How much $$value have you received from QFF?

[varyingtravel]

I saw the post about the guy who had credited himself with 17,000,000 points which were valued at $790k. I was wondering what $$ amounts frequent flyers believe they have received in free flights from using award points.

I did a very rough estimate one day and came up with a figure of about $40k . This included 2 business class trips to the UK, numerous domestic flights including one business class around Australia for my wife and me on our honeymoon (that was when you could go around Aus for 37500 points business class), economy to the US a couple of times and first class upgrade HK - Syd. Tis doesn't include complimentary QC membership for the last 6 years and the associated food and drinks.

I've always been a great user of my points and I can see this increasing as my family does! Especially as my firs child turned 2 a few months ago so no longer travels 'free' (damn taxes!) :x :x

And must also say that the loyalty scheme works. I would never fly VB even if it costs me more $$ to travel Qantas.

 

[tuapekastar]

This is an easy one for me to recall, as I think I've only used points to fly twice. Given I don't really fly that much (at least since FF programs were implemented, flew reasonably regularly before that), I have never had many points to burn, but think I've been reasonably judicious in my use of them.

MEL-SYD-CHC-MEL in J - 45K points, around $1800 fare at the time
SYD-NRT-SYD in J - 100K points, around $5000 fare at the time

Would have bought Y fare and upgraded if I could have guaranteed the upgrade, but I think this was the next best way to use them.

 

[danielh]

Well I have always used my points for flights.

I reckon that I have done about 6 econ MLB-HKG return flights at peak times (approx $1200 each).

Also got two econ MLB-LAX return flights to do in Mid Dec to Mid Jan (not sure how much that are worth but probably $1300 each).

Will also be doing two economy RTW trips in about 18 months. Prob worth about $2200 each.

Regards
Daniel

 

[shillard]

Flights and upgrades to the value of around $48,000 thus far, according to my Award Redemption spreadsheet.

Add to that vouchers and other goods worth $3,700 redeemed from card programmes (including a nice bonus from Amex, when I ordered and was charged for 10 movie passes, and received 50).

 

[Mal]

Around $12000 I think.

Return J to Perth.
Upgrade Hkg-Syd, Syd-Bkk
Various other domestic upgrades when I've felt like upgrading.

If my 2 upgrades in the pipeline come through, then that will go up to around $16000 I believe.

 

[PaulZ]

I don't know about the actual value of these flights, since i have never paid for international business or first, but here are my estimates.

4 x Business: Sydney - Rome ... $35,000?
2 x First: Melbourne - Milan ... $22,000
3 x Business: Melbourne - New York ... $26,000
About to Book:
3 x Business: Melbourne - Canada ... $28,000
1 x Business: Melbourne - Milan - Canada ... $9,000

So i guess i have got about $120,000 out of my QF Points.

PaulZ

 

[varyingtravel]

Excellent!

Anyone higher than PaulZ?

When you see amounts like this, suddenly flying with the one airline makes a lot of sense.. Even though I have my gripes at different times with Qantas service, availability of FF seats and my other gripe on another thread, overall if I am receiving this much value I am very happy!

 

[QF WP]

I'll have a look at my Excel spreadsheet and advise. I've had very few FF Award tickets (the only one I can think of is a RTW in J); as the majority of mine have been used for upgrading Y to J...but there have been plenty of those on long-haul flights.

 

[JohnK]

I reckon that I have done about 6 econ MLB-HKG return flights at peak times (approx $1200 each).

Also got two econ MLB-LAX return flights to do in Mid Dec to Mid Jan (not sure how much that are worth but probably $1300 each).

I thought you lived in Melbourne (MEL).

Not sure why you would get MLB-HKG (Melbourne Kennedy, US - Hong Kong) return flights when you live in MEL. I thought it just would have been easier to get return flights MEL-HKG.

Sorry couldn't resist.

 

[varyingtravel]

I'll have a look at my Excel spreadsheet and advise. I've had very few FF Award tickets (the only one I can think of is a RTW in J); as the majority of mine have been used for upgrading Y to J...but there have been plenty of those on long-haul flights.

You have a spreadsheet? I have to ask why. I never thought of doing that for FF.

This would be a good comparison. When my wife and I travelled business to the UK, her ticket was the award business class ticket while mine was a cheap ticket from best flights and then I used points and credits to upgrade to business. We did it this way because of my platinum status and thought I was more likely to get an upgrade. But most of our travel has been award flights with very few upgrades (apart from the splurges between MEL - SYD occasionally..

 

[QF WP]

varyingtravel, I've kept a spreadsheet of all OW flights taken since I joined QFF (Feb 1987) - flight dates, to/from, class of travel (including upgrades), distance flown, FF points collected and cost. I've even got every ticket and BP. I have a separate spreadsheet for non-OW flights (much, much smaller).

I also have a summary of each year with miles flown domestically and internationally (in kms until 2002, then switched to miles when QFF did) and a running average mileage since inception (now based in miles, having converted 1987 to 2002 to miles). In addition, the cost of my travel each year (both business and personal) is totalled and then averaged over the 18 years. I like to see what I have given to QF over the years.

