Classic points award - is this a good deal?

[smckay]

So we finally decided on plans next year.
SYD - LHR - NYC - SYD, August for 22+/- days

Booking this as a classic award we can get Y+ for the Sydney legs and Y LHR-NYC for 440,000 points. Cash price is in excess of $15,000 which is OTT.
We can also do SYD - NYC - SYD in Y+ for 384,000 points and a return flight ( Y ) NYC-LHR is about $2,500. So I think the dollar value of the additional 56,000 points is about 44 cents ($2,500 / 56,000 = 0.44) which to me is not value. Specially when they cost me a dollar each.

I have not looked at an ASA as the points is above my current holding.

Before I sign on the dotted line, can anyone advise if there is a better way to do it? Happy to pay some cash but we are still looking at the wrong side of $10,000 if I do points + pay.

The one way direction of syd-lhr-nyc-syd appeals and is less holiday time lost. Y+ appeals to my rickety legs for the room.

We have approx 450,000 points to kill. I would book Y and try for an upgrade but the lack of certainty (even at Silver) worries me and I may be jammed into the back of the bus. Y+ cash price is not worth it IMO.

Any one have suggestions/assistance? Dates are free, we only have to be in UK for the Tattoo during 3 -24 August. Everything else is flexible (except my rickety legs :shock

 

[Kangol]

Have you looked at this thread?
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ogram/oneworld-award-140k-280k-420k-8228.html

You didn't say how many people are travelling...

 

[markis10]

Have you looked at an ASA, it can be reduced to the classic level:

[h=2]Your Flights[/h] [TABLE="class: full"]
[TR]
[TH] Flight Out [/TH]
[TH="colspan: 2"]From[/TH]
[TH="colspan: 2"]To[/TH]
[TH]Flight[/TH]
[TH]Duration[/TH]
[TH]Departure
Terminal[/TH]
[TH]Fare Type[/TH]
[TH="class: lastcol"]Baggage[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tr_first"]
[TD="class: nowrap"] Tue 30 Jul 13 [/TD]
[TD] 10:00 [/TD]
[TD] Sydney [/TD]
[TD] 17:10 [/TD]
[TD] New York (JFK) [/TD]
[TD] Qantas flight

QF107 1 stop [/TD]
[TD="class: aligncenter"] 21h 10m [/TD]
[TD="class: aligncenter"] 1 [/TD]
[TD] Premium Economy Saver [/TD]
[TD="class: baggage"] Checked:
2 pieces [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH] Flight Back [/TH]
[TH="colspan: 2"][/TH]
[TH="colspan: 2"][/TH]
[TH][/TH]
[TH][/TH]
[TH][/TH]
[TH][/TH]
[TH="class: lastcol"][/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: tr_first"]
[TD="class: nowrap"] Tue 3 Sep 13 [/TD]
[TD] 18:55 [/TD]
[TD] New York (JFK) [/TD]
[TD] 07:40
(Thu) [/TD]
[TD] Sydney [/TD]
[TD] Qantas flight

QF108 1 stop [/TD]
[TD="class: aligncenter"] 22h 45m [/TD]
[TD="class: aligncenter"] 7 [/TD]
[TD] Premium Economy Saver [/TD]
[TD="class: baggage"] Checked:
2 pieces [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]



Key:

= Qantas flight
Note: Qantas flights QF1 - QF399 depart from and arrive at the International Terminals. All other Qantas flights depart from and arrive at the Domestic Terminals.

[h=2]Total - Qantas and Jetstar Any Seat[/h] Enter either the amount you want to pay by card or the points you want to redeem and click calculate, or use the tool to change the mix of points and pay.

