Is Qantas worth $1000 extra?

[Expon]

Hi,

I normally fly with Qantas everywhere I go and are a member of QFF and QC. I am planning a trip to SFO in June and was looking up the tickets. I planned to use points to upgrade my ticket to business class but it seems that there is slim to no chance of that happening due to my FF status. By chance I looked up Air NZ flights and they are over $1000 cheaper for when I want to fly.

Is QF worth $1000 to attain 16000 points 90 status creds and use the QC? I've never flown with Air NZ so I don't know what they are like when it comes to flight conditions. I'm sure the service couldn't be much worse than QF.

 

[opusman]

I haven't flown Air NZ so can't help you with that but one other thing to be aware of is that the flight would probably be via Auckland, and so I guess would add at least 3-4 hours to the trip time.

 

[Dave Noble]

For $1000, I would try NZ . How much is UA? If you have status with QF , you can get a status match to UA and be able to get the Economy Plus seating which should be reasonably comfortable

Dave

 

[Expon]

Im sorry Dave, I should hve phrased that better. The air NZ fare is $1000 cheaper in economy. Thats a fair chunk off. I was only going to fly GF business if I could get the points upgrade. Seems that is very difficult to do.

 

[Dave Noble]

Im sorry Dave, I should hve phrased that better. The air NZ fare is $1000 cheaper in economy. Thats a fair chunk off. I was only going to fly GF business if I could get the points upgrade. Seems that is very difficult to do.

yah, I noticed after posting and adjusted my reply for $1000 cheaper in economy, it would seem pretty much a no brainer to me unless you have a company paying

Dave

 

[trooper]

As one of the few (?) NZ flyers around here...

Yikes.. they ARE good prices aren't they!?!? (Best I found was out Sun 8, back Tues 24.. around $1650 all in IIRC... Good one! In fact that price seems fairly widely avail. but only in June!))

OK.. the (slightly) bad news... ALL of the best fares are on the 772... I tried to find a combination that would get to SFO via LAXvv on NZ1 & 2 but that puts the price up considerably..

The 772 is fine.. don't get me wrong... officially the Y pitch is 32" so not much different to QF.. the 744 has a couple more inches which is why I was looking for it! I've heard good things about Y in the 772 but have no personal exp as I always booked the 744! Personal preference again!

Good AVOD (that works nearly all the time....:mrgreen: :mrgreen: Sorry..... just a little joke), decent service normally..... foods edible IME...

Some folks really dislike the AKL stop.. I don't mind it at all..... but it has to be included in any decision...

If you decide to go with NZ I'd recommend saying "G'day" to the folks on the NZ forum on FT... you never know.. someone else may be travelling to AKL &/or SFO and guest you in to the lounge... worth a try!:mrgreen:

(I'll be passing through AKL (to SYD)on the 27th myself.. but coming in from NAN so the timing may be wrong even if the date isn't!:-|

 

[Expon]

Thanks for the info trooper. Ill definately drop in on flyertalk, if not just for the possiblity of more great information. I don't mind going via Aukland if it's going to save me $1000

 

[Alanslegal]

you might want to consider using the $1k saved for a MR with Kup and/or Yup fares once in NA.....

 

[JohnK]

No! I would try Air NZ if it means saving $1000.

One option is to join the FF program of BD and credit Air NZ flights there. They appear to be one of the more generous *Alliance FF programs. You only require 16,000 miles for *Silver and 38,000 miles for *Gold and also lounge access. What is the airfare booking class? For Air NZ all these booking classes earn 1 membership status mile, U,E,O,Y,B,M,H,Q,V,W,T.

 

[Expon]

you might want to consider using the $1k saved for a MR with Kup and/or Yup fares once in NA.....

I'm a noob and have no idea what those acronyms mean

 

[Travel Guru]

Air NZ Economy are really on the ball these days, i'd definately fly them for $1000 difference.

TG

 

[simongr]

I also think depending on how the flight schedules work that the extra 4 hours to get to AKL is no biggie - it might not delay your arrival just get you up earlier on the morning of the flight

 

[Expon]

One option is to join the FF program of BD and credit Air NZ flights there. They appear to be one of the more generous *Alliance FF programs. You only require 16,000 miles for *Silver and 38,000 miles for *Gold and also lounge access. What is the airfare booking class? For Air NZ all these booking classes earn 1 membership status mile, U,E,O,Y,B,M,H,Q,V,W,T.

I will look into this. It seems the joining fee is AUD$50 but I have no idea what status the ticket is. I'd say the bottom one at these prices. The flight itself is around 16000 miles return, would I get access for that flight or just flights there after?

