Best value for AMEX points

[paultiffen]

ASAs are only available through QANTAS. I don't know of any other frequent flyer program that has an equivalent for reward seats. Asia Miles is the best value as you can book through AA and avoid the fuel surcharge for what is a codeshare flight anyway. It's 60000 points + 150 in fuel tax SYD->LAX which is an amazing deal considering you can get the points with 20000 at supermarkets.

 

[burmans]

As explained in the thread posted by serfty.

Buy 110,000 US Airways miles and with taxes and surcharges the cost should come to ~AUD2,500.

Or less this month possibly!

 

[paultiffen]

Another good trick with Asia Miles is to use it for SYD->MEL which is 15000 return + 15 in taxes through AA. My guess is that you are limited to continuations of an international flight though.

It's also important to know what you want to redeem for or a list of likely awards and how much money you spend in a few different categories each year to maximise points. PM me if you want advice on how to calculate this.

 

[k3nnis]

Hi,

Is that 60000 AM for SYD-LAX on QF Metal in J one way?

Thanks,
K.

ASAs are only available through QANTAS. I don't know of any other frequent flyer program that has an equivalent for reward seats. Asia Miles is the best value as you can book through AA and avoid the fuel surcharge for what is a codeshare flight anyway. It's 60000 points + 150 in fuel tax SYD->LAX which is an amazing deal considering you can get the points with 20000 at supermarkets.

 

[deluxeflyer]

Hi,

Is that 60000 AM for SYD-LAX on QF Metal in J one way?

Thanks,
K.

Last I looked it's 70,000....

 

[paultiffen]

I think it's 60000 each way and it must be on QF metal as I don't think AA run any non code share flights to Sydney. Though I'm not 100%.

 

[k3nnis]

That's a great deal

So basically using 120000 Asiamiles and book on AA codeshare but flying on QF Metal???

I see that if you book QF using asiamiles it is still 120000 asiamiles. So one would book the AA codeshare to avoid the high taxes/surcharges with QF or BA? is this correct?

 

[paultiffen]

Yep, only question I've got is over availability as you need to ring them up to book and they are hold to get a hold of. The main advantage though is that its 150 fees and taxes vs 800 on Qantas for economy fliers as Qantas effectively devalued their points by including the fuel surcharge in taxes rather than points.

 

[deluxeflyer]

View attachment 9883

I think it's 60000 each way and it must be on QF metal as I don't think AA run any non code share flights to Sydney. Though I'm not 100%.

Why does it say "upgrade" ?

 

[k3nnis]

Hi Paul,

How did you find out it is $150 in fees when booked on AA? Did you do a dummy booking on aa.com?

Also I see for SYD-LAX you can also book on a BA codeshare on QF metal in J as well using Asiamiles. But not sure with the fees involved for that one...

 

[k3nnis]

Because on the drop down you can also select an upgrade if you wanted.

Why does it say "upgrade" ?

 

[paultiffen]

Deluxeflyer - go to the site and you'll see it just gives a general warning around that but its under Flight Award. I had to ring up to find out the fees which took a few tries. My notes are:

Emirates to London is 90 000 points plus 330 in taxes
Asia Miles is 60 000 to LA plus 125 in taxes through AA, 800 through QF
To Melbourne it's 15000 plus 25 through AA and 66 on QANTAS
To London its 110000 plus 900 in taxes through QF, 225 through CP and 600 through BA

Cathay Pacific was best to London for oneWorld although I think Emirates is the best although it's harder to get their points as only real option here is the Citibank card.

 

[paultiffen]

Above are for economy btw as I decided to benchmark that first and main goal was to avoid the fuel surcharge and I'm still blissfully ignorant of J class (changing next week as flying back from Brisbane in J).

 

[deluxeflyer]

Ah. It's 120K return or 70K one way.

 

[Newk]

the things you can find on this site never cease to amaze me. Fantastic work people