How important is QF Staus Level in getting Award seats in J or F?

[infinity]

I generate millions of points using a c/card and only however have a bronze status as I rearely ever pay for a flight. I know with JASA I can create SC's there to lift me up from Bronze. Is this going to get be access to those J and F seats when I need them if I move higher in the SC foodchain? If so how high to you need to go to get preferences and what are they? Comments welcome. Tks

 

[serfty]

Methinks Gold at a minimum; that'll give better seat selection and award availability for a start

for international flight WP virtually have the pick of the unallocated cabin seating for available seat pre-selection.

Also, WP can call and have seats released for them.

e.g. In February needed two Business class seats SIN-MEL for June. The flight I was targeting had 1 seat available but not 2 (U1).

It was also showing I9 [SUP](1)[/SUP] so I called up, was able to arrange for an additional award seat to be 'released' and redeemed points for two Business class seats on a classic award.[SUP](2)[/SUP]


[SUP](1)[/SUP] I class is deep discounted business class, so sales were slow; U1 indicates this as well.
[SUP](2) [/SUP]FWIW, if it have been U2 I would have gone for JASA's at a $55 premium per PAX - would have earned 120SC's and 7K qff points.

 

[Jobu]

Pretty sure platinum FFs also have more inventory of seats to select than gold FFs, from memory.

 

[samh004]

Pretty sure platinum FFs also have more inventory of seats to select than gold FFs, from memory.

It used to be that only Platinum members were able to request seats be made available for an award, but recent changes also included Gold and Silver, but on a sliding scale, so Platinum is still the best bet if you want seats released for you, t Gold is helpful and you could be a very lucky Silver member, but there's no chance at Bronze.

 

[samh004]

... The last thread was posted on a w/e so not many viewing and it has dropped down the list. thats all

Still not allowed, I think a little bump would have been better than a new thread. Besides, your question was answered. It can't be answered anymore than it already has been, other than using different words to say the same thing.

 

[serfty]

I generate millions of points using a c/card and only however have a bronze status as I rearely ever pay for a flight. I know with JASA I can create SC's there to lift me up from Bronze. Is this going to get be access to those J and F seats when I need them if I move higher in the SC foodchain? If so how high to you need to go to get preferences and what are they? Comments welcome. Tks

If you are looking for more information I can tell you that Gold or Platinum status can get you far better preseating allocation than bronze or silver.

If you burn than many points on awards; I suggest you commence looking at Any Seat awards in F and J class; Platinum should easily be within your reach.

For example, as a WP, I have economy ticket on a flight to DFW next week; I have been able to pre-allocate one of the sixteen Premium economy seat on this aircraft that are being sold as economy.

If I had a business class booking on this flight, I would have been able to pre-allocate one of the first class seats in the nose that are being sold as business class.

Gold, Silver & bronze do not get this opportunity automatically.

 

[frankxinyu]

Pretty sure platinum FFs also have more inventory of seats to select than gold FFs, from memory.

it is interesting you say that.

I have used 3 different QFF numbers on Expertflyer seat maps, just to see the differences for seat pre-selection.

the difference between gold and silver from memory wasn't that big.

but for Platinums they can basically select to sit whereever they like.

 

[ozmille]

If I had a business class booking on this flight, I would have been able to pre-allocate one of the first class seats in the nose that are being sold as business class.

Gold, Silver & bronze do not get this opportunity automatically.

Gold has been able to do this for a while now. Only a very limited number of seats to choose from in A zone though, 4 from memory.

 

[Limewood]

As a recent SG from bronze I can see a lot more reasonably priced international J seats now in any seat awards, of course using these gives higher status points too. Take SYD/LAX return in J @ 264K points or 192K points and $860.

 

[infinity]

I appreciate all the input. Will need to get researching the SC's options. Currently have 3 seats SYD/PVG Business in U class and 3 First Class seats to ORD in Z class, then 3 Econ in T Class to RSW, Total Classic points spend 648k +$688 in taxes for flights in Mid December. Should I try to replace these with ASA to get status credits? Had to use V Australia Business to get home as no Classic awards back from LAX?, so maybe I can use ASA from USA?

 

[serfty]

For discounted international F/JASA's you really need to book well in advance.

In fact, to get the best out of international JASA's one really needs to be booking when they become available 353 days out or soon after; although some seats may last longer or re-appear depending upon sales.

