Best use of qantas FFpoints

[mr6ix]

Sorry to hijack the thread - but I just have a question related to the release of classic flight rewards, if anyone can help.

My wife (SG) and I (NB) are looking to bag two J reward seats from Sydney to Dublin next April, but it's looking pretty sparse at the moment. We're looking under her account (SG) but it's not showing anything that I can't see in my own lowly bronze account. There is availability in Feb and March, but not April.


We're probably thinking of flying on Emirates metal as that means two flights rather than three (and avoiding Heathrow).


Is it a case of waiting a bit longer due to the new T-310 'rule' which is possibly becoming the norm? Or is that something that just applies to NB members?

 

[cjd600]

By my calcs, overnight has seen the release of Tues March 28 to NB, and this would seem to hold true also for SYD-LHR, which has premium availability (for NB) up to this date,and then only Y now that I have a look.

So keep checking each day to see if this pattern continues (it did for me on the US routes I was checking), then jump on April in the coming weeks when your day is released.
Haven't been able to determine the release time, seems sometime between 10pm-3am Sydney time each day

 

[mr6ix]

Great, thanks for your help. I haven't booked a J reward seat before so it's good to get the advice!

I'll keep an eye on it daily and hopefully I'll see the pattern. Have transferred my points to my wife's SG account as she will have a better chance of seeing the award seats than me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yeh... I'm trying to convince the wife that 35 hours in business class is worth it for a typical 14hr flight.

it's not (worth it).

if you are planning stopover in Hong Kong or Tokyo, and if the transpacific flights are in it makes the journey a bit of fun. sitting for 25-30 hours straight through in business class, for no real gain, probably isn't that appealing.

 

[kylebb]

Not sure if this is the right spot but my understanding is that MH fares can only be booked using QFF by calling the contact centre?

Are there any resources which show the approximate points/taxes costs for sectors?

Looking at some Malaysian domestic legs and a potential SIN-MEL

 

[ramboflyer]

I've fond many times the OW award seats out of Asia in J/F particularly HKG fantastic and virtually zilch fees and charges to USA / Europe, huge choice of airlines too, so get yourself to position there and the world is your oyster (and HK is fabulous stopover).

I see us doing something like that around September 2017. Can you do all the bookings on the QFF site?

 

[travelislife]

Not sure if this is the right spot but my understanding is that MH fares can only be booked using QFF by calling the contact centre?

Are there any resources which show the approximate points/taxes costs for sectors?

Looking at some Malaysian domestic legs and a potential SIN-MEL

Yes only booked over the phone.

Just have a look at the mileage bands on QFs partner award table. To check mileages use gcmap.

Taxes/charges easiest estimation is probably using ITAmatrix, remember to include the YQ charge.

 

[Jo145]

Interesting to know. Might be a bit too risky for me, but I now have 353 days to ponder and look around for any additional award seats that come out or sales on for economy seats. Will just keep building a points balance that'll never be used.

You could try one of the less popular holiday destinations and be sure of seats ... just a suggestion.

 

[JohnK]

I see us doing something like that around September 2017. Can you do all the bookings on the QFF site?

CX flights appear on the QFF award booking engine. You will also see UL flights, QR flights, EK flights, AA flights.

You won't see MH flights.

Not sure about RJ flights and JL flights.

 

[cjd600]

CX flights appear on the QFF award booking engine. You will also see UL flights, QR flights, EK flights, AA flights.

You won't see MH flights.

Not sure about RJ flights and JL flights.

No JL.
Pretty sure if seen RJ

 

[prozac]

Might not suit everyone... we've redeemed dozens of award seats days/week out from departure. CX is almost a certainty.

Booking short has seen this family of 4 enjoy many holidays.

I can't imagine booking 12 months out as so much can change in that time. Thanks for the tip amaroo, grab the bag and go suits me much better.

Welcome to AFF mr6ix.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

it's not (worth it).

if you are planning stopover in Hong Kong or Tokyo, and if the transpacific flights are in it makes the journey a bit of fun. sitting for 25-30 hours straight through in business class, for no real gain, probably isn't that appealing.

for some reason I can't edit this post? anyway... it should say 'and if the transpacific flights are in First it makes the journey more fun'

 

[JohnK]

for some reason I can't edit this post? anyway... it should say 'and if the transpacific flights are in First it makes the journey more fun'

Off-topic but you have 24 hours to edit your posts and that post is now 2 days old.