[TH="class: label_left"] AUD [/TH]
[TD="class: slidercell, colspan: 2"]

[/TD]
[TH="class: label_right"] Points [/TH]

[TD="colspan: 2"] [/TD]
[TD="class: alignright, colspan: 2"] [/TD]

[TD="colspan: 2"]
[/TD]
[TD="class: alignright, colspan: 2"]
[/TD]

Minimum Points:
All Inclusive Points:
Total Payment*
Points:
Credit or Debit Card:	(AUD)

[TD="class: alignright"] 192,000 [/TD]
[TD="class: alignright"] [/TD]

[TD="class: alignright"]286,944[/TD]
[TD="class: alignright"] [/TD]

[TD="class: alignright"] 192,000 [/TD]
[TD="class: alignright"] [/TD]

[TD="class: alignright"] $1,078.35 [/TD]

Passengers 1 adult


There are a few points to be earned:

[h=1]Earning Points Calculator[/h] Route: Sydney - New York - Sydney
Class: Premium Economy
[TABLE="class: basic"]
[TR]
[TH]Status[/TH]
[TH]Base points[/TH]
[TH]Cabin bonus[/TH]
[TH]Status bonus[/TH]
[TH]Total points[/TH]
[TH]Status credits[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Platinum [/TD]
[TD] 19,894 [/TD]
[TD] 4,974 [/TD]
[TD] 19,894 [/TD]
[TD] 44,762 [/TD]
[TD] 240 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt"]
[TD] Gold [/TD]
[TD] 19,894 [/TD]
[TD] 4,974 [/TD]
[TD] 14,922 [/TD]
[TD] 39,790 [/TD]
[TD] 240 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Silver [/TD]
[TD] 19,894 [/TD]
[TD] 4,974 [/TD]
[TD] 9,948 [/TD]
[TD] 34,816 [/TD]
[TD] 240 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt last"]
[TD] Bronze [/TD]
[TD] 19,894 [/TD]
[TD] 4,974 [/TD]
[TD] - [/TD]
[TD] 24,868 [/TD]
[TD] 240 [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[smckay]

Yep, I'm down with that. I pay some bucks, I get points and status to retain and everybody is happy. Heck, I might even look at J now (more parts sales needed)

 

[Edge]

wow, is NY-LON return in Y that expensive?

when I was living in London (albeit when the GFC was on) we paid 299 pounds each with BA (return).

 

[smckay]

According to AA and in base economy its about $1,xx_ each. I suppose I'll have to pay extra for my bag as well.

2 pax by the way; SWMBO & me

 

[smckay]

quick question markis; can you book 2 classes? Business is only 30,000 points more on the way back and I'd go that if we could

 

[craven morehead]

Just book as 2 separate legs

 

[markis10]

quick question markis; can you book 2 classes? Business is only 30,000 points more on the way back and I'd go that if we could

Only as two separate bookings, and sometimes the web engine plays tricks with availability, a call to the call centre may show more options!

 

[smckay]

Nope. 171K points only available on full rate other leg.
And can you believe that it is 717K points Y+ to LHR and only 573K points to JFK. For 200K points I'll just buy a ticket in the US cash

 

[wandering_fred]

Looking at Monday flights in August AA (or BA) has flights RT in N class for about $1200 with H class about $2200. Note that BA currently has Y+ (T class) for about the same price as H.

I know which I would pick if I were going to spend more than $2K.

You might also be pleasantly surprised on how much (little) a Y+ ticket HKG-LHR-JFK would cost in Y+
Combine with a separate Y+ (or J) SYD-HKG award.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[smckay]

Looking at Monday flights in August AA (or BA) has flights RT in N class for about $1200 with H class about $2200. Note that BA currently has Y+ (T class) for about the same price as H.

I know which I would pick if I were going to spend more than $2K.

You might also be pleasantly surprised on how much (little) a Y+ ticket HKG-LHR-JFK would cost in Y+
Combine with a separate Y+ (or J) SYD-HKG award.

Happy wandering

Fred

~$6,000 AUD return for the dates I need. Is half price but connections, stress over missing them, blah blah I'll prolly go East.