Best Value for redeeming QFF points

[michaelblain]

What is everyones ideas on the best value for redeeming points overall.

I understand that flights generally provide more value for points, but long haul short haul, upgrades etc etc....

 

[shillard]

What is everyones ideas on the best value for redeeming points overall.

I understand that flights generally provide more value for points, but long haul short haul, upgrades etc etc....

International Upgrades are one of the most "cost-effective" uses for points, or full international J/ F awards, particularly a OneWorld Explorer award in J or F class.

Short domestic trips in Y are so cheap these days that using points on them is an absolute waste.

Ditto hotel stays, etc. You can get dirt-cheap buy high quality accomodation on sites like www.lastminute.com.au or wotif.com.au - even better ratesif you're in a decent loyalty programme like Accor Advantage or Priority Club - why waste points on a **** hotel when you can stay there for $99 a night inc breakfast?

 

[michaelblain]

With the One World Explorer is that a RTW type fare using QF plus two othe OW airlines?

Would the points be 300,000 points - first - up to a maximum of 35000 miles? Do you then have to pay 10000 points per stopover except for the turnaround point? or is the Explorer a seperate product?

 

[dajop]

It really depends on your view of the world, and how many points you have. If you have heaps of points to spare, international upgrades are good value.

An upgrade to Europe represents in the order of $6000 for 100,000 points which is excellent value, but I personally would rather put up with Y class, and save $2000 or spend the points on other trips, as I would not normally pay an $8000 fare.

Domestically, best value is on journeys involving connexion, particulary those without through fares from your point of origin (usually regional destinations), and on routes not yet served by Virgin Blue. eg east coast to Broome/northern WA, Melbourne-regional NSW (eg Grafton, Coffs, etc), Tassie - NT etc.

Also, I found in American Airlines in US is good value, as the same points scale applies as does Qantas domestically. I used 20,000 points for a fare from NYC - Florida at short notice, when the cheapest fare I could find anywhere (even on the low cost carriers) was over A$700!

 

[shillard]

Also, I found in American Airlines in US is good value, as the same points scale applies as does Qantas domestically. I used 20,000 points for a fare from NYC - Florida at short notice, when the cheapest fare I could find anywhere (even on the low cost carriers) was over A$700!

Transcon fares in the States are horrendous, you are almost always better off buying a RTW ticket if you have to get somewhere off the QF direct track - like (until recently) ORD, Atlnta, DC, etc.

Why go SYD-LAX-ORD-LAX-SYD when it is cheaper to go SYD-LAX-ORD-LHR-SIN-SYD?

 

[Jetboy]

Great advice Shillard.
Later this year I need to go to Venice and have been wondering about the economics of flying direct through Singapore or adding on a few other sectors.

My thinking at the moment is to pay for a J fare or even F RTW. I currently have a 400 status CR ballance so want to maximize those to try for platinum.

I thought that one method would be to go SYD LAX SFO LHR (but I wouldn't mind stopping in NY) I did read that SFO LHR gives the best in terms of status CR so not too sure what to do there.

Continuing: LHR VENICE LHR BKK SYD

Anyone have a better routing to get the elusive 1000 status CR?

 

[QF WP]

Jetboy, you are become a status credit cough - excellent, join the club (Dave - thadocta - seems to be one too). If you don't mind sitting on a few extra flights, then Platinum is easy to achieve. I did Plat in one work trip - like you are looking at, it was a F RTW 22 sector trip. Know that in the RTW ticket, you have a certain number of flights available in each continent (once you reach it) - if I remember correctly, 4 in Europe, 6 in USA. In USA, you can also backtrack but know that F on AA in USA on 737/767's is really like J here in Australia so choose your flights carefully (look at major hub to hub flights like AA3 JFK/LAX).

If you have problems, then just buy a 2 or 4 sector Air Pass for the shortest sectors (usually the cheapest) and leave the longer sectors in the RTW ticket. Also, look to see if they are codeshare flights and book under the QF flight number so you get more FF points (Status Bonus).

 

[shillard]

Great advice Shillard.
Later this year I need to go to Venice and have been wondering about the economics of flying direct through Singapore or adding on a few other sectors.

Suggest SYD-LAX-ORD (on QF Metal, thereby maximising Status bonus), ORD-LAX-SFO-LHR (AA), LHR-Venice (BA, don't know if they offer this direct, but there are no QF codeshares from UK to Italy), Venice back to LHR, via Frankfurt or elsewhere if possible, LHR-SIN-SYD (make sure separate flight numbers, LHR-SYD with a stretch stop at SIN will earn fewer status credits) on QF metal or codeshare.


As Lindsay pointed out, AA offers only Y and F domestic, with the F product being approximately the same as our J product here. If you buy a J RTW ticket, AA will put you in Y on domestic flights, you MUST purchase the F RTW product to fly in F. Upgrade chances are slim with AA as a QF Elite - I've been Platinum for ages and often flown LAX-ORD return on AA, and across to Atlanta & Charleston SC, with only ONE upgrade in history.

For the price difference, F is the way to go. The OneWorld forum on Flyertalk might offer you better advice - I've never done a run through the states and then onto continental europe, so take my advice here with a pinch of Lott's wife.

 

[Jetboy]

Shillard,

Thanks for the suggestions and of course going to Chicago I may get the new ER. That would mean picking the flight up in MLB to maximize the experience.