 

[ramboflyer]

CX flights appear on the QFF award booking engine. You will also see UL flights, QR flights, EK flights, AA flights.

You won't see MH flights.

Not sure about RJ flights and JL flights.

So if all flight options arent available on the Qantas booking engine where do you look for those that dont show? How do you do a Oneworld booking to include those that aren't appearing if they are the best option for you? Is it a case of ringing the call centre?

 

[Mattg]

So if all flight options arent available on the Qantas booking engine where do you look for those that dont show? How do you do a Oneworld booking to include those that aren't appearing if they are the best option for you? Is it a case of ringing the call centre?

If the flights aren't showing on the Qantas website you can always check on the British Airways website. (You'll have to create a free account using an overseas address.) Most oneworld flights show on there, and if you can't book them on the QF website you can then call the Qantas call centre to book. The service fees should be waived if it can't be booked online.

Case in point:
I used my Qantas points yesterday to book a LAN flight from Lima to Cusco. I wasn't able to find anything on the Qantas website, but there were plenty of options showing on the British Airways search engine. I called Qantas to book and all the flights showing on the BA website were available. I was charged 10,000 points plus around $14 in taxes. The phone service fee was waived. I was pretty happy with the outcome.

 

[RAM]

I can't imagine booking 12 months out as so much can change in that time. Thanks for the tip amaroo, grab the bag and go suits me much better.

Welcome to AFF mr6ix.

and at the other extreme - I try to book as far ahead as possible (making due allowance for school terms, exam blocks etc) to ensure best availability - subject to pricing of course. 9 years out of 10 - the cheapest prices for the flights occur in the first 3-5 weeks of them being listed. Only 1 year (2009) was this not the case to Eur rtn flights (on airlines considered safe/enjoyable) and without excessive (more than 3.5 hour) layover. Invariably lay over times ended up as 65 to 130 minutes.

Travel Insurance covers radical 'unexpected' problems and blocking out annual holidays way in advance (and while everyone else is still coming to terms with their bills from the recent Xmas/New Year - never sees any issue with getting the AL locked away.

Compared with those who wait until they see 'the whites of the eyes' and are competing with everyone else who's decided it might be nice to take a week or two off over Xmas/New Year.

Changing jobs (in)voluntarily can be a complication but I've found most new employers appreciate a potential employer who demonstrates good advance planning skills aka is organised. Some have even requested assistance (often after asking how easy is it to book that far ahead and why?) when at the 2nd or 3rd interview I announce that if I was offered the position I must make it clear that I need to be able to take my holiday booked last Feb for Dec/Jan etc.

And as repeated many times above, award availability is much better 10.5 to nearly 12 months ahead (CX an exception perhaps). Gotta love those discounted BA avios bookings MUC/LHR without excessive 'other fees'.

 

[ramboflyer]

If the flights aren't showing on the Qantas website you can always check on the British Airways website. (You'll have to create a free account using an overseas address.) Most oneworld flights show on there, and if you can't book them on the QF website you can then call the Qantas call centre to book. The service fees should be waived if it can't be booked online.

Case in point:
I used my Qantas points yesterday to book a LAN flight from Lima to Cusco. I wasn't able to find anything on the Qantas website, but there were plenty of options showing on the British Airways search engine. I called Qantas to book and all the flights showing on the BA website were available. I was charged 10,000 points plus around $14 in taxes. The phone service fee was waived. I was pretty happy with the outcome.

Thanks Mattg. As usual you are a wealth of information.

The message learned here is that if you cant find what you want on the QFF booking engine you can do your own searching on other airlines and ring the call centre who can hopefully book those flights you found.

 

[stump]

Book Early.
I booked 10 months in advance for February 2017, Adelaide - Tokyo return for QFF 140,000 points +$150Au.Flight with Cathay Pacific 80min HK stop over in economy day flight and Tokyo -Adelaide return Business Class 4 hour HK stopover night flight.Love Japan in winter...
Stump

 

[grov]

If I can add my experience when booking two J award flights PER-LAX some years ago, I phoned Qantas in the first minute that the award flights were released - from memory this was midnight EST. Even then, the SYD-LAX award flights were already taken. For the return leg booked later, when I queried why we had to return via BNE, the Qantas agent said "Do you know how many others are also on the phone right now, trying to also book these award flights?" So I strongly recommend just telephoning Qantas at this critical time and don't worry if you have to pay a booking fee - what's $50 when you are saving thousands.

 

[Buzzard]

I totally agree, $50 is nothing compared to the saving.