Complete newby to this, points + pay

[julie60]

I only have 214000 qff points and not status whatsoever. I am looking at flights to London (any) from Adelaide, but don’t know whether I am better off looking for a classic rewards flight, points + pay or what. I do want to pre book extra leg room as my son, who is travelling with me, is 17 yrs old but 6’4” tall. Any advice whatsoever will be gratefully received. Many thanks all!

 

[Austman]

I am better off looking for a classic rewards flight, points + pay or what.

Classic rewards are much better value than points + pay. Check the cost of simply buying a ticket outright and then compare with using QFF points and points + pay. Allow at least 1c cent value per QFF point (although many on AFF get better value than that).

For the extra legroom, you're not going to have too much luck without paying for it. You can do that sometimes in the booking process and always once your booking is made. You can select those seats at a $ extra price. It won't be cheap for return flights to London. Although you need not select the seats for every flight sector.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Don't do points + pay. Incredibly poor value.

I have used points, instead of cash, previously to secure exit row seats.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Hard agree with previous posts - points+pay is a rip off.
Pay cash for the fare and save your points.
Also unless you are willing to book and sit separately, any request for an extra leg room seat will be for both of you.
So I don't think you will have enough points to pay for them on all flights with points.
This means paying cash which may actually be a good thing as it frees you from being restricted to Qantas.
Looking at flights from Adelaide, forget QR (Qatar) as their exit row / extra legroom seats are only available to high status pax and are otherwise allocated at the airport. I don't know if OneWorld status qualifies (I doubt it given how QR treats OW FFs generally - does anyone know?) but this is irrelevant to you in any event.
However EK (Emirates) does allow you to pay for exit row and other preferred seats.
This may be your best option.
I have been able to reserve these for free however last year I purchased one for a friend I was travelling with who has no status.
The cost was $150 for one sector - you can compare this to the cost on QF, I think it is $180 for long haul.

 

[Austman]

I have used points, instead of cash, previously to secure exit row seats.

Yes, that's an option too. I just tried and for the sector MEL-SIN the exit row cost was $115.00 or 15,000 points. Making a QFF point = 0.76 cents.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Yes, that's an option too. I just tried and for the sector MEL-SIN the exit row cost was $115.00 or 15,000 points. Making a QFF point = 0.76 cents.

I must admit when I first read the OP I thought they only had 21,400 QFF points.
So I didn't think this was an option.
However I may have missed a zero.

I only have 214000 qff points

If they really do have two hundred and fourteen thousand points they could use them (with a very small top up) to book all the flights in economy as reward flights.
Alternatively they could book one PAX in premium economy return and pay for the other PAX in premium economy.
The latter option would probably cost about the same as booking both PAX in economy with cash.
Of course they MUST NOT book both PAX one way with points as this would expose them to much more expensive one way fares for the return flights.
However given the "only" I wonder if an extra 0 has crept in there.

 

[julie60]

Thank you all, yes it is 214,000 points. I think using the points for prem economy and then buying one prem economy is probably the way to go?

 

[Austman]

I think using the points for prem economy and then buying one prem economy is probably the way to go?

If you are looking at getting value from your QFF points, try to get at least 1 cent value per point from them.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you all, yes it is 214,000 points. I think using the points for prem economy and then buying one prem economy is probably the way to go?

I would be carefully looking at the price of premium economy... Qantas often charges MORE for premium economy than you can buy business class on other airlines. And of course you get a full flat bed on those other airlines! Plus also, there is a 'carrier charge' imposed by Qantas on their awards... so you're paying an extra $1000 (or close to) for your premium economy tickets.

Have a look around and come up with some options.. then come back to AFF to review them to make sure you have the best value

 

[oirets]

Hard to see how you could get a good redemption.

I'd save up a bit more to get to 250k and then use that for a RTW in PE. Almost impossible to find classic reward flights to LHR with Qantas. You could go with Cathay via HK or JAL via Tokyo, but they're more expensive. Probably best bet is to go with Emirates via DXB, but taxes are high with Emirates.

I recall doing MEL-DXB in biz and DXB-AMS in eco (both ways) for around 250k points or so. That might be another option for you.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm trying to think how to maximise the use of the OP's points if travelling with their son... I wonder if it is actually better to save the points for later? If premium economy is on the table, Japan Airlines is offering return fares from Australia to Europe for as little as $2500 return... and that comes with an excellent product and lounge access. I suspect it would be far cheaper to buy 2 x PE fares on JAL than one redemption and one PE ticket on Qantas.

 

[oirets]

I'm trying to think how to maximise the use of the OP's points if travelling with their son... I wonder if it is actually better to save the points for later? If premium economy is on the table, Japan Airlines is offering return fares from Australia to Europe for as little as $2500 return... and that comes with an excellent product and lounge access. I suspect it would be far cheaper to buy 2 x PE fares on JAL than one redemption and one PE ticket on Qantas.

I second saving the points for later in this case too. OP is at that point where they don't have quite enough points yet for good redemptions, but is pretty close. I find that around 250k is where you start getting some really good value redemptions.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

From my observation of a quick random search of your departure and destination, your points can get you 3 economy legs or 1 premium economy leg + 1 economy leg or 1 business leg + 1 economy leg.

From what I noticed premium economy classic reward is about 2x economy classic reward and business can be between 2-2.5x economy classic reward.

One thing you have to decide is if you want to travel together seated in the same cabin or not. This will help determine how to do the booking.

You can for example have a booking for 1 person where one leg is a classic reward and the return leg is fully paid for. But booking 2 person where one leg both are classic reward and return has 1 person on a classic reward and the other person is a paid seat is a bit more challenging.

When comparing value I feel a classic reward seat more closely aligns in T&C as a saver seat.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Unless you want to spend time dong int transit, via MEL/SYD/BNE/PER, the only way is to go with EK on the night flight from ADL - DXB - LHR, if you book on the QF website, you will earn QF points/QPoints, and QF SC as if flying on a QF aircraft.
Choose aisle seats, as EK don't have premY, but if you have aisle seats, at the least, you can stretch a bit into the aisle at night, as not too many people walking in and out, as most are asleep.
Or emergency row, for you and the son ahead, as this gives a bit of extra room, or son in exit row, and you in front.
I am also based in ADL, and have to transit MEL/SYD/BNE to get to NZ where I holiday a lot, either flying QF (less now), or VAd to VAi via BNE.
Look at the QF booking website anyway for fares.
Without any status, you will just have to pay the cash and earn QF points and QF SC, and use the points, maybe for something else, maybe hotel stays, or as we say on here, getting a toaster as a reward from the QF store.
If you do want premY, the best bet is to fly QFd Aust dom earlier on in the day, to get to PER to meet the 787 from there to LHR, at least you know you will have the same seat all the way.
If you fly MEL/SYD/BNE to SIN, and then on the SIN - LHR sector, you might find your preferred seat given to someone else on the SIN - LHR sector.
Edit: if you are able to get (on one booking), ADL - PER - LHR, one PNR, in PER you don't have to go to the check in in the terminal, as your passport is swiped by QF in ADL, and the check in staff in ADL would be/should be able to issue you BP all the way to LHR, and you just need to go via passport control after going from T4 PER -> T3 PER.
Or as I mentioned, go EK direct from ADL - DXB - LHR.
Or, for solely QF, you can also phone up, with long wait, and buy what they call Comfort seating booking, ie buying 3 seats for 2 people.
Sorry, I know I waffle a lot too much.