Half a million points ...

[rtyuiop]

Might have to try one of those OZ-AUH-JFK F redemptions sometime...

Never knew the point total for them...

It took some work to get VA to agree that it should be bookable as one PNR, but I did IAD (Washington DC)-AUH-BNE in F for 187500 plus minimal fees last year. It basically arrived in the evening instead of the morning compared to coming back via the Pacific, but I can confirm that if you have to be in the air for ~26 hours, F in the EY 787s is a damn fine way to do it!

 

[JohnK]

Sit on them. Worry about it when you have 1,000,000 points.

Worrying heaps. Seriously. But that is Qantas.

Only ~150,000 Velocity points but limited use for them going to Asia. Taxes on SQ are just as bad as taxes on QF.

 

[travelislife]

Worrying heaps. Seriously. But that is Qantas.

Only ~150,000 Velocity points but limited use for them going to Asia. Taxes on SQ are just as bad as taxes on QF.

The recent update to the velocity tables will help with this John. Book SQ flights through velocity (at the reduced points requirement) and the extra charges are minimal, approx $80 MEL-SIN-BKK.

 

[awkwardpaws]

SQ F suites before they reduce capacity!

 

[JohnK]

The recent update to the velocity tables will help with this John. Book SQ flights through velocity (at the reduced points requirement) and the extra charges are minimal, approx $80 MEL-SIN-BKK.

Am I right in thinking 44,400 Velocity points for a SYD-SIN-BKK one way economy + ~AUD105?

Save on taxes but those points convert to 32,888 KrisFlyer miles where one needs only 23,375 KrisFlyer miles but taxes are ~AUD350.

One way business class award is 93,800 + ~AUD90. Those points convert to 69,481 KrisFlyer miles where only 46,750 KrisFlyer miles are required for award.

Use more points to save the cash component. Still not quite right.

 

[drewbles]

I'll see what the options are when I get round to using them. I didnt know about EY not showing up probably on the Velocity site so that's a handy good to know

VA have announced a pretty large de-valuation of the points on EY coming up from June. Best get onto those bookings ASAP

 

[travelislife]

Am I right in thinking 44,400 Velocity points for a SYD-SIN-BKK one way economy + ~AUD105?

Save on taxes but those points convert to 32,888 KrisFlyer miles where one needs only 23,375 KrisFlyer miles but taxes are ~AUD350.

One way business class award is 93,800 + ~AUD90. Those points convert to 69,481 KrisFlyer miles where only 46,750 KrisFlyer miles are required for award.

Use more points to save the cash component. Still not quite right.

Hmm, those numbers don't look right. Currently SYD-SIN-BKK is 37,500 VFF miles + $80 or so. Business Class is 80,000 so definitely much better changing to KF miles.

After the changes it comes down to 35,000 and 65,000 VFF miles respectively.

The best for Asia bookings from all the FFPs is in fact United. Only 30k+$60 one way in business class SYD-BKK. A pity I don't have a way to earn United miles.

 

[donovan301]

VA have announced a pretty large de-valuation of the points on EY coming up from June. Best get onto those bookings ASAP

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe bookings made prior to the June date will burn points at current cost, bookings after June date will be at the new revised rates.

(I'll correct myself, I mis interpreted your statement. You are indeed correct)

 

[JohnK]

Hmm, those numbers don't look right. Currently SYD-SIN-BKK is 37,500 VFF miles + $80 or so. Business Class is 80,000 so definitely much better changing to KF miles.

After the changes it comes down to 35,000 and 65,000 VFF miles respectively.

The best for Asia bookings from all the FFPs is in fact United. Only 30k+$60 one way in business class SYD-BKK. A pity I don't have a way to earn United miles.

I tried one date and that was 17 November. Why the anomaly? Any seat awards?

If indeed it is 35,000 and 65,000 points respectively then that's a great enhancement as no need to transfer to SQ and taxes a lot less.

Difficult to earn United miles. Car hire with promotions. eRewards?

 

[travelislife]

The changes come in to affect from 1st June 2016. I.e have to make the bookings after that date.

I just did a double check on the point values you originally stated and strangely SYD-SIN-BKK is more than MEL-SIN-BKK which I had been referencing. I swear SYD-SIN-BKK is less than 4801 travelled miles which is where the higher band kicks in.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I was looking at maybe in 1.5 years time to use the points on a Europe / USA trip.

Suggestions????

To be sure of getting the J/F to the destination you want you should be booking when availaibity first opens (ie just under 1 year before you travel) . So you will start to use your points in only a little over a 0.5 year from now anyway. So just enough time to think about where you really want to go.

