Earn Points and SCs with Any Seat Award Flights

[cove]

Ok Serfty You made me look at international redemptions as well.
It can now work on long haul as well.
The slider is quite interesting.
Everyone values a point differently to Qantas who use zero. Redeeming in J or F gives great perceived value when you compare retail flight pricing.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Use the ASA engine. Have a look at MEL-LAX on June 15th.

QF93 is showing up at 115,870 QFF points. Use the slider to get it to 96K and $279.99.

Has anyone found the sweet spot for the slider.

Last night I booked my own version of the Hobart express for 100SCS.

BNE-SYD-HBA for 28,000 approx; moved the slider to 26,888 for $31.00.

So my weekend trip is .
Fri BNE-SYD-HBA JASA
Sat HBA-SYD-MEL QF Y & JQ StarClass.
Sun MEL-BNE JASA

Total 215 SCs for approx 58,000 points and $450.00 AUD.

Did some looking for my US trip in November but nothing really stood out as great value, although if you have a million points then the ASA even in Y aren't too bad a value.

 

[serfty]

Very expensive form of currency which for the vast majority of people takes a long long time to accumulate.

In just over 2 years I have managed to accumulate just over 280,000 QFF points. That is enough for 2 Oneworld awards in WHY or 1 Oneworld award in business class. Next trip(s) planned for 2012 and 2015.

Each to their own I guess.

95% of my QFF point expenditure has been for upgrades - that's where I perceive the main value of QFF points exists.

With these JASA's, you get one "inbuilt" and for much less cost.

Let's look at a example.

SIN-MEL-SIN booking in V class (upgradeable) on QF10/QF9 can be had for SGD1075 (~AUD900) all up.

Business upgrades on this cost 40,000 points each way; but the flight earns from 7500 QFF points so that's a net 72,500 use of points.

A JASA on this same routing currently costs from between 162,895 QFF and 120,000 QFF & SGD603 (~AUD500) and would earn from 9,374 QFF and 240 SC's & 2667 in Loyalty Bonus. Net points use ~108,000 maximum.

Let's compare these if J travel occurs:

• Classic:
  72.5K QFF and ~AUD900, earns 60 SC's.

  • If upgraded need to take what seats are left.
• JASA:
  108K QFF and ~AUD500, earns 240 SC's.

  • Can select seats after booking.

So for the cost of 36K QFF points there is a saving of ~AUD400 and earn of additional 180 SC's.

 

[futaris]

Seems that everyone is aware of the Hobart Express route, so I'll expand on it further:

ADL-SIN direct is available for 50,000 + $178.63
ADL-SYD-SIN is 50,000 + $198.29

From my playing with the tool, it appears that the lower QFF points boundary is set by the direct GCM distance between the two cities. e.g. ADL-SIN direct is 3350 mi... (N.B. this is general case, and it usually depends on the normal QF fares routing rules, e.g. FRA-SIN-LHR isn't going to be available for 16k + $xx_)

AKL-LAX is 6504 mi:

AKL-LAX is 84,000 + 279.91 NZD or 99,565. 160 SCs.
AKL-SYD-LAX is 84,000 + 338.11 NZD or 104,552. 260 SCs

So good if you are going to/from somewhere that has a GCM distance just below the Zone boundaries, and don't mind backtracking/connecting (for F lounge, etc).

Also good if you don't mind spending a little more time/money, e.g.
SYD-LAX alone is 96,000 + $287.45 or 116,653. 180SCs.

 

[cove]

Points vary widely in value with QF using zero and our members thinking one to six cents. Being able to buy some to get a flight over the line on Any Seat must be a real bargain rather than missing out on a PE,J or F flight.

 

[drewbles]

I've managed to find a MEL-SYD-SFO return for an effective price of 83000 points with taxes etc of $150.

(114k points burned, 31600 earned + 110 SC's).

Considering the Classic is 96,000 and more in taxes, I think that's a pretty decent deal to use some points.

*edit*
not a JASA, a YASA. Still, reasonable value, paid fare was around $1350 for these particular flights on the current sale.

 

[medhead]

...

I'm slightly confused, is the classic version based on the V fare that you mentioned first with points upgrade or is it a classic J award? If the V fare, then shouldn't the SC be something like 60?

Not that I don't see the value.