Seems that others are like me as well :wink: , shillard does something similar (as pointed out in his answer above).

 

[Craigo]

Since I joined QFF in 1993 I've done 4 award itineraries and have one booked for early 2006.

In the early days, IIRC, points expired after one year :shock: So I booked an award ticket for CBR-CHC; WLG-CBR in 1995 to use up the points I'd earned for a trip to Canada and the US in 1994.

I've done another two trips to NZ on points, CBR-WLG-CBR in 1999 to visit friends and CBR-CHC-CBR in 2000 to go skiing in Queenstown - the skiing didn't eventuate due to a fractured humerus in a skiing fall at Thredbo two weeks before the trip. I still went anyway and played lodge lizard (I'm still trying to get those kilos off!). Qantas were very nice and put me in 24K on a three-class 747-400 for the SYD-CHC and CHC-SYD sectors, so I had room to nurse my arm.

I also did a Business Class trip CBR-SYD-CDG; FRA-SYD-CBR in 2003.

I've got a WT+ award for MEL-SIN and BKK-SYD next year that will connect with my DONE4.

I'd guess that the retail value of these trips would be around $12,000.

 

[Guest]

I've definately got good value from the (Pre May 25) QF FF Prog

 

[serfty]

In the old day I arranged no less than 6 37,500 point business class round Australia trips using my points. On one of them I traveled with mrs serftyand 4YO mini serfty; adults on points & junior on paid J (50% Discount) which still cost over $2,800. So there's over $36,000 worth already (in 1990's money).

Plenty of other travel/upgrades. Everything from 9,000 point MEL-CBR return trips up to MEL-SYD-SIN in F for 60,000 points with return SIN-MEL in J for 40,000.

 

[QF WP]

International

1992 : QF BNE/SYD/HKG/SIN/BNE Y Award Ticket
1995: QF BNE/AKL/BNE Y Award Ticket
2000: QF BNE/AKL/SYD/BNE Y Award Ticket
2001: RTW BNE/SIN/BKK/HKG/LHR/FRA/EDI/LHR/GRU...CNF/MIA/SEA/SJC/LAX/AKL/MEL/BNE J Award Ticket
2002: QF SYD/HKG Y to J upgrade (points); QF DRW/DPS Y to J upgrade(points); QF SIN/BNE Y to J upgrade (points); QF SYD/HKG...MNL/BNE Y to J upgrades (points); QF SYD/BKK/SYD Y to J upgrades (points)
2003: QF BNE/AKL Y to J upgrade (points); QF SIN/BNE Y to J upgrade (points) x 2
2004: QF BNE/AKL/LAX/JFK...LAX/AKL/SYD Y to J upgrades (points) x 2; QF SIN/LHR...HKG/SYD Y to J upgrades (points) x 2
2005: QF BNE/AKL/SYD Y to J upgrades (points) x 2 with BNE/LAX/BNE on waitlist at present

Domestic (All QF, Y to J upgrades for each sector advised unless noted)

1994: BNE/ADL/SYD/BNE Y Award Ticket
1995: BNE/CBR/BNE Y Award Ticket
1996: BNE/MEL/ADL/MEL/BNE Y Award Ticket
1999: BNE/SYD/BNE Y Award Ticket
2000: BNE/MEL/PER/BNE & BNE/SYD/BNE Y Award Tickets
2002: BNE/SYD, SYD/MEL, MEL/BNE, CBR/BNE, BNE/CNS, BNE/ISA, ISA//BNE, BNE/ADL, BNE/MEL & SYD/BNE
2003: CBR/BNE, BNE/MEL, SYD/MEL, MEL/BNE x 3, CBR/BNE & SYD/MEL
2004: BNE/MEL, PER/SYD, ADL/PER
2005: SYD/BNE x 2

 

[JohnK]

So I guess my award redemption SYD-BNE-SIN-BNE-SYD in June valued at ~$1200 is insignificant with all other responses I have read so far in this forum.

Considering I have only been a qff member for 2 years I can live with that. Maybe many more to rewards to come in the future. :shock:

 

[Guest]

International
1992 - 2005...

woah... what did you have for lunch on December 19, 1994 ?

 

[JohnK]

woah... what did you have for lunch on December 19, 1994 ?

Give him a minute that is on a different spreadsheet. :?

 

[varyingtravel]

Nothing for free is insignificant!

I'd still rather get a free return flight to Brissy than pay $200 for a red e-deal...

 

[QF WP]

Hey dOOt, you know me, I'm not that anally retentive :shock: .

Thanks JohnK for the moral support :roll: - you wanted to get into the BNE QP J lounge on Dec 26, did you?? :wink: :cry:

Whilst my list may have been more extensive (because I value upgrades more than tickets), my cost I don't think would beat PaulZ's.

Oh, I forgot the upcoming 2006: QF BNE/PER, PER/KGI and ADL/BNE upgrades Y to J on points.