Are we there yet Mr QFF ? (subtitle am I missing something ?)

[roomer]

My visions of snaring a business upgrade, via my points collection at that time, were dashed by those in the know of this forum, when I was advised that for a bronze member ,not only was there no certainty in booking a flight and requesting an upgrade via points, in fact it would be very unlikely at all.

So since I had already had those my points, I went further with all the various point earning tricks, such that my foray into the art (dark?) of collecting QFF points amassed into ~ 660,000 points for my wife and I.

But wait, the thought of netting a business trip to Europe (possibly RTW) seemed to dimish when I went onto the Qantas site to look at making a hypothetical booking, it seemed that we'd be using pretty much all our points just on an economy trip to Europe. I then figured out that was a pay or points approach and that there was another option; Classic Rewards

As best I could, I saw that there were more economical use of my points in snaring a business class flight using the Classic rewards but obviously it was subject to availability and suprise, suprise there were extra dollars needing to be forked out if you were actually successful. The trick I gleaned was try to book a year out.

Now being a complete novice at this, I thought I'd do some extra homework, so for a few bucks I sampled a few of the Flight solutions programme but didn't like my chances of actually gaining anything for my subscription - no criticism of the course more of a reflection of the dill I am when it comes to understanding how all of this stuff works.

So the nub of this , we are looking to do a RTW in September next year going to somewhere in Europe eg Paris or Rome and thence to visit my son and family in Dallas (business class would be good but if not, well so be it, I'm tired of collecting points and not seeing any benefit from them.

I know it is more than a year out but I thought 'Id begin my "brain picking" early in case there was a slim beacon of hope that there was an easier way. ie I understand you can only use QFF points on the QFF website but I heard there's a third party booking crowd out there other called I Fly Flat.

So has anyone had any experience with the I Fly Flat crowd, where you pay a fee for someone to book your trips using your points? or any other crowd for that matter?

Anyway appreciate peoples suggestions as to how someone who's never does this might finally be able to achieve this long awaited lifestyle event or do I resign myself to a lifetime supply of toasters

cheers

 

[Ikara]

Why not have a look at using Cathay - a little more "expensive" in points needed but more availability in Business. Besides, they leave from Adelaide, and that's got to be a good thing. Avoids Sydney & Melbourne.

JB

 

[medhead]

I missed the Adelaide base. I concur on CX. Look at multi-city bookings for classic awards with first leg ADL-HKG, then look for less than 24 hour onwards flight from HKG.
You'd probably need to build your itinerary. I've not done this myself. But the concept is to lock in awards as they become available. But change fees would apply.

I'm not sure about i fly flat. But personally I wouldn't bother with such a thing.

 

[roomer]

Why not have a look at using Cathay - a little more "expensive" in points needed but more availability in Business. Besides, they leave from Adelaide, and that's got to be a good thing. Avoids Sydney & Melbourne.

JB

Thanks Ikara

I missed the Adelaide base. I concur on CX. Look at multi-city bookings for classic awards with first leg ADL-HKG, then look for less than 24 hour onwards flight from HKG.
You'd probably need to build your itinerary. I've not done this myself. But the concept is to lock in awards as they become available. But change fees would apply.

I'm not sure about i fly flat. But personally I wouldn't bother with such a thing.

Cheers medhead, that's encouraging. Guess I need to wait until September to start looking to see how hard using the Classic Rewards things before I try I Fly Flat

 

[Buzzard]

I think an important thing to have is flexibility in your travel dates and yes, that can sometimes be hard.
Recently I assisted 2 friends (both NB) secure flights to Europe in F all the way and return in J, so the flights are there if you look far enough ahead and are flexible. For them to get their flights they are departing from PER on Emirates and returning to ADL in Cathay J all the way. Returning on Cathay saved a lot in fines too. Booked as two one way journeys as flights opened up.

 

[roomer]

Returning on Cathay saved a lot in fines too. Booked as two one way journeys as flights opened up.

Thanks Buzzard, would you mind explaining what they were likely to be fined for ?

 

[juddles]

I have only just learnt about I FLY FLAT due to this thread - I had a quick look and was NOT impressed.

Effectively they charge to assist you making a booking you can do yourself (I know that is difficult), and their fee is set at 20% of what they notionally declare would be a full-fare ticket.

On their website they show for example they charge $1,800 for a J return to England!! $1,800 would pay for a fair few personal hours of trouble and phone calls to res centres!!

And I do not like the way they state notional "savings" - they effectively rate the dollar value of your several hundred thousand points as being ZERO.

