How safe are my QF FF points?

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

If there's a mad rush to use QFF points that will help the profit of the FF scheme.

They get to book the profit when the points are used. Till then they're a liability.

 

[amaroo]

points will be fine. QF domestic isn't going anywhere, and I can't imagine that QF domestic would leave oneworld??? So you can always claim on partner airlines if QFi got sold etc etc.

That would leave you, exAU, with CX (pretty good)... and UL once they join in 2013

Don't forget BA, they still have one flight coming all the way. Next year they start taking delivery of A380's & some reports indicate that SIN & HKG are likely destinations. Might be easy pickings based on current ability to secure premium BA award seats.

 

[wingspan]

Don't forget BA

And MH, JL, LA...

...(and JQ )

 

[drron]

Don't forget BA, they still have one flight coming all the way. Next year they start taking delivery of A380's & some reports indicate that SIN & HKG are likely destinations. Might be easy pickings based on current ability to secure premium BA award seats.

SIN will be the first BA A380 destination.Was sitting next to a BA fellow in the lounge of the SIN Hilton who confirmed that.

Even if QFi goes under it is unlikely that One world would kick them out of the alliance as it would mean no way of getting round Australia.but even in the worst case scenarion QF would likely continue some codeshares which you could redeem on as velocity does.

Of more concern to me is my million AA miles.But I have come down from 1.5 million last year.Even so the worry is more how many miles for redemptions and decreasing inventory of sAAver awards.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Both partner and I are WP and both have over 1 Million points each. At the moment, we prefer not to utilise them unless it is for a J upgrade as we are striving for LTG (which we both should reach in the next year).

Just on the LTG issue - you can always use your points for an Any Seat Award in business or first class. Quite often, if a classic award is available, you can get an any seat award for the same number of points, but you earn full points and status credits. So that might be one way of using your points but still getting LTG. Having your cake and eating it too!

I have LTS which is enough for me as all I ever really want is to be able to avoid check-in queues if i travel economy some time. LTG will come when it comes, but with the current mileage sales from sources such as US airways (First class return to Europe for ~$3000 on Thai, including all taxes and virtually guaranteed availability, or ~$1800 on Singapore airlines to anywhere in Asia in business class, again with almost guaranteed availability), it is more sensible for me to forego status on Qantas and enjoy first class travel for little more than the economy fare without being wedded to an airline alliance for benefits.

 

[Danger]

QF didn't send a chartered flight to Eygpt or out to look for the yacht, they were paid to do it.

I'm guessing that QF have the most capacity and best relationship with Gov't so are probably asked first, but it wasn't Qantas doing those deeds as a good samaritan, they were (again) just making more money for their shareholders.

FWIW, VA run the Gov't flights to Christmas and Cocos islands, and Strategic were running defence charters too.

In the case of seraching for the missing yacht, maybe, but with the Egypt evacuation flights, they were provided by Qantas at no cost to the government (or the evacuees) and included a seat (on an as available basis) from London to Australia.

Additionally, taking nothing away from Virgin and Strategic, my guess is both are being remunerated for their flights.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

I don't know whether or not the points are all a liability to QANTAS.
Looking at their profit ... $350 M... it appears they make a lot of money selling the points to Hotels and C/Card companies etc.....looking at it laterally...QANTAS FF could even run a VIRTUAL airline with no planes and simply have tie ups to airlines world wide.

At the end of the day business is about profit not only turnover and I reckon the points are safe except I agree with previous comments about devaluing and increased fuel surcharges and taxes.

Everyone needs to talk QANTAS up, use them and hope they continue into the future etc....at the end of the days there are only 2 certainties in life, both unpalatable..... let's hope the demise of QANTAS is not another

How simple would thatVIRTUAL AIRLINE be with about 5 % of the staff required to run the airline and very little money tied up in infrastructure.

 

[ninin]

Thanks everyone for your comments -fascinating reading.

I have burnt quite a few points on some domestic J any seat award flights.

Investigated taking the extended family away on a trip to Europe next year. Thought I would do the nice brotherly thing, a nice gesture or surprise..... Unbelievably there are times next year when I can book 7 return economy seats to London and even onto another city. However, then I discovered that the tax is over $1000 per person which defeats the whole purpose.

The most effective use seems to be J classic award flights but they are rarely available (aside from upgrades). Frustratingly, I have noticed that many of the available seats are routed via Sydney where you are sometimes stung additional points for the privilege of having to fly via Sydney).

If I could have my time over again, I would not have utilised this strategy (trying to get to LTG). Can't wait to be released from the golden handcuffs.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks everyone for your comments -fascinating reading.

I have burnt quite a few points on some domestic J any seat award flights.

Investigated taking the extended family away on a trip to Europe next year. Thought I would do the nice brotherly thing, a nice gesture or surprise..... Unbelievably there are times next year when I can book 7 return economy seats to London and even onto another city. However, then I discovered that the tax is over $1000 per person which defeats the whole purpose.

The most effective use seems to be J classic award flights but they are rarely available (aside from upgrades). Frustratingly, I have noticed that many of the available seats are routed via Sydney where you are sometimes stung additional points for the privilege of having to fly via Sydney).

If I could have my time over again, I would not have utilised this strategy (trying to get to LTG). Can't wait to be released from the golden handcuffs.

lol!! IF (capitals) those flights via SYD are actually in business class and not just the domestic connector to SYD with the long haul in economy!!

there is usually some availability on Cathay - at least within a few weeks of departure. With three flights a day from many ports you might find a good combination of seats even if the whole 7 can't fly on the same plane.