Buying Velocity points

[simmomelb]

Once you factor in the charges/taxes/fees it's probably closer to $6500 to $7000 at which point you could actually look at cash fares probably (not SQ but others like China Eastern etc or Vietnam airlines)

Yep, I would never bother buying points, unless it's purely because you need a few extras to complete a redemption.
So you BUY all those points, then have to pay all the charges, taxes and fees on top AND don't earn a single point or status credit on what is effectively a cash fare, but not treated as one.

 

[zainman]

Yep, I would never bother buying points, unless it's purely because you need a few extras to complete a redemption.
So you BUY all those points, then have to pay all the charges, taxes and fees on top AND don't earn a single point or status credit on what is effectively a cash fare, but not treated as one.

Don't get me wrong, it can work out but not in the specific example of redeeming for a SQ flight by converting Velocity points to SQ.

I think it's a good deal for maybe redeeming on UA Polaris using Velocity or QR directly (without converting to SQ first)

 

[jase05]

Yep, I would never bother buying points, unless it's purely because you need a few extras to complete a redemption.
So you BUY all those points, then have to pay all the charges, taxes and fees on top AND don't earn a single point or status credit on what is effectively a cash fare, but not treated as one.

For someone who might only be saving for that one big holiday then points and status earn would hold little to no interest I’d think.
If they can get a return to Europe for $5-6k instead of $8k plus then they are infront already.
Everyone has different needs

 

[simmomelb]

For someone who might only be saving for that one big holiday then points and status earn would hold little to no interest I’d think.
If they can get a return to Europe for $5-6k instead of $8k plus then they are infront already.
Everyone has different needs

If we just take into account the pure dollar value, I've never seen it offer anything significantly cheaper by buying discounted points, and the earn points are important on cash fares from a dollar value, unless you never intend to fly again, as they will likely nab you a free domestic return fare, which I'm sure almost everyone would benefit from, financially.

Happy to be corrected if you can show me a route where it's cheaper buying points and includes all the taxes and carrier charges, I've just never seen it before and I've looked at doing this time and time again.
Hopefully I am wrong

 

[jase05]

If we just take into account the pure dollar value, I've never seen it offer anything significantly cheaper by buying discounted points, and the earn points are important from a dollar value, unless you never intend to fly again, as they will likely nab you a free domestic return fare.

Happy to be corrected if you can show me a genuine route where it's cheaper buying points and includes all the taxes and carrier charges, I've just never seen it before and I've looked at doing this time and time again.
Hopefully I am wrong

BNE-SFO or any other East coast city to SFO/LAX return for 204,000 points plus $250 in charges on UA.
208,000 points costs $3744 so for right on $4k you have a return from East coast of Australia to LA or San Francisco. They are going for about $15k currently for a cash fare

 

[simmomelb]

BNE-SFO or any other East coast city to SFO/LAX return for 204,000 points plus $250 in charges on UA.
208,000 points costs $3744 so for right on $4k you have a return from East coast of Australia to LA or San Francisco. They are going for about $15k currently for a cash fare

Oh wow, that's a big one.

Must admit I haven't bothered looking at USA routes, just Europe.

On a side note, who on earth would pay 15k for that route? Ouch!

Good find!!

Update: I am seeing United MEL or BNE to SFO for ~$10,600 in business return, which is more what I expected, but yep, still a good saving.

 

[jase05]

Oh wow, that's a big one.

Must admit I haven't bothered looking at USA routes, just Europe.

On a side note, who on earth would pay 15k for that route? Ouch!

Good find!!

Update: I am seeing United MEL or BNE to SFO for ~$10,600 in business return, which is more what I expected, but yep, still a good saving.

A few weeks ago I picked up 2x J seats SFO-BNE for 97,500 +$57 per person. If I was to purchase points that would have cost me about $3700 for a one way fare from the US back home which for 2x J seats is a bargain IMO.

 

[drron]

When you are well over retirement age and your CC points earning isn't great buying points can be a no brainer.
my most frequent awards are BNE-SIN -BNE on SQ. At cheapest regular prices for the flights we like it is $S4500 $A 5250. Occasionally a very cheap sale price of $A4200 but that means early or overnight flights..
Under the present offer from VA at 40% points the 350000 points you can get costs $A5850. That gets you 2 return J awards costing $A10500
I pay 1200 in charges and use 296000 points. The 54000 points I have left over is 4 times the points I would earn on those 4 flights. so I am getting a 30% discount on the paid fares. The only thing I am missing is the status credits. So once a year I do a paid J flight. This year very lucky as i got a flight from BKK-BNE for $S2200. That will be enough for me to retain VA gold.

 

[RooFlyer]

Once you factor in the charges/taxes/fees it's probably closer to $6500 to $7000 at which point you could actually look at cash fares probably (not SQ but others like China Eastern etc or Vietnam airlines)

Yep, I would never bother buying points, unless it's purely because you need a few extras to complete a redemption.
So you BUY all those points, then have to pay all the charges, taxes and fees on top AND don't earn a single point or status credit on what is effectively a cash fare, but not treated as one.

Happy to be corrected if you can show me a route where it's cheaper buying points and includes all the taxes and carrier charges, I've just never seen it before and I've looked at doing this time and time again.
Hopefully I am wrong

I think we are now talking generally here, not just VA points?

I’ve posted comparisons between pre purchased points (ie bought well before use) and cash fares on a route I’be flown several times here but it was a while ago sorry and I can’t point the actual route. But comparisons including carrier charges etc. were something like points cost $3000, fare cost between five and $6000. Plenty of room there for carrier charges and I would never fly ex Uk.

I’ve bought miles on Alaskan, Finnair, Aeroplan, and Lifemiles .

The Alaskan I bought with a bonus sale when the US dollar and A$ but almost on parity - yes, that long ago - and they have yielded fantastic value over many flights. I top up when there’s a very good discount available but the FX is really knocking this prospect about. Low accessory charges are usually fully and promptly refundable if you change your mind.

Aeroplan redemptions are really really flexible over many carriers and again carrier charges tend to be low.

So, horses for courses; some good value some are not; devaluations always a risk but - touch wood - has affected me much so far.