I sort of knew that LHR Venice would be a problem but, it's not a long journey in the scheme of things.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[michaelblain]

BA don't fly direct LHR to VCE - you can route through Manchester or take a bus or 3 trains over to LGW.

Considering your chase for status suggest through MAN.

 

[QF WP]

Jetboy, there are a number of ways you can get LHR/VCE (but none direct on OW). Don't know what day you are looking to travel, but for example, on Tuesday 28 January there were the following options:

SN 5402 LHR/BRU (Brussels Airlines), connecting with SN 3203 BRU/VEN
BA 402 LHR/BRU, connecting with SN 3203 BRU/VEN
LH 6705 LHR/BRU, connecting with SN 3207
BD 153 LHR/BRU, connecting with SN 3207

Others are LH via FRA; or Alitalia via MXP (Malpensa); or Air France via CDG, or BA954 to MUC then EN (Air Dolomiti) to VCE....you get the idea (the list goes on).

If you want the lot, give me an email - I'll flick you the info.

Personally, I don't think it'll matter which city you choose to connect through, the points are relatively the same...so maybe try and find a cheap on-line one-way with SN ??

 

[michaelblain]

Alitalia have OK web deals as well.

FYI SN flights are codeshare out of LHR operated by BA.

Other option is presuming you are getting a OWE to go ORD-MAN-VCE on AA then BA or ORD-MAD-VCE on AA then IB.

 

[Jetboy]

Thanks to all the above posts. There certainly see to be a lot in getting to Venice through the back door! I read somewhere that pax flying into LHR and departing through Gatwick are slugged with a fee for doing so. Does this also apply to Manchester?

I will need to be in Venice on the morning of Sunday 21 September. Perhaps Alitalia are the best option for leaving LHR.

Lindsay, I'd appreciate that info and will forward my email address.

Regards,

 

[michaelblain]

If you do choose Alitalia make sure you aren't hungry before you get on the plane, I have flown AM and PM flights and they are pretty ordinary food wise.

The retro outfits of the Italian FA make a good laugh though - and the additional rear exit of the plane is handy in Italy. It just coughs you out...

 

[CutSnake]

Best use of points - international business travel

I am a big fan of using points for upgrades when travelling internationally on business. Sometimes my clients will pop for a business class ticket, but when they don't, it is totally worth using points to upgrade.

My main reasoning is that I arrive more refreshed, which means I can get straight to work rather than running at half-speed or less for two days while getting over exhaustion compounded with jet-lag. As I do a lot of speaking, this is a big factor. It also saves money, as I don't have to pay for a couple of extra days in a hotel (and other expenses) just to get up to speed.

My trips are shorter, cheaper, and more effective. A winner all around.

 

[Chalkie]

Shillard wrote

If you buy a J RTW ticket, AA will put you in Y on domestic flights, you MUST purchase the F RTW product to fly in F. Upgrade chances are slim with AA as a QF Elite - I've been Platinum for ages and often flown LAX-ORD return on AA, and across to Atlanta & Charleston SC, with only ONE upgrade in history.

I am surprised by this - last time I took a RTW in J (D) class (Oneworld Global Explorer) (May last year), I had J class on AA domestic. Have the rules changed since May 2002? Are you able to clarify?

 

[QF WP]

I believe what Scott has written is correct, they have only had 2 class travel for a while - Coach (Y) and First (F) [as they so elegantly put it]. Coach is aptly named but First is a joke compared with our J domestic.

FWIW, I pulled out two tickets from 2001 & 2002. The August 2001 ticket was J RTW points ticket and August 2002 was F RTW paid.

On 2001 ticket on the AA flights I had both Intl and Dom sectors on AA. (Belo Horizonte, Brasil) CNF/MIA was booked in U along with MIA/SEA - both times I was in Business. Then two subsequent flights SEA/SJC and SJC/LAX were booked in Z and I was in First. From my recollection there was imperceptable difference on the Dom sectors between the different classes of travel.

The 2002 ticket was booked in A for all 6 sectors and thus all were noted as First.

I'm not as savvy on the different booking classes as some (shillard and thadocta), perhaps there is a difference and they can indicate??

 

[Chalkie]

And I think that I have now worked out what I did - I took a transcontinental flight LAX-Dulles, which offered 3 class service. From memory the AA J class service on the transcontinental was pretty good - printed menus, proper drinks service and comfy seats (I think it was a fairly new 767).

 

[ozzieuk]

If you can make it to London or New York on your own steam, the best value award, by far, in the Qantas Program is a return Concorde trip for 125,000 points. This costs £7,000 in the UK, and about US$10,500 in the US. Considering 125,000 points would otherwise get you a return to the UK (plus a bit) in economy which is worth only AUD$2000, this is a bargain !

Other good deals are from the US / Canada to the UK in First Class on BA. For 125,000 points return, you could do Seattle - London, Vancouver - London, and anything that is closer to London then either of those two cities, where BA flies of course !

 

[QF WP]

ozzieuk, indeed it is. 125,000 shouldn't be too hard for most who fly a bit, link their CC's to the QFF program and all the trimmings. Having flown BA1 LHR/JFK last year, the only disappointing thing is that it is over too soon, but I have some great memories, photographs and memorabilia.

(Edited to correct information)