Best $ value per point?

[benny86]

We've got 225k points, and never travelled O/S.

I'd like to create an spreadsheet of best bang for buck per point spent - presumably it would be upgrading from a paid business seat to first class.

Is such a spreadsheet readily available?

Also - is there a way to search Qantas fares by route and lowest fare regardless of date? Currently the only way I know how is to search by route and date.

 

[JohnM]

Do you have a destination in mind?

Best bangs for the points, taking into account the level of service and comfort, would be to spend the points on EK or QR award flights, not QF flights. As for upgrading from paid J to F, the all-important question applies: do you have status?

I assume 'we' is a couple. Getting two seats can make the chances that much harder.

Point-to-point J can be mighty expensive compared with buying a DONEx or an AY 'mini' RTW (eg. full J PER-LHR-PER is around the price of a DONE4). A DONE4 will easily earn enough SCs to become WP from scratch and accrue around 100K points. But you need a decent amount of time to do a DONEx.

 

[benny86]

Thanks John.

Do you have a destination in mind?

Having never travelled, we're thinking either a US trip or parts of Europe.

Best bangs for the points, taking into account the level of service and comfort, would be to spend the points on EK or QR award flights, not QF flights. As for upgrading from paid J to F, the all-important question applies: do you have status?

We'd be happy to go with Emirates or Qatar. What's the best way to look at lowest point use for a given return flight, when dates can be flexible? We don't have status.

Point-to-point J can be mighty expensive compared with buying a DONEx or an AY 'mini' RTW (eg. full J PER-LHR-PER is around the price of a DONE4). A DONE4 will easily earn enough SCs to become WP from scratch and accrue around 100K points. But you need a decent amount of time to do a DONEx.

Terrific, hadn't thought of this. What's the best way to work out best bang for buck?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We've got 225k points, and never travelled O/S.

I'd like to create an spreadsheet of best bang for buck per point spent - presumably it would be upgrading from a paid business seat to first class.

Is such a spreadsheet readily available?

Also - is there a way to search Qantas fares by route and lowest fare regardless of date? Currently the only way I know how is to search by route and date.

QF has a faily limited netwrok offering first class. From Australia that's only Singapore, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Dallas and London.

Ball-park 'special' fares for those routes in business class are around $3000 Australia to Asia and $5000-6000 for USA/London. Those you'd be able to request an upgrade.

But as pointed out - without status getting your upgrade cleared may be unlikely. Anything less than gold status and you should expect to fly in the cabin you originally purchased. If you have platinum status (or above) you might be in with a chance.

You can't use your Qantas points to upgrade on any airline other than Qantas.

You can use your points to buy business of First class awards on other airlines, but Qantas charges a lot for these. While a Qantas First class award is 144K points one way per person Australia to USA (LAX), Alaska airlines charges only 70K for the same seat. And you can readily buy Alaska Airlines miles pretty cheaply when on sale. ,

 

[JohnM]

Terrific, hadn't thought of this. What's the best way to work out best bang for buck?

I think the more important thing is to work out where you want to go, not get too over-worked about best bangs for the buck. Any RTW option is going to cream point-to-point for bangs.

There is a thread on the AY RTW deal: AY RTW Sale

There isn't a detailed thread on AFF for OneWorld Explorer (XONEx) fares that I'm aware of but this may provide some guidance: Oneworld Explorer ticketing

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just having a further think about this... if you're looking to maximise a first class experience using your points for something like Australia-Singapore on Emirates (120K return in business class per person) might be the launch for picking up something like Air France or Lufthansa First class out of Singapore to Europe. Those paid F fares can be had for between $6K and $8K. This would compare to buying a business class fare on Qantas Australia to London (let's say $6000) and then joining the upgrade lottery (which almost certainly won't clear if you don't have status). Air France and Lufthansa will also knock the socks off QF's F offering (which is almost identical to their business class offering but with a bigger seat).

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Decide on your destination then you can focus on options. RTW is a good option but you need time to plan. QF is not best bang for buck period - If you decide on Europe then getting to Asia is a great idea as value for J/F Asia-Europe is great.

Regardless of whether you decide on Europe or USA wait for a sale or double status credit promo (or both) which helps with the bang-for-buck.

 

[Spongbob]

I think value of using FF points needs a comparison between the dollar cost of a fare and the points (award or upgrade) you would use. As others have said, the Qantas $$ charges for an award flight limits the points value relative to purchasing a ticket.

 

[benny86]

I think value of using FF points needs a comparison between the dollar cost of a fare and the points (award or upgrade) you would use. As others have said, the Qantas $$ charges for an award flight limits the points value relative to purchasing a ticket.

Completely agree, is there such a table available for different routes on different airlines?

I did one for QF:

 

[Silvia]

Are you able to position somewhere? If you go to Europe, award J/F tickets from Australia are hard if you don't get them as they get released, which may be your case without status.

I was able to get J x2 with Qatar (Q suites) ex SIN. We decided to get an economy ticket with QF and break up the trip. We got these 4.5 months prior travel. EK is also worthwhile!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Completely agree, is there such a table available for different routes on different airlines?

I did one for QF:

View attachment 170487

Your table shows the notional value QF applies to FF points of 0 .07c per point. Most people would be looking to use a classic award rather than the straight conversion (pay with points) you have in your table. The F class fare of $9000 would therefore be measured against 288K points (F return to lax), not the one million plus. The 'value' would be closer to 3c per point.

Economy would be potentially worse, by the time you add the qantas fees and charges on to the award the economy award for MEL-JFK would be 90K return, but only saving $300, giving .003c of value per point. So the 'value' for the F award is about 10x the economy award.

 

[JohnM]

Completely agree, is there such a table available for different routes on different airlines?

I did one for QF:

View attachment 170487

That arithmetic is correct but the calculation is the wrong way round, as @MEL_Traveller points out.

Start with the points required for a Classic Award and back-calculate to relate it to the paid fare to see what $ value per point you can achieve. I don't get out of bed for <3.5 cents/point value on an award flight. That's 5X the nominal 0.7 cents/point cost - and it's only my start-point.

 

[kpro]

Start with the points required for a Classic Award and back-calculate to relate it to the paid fare to see what $ value per point you can achieve.

Don't forget that paid fares also earn points, and award flights have a tax component payable in cash. To get the most accurate comparison you need to factor these in as well.

 

[JohnM]

I factor in the surcharge.

I don’t factor in as an offset the points that would be earned for a paid fare as I think it’s a dichotomous choice - but I take your point.