok? or is this a terrible ratio?

depends... the same 132,000 will comfortably buy you a return business class ticket to Hong Kong, with points for a toaster left over.

in that context, you'd be saving making $3000 odd with the points (after qantas imposed charges on the award ticket).

if you have a spare 132000 points, I guess a $900 ain't too bad.

 

[BillytheFIsh]

$900 for 132,000 points seems ok? or is this a terrible ratio?

At that rate, you're getting 0.68 cents for each point. Only you can decide if that is good value for you - do you want an iP6? Would you get better value using your points on something different or will they just sit there otherwise? Many people on here would look to get at least 2 cents (or more) value for each QF point, but they're not you.

Where do you fly from? Many people (including me) have mostly given up on using points for QF international flights and use them for domestic business flights which work out to be decent value.

You mentioned flights to Bali - If you go there regularly BNE-DPS (for example) is 40K points + $200 for starclass on Jetstar which isn't terrible value if only to get you out of the mass bogan cabin.

 

[SOPOOR]

depends... the same 132,000 will comfortably buy you a return business class ticket to Hong Kong, with points for a toaster left over.

in that context, you'd be saving making $3000 odd with the points (after qantas imposed charges on the award ticket).

if you have a spare 132000 points, I guess a $900 ain't too bad.

appreciate your responses, im not very travel savvy so excuse me
isnt 132,000 points business class still have like $1200 in taxes as well, You can get a return flight on sale for like $500 via a low cost carrier, so even though its good value, paying $1200 in taxes PLUS 132000 for a business class seems a bit bad value to me. I was thinking maybe buying an economy flight with cash and then using a points upgrade, (not sure how much taxes I d be paying then)

At that rate, you're getting 0.68 cents for each point. Only you can decide if that is good value for you - do you want an iP6? Would you get better value using your points on something different or will they just sit there otherwise? Many people on here would look to get at least 2 cents (or more) value for each QF point, but they're not you.

Where do you fly from? Many people (including me) have mostly given up on using points for QF international flights and use them for domestic business flights which work out to be decent value.

You mentioned flights to Bali - If you go there regularly BNE-DPS (for example) is 40K points + $200 for starclass on Jetstar which isn't terrible value if only to get you out of the mass bogan cabin.

Can you tell me how you get 2c per point, at present I have a lot of points accumulated, and im a bit worried in case qantas devalue it once again or cancel the entire program (I have like 1.2m points)
im going to sound like a whinger buy a BNE to DPS lifht is only 5-6 hours, for that length I really dont care about the quality of the flight, anything more then 8-9Hours + is what I personally feel is worth it, eg Japan or further ,
I may be mistaken but the difference between starclass and econmy on jetstar is a larger seat, average food and a tablet to watch, I would rather spend it on a premium airline,

sorry to be fussy, but im just trying to work out the best way,

 

[BillytheFIsh]

If you're only interested in business for long haul, the only reliable way to use QF points is to book 350+ days in advance.

That, or be really, really flexible with dates and departure/arrival points.

Even in those cases, there are no guarantees.

If you're booking long haul QF business awards, you'll easily get > 2c per point value (based on retail prices - whether you'd pay the retail prices is a different story).

 

[SOPOOR]

If you're only interested in business for long haul, the only reliable way to use QF points is to book 350+ days in advance.

That, or be really, really flexible with dates and departure/arrival points.

Even in those cases, there are no guarantees.

If you're booking long haul QF business awards, you'll easily get > 2c per point value (based on retail prices - whether you'd pay the retail prices is a different story).

ok, apprecaite it,

is that booking a straight business class flight or doing the buy economy and upgrade to business class strategy?

 

[BillytheFIsh]

Booking straight business awards. As I think was said further up the thread, upgrading is a lottery (too much of a lottery for me), particularly when you don't have status.

With 1.2M points, maybe look at a business or first round the world award:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/oneworld-award-140k-280k-420k-8228.html

It seems like a lot of work to put those together though, but good value if you do.

Or for an alternate view on how to spend 1M+ points:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-trip-photos/how-spend-1-311-814-a-63002.html

This game can be a lot of work... maybe that iphone is looking good...

 

[SOPOOR]

Booking straight business awards. As I think was said further up the thread, upgrading is a lottery (too much of a lottery for me), particularly when you don't have status.

With 1.2M points, maybe look at a business or first round the world award:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/oneworld-award-140k-280k-420k-8228.html

It seems like a lot of work to put those together though, but good value if you do.

Or for an alternate view on how to spend 1M+ points:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-trip-photos/how-spend-1-311-814-a-63002.html

This game can be a lot of work... maybe that iphone is looking good...

thanks for those links, had a quick look at it, defintely going to need to read it again as the numbers are giving me a headache!

I dont have status, what sort of a lottery is the upgrade strategy? i thought if its avaiable, it will show up as avaible on the screen (or do you have to call and book it)

personally, I think maybe for me the best option would be a either striahgt busienss class or upgrade option

Just brainstorming here
melb to bali is 40,000 points +$335tax
business class is 80,000+$335

Tokyo 57600 points+$363
Business: 115200+$363

JFK 128,000 points $915 tax
Business: cant do business all the way for a random day I selected but I assume 256,000+$915

Heathrow: 128,000+934 tax
Business: cant do business all the way for a random day I selected, but I assume 256,000+$934

P.S I dont like iphones!! just thought id post it up here in case people were interested

 

[11sjw]

thanks for those links, had a quick look at it, defintely going to need to read it again as the numbers are giving me a headache!

I dont have status, what sort of a lottery is the upgrade strategy? i thought if its avaiable, it will show up as avaible on the screen (or do you have to call and book it)

personally, I think maybe for me the best option would be a either striahgt busienss class or upgrade option
P.S I dont like iphones!! just thought id post it up here in case people were interested

International upgrades are a lottery based loosely on status. Business class outright is the way to go to get close to the 2c/pt level.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

thanks for those links, had a quick look at it, defintely going to need to read it again as the numbers are giving me a headache!

I dont have status, what sort of a lottery is the upgrade strategy? i thought if its avaiable, it will show up as avaible on the screen (or do you have to call and book it)

personally, I think maybe for me the best option would be a either striahgt busienss class or upgrade option
P.S I dont like iphones!! just thought id post it up here in case people were interested

applying for an upgrade without any status is probably not going to be successful. Anyone with status will be ahead of you in the queue, even if they request the upgrade a day before the flight and you have applied 6 months before the flight.

Domestic upgrades can be confirmed instantly, but not for international.

With 1.2 million points you could redeem first class return to Europe for 384,000 miles per person and around $1000 in taxes and fuel surcharges (per person). busines class would be less at ~250,000 miles per person. (with 1.2 million miles that would be 4 return tickets in business class!)

London will be more expensive because of their luxury departure tax.