How much do you tell your family and friends about travel deals/FF sweetspot etc?

[Hvr]

The other factor that you left out is the inherent laziness of most people.

And as I've mentioned earlier their disbelief that it can actually be done with a little advance planning.

My sister is currently in the US and wasn't interested when I suggested she check her seat allocation. No idea where she ended up but it would've been better with a little advance planning. Didn't believe me that you could choose at T-24.

Ah well her loss. My upcoming US trip is well planned with flights and seats chosen, a little status run to attain LTG. The rest of my trips are to places I want to see. All done quite cheaply thank you thanks to AFF and its well informed members.

 

[harvyk]

And as I've mentioned earlier their disbelief that it can actually be done with a little advance planning.

My sister is currently in the US and wasn't interested when I suggested she check her seat allocation. No idea where she ended up but it would've been better with a little advance planning. Didn't believe me that you could choose at T-24.

Ah well her loss. My upcoming US trip is well planned with flights and seats chosen, a little status run to attain LTG. The rest of my trips are to places I want to see. All done quite cheaply thank you thanks to AFF and its well informed members.

Crazy, advance seat selection is IMHO, one of the easiest and quickest things you can do towards the difference between "a flight" and "a good flight". It takes all of 2 minutes and all but guarantees that you're not about to spend 14 hours in 53E...

Edit: On second thoughts, perhaps it's best that this is considered "all too hard", last thing we all really want is to have to compete for the plum seats...

 

[clifford]

Crazy, advance seat selection is IMHO, one of the easiest and quickest things you can do towards the difference between "a flight" and "a good flight". It takes all of 2 minutes and all but guarantees that you're not about to spend 14 hours in 53E...

Edit: On second thoughts, perhaps it's best that this is considered "all too hard", last thing we all really want is to have to compete for the plum seats...

14 hours in any seat is quite unacceptable.

 

[blackcat20]

And as I've mentioned earlier their disbelief that it can actually be done with a little advance planning.

My sister is currently in the US and wasn't interested when I suggested she check her seat allocation. No idea where she ended up but it would've been better with a little advance planning. Didn't believe me that you could choose at T-24.

Ah well her loss. My upcoming US trip is well planned with flights and seats chosen, a little status run to attain LTG. The rest of my trips are to places I want to see. All done quite cheaply thank you thanks to AFF and its well informed members.

Some people just aren't worried about where they sit. On the other hand, I found AFF looking for info on how to get a better seat the second time I flew to the US.

 

[aupirate]

Advance set selection, SWMBO and I on VA 188 to Auckland tonight seats 3a 3b got to checkin oh your in 3b 3c, really funny as I checked a couple of hours ago and my booking stated 3a 3b. Anyhow asked for 3a 3b and got told sorry all 3a is full. But ill just check with my supervisor, oh would you be ok with 3e 3f, sure I say, thanks very much. Why oh why do they move people around it just annoys me? Only a minor thing but wanted a window to lean against to get some shut eye.

 

[Paddy55]

While I first joined AFF in Sep 2006 it wasn't till 2009 that I really started to take more than a casual interest in FF programs.

Fortunately I'd joined QFF and AA back in the dark ages when these programs began so I had a little more than the "average person's" knowledge, but using AFF I realised I realised this was very, very little knowledge compared to many here.

So in 2009 I "got it" and in 4 months went from NB to WP courtesy of a cheap 2 for 1 J trip to Europe, and Y travel + a small status run in USA... plus some domestic work travel.

After those 4 months, the benefits of WP started, the Comm Bank Plat Amex and Woolies MC really started the points flowing in (thank you ATO ) and Mrs Paddy and I have managed to enjoy multiple F & J trips overseas, the luxury of the SYD QFLounge and HKG Pier Cabanas, etc.

Mrs Paddy has come along for the ride to an extent, although the learning on the forum, accumulation of points and travel planning is left to me. She has been very supportive of DONE4s to the point where my next one might start in JNB and she wants to come along! :shock:

I've told quite a few friends and family of my journey, tips, etc, etc and, like many in this thread, get glassed over eyes, skepticism and so forth. Really, no one gets it.

I used to find this frustrating, but have really concluded that it is in my best interests that people don't "get it" - award availability can be problematic enough without a lot more people really getting into it and gobbling up seats I want - the QFF program would be less profitable to QF too if people really exploited its travel related benefits

 

[smit0847]

The other factor that you left out is the inherent laziness of most people.

This is very true but humans tend to only have energy and enthusiasm for something that actually interests them. I have no doubt someone passionate about fitness would look at my fitness regime and consider me to be lazy as its not something I am particularly interested in, or passionate about.

 

[Simo]

Not much at all as they normally start to glaze over as I am talking a different language.

I also get annoyed that they will book direct to SIN for QF site WTF would anyone want to do that!!!!

And then they want to fly direct and even worse on a LCC....

 

[Craigie]

Today a very good friend of mine asked about my "dodgy" airline tricks to get a cheap business class to NY return later this year, I said honestly could probably be done for $3.5K, his response was "3 and a half!? But I can get qantas economy for $2,200!! Alright thanks anyway mate I'll keep it as an option..."

....? Did save myself a few hours work though.

 

[anat0l]

Today a very good friend of mine asked about my "dodgy" airline tricks to get a cheap business class to NY return later this year, I said honestly could probably be done for $3.5K, his response was "3 and a half!? But I can get qantas economy for $2,200!! Alright thanks anyway mate I'll keep it as an option..."

....? Did save myself a few hours work though.