It is unlikely any P/Z class seat will appear for December transpacific sales.

As for 'replacing', being December you will probably need to stick with your classic awards as these U/P class seats would not generally re-appear if you cancelled. Best option is to keep a look out and if the U/P do re-appear on these routes, then use more points to book these before cancelling the other bookings (at a cost of 5K QFF points per booking per PAX) - the remaining points and the $$$$ would be refunded.

 

[chris-syd]

If you use ASA to get status credits it would look like this.

Syd - PVG Business 140 each way
Syd - Ord First 390 each way

3x 140 = 520 x 2 (return) = 1040
3x 390 = 1170 x 2 (return) = 2340

Status Credits 3380 would give you FF Platinum.

This would cost a lot more FF Points but you would get your FF status and also get some FF points back.

 

[infinity]

Many thanks for doing the numbers. WIll check it out

 

[serfty]

Currently a "Business Saver" JASA one way SYD-PVG costs between:

• 98,388 QFF points and $0 to
• 72,000 QFF points and $305.

This travel would earn 140 SC's and

• 7,337 QFF points for a Bronze member
• 9,783 QFF points for a Silver member
• 11,006 QFF points for a Gold member
• 12,228 QFF points for a Platinum member

Note the 140 SC's can be worth up to 2,240 QFF points via "Loyalty Bonus"¹ .

So the net 72K-98.3K points cost is reduced by at least a further 9,600 with these.

A classic award on the same route costs 72,000 QFF points and $217.

I value 7,337 QFF points at ~$190, so it's a "no brainer" to me.

¹ Under the new scheme being introduced later this year.

 

[infinity]

That's great how clearly you have set this out. lots to do when not at my office. Tks again. wonderful info on this web site. Have looks of points at the bank as well so was thinking of sending these to Singapore's program. Does it work for SC like QFF?

 

[infinity]

As a recent SG from bronze I can see a lot more reasonably priced international J seats now in any seat awards, of course using these gives higher status points too. Take SYD/LAX return in J @ 264K points or 192K points and $860.

I have looked for an ASA say syd/lax and the only points option in J class is 965000 points in September and December as separate months to test the theory. There are some cheaper options to fly by Auckland, but any direct flights you get hammered by the points cost! It shows 192000 point plus $7377 in cash for teh Spetember and December options. Am I missing something here? This ASA option is fickle!

 

[serfty]

What I posted here is really important:

For discounted international F/JASA's you really need to book well in advance.

In fact, to get the best out of international JASA's one really needs to be booking when they become available 353 days out or soon after; although some seats may last longer or re-appear depending upon sales. ...

I plan to be booking a JASA MEL-LAX tomorrow for 96K QFF points and $430. The availability is there and I just need to confirm a few other things first. I received a notification from ExpertFlyer that a business class seat had become available today.

This is for April travel, 9 month away. Mid September is 6 to 7 weeks away. More than that Dec and Sept are notoriously difficult periods to find award availability. I do have another JASA reservation to LAX for the same date via BNE but that is fully refundable and ex MEL is more useful to me (This time), and on a 388.

 

[infinity]

What I posted here is really important:I plan to be booking a JASA MEL-LAX tomorrow for 96K QFF points and $430. The availability is there and I just need to confirm a few other things first.

This is for April travel, 9 month away. Mid September is 6 to 7 weeks away. More than that Dec and Sept are notoriously difficult periods to find award availability.

I expect that many months of the year wil present high points costs on ASA, especially those in school holidays/ Xmas etc.

I guess it sjust a fishing trip when one wants to travel to explore the ASA option in the context of classic awards.

Interesting side comment. Just tested the Wespac Alrtitute booking engine on similar period and much more availability. I know it uses an ASA engine, but with Altitude you have options on many carriers and Altitude points (if you convert to equivalent QFF points present better value by far!)!

 

[Gorbo]

ASA award is good if you can find Classica awards, you then book these as ASA otherwise yes ASA is very expensive

 

[blessed11]

Hey,

Just was having a read of this thread and did a search for JASA from SYD - LAX return for 2 tickets. The best I can find (right up to feb 2013) is 384k QFF points + $14k! Am I doin something wrong? Or is this because I am a Silver FF Member at the moment?

Cheers