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks Buzzard, would you mind explaining what they were likely to be fined for ?

Fines refers to the fuel levy and other taxes and charges that make QF award seats less worthwhile.

 

[roomer]

Fines refers to the fuel levy and other taxes and charges that make QF award seats less worthwhile.

Ha cheers

 

[flychrisfly]

Have a look at the oneworld award thread here.

Tonnes of advice for using points on an up to 5 stop/16 sector trip, doesn't have to be RTW but often is FYI, a business class oneworld award flight will cost you 280,000 points per person plus taxes. I just completed a RTW trip in F (for 420,000 points) and less than $1000. But you do need to research the hell out of it and be flexible and book well in advance (almost a year). Plus you'll need to pay more in points (or $) to make changes or add sectors to your trip as they become available.

Anyway, it's all in that thread. Maybe start a few pages before the end as it's looooong.

 

[roomer]

I have only just learnt about I FLY FLAT due to this thread - I had a quick look and was NOT impressed.

Effectively they charge to assist you making a booking you can do yourself (I know that is difficult), and their fee is set at 20% of what they notionally declare would be a full-fare ticket.

On their website they show for example they charge $1,800 for a J return to England!! $1,800 would pay for a fair few personal hours of trouble and phone calls to res centres!!

And I do not like the way they state notional "savings" - they effectively rate the dollar value of your several hundred thousand points as being ZERO.

Have to say juddles, I hadn't got that far to have looked on their site - had just seen pop-up adverts saying how they could do it for a fee, which I thought I might have to do as a last resort if I couldn't figure this sort of thing out, but although I'd be happy to pay for help, I agree that is way over the top.

 

[juddles]

Have to say juddles, I hadn't got that far to have looked on their site - had just seen pop-up adverts saying how they could do it for a fee, which I thought I might have to do as a last resort if I couldn't figure this sort of thing out, but although I'd be happy to pay for help, I agree that is way over the top.

To be fair to IFLYFLAT, their targeted market is "time-poor" individuals who are not interested in doing things themselves.

 

[roomer]

Have a look at the oneworld award thread here.

Anyway, it's all in that thread. Maybe start a few pages before the end as it's looooong.

thanks flychrisfly, after seeing juddles posts, I am certainly more inclined to do that! To be honest, I did look at that thread but because it started in 2006 and was so long it made my head spin, thinking, in the words of that Andy Williams song 'where do I begin". Ill take your advice and have another look but at the end

 

[medhead]

Cheers medhead, that's encouraging. Guess I need to wait until September to start looking to see how hard using the Classic Rewards things before I try I Fly Flat

I would suggest doing dummy bookings now to test what is available. We're upto about all of June 2017 seat release. Can you see any business awards in June? what is available is also dependent on status level. If you know what to expect to see now, it will then give you a feel for how quickly you need to jump on classic awards if you see them in September.
For example, I'm currently looking for business awards in late June and have been able to see 4 of them for a week or so, as platinum. So I know there isn't great urgency to book immediately.

I think an important thing to have is flexibility in your travel dates and yes, that can sometimes be hard.
Recently I assisted 2 friends (both NB) secure flights to Europe in F all the way and return in J, so the flights are there if you look far enough ahead and are flexible. For them to get their flights they are departing from PER on Emirates and returning to ADL in Cathay J all the way. Returning on Cathay saved a lot in fines too. Booked as two one way journeys as flights opened up.

That's the great thing about CX.
Booking as 2 one-ways is the best option,I'm trying to achieve that for my trip. But I'm also contemplating just doing a 140000 points circle trip. With the OP wanting Europe and the USA, a RTW type of fare is probably the best option.

 

[roomer]

I would suggest doing dummy bookings now to test what is available. We're upto about all of June 2017 seat release. Can you see any business awards in June? what is available is also dependent on status level. If you know what to expect to see now, it will then give you a feel for how quickly you need to jump on classic awards if you see them in September.
For example, I'm currently looking for business awards in late June and have been able to see 4 of them for a week or so, as platinum. So I know there isn't great urgency to book immediately.



That's the great thing about CX.
Booking as 2 one-ways is the best option,I'm trying to achieve that for my trip. But I'm also contemplating just doing a 140000 points circle trip. With the OP wanting Europe and the USA, a RTW type of fare is probably the best option.

