Am I doing this all wrong? Or is the system designed to make it this hard? Help?

[set-some-jets]

I've read a few posts around these forums talking about the best way to use points.

I am not looking to do this. Full time study this year means I'm broke, but I still want to get out for a little trip - so I figured using some points may be the best way to do it, so I'm looking to go to Bali.

I've got around 60,000 points - and I can find return flights for 80,000 points, but then I hit a wall. I either cannot go any further because I don't have enough points (no points+pay option when I do it this way), or, I start again and search so I can get the points + pay option, and the all inclusive points amount comes to 173,200. It just seems like a massive discrepancy, and I can't find any way to amalgamate the two options.

Has it been designed this way? Am I being slammed with taxes and fees to make up the 173,200? Am I doing this all wrong?

I have gone around that website in so many circles, and read so many FAQ's, so any insight would be absolutely amazing!

 

[BillytheFIsh]

To buy top up points:

https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/usingPoints/topupPoints

but:

• Members may not purchase more than 15% of the points needed for the Award.

So you're out of luck if you're trying to buy 20K for an 80K award, not to mention it would not be a good use of you $$.

If a family member has points they can loan or gift you, that would another option.

I take it you're looking at starclass if its 80K point return?

If you can get the 80K, you're looking at $350-$400 in extras from the east coast.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF set-some-jets.

Can't help you with the "Jester" particular issue, but no doubt some-one here can.

But in general, taxes and 'fuel fines' on 'Award' flights can be high, so the points+pay tally might be right. Generally we say Y redemptions aren't good uses of points because of the high cash extras compared to the cost of a fare. That is, if you do an Award flight, the cost of fuel fines etc might be close to the cost of a regular paid cheapest Y fare all in. Crazy, but that's how it works a lot of the time.

 

[drron]

Subscibe to jetstar emails.I had one earlier this week for a $99 fare to DPS on JQ.That would be cheaper than an award.

 

[set-some-jets]

Thank you for your responses!

If you can get the 80K, you're looking at $350-$400 in extras from the east coast.

This would still halve the price of paying outright. I know it's not ideal, but it makes it doable at the moment.

Subscibe to jetstar emails.I had one earlier this week for a $99 fare to DPS on JQ.That would be cheaper than an award.

I did see that, however, I believe those $99 flights were from Darwin. Unfortunately, I'm down the other end of the country. They're still pretty darn cheap, just not for me at the moment.