AA points at $1.72 USD

[Guvner]

QF and VA have been doing J revenue fares at ~AUD4900 all in from SYD. So through the AA points route, you have to find availability (difficult), pay the additional taxes and then not earn any QF points or SC on the award fare. At the end of the day, the cost will be very close to the cheap J revenue fare.

Today I redeemed a MEL>SYD>SIN>LHR>BCN>LHR>DXB>MEL award (F/J)for 230,000 points which, with the current AA promotion, cost me US$4425 for the points + US$516 taxes/fees. So approx AUD$6600 + conversion/CC fees. So roughly AUD$7000 for F return in August 2016.

Revenue fare: AUD$14351 for the same flights/dates/cabins (QF422/BA16/BA478/BA477/QF10)and would earn 51,250 points + 920 Status credits with Qantas.

Effectively 50% of the revenue price without the SC's and points. Other's could probably find better redemptions but I'm fairly comfortable with that.