Best way for my situation to use QFF points

[coco50]

$60K is generous. An AONE for your itinerary ex AU prices out at $19K per person, although that doesn't allow a back-track HNL-LAX and would fly you home direct from HNL on QF J or via TYO on JL J. Taxes/surcharges seem about right - the AONE prices them at $1600 per person.

Still good value!

I just priced single sector flights on the QF website for next week. For 2 pax travelling first from Syd to DXB (First Saver) $22191. Next for 2 pax from DXB to LHR (first saver again) $42720 - a total of $64911 - and we're only halfway RTW and not even into the trip.

I also paid for the LAX - HNL - LAX sectors because I didn't want to spend a week in LAX and we like Hawaii.

 

[coco50]

The point was that there is a round the world air fare (allows up to 16 flights), which prices at around $19,000 per person including all taxes and surcharges for your itinerary.

When it comes to pricing out a trip such as yours it isn't done sector by sector, thankfully

I'm not, however, detracting from the excellent itinerary you have put together. Looks like a great trip!

However it is difficult to get the seats you want if you book your trip 355 days BEFORE your last sector. You will probably get a plastic chair in the aisle near the toilet or galley!

 

[aussiejohn]

Can you tell me how you get 2c per point, at present I have a lot of points accumulated, and im a bit worried in case qantas devalue it once again or cancel the entire program (I have like 1.2m points)

Qantas never devalues, they always ENHANCE the program

 

[SOPOOR]

thats interesting, I actually found a upgrade feature on my account so gave it a test

melb to SG is 30k each way, 60k return economy
business class is 120k return

upgrade to business class from economy using points it says 40k, each way so essentially, a business trip costs 140k points using hte upgrade ssytem,

that kinda sux as well, and I assume the taxes are high as well, I was looking forward to buying economy tickets and thne upgrading to business class using points

oh well

btw. does anytbody know how taxes work with upgrades?

just for arguments sake if you buy a biz class trip entirely on points, and hte tax was $500,

if you upgrade from economy cash purhcase, is the tax $500 or less?
and if you used points to buy the economy fare and paid tax would it be offset in the upgrade? or would you need to pay 2 lots of taxes?

 

[serfty]

Qantas don't charge any additional taxes when granting points upgrades.

 

[SOPOOR]

Qantas don't charge any additional taxes when granting points upgrades.

really????

so if I buy a Melb to SG economy for $1000 for argumetns sake, I can spend another 80k and get the business upgrade without tax

I havent done an upgrade or purchase via points for business, but I recall the tax to be very high, that it made it not such a great deal,

I know for a fact taht for short trips to bali for example its not worth it

eg 50k points plus $400 in tax when on sale jetstar has fares for $400 , and yet you get the same plane with very little extras

 

[JohnK]

really????

so if I buy a Melb to SG economy for $1000 for argumetns sake, I can spend another 80k and get the business upgrade without tax

That is correct. The taxes and surcharges are already included in the revenue economy airfare you purchased.

 

[serfty]

That is correct. The taxes and surcharges are already included in the revenue economy airfare you purchased.

Generally true, but these taxes and duties can vary with booking class.

e.g. the UK Air Passenger Duty is £97 for an economy ticket LHR-SYD but doubles to £194 for Premium Economy, Business and First class.

If you upgrade from economy to Business with Qantas, you pay no more - Qantas choose to absorb the additional Duty. (Other airlines, including most (all?) USA based ones and Air New Zealand require the additional £97 be paid by the passenger before confirming the upgrade.)

 

[SOPOOR]

Generally true, but these taxes and duties can vary with booking class.

e.g. the UK Air Passenger Duty is £97 for an economy ticket LHR-SYD but doubles to £194 for Premium Economy, Business and First class.

If you upgrade from economy to Business with Qantas, you pay no more - Qantas choose to absorb the additional Duty. (Other airlines, including most (all?) USA based ones and Air New Zealand require the additional £97 be paid by the passenger before confirming the upgrade.)

thanks eveyrone,

this might be a bit of newbie question, but it seems buying business class ticket upgrades are the best way to get the best sdollar to point ratio since business class is uusally3-4 times more expensive then economy,

is it better to buy a cash ticket on economy and then do an upgrade, or is it better to buy a business class ticket of which you would have to pay tax on it anyway,

im referring to singaport or usa or UK flights

 

[JohnK]

is it better to buy a cash ticket on economy and then do an upgrade, or is it better to buy a business class ticket of which you would have to pay tax on it anyway,

im referring to singaport or usa or UK flights

There is no guarantee an upgrade request to business would be granted.

