Cheap FASA's

[Wannabee]

I just thought that I would start this thread to possibly save others from tireless searching. I am searching for a SYD-LHR-SYD FASA sometime next year, wanting to spend 5-6 weeks there. In the process I thought that I would post up any cheap finds that may help others. I have found it rare to find two seats

1. 10 Jun 12 SYD-LHR A380 (2 pax) 480,762 or 384,000 + $1268.55 (Books into First ie not First Leisure)

I realise this is a short notice one and is only one way but someone might be interested?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

so 1m points return for 2 pax? still a fair chunk compared to the 600k for classic

 

[spentan]

Another cheap FASA is SYD-SIN-SYD, F on A388, and it is 180,000 points return, + taxes.

 

[yohy?!]

The cheapest way I've seen to do it is to buy a JASA first then keep an eye out for F seats to open up very cheaply in Change Your Flights (as the Change attracts $$ not points) then 'Change' your flights across to F. I think it has to do with they way they value points to $$ at some ridiculously small amount (same way they calculate the huge ASA total points when buying).

Doing this I could've got HKG-SYD 1 way in F for 60,000points and 5,000HKD recently (Old F mind).

 

[Isochronous]

The cheapest way I've seen to do it is to buy a JASA first then keep an eye out for F seats to open up very cheaply in Change Your Flights (as the Change attracts $$ not points) then 'Change' your flights across to F. I think it has to do with they way they value points to $$ at some ridiculously small amount (same way they calculate the huge ASA total points when buying).

Doing this I could've got HKG-SYD 1 way in F for 60,000points and 5,000HKD recently (Old F mind).

Back in November last year about one week out from booking I spotted cheap FASAs to HKG too.

 

[Wannabee]

Another cheap FASA is SYD-SIN-SYD, F on A388, and it is 180,000 points return, + taxes.

I wasn't so much thinking of highlighting what is possible, but what is actually available.

 

[amaroo]

It can be a tireless search - probably the best tip for cheap availability is buy a subscription to expertflyer!

Another one is not rule out classic awards.....picked up many F seats on BA at the last minute. With BA flying A380 from next year there is speculation that some of the first routes with be SIN & HKG, maybe SYD.....hopefully, there will be some low hanging fruit

 

[fbrimfield]

The cheapest way I've seen to do it is to buy a JASA first then keep an eye out for F seats to open up very cheaply in Change Your Flights (as the Change attracts $$ not points) then 'Change' your flights across to F. I think it has to do with they way they value points to $$ at some ridiculously small amount (same way they calculate the huge ASA total points when buying).

Doing this I could've got HKG-SYD 1 way in F for 60,000points and 5,000HKD recently (Old F mind).

AHHH WOW! I never noticed this trick!!

Just found a F seat on the day after a scheduled JASA for $250 AUD (SIN-SYD) on an A380! Score!

 

[Wannabee]

To drag up my original post. I had booked a JASA SYD-SIN on 21 Mar 13 but unfortunately this was in QF5 so no first available and there were no JASA's at classic point level on QF 1.

This morning I checked and I could change my flight to QF 1 on 19 Mar for no additional cost (apart from 2 extra nights at the Marina Bay Sands). As this is an A380 I thought I may as well put in for a points upgrade at 25,000 points but it didn't give me the option online do had to ring up and do it. Initially the person said that I couldn't do it as the fare was originally booked with points but I quoted the fare conditions and he put the request in (after asking for my PIN? Is this normal) Now the upgrade shows as requested. Here is hoping!

Have others had the same experience or does it just show up online and you request it that way? I also notice now that the change option has disappeared from that flight. Is this normal

 

[serfty]

Last first - I have found you can change an XASA just once online - after that you need to call.

As for the upgrade request, this is quite normal - the software used to request online does not recognise premium reward classes (P, U, Z) as being eligible for points upgrades, so a call is necessary.

 

[madrooster]

5,000HKD recently (Old F mind).

The $5k HKD is inclusive of the taxes component correct?

 

[gizzard]

The cheapest way I've seen to do it is to buy a JASA first then keep an eye out for F seats to open up very cheaply in Change Your Flights (as the Change attracts $$ not points) then 'Change' your flights across to F.

Can you explain where I'd look for "Change Your Flights"? Thanks

 

[serfty]

Can you explain where I'd look for "Change Your Flights"? Thanks

With Qantas.com mnage your booking, if available it would appear at the bottom right of the "Your Flights" box as:

[TABLE="class: outer_border, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]

[/TD]
[TD] Change [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

or
​

[TABLE="class: outer_border, align: center"]
[TR="bgcolor: #FF0000"]
[TD]

[/TD]
[TD] Change [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[gizzard]

Oh, it's that easy! I thought that it was some trick that I wasn't aware of.

So when yohy?! says "The cheapest way I've seen to do it is to buy a JASA first then keep an eye out for F seats to open up very cheaply in Change Your Flights" would he/she have to keep going into the standard Change option that you indicate and then check for seats? Or is there an easier way?

 

[serfty]

... Or is there an easier way?

You can set seat alerts on your target flights for P class using Expert Flyer.

 

[Deleted member 18152]

Thanks for that tip. So if I book a JASA SYD-LHR and I see some classic first award availability what kind of amount am I looking at for the cash upgrade?