 

[JohnK]

I'm slightly confused, is the classic version based on the V fare that you mentioned first with points upgrade or is it a classic J award? If the V fare, then shouldn't the SC be something like 60?

Yes I think serfty has missed that on the V class fare you would still earn 60 SCs. So a net gain of 180 SCs using the Business Any Seat Award.

Not that I don't see the value.

The Business Any Seat Award for ~108,000 QFF points is good value assuming you were already going to blow 80,000 QFF points on an upgrade.

But just as well we are all different. For that length of flight I can very easily sit in economy. So personally I would purchase a cheap ~AUD800 airfare SIN-MEL-SYD-SIN in economy earning 70 SCs and save the ~108,000 QFF points for a rainy day. I can then use the ~AUD500 (taxes and surcharges on Business Any Seat Award) on a CX business class return airfare TPE-HKG-SIN earning 240 SCs.

 

[futaris]

If you're prepared to also put up some cash, the rates are usually better.

Here's a good one for the miners:

KTA-PER-SIN is 36,000 QFF + $516.50 or 91,081 QFF all/in - earns 160 SCs and at least 4,287 QFF.

Or from DRW:

DRW-SYD-CGK is 36,000 QFF + $644.50 or 106,933 QFF all/in - earns 180 SCs and at least 6,728 + 2000 QFF from Status Bonus. i.e. 27,272 + $644.50 net. ~150 QFF/SC, which is close to the Hobart Express Run in terms of raw QFF, worse in terms of cash. But at least you're going somewhere...

BKK and HKG should also be doable, but not as good value.

 

[gibspmuh]

Or from DRW:

DRW-SYD-CGK is 36,000 QFF + $644.50 or 106,933 QFF all/in - earns 180 SCs and at least 6,728 + 2000 QFF from Status Bonus. i.e. 27,272 + $644.50 net. ~150 QFF/SC, which is close to the Hobart Express Run in terms of raw QFF, worse in terms of cash. But at least you're going somewhere....

Even better I've found from a value point of view if using just points is to Jakarta from Adelaide. Doing ADL-SYD-CGK-SYD-ADL is a total of 126,973 points, only 2200 more than doing SYD-CGK-SYD. If you pick the right days you can even get QF81/QF82 for the ADL-SYD portions and be in a Skybed the whole way (and as an additional bonus not have the 'joy' of a terminal transfer for the Sydney transit). Ends up earning 320 SC's all up for the return trip.

 

[JohnK]

BKK and HKG should also be doable, but not as good value.

I have had a look at WHY Any Seat Awards for BKK and SIN and as a Platinum it is reasonable value if one wanted to use QFF points for these type of awards.

From memory it is ~42,000 QFF points + ~AUD300-400. Much better value than awards on SQ both in points and money needed for the award.

 

[futaris]

And an even better redemption, from KTA:

KTA-PER-SYD-CGK is 36,000 QFF + $661.67 or 107,754 QFF all/in. Earns 240SCs, 8,080 QFF min. A WP would earn 14,320 QFF, I think. Add the Status Bonus of 2,666.

So, a WP could theoretically requalify for ~95k QFF and $3000. Somewhere around 700,000 QFF + $38,396 for LTG.

Slightly cheaper (points cost) than the ~150k QFF + $828 you'd need for the Hobart Express. Is saving 55k QFF worth $2100?

Alternatively you could just redeem (economy ASA?) to the USA, and KUPP or similar. But I think you'd need a little QFF more from the West Coast (of Australia) to the West Coast (of USA)...

 

[futaris]

I have had a look at WHY Any Seat Awards for BKK and SIN and as a Platinum it is reasonable value if one wanted to use QFF points for these type of awards.

From memory it is ~42,000 QFF points + ~AUD300-400. Much better value than awards on SQ both in points and money needed for the award.

I assuming you're quoting return trips (above). Let's run through an example, SYD-BKK return:

Minimum cost from SYD is 60k QFF + $335.63.

A WP would earn 4,684 x 2 = 9,368 QFF + 30 SCs (each way). Equivalent Status Bonus is 334 QFF. Net Cost 40,596 QFF + $335.63, 60 SCs earnt (0.43% LTG).

A NB would earn 4,684 QFF + 30 SCs (each way). Equivalent Status Bonus is 334 QFF. Net Cost 49,964 QFF + $335.63, 60 SCs earnt (0.43% LTG).

