Advice on best use of points

[grimace]

Forgive me for not knowing the lingo - have spent the past 4 yrs flying domestic weekly with QF, have had Platinum status for 3 yrs and ~750k points now
I'm looking to go from SYD to DFW and take advantage of the new route some time this year (flexible with dates).
Bottom line is I don't want to sit for 17? hrs in Economy - what's the best way for me to fly business?
- buy an economy fare and use my points for an upgrade
- use points for the economy fare and then hope to get an upgrade
- buy the entire business fare using points

I guess the advice I'm seeking is:
1. If I buy the economy fare, what is the likelihood that I'll be able to use points to get an upgrade, from what I've read here upgrade seats are very limited
2. What is the likelihood of getting an upgrade anyway due to my status?

 

[tuapekastar]

Forgive me for not knowing the lingo - have spent the past 4 yrs flying domestic weekly with QF, have had Platinum status for 3 yrs and ~750k points now
I'm looking to go from SYD to DFW and take advantage of the new route some time this year (flexible with dates).
Bottom line is I don't want to sit for 17? hrs in Economy - what's the best way for me to fly business?
- buy an economy fare and use my points for an upgrade
- use points for the economy fare and then hope to get an upgrade
- buy the entire business fare using points

I guess the advice I'm seeking is:
1. If I buy the economy fare, what is the likelihood that I'll be able to use points to get an upgrade, from what I've read here upgrade seats are very limited
2. What is the likelihood of getting an upgrade anyway due to my status?

Welcome to AFF grimace! (feels odd putting a smile next to a grimace )

In my limited experience, and from what I've read here, the only way to guarantee seating in business is to purchase it (be it with cash or points). The way the QF lottery works there is never a guarantee that your upgrade will come through, regardless of status etc. I've applied for three international segment upgrades, two as a bronze (Y to J, MEL-HKG-MEL) - no luck, and one as a silver (J to F LHR-SIN) - scored it.

There are certain times of the week (mid-week I think) where upgrades are supposedly more likely to occur, but still, no guarantee.

Also, you usually need to spend more $$$ on the economy fare to get an upgradable booking class - wasted dollars if the upgrade does not eventuate.

So if you really have to fly in J (and I think that's a great idea) - then use points for an outright J award (or consider a reasonably 'priced' J any seat award, and you'll earn status credits and points for the flight as well).

 

[FuzzyAUS]

Hi Grimace, Welcome to AFF

Another way is to use the points+pay option when your booking..

Pay the same amount as you would flying economy and then use the points bit to pay for the rest up to the J seat..

Means you don't lose a massive amount of points..

That said, classic awards are MUCH cheaper on points than the Any Seat Awards.. (a few people here seem to find some very cheap ASA awards, i haven't as yet )

Cheers
Fuzz

 

[TimB]

I'd be looking at buying Premium Economy fares, and then trying to upgrade to J with points(*).

Picking some dates at random in August, the cheapest upgradable economy fare is $2799 return, while the cheapest upgradable Premium Economy fare is $3363, or just $564 more. That way you at worst have a Premium Economy seat, and possibly much better if your upgrade clears.

(*) The SYD-DFW route has been advertised as being 3-class, but flown with a 4-class 747. Top-tier J passengers will be seated in F seats, top-tier Y+ in J seats, and top-tier Y in Y+. So, since you're WP, you should be able to get a J seat (but with Y+ service) on your Y+ fare. So you may not even bother to try upgrading. However, I think there's also a chance that if you do get your upgrade to J, you could end up in an F seat.

 

[ozmille]

I'd be looking at buying Premium Economy fares, and then trying to upgrade to J with points(*).

Picking some dates at random in August, the cheapest upgradable economy fare is $2799 return, while the cheapest upgradable Premium Economy fare is $3363, or just $564 more. That way you at worst have a Premium Economy seat, and possibly much better if your upgrade clears.

(*) The SYD-DFW route has been advertised as being 3-class, but flown with a 4-class 747. Top-tier J passengers will be seated in F seats, top-tier Y+ in J seats, and top-tier Y in Y+. So, since you're WP, you should be able to get a J seat (but with Y+ service) on your Y+ fare. So you may not even bother to try upgrading. However, I think there's also a chance that if you do get your upgrade to J, you could end up in an F seat.

On the other hand if you book PE ticket. Then select J seats and put in for an upgrade and they give you the upgrade and you still only get J seats then you have kind of lost your points...

 

[grimace]

Thanks for the advice guys - I guess the moral of the story is that if I want a guaranteed J seat I have to pay for it, else leave it to the gods and pray that my upgrade request comes through or they upgrade me anyway!
I get upgraded to J quite regularly on domestic routes, so I guess I'd be hopeful that I'd get the same luck going overseas, but we shall see.

I will say that I've been trying to use my points on O/S flights for years now but QF certainly don't make it easy... I end up flying everyone but QF international because it always works out cheaper!
Most of the classic awards I've looked at have me going around the world and back (not necessarily a bad thing but still a pain)!

 

[medhead]

Someone has already mentioned it, but if you can find a classic award also look at the cost of an any seat award on the same flight. It might very well be the same or similar cost and will earn points and status.

