How on earth do you actually use points?

[jb747]

Whilst I know all about the mechanics of the flying game, I know nothing about how you use your points. For various reasons, in a year or two, I'd like to look at getting to Europe, probably from Singapore, using points. Looking at the Krisflyer system, flights mostly seem to be waitlisted right through the end of 2019. How far out do they allow points bookings. What is the best way to actually use them (they're Amex points at the moment).

 

[drron]

I'm not a SQ expert but I use my amex points to get SQ awards.The first couple of times the awards were available straight up.But booking again last August all flights were waitlisted.I eventually put in for a waitlisted award-2 of us.In 2 days the waitlist cleared and we have our F awards.I presume they changed the way of doing things when reducing the number of F seats they have.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I swapped to Krisflyer for redemptions from QFF many years ago and it has proven to be one of my better decisions as with Krisflyer:

• Availability in F or J is much better and moreso if you want 2 tickets
• Points cost is less (now not as low after being engances
• Fees are now dramatically lower (that enhancement removed the fuel fines )

To be sure of getting your preferred flights to popular destinations at busy times yes booking ASAP is prudent. However if you miss out , or have to book later I have found that Krislyer generally has *A options that can be booked long after the SQ options have all been snaffled.


Award bookings can be made at just under a year out (ie 10 days less). For example I just did a dummy booking in J and F at the max time out.

 

[Gold Member]

Hi JB. For all of your seemingly endless contributions to this forum via the Ask the Pilot thread and elsewhere, I’d be happy to offer you my guidance personally if that helps. Being the happy bunch we are, I’m sure many others will know more and will gladly go out of their way to help you personally as well. Also, the fact you chatted to me in my First suite for almost 20 mins and then let me sit in your Captains seat in DXB while donning your cap and videoing me can’t help your cause. Karma eh.

But to answer your question, and at the risk of being reprimanded by the mods or Admin, I would suggest looking at pointhacks.com.au. They have lots of very concise and valuable guides on how to use various FFPs. Of course AFF has all of this information entrenched in many threads but it’s not as easy to find nor as concise.

Out of interest, despite all your years of service, is it fair to assume you’ve got nobody Status in QFF?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

. What is the best way to actually use them (they're Amex points at the moment).

You just transfer to KF direct.

There used to be a a 15% online discount. That no longer applies. So if you cannot see what you want just call up as sometimes they can see extra availability.

If you miss out on a KF Award then *A redemptions booked through KF either online (though online seems to not show all the bookable options) or via the phone are generally available in premium cabins well after SQ is gone. ie Thai.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Out of interest, despite all your years of service, is it fair to assume you’ve got nobody Status in QFF?

Even with status on QFF, KF will normally be a better deal as needs less points, less $$$.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Whilst I know all about the mechanics of the flying game, I know nothing about how you use your points. For various reasons, in a year or two, I'd like to look at getting to Europe, probably from Singapore, using points. Looking at the Krisflyer system, flights mostly seem to be waitlisted right through the end of 2019. How far out do they allow points bookings. What is the best way to actually use them (they're Amex points at the moment).

It's not easy (that's the simple answer).

But it's a matter of searching, and unfortunately there's no easy way of searching Singapore Airlines premium awards. That's due to Singapore Airlines blocking premium long-haul awards to all their partners, so you can't use a nice simple tool like United's to find the availability before heading to SQ's site to book.

London is a popular choice, and for two seats likely to be a difficult redemption. But business is easier than first. There are some easier destinations, like Zurich. From Zurich you'll connect to London on Swiss. You can also try CDG, FRA (etc). For business class even more choices.

All of that being said, finding availability on SQ is fairly easy compared to finding the same on some other carriers (such as QF )

The other thing to bear in mind is that award availability is is released 350 days in advance. Being one of the first on line at that time will give you a better chance to secure something (even for two seats).

 

[trippin_the_rift]

There are only three reasons you would ever consider moving your Membership Rewards Points out of Amex:

- If there is a seat available ready to book, now
- You want to commit yourself to finding and flying a particular airline
- There is a conversion offer (ie: 10% bonus miles) AND you know the possibility of redemption is high

Also keep in mind that advice on this forum is what I consider 'mainstream', and anything shared publically is no longer best advice, although it may still be better than what Joe-FreuqentFlyer receives. For example, knowing that seats are released 350 days in advance won't give you an edge in securing a seat, because every semi-savvy miles redeemer knows this already.

Asia Miles, Royal Orchid, Enrich and Krisflyer all have their hidden quirks which can be maximized.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

There are only three reasons you would ever consider moving your Membership Rewards Points out of Amex:

.

1/ Though this is not really a problem as you can if you prefer book via Krisflyer by calling up and then only moving your points from Amex MR over once you have a booking. SQ will give you a week to gain the necessary points into your Krisflyer account. So you do not have to move all your points over in advance of a booking if you do not wish to.

I did this recently when initially I was going to book a *A out of Italy for two daughters in J, but then changed my mind as
availability of an initial connecting flight was not open and so switched to SQ out of Milan which as that time was more points that I was short of. So instead of booking online I called up and had them book the flights and they gave me a deadline to move the points over by, which was dome easily.