The same redemption on Krisflyer (as a Saver Award):
46,750 Krisflyer + 124.36 AUD taxes + 273 AUD carrier surcharges
Net Cost: 46,750 Krisflyer + $397.36 AUD, no status earnt.

In summary, assuming the points are solely from Credit Card Earn, with no bonuses, QF WP YASA > Krisflyer Saver > QF NB YASA

(this of course assumes that availability is the same) - generally Krisflyer has better availability than QFF, especially last minute.

 

[markis10]

Slightly cheaper (points cost) than the ~150k QFF + $828 you'd need for the Hobart Express. Is saving 55k QFF worth $2100?


Alternatively you could just redeem (economy ASA?) to the USA, and KUPP or similar. But I think you'd need a little QFF more from the West Coast (of Australia) to the West Coast (of USA)...

Could be a good option for those in the west however the logistics and costs associated in the positioning to commence the trip would negate the benefits, besides for 48000 points and $200 you can get TSV-ADL return for the same SCs, that is 240!


KTA/TSV and CBR do seem to offer some good options.

 

[futaris]

KTA-PER-BNE-TSV for 36,000 QFF + $363.23 or 71,175 QFF all/in = 200 SCs
KTA-PER-SYD/MEL-CBR for 36,000 QFF + $113.82 or 43,371 QFF all/in = 180 SCs

 

[medhead]

Could be a good option for those in the west however the logistics and costs associated in the positioning to commence the trip would negate the benefits, besides for 48000 points and $200 you can get TSV-ADL return for the same SCs, that is 240!

Or take the expensive option 48000 points and $660 for 320 SC. Maybe not as good value.

 

[GCC]

A few weeks back I read about JASA's and booked flights SYD - MEL - PER & return for 36,000 points + about $130 each way for 240 SC's. I earn 10,000 points so total is 62,000 points.

Then I read this thread again and got worried because this is a lot of points & doesn't seem like the sort of JASA mega bargain that other AFF'ers were posting about. Was I a fool for burning valuable currency? On further thought and analysis:

• I need a solid SC top up to retain WP this year, and the extra 180 SC's from this trip will just about do it. While the whole GC family loves WP I really can't justify spending $1000 + on a SC run to achieve the same goal.
• I'm traveling to Perth for work and returning on the actual days I want to travel, and saving several hundred $$$ in cash.
• I always succumb to the lure of a points upgrade SYD - PER, at 16,000 points each way, so my "real" additional points spend is probably only 30,000 points
• The extra 180 SC's help get me a loyalty bonus of 5000 points

In hindsight I could have done the Hobart express 3 times for 240 SC and used 24k less points. But I'm doing a long flight in comfort (other than the extra time involved in traveling via MEL) and keeping WP, so hopefully this is still "value". Any thoughts welcome - not too late to change.

 

[gibspmuh]

But I'm doing a long flight in comfort (other than the extra time involved in traveling via MEL) and keeping WP, so hopefully this is still "value". Any thoughts welcome - not too late to change.

It sounds like a good use of points for your purposes then. Given it's somewhere you need to go anyway and it will still get you over the line for renewing WP it seems like a more sensible use of points than flying to a destination that you have no need to visit, especially if it's not going to make the difference between retaining WP or not.

I'll agree, it sounds tempting to take some of the SC runs that are available, but unless you're swimming in both points and free time then using them to get a nice bump up on a trip you'd be taking anyway seems a good way to go (not that it'll stop me looking to tag on an extra ADL leg on my future CGK trips to get the bonus SC's over just stopping in SYD for next to no extra points ).

 

[markis10]

I think you need to always factor in your travel patterns and costs, the Hobart express is rarely dooable in a day and if done so still requires an overnight in CBR. Sometimes it makes sense to pay for a flight that will involve a backtrack, for instance TSV-DRW is significantly cheaper than BNE-DRW as a JASA despite the need to route via BNE, I just have to explain to SWMBO now why our next trip up north starts from Townsville .

 

[medhead]

A few weeks back I read about JASA's and booked flights SYD - MEL - PER & return for 36,000 points + about $130 each way for 240 SC's. I earn 10,000 points so total is 62,000 points.

I don't think it is a waste.
One thing for future reference, choosing flights via ADL, if available, would get 280 SC.