It's not called an upgrade lottery for nothing.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

thanks eveyrone,

this might be a bit of newbie question, but it seems buying business class ticket upgrades are the best way to get the best sdollar to point ratio since business class is uusally3-4 times more expensive then economy,

is it better to buy a cash ticket on economy and then do an upgrade, or is it better to buy a business class ticket of which you would have to pay tax on it anyway,

im referring to singaport or usa or UK flights

Unless you are a platinum 1 or platinum member of QF's program, you should expect to travel in the class you have booked for your ticket. If you buy economy, expect to end up sitting there. For that reason, while upgrades may appear to be good value for money, they probably aren't good value on the 'managing expectations' front.

If you want to fly in business class, you should either use your points outright to secure business class (and you can do that on another oneworld airline as well as QF itself), or buy a business class ticket.

If you are going to buy a business class ticket, there are often other options, much cheaper than flying QF, and you'll get the same full flatbed (just a trade off with perhaps a longer flight time and poorer alcohol selection).

 

[SOPOOR]

Unless you are a platinum 1 or platinum member of QF's program, you should expect to travel in the class you have booked for your ticket. If you buy economy, expect to end up sitting there. For that reason, while upgrades may appear to be good value for money, they probably aren't good value on the 'managing expectations' front.

If you want to fly in business class, you should either use your points outright to secure business class (and you can do that on another oneworld airline as well as QF itself), or buy a business class ticket.

If you are going to buy a business class ticket, there are often other options, much cheaper than flying QF, and you'll get the same full flatbed (just a trade off with perhaps a longer flight time and poorer alcohol selection).

good point about the managing expectations front, ive been told that upgrades are quite hard to secure, I assume that you do know whether you get the upgrade well before you travel though (ie not turn up to the airport to find out on the day if the upgrade was succesfful)

I definitely wont be paying cash for a business class ticket, certianly cannot afford it , so it will have to be using hte QFF program and its points outright and paying tax........ oh well,

do you know when you find out about business class ugrads via poitns?? are we talking last minute or when you book?

 

[pugwombat]

You get a text on the morning of your flight that lets you know if you were successful... theoretically. My wife and I got that text from Qantas. We were as happy as pigs in gravy. We fronted up at the check-in counter in Tokyo. Sorry, the flight is full. You losers, you miss out. Go to the back of the plane where you belong (I paraphrase). I realized then that FF points aren't worth the paper they're written on... unless, you book and pay for the flight with points. So, now I just buy the cheapest business class fare (with flat-bed seats) I can find, and sorry Qantas, that isn't with you.

 

[SOPOOR]

You get a text on the morning of your flight that lets you know if you were successful... theoretically. My wife and I got that text from Qantas. We were as happy as pigs in gravy. We fronted up at the check-in counter in Tokyo. Sorry, the flight is full. You losers, you miss out. Go to the back of the plane where you belong (I paraphrase). I realized then that FF points aren't worth the paper they're written on... unless, you book and pay for the flight with points. So, now I just buy the cheapest business class fare (with flat-bed seats) I can find, and sorry Qantas, that isn't with you.

oh that ultra ultra sux!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

if thats teh case, then a biz class uprade is off the list for me, looks like biz class from teh start then

hope you enjoyed your holiday though

 

[Ausbt]

You get a text on the morning of your flight that lets you know if you were successful... theoretically. My wife and I got that text from Qantas. We were as happy as pigs in gravy. .

Could have been worse. On my recent flight NRT-SYD I was upgraded whereas my wife was not. Made for an uncomfortable few hours prior to take-off, until my wife was finally upgraded right at the gate.

 

[pugwombat]

Hmmm, you're right. That would have been worse. You would have had to give her your seat in J class to maintain domestic harmony.

 

[coco50]

I have refused if that is the case. For us, it's all or nothing

 

[JohnK]

You get a text on the morning of your flight that lets you know if you were successful... theoretically. My wife and I got that text from Qantas. We were as happy as pigs in gravy. We fronted up at the check-in counter in Tokyo. Sorry, the flight is full. You losers, you miss out. Go to the back of the plane where you belong (I paraphrase). I realized then that FF points aren't worth the paper they're written on... unless, you book and pay for the flight with points. So, now I just buy the cheapest business class fare (with flat-bed seats) I can find, and sorry Qantas, that isn't with you.

You were upgraded and then at the airport found you were back in economy?

Why is this still happening? Did you at least keep your original allocated seats?

 

[Pushka]

Could have been worse. On my recent flight NRT-SYD I was upgraded whereas my wife was not. Made for an uncomfortable few hours prior to take-off, until my wife was finally upgraded right at the gate.

That happened to us with Emirates recently. MrP upgraded to F at checkin and I wasn't. But it didn't create any angst - I was pleased that one of us was going to experience it. And then I was also upgraded at the gate.