Advice for newbie

[pn1]

This is my first posting although I have been registered for some time.

I have more than 280,000 Qantas frequent flyer points slowly built up over a number of years.

I had a thought of making a quick trip to Germany later this year but find the flights are all heavily booked and it seems that with the lower fares on offer and the obligatory "taxes and charges" using my points might not be as attractive as it first appeared.

I'd appreciate some general advice;

What is the best way to use my points? Shorter trips or a big overseas trip? I understood there was a special reward offer for a round the world trip as distinct from a trip to Europe and back.

Should I be thinking of 2010 now and make a booking well in advance?

It seems to be that frequent flyer points aren't really suited for multi destination itineraries or trips planned at fairly short notice?

Please excuse the "green" nature of some of my questions. I look forward to some thoughts from the experts.

Cheers

Paul in Melbourne

 

[samh004]

I see you've accumulated an extra 66,000 points since 2005. Did you not end up going to Germany that year after all?

 

[SnowYeti]

Personally I won't be using QF points for domestic flight redemptions, and will only consider international ones if the ticket is too expensive. Right now with cheap flights I would rather pay for the ticket and use points to request an upgrade ... having had my first upgrade recently, I think that is a better way to go!

Won't even dream of using points in QF shop, don't think the value is there unless you have way too many points and have no way to use them !

Everyone will have their own opinions on how to best spend their points ...

 

[MrHyde]

I think the 140,000 OneWorld Award is of very good value as a multi destination booking with upto 5 destinations.

 

[Batesy]

See below. For a RTW travelling in the one direction for 282500 points you can go around the world in business class. I consider this a great value use of points with QF and Oneworld. Just need to fly with QF and two other member airlines to get a valid itinerary. See the QF website for more details.


oneworld Classic Award table

The oneworld® Award Classic Award table is based on return flights, unlike the Qantas Award table.
This oneworld Classic Award table only applies when your Award itinerary includes at least two oneworld alliance airlines other than Qantas. The itinerary may not contain non-oneworld airlines otherwise the travel planner of each individual airline will apply. Qantas flights operated by Jetstar Airways (QF5000-QF5999) cannot be included in oneworld Awards.

oneworld Classic Award table

The oneworld® Award Classic Award table is based on return flights, unlike the Qantas Award table.
This oneworld Classic Award table only applies when your Award itinerary includes at least two oneworld alliance airlines other than Qantas. The itinerary may not contain non-oneworld airlines otherwise the travel planner of each individual airline will apply. Qantas flights operated by Jetstar Airways (QF5000-QF5999) cannot be included in oneworld Awards.
Zone
Return Miles
Economy
Business
First
1
0-1,200
32,500
62,500
92,500
2
1,201-2,400
42,500
82,500
122,500
3
2,401-4,800
57,500
112,500
167,500
4
4,801-7,200
77,500
152,500
227,500
5
7,201-9,600
87,500
172,500
257,500
6
9,601-11,600
102,500
202,500
302,500
7
11,601-14,000
112,500
222,500
332,500
8
14,001-16,800
122,500
242,500
362,500
9
16,801-19,200
132,500
262,500
392,500
10
19,201-35,000
142,500
282,500
422,500

Zone
Return Miles
Economy
Business
First
1
0-1,200
32,500
62,500
92,500
2
1,201-2,400
42,500
82,500
122,500
3
2,401-4,800
57,500
112,500
167,500
4
4,801-7,200
77,500
152,500
227,500
5
7,201-9,600
87,500
172,500
257,500
6
9,601-11,600
102,500
202,500
302,500
7
11,601-14,000
112,500
222,500
332,500
8
14,001-16,800
122,500
242,500
362,500
9
16,801-19,200
132,500
262,500
392,500
10
19,201-35,000
142,500
282,500
422,500​

 

[JohnK]

See below. For a RTW travelling in the one direction for 282500 points you can go around the world in business class. I consider this a great value use of points with QF and Oneworld. Just need to fly with QF and two other member airlines to get a valid itinerary. See the QF website for more details.

I agree that it is good use of QFF points but with a Oneworld award you do not need to be travelling in the one direction. I have not checked the QF award booking engine but the following routing would be a valid Oneworld award as long as one of the transits in HKG was a stopover

SYD-ADL-SIN-BKK-HKG-TPE-NRT-TPE-HKG-SIN-BKK-HKG-MNL-BNE-PER-SYD