 

[JohnK]

The changes come in to affect from 1st June 2016. I.e have to make the bookings after that date.

I just did a double check on the point values you originally stated and strangely SYD-SIN-BKK is more than MEL-SIN-BKK which I had been referencing. I swear SYD-SIN-BKK is less than 4801 travelled miles which is where the higher band kicks in.

According to gcmap SYD-SIN-BKK is 4783 miles but I'm sure someone has found a way to get it over the line. Also BNE-SIN-BKK is 4692 miles.

Changes not as good as originally thought.

 

[JohnK]

Hmm, those numbers don't look right. Currently SYD-SIN-BKK is 37,500 VFF miles + $80 or so. Business Class is 80,000 so definitely much better changing to KF miles.

After the changes it comes down to 35,000 and 65,000 VFF miles respectively.

I just had a quick look and the quote I get for SYD-SIN-BKK award in economy is either 42,800 Velocity points or 39,100 Velocity points. That must depend on the routing. The 39,100 Velocity points convert to ~29,000 KrisFlyer miles so better value with KrisFlyer.

The biggest shock was taxes quoted as $295! :shock: I checked end of Feb 2017. I thought the changes were going to be for the better? What am I doing wrong.

Also cannot book award CNX-SIN-SYD online.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

I just had a quick look and the quote I get for SYD-SIN-BKK award in economy is either 42,800 Velocity points or 39,100 Velocity points. That must depend on the routing. The 39,100 Velocity points convert to ~29,000 KrisFlyer miles so better value with KrisFlyer.

The biggest shock was taxes quoted as $295! :shock: I checked end of Feb 2017. I thought the changes were going to be for the better? What am I doing wrong.

Also cannot book award CNX-SIN-SYD online.

JohnK

It is not routing that is the difference 42800 or 39100. The difference is Economy "reward" seat is 42000 + $92.05 taxes or the "Any Seat" is 39100 + $295.27.

I think this is what you may have been looking at ?

see attached

 

[JohnK]

JohnK

It is not routing that is the difference 42800 or 39100. The difference is Economy "reward" seat is 42000 + $92.05 taxes or the "Any Seat" is 39100 + $295.27.

I think this is what you may have been looking at ?

Oh ok. That's it. I was under the impression this award should have reduced to 35,000 Velocity points after the changes but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Back to the drawing board.

 

[travelislife]

Oh ok. That's it. I was under the impression this award should have reduced to 35,000 Velocity points after the changes but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Back to the drawing board.

Yeah this route is the 'dodgy' one right on the edge of the band. GCMap.com has SYD-SIN-BKK as 4,783 miles which would mean it would fall in Zone 5 3,601-4,800 miles. Which should be 35,000 points in economy. However they calculate the distance must bump it up to Zone 6 which is 42,000 points.

BNE-SIN-BKK and MEL-SIN-BKK I am pretty sure price at 35,000 points.

https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Redeem/Airlines/PointsTables/

 

[JohnK]

BNE-SIN-BKK and MEL-SIN-BKK I am pretty sure price at 35,000 points.

I tried yesterday and was getting funny results. I couldn't even get SYD-SIN to price at 35,000 points although that could be the poor availability.

The Virgin website is rubbish. Pretty much useless on 3 browsers at work and unable to search for partner awards on my Samsung Galaxy S5.

 

[travelislife]

I tried yesterday and was getting funny results. I couldn't even get SYD-SIN to price at 35,000 points although that could be the poor availability.

The Virgin website is rubbish. Pretty much useless on 3 browsers at work and unable to search for partner awards on my Samsung Galaxy S5.

There is something strange going on here I reckon. When I am searching MEL-BKK it brings up all the SQ flights but under the VA codeshare numbers only and never at the tabled rate, only any seat awards. It doesn't seem to show under the SQ numbers. I am sure there is availability there which isn't showing. I wonder if calling would bring different results (it wouldn't surprise me as VA's website/IT is pretty useless.).

 

[RAM]

There is something strange going on here I reckon. When I am searching MEL-BKK it brings up all the SQ flights but under the VA codeshare numbers only and never at the tabled rate, only any seat awards. It doesn't seem to show under the SQ numbers. I am sure there is availability there which isn't showing. I wonder if calling would bring different results (it wouldn't surprise me as VA's website/IT is pretty useless.).

Have you tried looking using Krisflyer to see what is available?

 

[JohnK]

Have you tried looking using Krisflyer to see what is available?

I tried the exact dates with KrisFlyer and flights are available. The ~AUD310 taxes one way scare me.