For example I picked up a return business flight SIN-FRA for 165k and $414. pretty happy with that.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hi Grimace, Welcome to AFF

Another way is to use the points+pay option when your booking..

Pay the same amount as you would flying economy and then use the points bit to pay for the rest up to the J seat..

Means you don't lose a massive amount of points..

That said, classic awards are MUCH cheaper on points than the Any Seat Awards.. (a few people here seem to find some very cheap ASA awards, i haven't as yet )

Cheers
Fuzz

Not so!!

I have a AKL-SYD-LAX JASA for 84k plus a few kiwi bucks.

Rare but you need to search!

 

[ozmille]

Thanks for the advice guys - I guess the moral of the story is that if I want a guaranteed J seat I have to pay for it, else leave it to the gods and pray that my upgrade request comes through or they upgrade me anyway!

On the Dallas flights you can book PE and get the J seat with PE service...

 

[opusman]

I will say that I've been trying to use my points on O/S flights for years now but QF certainly don't make it easy... I end up flying everyone but QF international because it always works out cheaper!

As a Platinum you may also have luck ringing Qantas and asking if they can make additional classic award seats available to you.

 

[djfuzz]

On the Dallas flights you can book PE and get the J seat with PE service...

As mentioned above, this is the way to go. Booked my folks on one of the last QF73/74 services to SFO in PE, seated in J. PE service, which is nothing to sneeze at, plus J seat in the mini J cabin at the rear. Very reasonable sale price (not much more than the VA equivalent), with a better seat and arguably better service. If you can get an award seat, PEASA or points+pay, all the better.

Worst case scenario is that an equipment change puts them back into regular PE - which is bad luck, but not the worst thing in the world as QF PE is pretty comfortable enough as it is (though a flat bed is a nice luxury on long flights like yours). You could try to avoid this by putting in for an upgrade and see what happens (you may even end up in an F seat!) but I would play the numbers myself and take the risk in this situation.

 

[ozmille]

If you can get an award seat, PEASA or points+pay, all the better.

Can we call them a WASA?

 

[gumpy]

My point balance will be used for a J RTW award.

But if I didn't have a partner a FASA would be on the cards... 450k for F return to london for me is insanely good...

Third option will be upgrades as long as i'm a wp... wouldn't really go for it otherwise...

 

[smarty11]

I +2 (or +3 lost the count) that Book PE is the best option. I have done SYD-SFO a couple of times and PE service is not bad and you get the Skybed as well.. I think it is the best compromise..
PE fares are A$3400ish.. whereas J fares will be around A$10Kish.. big difference in my opinion.. Also, you can save around 120K points as well...

 

[pshepvic]

Can we call them a WASA?

Or maybe a Y+ASA (pronounced Y-plaza!)

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Or maybe a Y+ASA (pronounced Y-plaza!)

Actually I think they book into Z class, so technically a ZASA

 

[serfty]

Actually I think they book into Z class, so technically a ZASA

Uhhh!

Then you'd have PASA, UASA, ZASA and XASA ... hard enough to look at let alone pronounce (I'll give you PASA/ZASA.)

No, it's FASA, JASA, WASA and YASA!

 

[djfuzz]

Uhhh!

Then you'd have PASA, UASA, ZASA and XASA ... hard enough to look at let alone pronounce (I'll give you PASA/ZASA.)

No, it's FASA, JASA, WASA and YASA!

Good to know - I notice there's no entry for WASA on the abbreviations page though!

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....viations-and-explanations-5056.html#post69096

 

[NM]

... hard enough to look at let alone pronounce...

Especially after a few hours in the club/lounge :shock:

 

[Ric Willmot]

I'd be looking at buying Premium Economy fares, and then trying to upgrade to J with points(*).

Picking some dates at random in August, the cheapest upgradable economy fare is $2799 return, while the cheapest upgradable Premium Economy fare is $3363, or just $564 more. That way you at worst have a Premium Economy seat, and possibly much better if your upgrade clears.

(*) The SYD-DFW route has been advertised as being 3-class, but flown with a 4-class 747. Top-tier J passengers will be seated in F seats, top-tier Y+ in J seats, and top-tier Y in Y+. So, since you're WP, you should be able to get a J seat (but with Y+ service) on your Y+ fare. So you may not even bother to try upgrading. However, I think there's also a chance that if you do get your upgrade to J, you could end up in an F seat.

How the heck do you learn about J, Y, F .... I have absolutely no idea what you're referring to here (which says more about me than it does you - so don't take offence) and when I scour the Qantas website, they don't provide a legend to explain any of this.

I've been a QFF since 1993 (Gold - never made it to Platinum but I will this year) and I have always booked online, and registered for points upgrades and then hoped and prayed.

I read comments like be nice to people, ask for this or that. I've never experienced or witnessed anyone else get an upgrade just by being nice. It's all very structured and formal. I'm off to Jakarta again in April. Cost me $1600 for economy return, $160 for aisle seat guarantee, and then a request has been made for a points upgrade to business class, which they will only inform me of 5 hours before departure!

I'm confused about these letters and where to learn about them and I'm confused about these tactics with Qantas.

Rgds,
Ric