Best Mix of QF and AA Points

[garybatz]

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere but unable to find anything.

I currently have 278,000 QFF points & 90,000 AA points (love that bonus purchase ). I'm now planning a trip using my points for return flights in J to the USA in June/July 2014, so I'll be looking to book fairly soon. I will likely do a few days stopover in L.A., then over to NYC, up to Montreal & then home to MEL, possibly with another few days stopover on the West Coast to break up the trip. I'm looking to use my points for the long-haul flights & maybe some of the domestic as well depending on cost comparisons.

My question is this - is there a best way of timing the use of the QFF & AA points? Given the different time periods when you can book flights in advance (I believe 353 days for QFF & 330 days for AA) am wondering if there is a most effective method. Some options I can think of include:

• just book both ways with QFF, & use the AA points another time (I will probably purchase another AA batch next year anyway)
• book the first flight over with QFF as soon as it becomes available & hope to get a return on AA when they become available later
• book the first flight over with QFF, book the return flight with QFF when it becomes available, then when AA becomes available book the return flight with them & cancel the QFF return flight & cop the points penalty; this way I would be assured of getting a return flight if AA doesn't come through

I have just qualified to keep my SG status for another year, up to 30 June 2014, & am also a Qantas Club member (through my employer).

Any words of wisdom most appreciated.

 

[Kangol]

• book the first flight over with QFF, book the return flight with QFF when it becomes available, then when AA becomes available book the return flight with them & cancel the QFF return flight & cop the points penalty; this way I would be assured of getting a return flight if AA doesn't come through

Thing is, if you cancel the return QFF flight, it may not be released back to inventory with either QFF or AA.. leaving you with the bird that you had in your hand somewhere off in the bush.

I don't know how much you like gambling but if you do - it would be a win.

Don't forget that with AA award tickets you can have a free stopover at the North American international gateway city in either direction - likely to be LAX, based on the information you've given.

 

[CaviAck]

Thing is, if you cancel the return QFF flight, it may not be released back to inventory with either QFF or AA.. leaving you with the bird that you had in your hand somewhere off in the bush.

I don't know how much you like gambling but if you do - it would be a win.

I think he means:
1. Book outbound with QF
2. Book inbound #1 with QF
3. Wait and see if AA becomes available, if so book inbound #2
4. After booking inbound #2 with AA cancel inbound #1 with QF.

 

[Kangol]

Oh, my bad..
I guess once you do #2 on the list, #3 becomes less likely depending on the specified routing.
There seems to be more J availability via BNE once all the A380 spots are taken...