Thanks for all your pointers, its all adding fuel to the fire , such that I'm now getting fired up ( useful for this cold weather ) to have a better go

 

[ellen10]

roomer, I booked my first J x 2 award last year and I am a Qantas Bronze, I booked a year ahead (353 days)
Like others have said its good to do some dummy practice.
I had read that award seats were released at 10am not sure if it is still the same. So I would login and look for awards at that time each day to see and get a feel for what was available. They go so quick! so there is no time to ponder the choice, 5 mins later they are taken up. As Bronze there was only ever 2 J awards max and many times none or 1. We ended up flying out a few days earlier than I wanted but after a week of seeing nothing I grabbed the first ones I saw to JFK on a Tuesday ( mid week seemed to be better).
Phew that done I then had to wait 6 weeks later for the return journey and after a week of disappointment with nothing to find on QF I took the CX option, a little more points but for piece of mind I was glad to get the flights home. And to top it off I liked CX J better.
I have just been looking for June next year and could not see any QF but I did see CX J, so that may be your best option.
But as someone else said earlier flexibility with dates makes it a little easier.
Good luck.

 

[roomer]

roomer, I booked my first J x 2 award last year and I am a Qantas Bronze, I booked a year ahead (353 days)
Like others have said its good to do some dummy practice.
I had read that award seats were released at 10am not sure if it is still the same. So I would login and look for awards at that time each day to see and get a feel for what was available. They go so quick! so there is no time to ponder the choice, 5 mins later they are taken up. As Bronze there was only ever 2 J awards max and many times none or 1. We ended up flying out a few days earlier than I wanted but after a week of seeing nothing I grabbed the first ones I saw to JFK on a Tuesday ( mid week seemed to be better).
Phew that done I then had to wait 6 weeks later for the return journey and after a week of disappointment with nothing to find on QF I took the CX option, a little more points but for piece of mind I was glad to get the flights home. And to top it off I liked CX J better.
I have just been looking for June next year and could not see any QF but I did see CX J, so that may be your best option.
But as someone else said earlier flexibility with dates makes it a little easier.
Good luck.

Thanks Ellen for sharing your experiences.

So you are saying even a year out you had to hang about ie wait 6 plus weeks before you could book a return flight? And I guess you did the booking on the basis of the fallback position in that if you couldn't get the return flight in J for the date you wanted, you'd have to shell out for an economy flight home instead?

In my mucking around today with the Qantas site, I notice you can bookmark / save your itinerary, but do you (or anyone else) know how long that saved itinerary would be held for so you could make the actual flight booking?

 

[wandering_fred]

Fines refers to the fuel levy and other taxes and charges that make QF award seats less worthwhile.

I hereby sentence the referenced post to the grammar thread...

What you pay or don't pay for the seat does not change the quality of the QF seat. The additional charges that QF levies (ie the "fines") make the economic value of "purchasing" the seat less worthwhile. :shock:

Now back to the regular discussion...

Without wandering

Fred

 

[ellen10]

Thanks Ellen for sharing your experiences.

So you are saying even a year out you had to hang about ie wait 6 plus weeks before you could book a return flight? And I guess you did the booking on the basis of the fallback position in that if you couldn't get the return flight in J for the date you wanted, you'd have to shell out for an economy flight home instead?

In my mucking around today with the Qantas site, I notice you can bookmark / save your itinerary, but do you (or anyone else) know how long that saved itinerary would be held for so you could make the actual flight booking?

Hi roomer, I booked our outgoing flight the day the seats were released (353 days before for Qantas - Cathay release their seats a few days earlier). I might add that i also looked at flying in to Dallas but could only ever see 1 seat.
The return flights I tried to get Qantas but I was running out of days to return home (with QF you again have to wait the 353 days before departure date) So yes I booked the outgoing flight first and then waited 6 weeks until my preferred return date. But QF return from JFK never had anything so I took the CX flights.
If you are doing a RTW with several flights, you would book your first departure date and then wait until your next flight rewards date is released. E.g. you mentioned Europe, so book your first flight, to say for example HK and then a week later you want to fly to Rome, book that one as it is released. Different airlines release seats on different dates.

The rule is a maximum of 35,000 miles, 16 segments, 5 stops. Wherever you want to go.

I hope I have helped a little, I am happy to answer any other questions that I can. There are many clever and experienced people on AFF (more than me).
So look at the previous mentioned thread and ask some questions there.

 

[JessicaTam]

I hereby sentence the referenced post to the grammar thread...

What you pay or don't pay for the seat does not change the quality of the QF seat. The additional charges that QF levies (ie the "fines") make the economic value of "purchasing" the seat less worthwhile. :shock:

Now back to the regular discussion...

Without wandering

Fred

If you will observe, I referred to a QF award seat.