I know plenty of people who will not accept a differential of $1,000 (let alone $1,300 in this case) in order to get Business over Economy. Even with different routing rules and so on.

People have their own reasons, I suppose, and it is somewhat magnified if you have multiple people booked.

Also, whilst I'm sure your good friend should have no trouble affording $3,500 (or an extra $1,300), some people may not be able to spend that much money, period. Painful as it is (both financially and physically), they may have to accept the lower fare. A bit like saying if a VA Happy Hour fare is $200 Business one way when the Economy ticket is $90 one way. $200 is very cheap for Business and likely worth stumping the cash for. But if your budget doesn't allow for an extra $110 each way then so be it.

The reason I would be tempted not to book the cash ticket in this case is because I can't bring myself to pay $2,200 for an Economy to NY return, irrespective of the carrier, unless the routing allowed was generous or my back was against the wall.

 

[Craigie]

And they're all fair and good points except(due to my lack of context) this was not so in my friends case. Because I've thrown the words "it will cost as much as economy to fly business" out, he was expecting that as the outcome.

Also the fact it wasn't as simple as going to xx_xx_x .com and booking, he wasn't so keen.

 

[JohnK]

Today a very good friend of mine asked about my "dodgy" airline tricks to get a cheap business class to NY return later this year, I said honestly could probably be done for $3.5K, his response was "3 and a half!? But I can get qantas economy for $2,200!! Alright thanks anyway mate I'll keep it as an option..."

To some peoplel $1,300 is a lot of money. I certainly would not pay it for a few hours of relative comfort.

 

[Craigie]

As explained not the issue for my mate.
But rest assured I'll never suggest it if you ask me!

 

[Awesom Andy]

To some peoplel $1,300 is a lot of money. I certainly would not pay it for a few hours of relative comfort.

The way I think of it, is $1,300 worth a few hours of discomfort...

 

[JohnK]

The way I think of it, is $1,300 worth a few hours of discomfort...

Absolutely. You call it discomfort.

It is a few hours that you are going to forget in a few weeks if not a few days later.

A friend of mine who is now unfortunately dead travelled back to Greece every year. He did it on the cheapest possible airfares in economy. He went for 6 weeks at a time and he did not care about spending 24 hours in economy getting there. That is the attitude of the majority of people who fly.

If people think they are too precious to cope with a few hours in economy then go ahead and throw the money away in premium cabins. And yes I do no know that some people have difficulty travelling in economy due to medical conditions.

 

[robd]

The way I think of it, is $1,300 worth a few hours of discomfort...

If you're only talking a few hours (let's say, up to 5 or even 7), then I'd agree. If your talking more than that, then you have to divide your $1,300 by not only the time you spent on the aircraft (generally being pampered and getting some sleep), but also the extra quality time it affords you at your destination by not having to sleep on arrival or being tired and scratchy.

Of course, if you are one of those people that can sleep anywhere, then YMMV.

 

[Craigie]

If people think they are too precious to cope with a few hours in economy then go ahead and throw the money away in premium cabins.

There are things I'd like to say in reply to this but I will not bite...
But maybe just remember what forum you're on and what thread you're posting in.

 

[anat0l]

And they're all fair and good points except(due to my lack of context) this was not so in my friends case. Because I've thrown the words "it will cost as much as economy to fly business" out, he was expecting that as the outcome.

Also the fact it wasn't as simple as going to xx_xx_x .com and booking, he wasn't so keen.

You probably dug your grave a bit on the first point (and they do exist, or for a small amount more), but the second point does nail the coffin unwittingly, so you were probably hosed to start with.

There are things I'd like to say in reply to this but I will not bite...
But maybe just remember what forum you're on and what thread you're posting in.

Again, people weigh up what the differential is and make a decision based on it.

There has been cases where a Business award ticket can cost the same (or even less) than a cash ticket, even after taxes. In many cases you hope it's just a few hundred dollars more. Once you get close to a grand in difference, unless it's the difference between Economy and First then most will start to reconsider, especially if the booking is for more than one person.

Remember, buying points for burning is mainly because of the lucrative value versus a cash premium ticket. But in the end, you're usually still left weighing up (at face value) an Economy ticket and a (now) cheaper premium ticket.

 

[JohnK]

There are things I'd like to say in reply to this but I will not bite...
But maybe just remember what forum you're on and what thread you're posting in.

I know exactky where I am posting but thanks for noticing.

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

I've told a few people and their eyes glaze over and say 'oh if I need to book I'll come to you....' However 2 people I have told about have used it!

Once to from perth to Townsville - economy ticket was $1100 return and business reward through Alaska Air Miles was $700 all up.... I told them where to log into to buy the points and they did it themselves!

Another one I have just helped someone book is Perth - PPT in business for their honeymoon. Economy cash price was $1500...Business was $1800. My gf wasn't sure how to do it so she came over while we called, bought the miles and booked it all.

I used to be so envious of the people who could fly business and first....now I have the knowledge of this forum and help others.

I do warn those I help book though that if something happens with a missed connection, cancelled flight etc...that they can't come back to blame me as it would have happened with a normal cash fate anyway!

Also when breaking down the extra cost for cash economy or points business I usually break down the extra cost per flight...so of it only an extra $250 per leg (which it is in my case later this year) to fly business for 8 hours, 12 hours, 15.5 hours and 8 hours....isn't it a no brainer? And as a family of 4 with 2 young girls under 3 that money does add up but who cares! If you book far enough ahead you can save it anyway!

FYI flights I booked were $24000 J cash price or $6200 Y cash price or combo of points bought and existing QFF points $7600 for J on 4 legs.

No brainer really!