I love this site!

[Mark3000]

I discovered this site a month ago and haven't been able to stop reading it since. So many great ideas, I wish I had known about it before when I was single and travel was easy. Now with 2 kids it is so much harder. I'm lucky (?unlucky) enough to have lots of tax to pay and am accumulating a fair few points, but the big problem will be trying to find flights with 4 points tickets in J. I'd even be happy with 3 and pay for a revenue ticket for myself, but from what I've seen so far, finding 3 or 4 is extremely difficult. I'm hoping if I can split my points between QF & Singapore airlines that it will give some options but we'll see.
It sure is a fun game and I hope to be able to contribute and put back into this forum too over the coming years.
Thanks everyone for contributing to such a wonderful site

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF Mark3000!

 

[zainman]

Welcome to AFF Mark3000!

I recommend looking at Velocity for accumulating points as I have had reasonable success booking 4 J seats with their partner Etihad airways for travel to/from Europe.

Another option that can be easier than most when booking 3 to 4 J seats is Thai airways.

 

[Hvr]

Welcome aboard Mark3000, you do have some challenges but the good folks here have the experience to assist.

 

[Mark3000]

Welcome to AFF Mark3000!

I recommend looking at Velocity for accumulating points as I have had reasonable success booking 4 J seats with their partner Etihad airways for travel to/from Europe.

Another option that can be easier than most when booking 3 to 4 J seats is Thai airways.

Thanks so much zainman, that is a great tip. Perhaps I should look at keeping points in Amex and then have the ability to transfer to Velocity if Etihad is a good option for 4 seats.
Thanks heaps!

 

[Mark3000]

thanks JohnK, I appreciate that

 

[Mark3000]

Welcome aboard Mark3000, you do have some challenges but the good folks here have the experience to assist.

Thanks Hvr, I appreciate your kind welcome,
Mark

 

[TomVexille]

Welcome aboard!

 

[prozac]

Hello and welcome to AFF Mark3000.

 

[Mark3000]

Thanks Tom and Prozac. Congratulations to you both on the 1000 posts also. I've seen lots of great contributions from you both.

 

[ukh]

Welcome Mark 3000.
Like you, I am new to the site, pay too much tax, and am looking for classic award flights in premium cabins.
I agree that multiple seats can be hard to find, especially in peak times.
What I often do is book these with Qantas as soon as they come out (353 days in advance, released at 10 am EST) one way, then 2-3 weeks later, I book the return flights. Although I am half guessing as to whether the timing will be right for my family, I book this anyway and cancel many of these flights if they are not suitable ( there is a minimal point penalty for cancelling, which I believe is worth the convenience). Over the next month or so, you can do the same thing with MASA with the added advantage that cancellations provide a full refund of points and tax as long as the MASA is booked into the correct flexible category (and of course the benefit of status points).

 

[Ben6]

Hi Mark3000, I'm in a very similar position to you and have just easily booked 4 J seats return to Europe on Malaysian. I'm not expecting SQ levels of comfort but at 408,000 points plus $2000 approx taxes for the 4 of us, still a good option and there's seems to be almost unlimited availability! We are flying MEL-KL-LND over and CDG-KL-MEL home. All booked online to get the 15% discount.

 

[Simo]

Welcome to AFF,


Great source of information on the forum...

 

[Mark3000]

Welcome Mark 3000.
Like you, I am new to the site, pay too much tax, and am looking for classic award flights in premium cabins.
I agree that multiple seats can be hard to find, especially in peak times.
What I often do is book these with Qantas as soon as they come out (353 days in advance, released at 10 am EST) one way, then 2-3 weeks later, I book the return flights. Although I am half guessing as to whether the timing will be right for my family, I book this anyway and cancel many of these flights if they are not suitable ( there is a minimal point penalty for cancelling, which I believe is worth the convenience). Over the next month or so, you can do the same thing with MASA with the added advantage that cancellations provide a full refund of points and tax as long as the MASA is booked into the correct flexible category (and of course the benefit of status points).

Thanks ugh, that's a great tip.
I wish I had found this site a few years ago and been able to take advantage of JASA's & FASA's.
Great tip too about booking one way at 353 days. thanks!

 

[Mark3000]

Hi Mark3000, I'm in a very similar position to you and have just easily booked 4 J seats return to Europe on Malaysian. I'm not expecting SQ levels of comfort but at 408,000 points plus $2000 approx taxes for the 4 of us, still a good option and there's seems to be almost unlimited availability! We are flying MEL-KL-LND over and CDG-KL-MEL home. All booked online to get the 15% discount.

Thanks Ben6. I'm very relieved to hear that it is possible.
How did you book the Malaysian seats? I thought that to do it with QF points you can only call up. Did you do that with Amex points transferred to Enrich and then on their website?
Thanks again,
M

 

[JohnK]

How did you book the Malaysian seats? I thought that to do it with QF points you can only call up. Did you do that with Amex points transferred to Enrich and then on their website?

You are going to need a lot more than 408,000 QFF points and $2000 to get to Europe in business for 4 people.

I am guessing that Amex MR points were transferred to Enrich.

 

[Mark3000]

You are going to need a lot more than 408,000 QFF points and $2000 to get to Europe in business for 4 people.

I am guessing that Amex MR points were transferred to Enrich.

Yes good point, I didn't pick up on that. Way more points and way more taxes with QFF.
It seems I definitely need to expand my horizons beyond QFF

 

[Ben6]

Thanks Ben6. I'm very relieved to hear that it is possible.
How did you book the Malaysian seats? I thought that to do it with QF points you can only call up. Did you do that with Amex points transferred to Enrich and then on their website?
Thanks again,
M

Exactly. I leave my points in Amex until required, then transfer them to whichever program I am planning to use. I have an Amex Plat Charge Card which earns Ascent Premium points. From there, I can transfer at 1:1 into Velocity, Enrich, SQ, Asia Miles, QFF, Thai, Air NZ, Etihad, Emirates or Virgin Atlantic. You need to join Enrich (free and they give you 1,000 miles for joining!), then you can look up and/or book flights online quite easily. Current J return to Europe is 102,000 points plus approx $1000, this includes a 15% discount for redeeming online.

If you have the points, SQ online redemption is 161,500 points and also $1,000 for J class to Europe! Availability isn't as good as Malaysian but still not bad so long as you have some flexibility with dates or can plan early. Velocity J return to Europe (operated by Etihad) is 250,000 points but only $200-300 in taxes depending on which city to fly out of. My current target is MEL-SNG-CDG with SQ First/Suites at 225,000 points and $1,050 in taxes. I already have enough points to do this but not enough time for a holiday - aasarrggghhh!!!

I also use my points to upgrade flex economy tickets that my business pays for which earn me status credits at the same time. VA SG and WP can upgrade to LAX or AUH for 45,000. I also upgraded an AUH-LDN leg recently for 27,000 points.