Back when there was a 15% online discount I tended to move points over before the windows opened up. Now I would be less fussed.

With all my travel on SQ I have always mainly gotten the exact day that I wanted, and mainly the exact flights. However with sometimes booking for 5 it meant splitting the party up.

2/ And yes I generally only only move points to a program when I expect to make a booking.

Unfortunately the 10%bonus transfer offers to KF from Amex are very rare. I think the last was what 6 years ago when I moved 1.5 million points over.

The other times I have moved points early for non-Amex Cards has been when I was cancelling cards or there was a devaluation coming (ie Citibank).

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Also for jb747 note that with Krisflyer that any points that arrive in your account expire 3 years later. though there are ways of extending for shorter periods of time, though at a cost. Plus you can book just before the 3 years is up 350 days out, giving a travel date of almost 4 years from earn date.

This is quite different from many other programs where later points arriving extend the life of all points.

 

[Comoman]

Also for jb747 note that with Krisflyer that any points that arrive in your account expire 3 years later. though there are ways of extending for shorter periods of time, though at a cost. Plus you can book just before the 3 years is up 350 days out, giving a travel date of almost 4 years from earn date.

This is quite different from many other programs where later points arriving extend the life of all points.

Not entirely correct - points don’t expire if you’re PPS for example.

 

[dajop]

General rule for Krisflyer is booking about 11 months or <1 month in advance for best availability, but varies by route and time of year. Also midweeks have better premium availability than around weekends. Secondary destinations (ZRH, CDG if looking at suites) and the likes of CPH, ARN, MUC, MXP, MAN are often easier than FRA or LHR. IST is usually the easiest to get seats on.

Also for jb747 note that with Krisflyer that any points that arrive in your account expire 3 years later. though there are ways of extending for shorter periods of time, though at a cost.

Can also transfer to Velocity before the points expire, at a ~50% penalty in terms of loss of utility (strictly the ratio is 1.35:1, but if you look at burn rates, a good rule of thumb is 1.5:1 unless using on a certain subset of Velocity awards ... such as on VA themselves).

 

[jb747]

Thanks for all of your replies. I'll digest them over the next day or so.

As to the query about QF status....no absolutely none. And sadly changes to staff travel a few years ago have made that a much less attractive, or even viable, option.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Worth considering that you can also redeem other star alliance airlines with your krisflyer points... for example Thai. And thai is very generous with award seats in first and business class.

You can go to united(.com) and on the main flight booking page put in your dates, check the ‘award travel’ box, and you’ll get what’s available across star alliance (SQ premium excepted).

it might be that TG F all the way, with good availability, is preferable to SQ.

 

[admin]

Whilst I know all about the mechanics of the flying game, I know nothing about how you use your points. For various reasons, in a year or two, I'd like to look at getting to Europe, probably from Singapore, using points. Looking at the Krisflyer system, flights mostly seem to be waitlisted right through the end of 2019. How far out do they allow points bookings. What is the best way to actually use them (they're Amex points at the moment).

@jb747 As someone who has made a massive contribution to the AFF Community over many years in the "Ask the Pilot" thread, I think it is now time to offer our assistance..

.. not sure if you have heard about the Award Flight Assist service from Frequent Flyer Solutions, our sister website. You can read all about it HERE. If you are interested I am more than happy to offer you this service at no cost. If you wish to take up the offer, send me a message and I'll arrange it. Just a small token of our appreciation to what you have added to AFF.

 

[dajop]

You can go to united(.com) and on the main flight booking page put in your dates, check the ‘award travel’ box, and you’ll get what’s available across star alliance (SQ premium excepted).

Once set up with a KF account can now also search this online on SQ website once logged in as well. Need to do a search first then on next screen click (show flights for) “Star Alliance airlines”.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Once set up with a KF account can now also search this online on SQ website once logged in as well. Need to do a search first then on next screen click (show flights for) “Star Alliance airlines”.

I've seen that - but I don't like the results so far - they don't match what's available on search engines such as United. All it's done for me so far is list the same SQ flights as under the SQ search (same for the 'partner' tab). These were searches from the USA to AU.

 

[jb747]

Clifford, thank you for your very kind offer.

I can see that today will be a lost day, as I read through your various suggestions. I'm just looking at the suggested United site at the moment. Very interesting....

 

[dajop]

I've seen that - but I don't like the results so far - they don't match what's available on search engines such as United. All it's done for me so far is list the same SQ flights as under the SQ search (same for the 'partner' tab). These were searches from the USA to AU.

I checked SIN to LHR (which interestingly was available on the SQ non stop on that day in J) and it brought up a range of options on the star alliance tab such as via BKK, or via FRA. Although not sure if it would work for F - as not sure it will bring up mixed awards (eg J to BKK connecting to LHR in F).

 

[Ansett]

Hi JB when you eventually retire do you not get a golden handshake in the way of cheap fares based on the length of service to QF and the seniority obtained with in the airline? Trust that this is not too much of a personal question.

Welcome to the world of points by the way.