 

[JohnK]

I will look into this. It seems the joining fee is AUD$50 but I have no idea what status the ticket is. I'd say the bottom one at these prices. The flight itself is around 16000 miles return, would I get access for that flight or just flights there after?

After 16,000 miles you will be *Silver and unfortunately no lounge access until *Gold. After reaching *Silver you get 25% bonus on miles earned (not status miles), extra luggage allowance, priority check-in etc. You have 12 months to earn 38,000 miles for *Gold anyway.

I would not consider the A$50 joining fee an issue. Just as an example you need 30,000 miles + taxes to fly anywhere in the South West Pacific. But for 15,000 miles + taxes + £100 co-payment you can also fly anywhere in the South West Pacific.

 

[dajop]

No! I would try Air NZ if it means saving $1000.

One option is to join the FF program of BD and credit Air NZ flights there. They appear to be one of the more generous *Alliance FF programs. You only require 16,000 miles for *Silver and 38,000 miles for *Gold and also lounge access. What is the airfare booking class? For Air NZ all these booking classes earn 1 membership status mile, U,E,O,Y,B,M,H,Q,V,W,T.

Sound advice. But be very careful about booking class. The lowest fares ie.Global Saver Max (I think L,G,S,P or K classes), are ineligible for earning on non-NZ FF programs (such as that of BD). However, these fares are valid for earning on NZ's Airpoints program, and for $50 you could join up and earn $150 worth of airpoints you could use on a fare to NZ, a hotel room or car hire if you want to later on.

Personally I wouldn't pay $1000 to earn 16,000 pts on QF. At most I would value them @ 4c per point to be worth $640, and that's really pushing it, I'd rather have the cash.

NZ are a good airline, and I wouldn't hesitate to fly them across the pacific. And as for the AKL transfer, sheesh, I wish people would read - your handle indicates you are from Melbourne (correct me if I'm wrong ). If going to SFO on QF, you're going to have to transfer (in all likelihood) by bus at SYD anyway. I think I'd rather the AKL transfer, and plus reduces the length of the long sector.

 

[klyons1961]

Greetings all... first time post, but long time lurker!

I've just ponied up the cash for return flights to the SFO from ADL (paid yesterday). I decided to go with ANZ and save the extra money to spend during my holiday in the US. I'm not travelling until 25 May, so won't be able to add anything to the "are ANZ any good in Economy" thoughts until after then, but I can confirm that the fares book into G class. (I initially had a fare quoted out of ADL on 27 May, that was $150 cheaper and booked into K class, but I needed an extra couple of days at the beginning of the flight so moved to the Sunday flight).

As for going via AKL, I've done that before (many, many years ago) and would rather do that than have to get on a bus and travel all over Sydney airport to connect to an international flight! The beauty of the ANZ flight for me is the timing ... instead of leaving ADL for SYD at 0605, I now leave ADL at 1130 and arrive AKL at 1830, then depart AKL at 1930 and arrive SFO at 1245. Total flying times are 4 hrs 15 min ADL-AKL and 12 hrs 15 min AKL-SFO.

For me, the convenience of clearing Oz Customs at ADL and checking straight through to SFO is a bonus, not to mention the extra sleep time in the morning (I'm 1 hour drive north of ADL)

Flight / AC details below for those that like to peek

I'm still deciding if it's worth joing ANZ FF program or not... I'm a member of QFF, but have very few points... hmmm, decisions, decisions

Cheers,
Ken



SERVICE FROM TO DEPART ARRIVE
-------------- ------------------- --------------------- -------- -------
AIR NEW ZEALAND - NZ 822
SUN 25MAY ADELAIDE SA AUCKLAND NZ 1130 1815
NON STOP TERMINAL 1 TERMINAL INTL DURATION 4:15
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - G ECONOMY
ON BOARD: MEAL
FLIGHT OPERATED BY ZEAL320 LTD/ FULL AIRNZ SERVICE
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320-100/200


AIR NEW ZEALAND - NZ 8
SUN 25MAY AUCKLAND NZ SAN FRANCISCO CA 1930 1245
NON STOP TERMINAL INTL TERMINAL INTL DURATION 12:15
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - G ECONOMY
ON BOARD: DINNER/BREAKFAST
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 777-200/200ER


AIR NEW ZEALAND - NZ 7
TUE 24JUN SAN FRANCISCO CA AUCKLAND NZ 2100 0515
NON STOP TERMINAL INTL TERMINAL INTL DURATION 13:15
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - G ECONOMY
ON BOARD: DINNER/BREAKFAST
EQUIPMENT:BOEING 777-200/200ER


AIR NEW ZEALAND - NZ 821
THU 26JUN AUCKLAND NZ ADELAIDE SA 0800 1025
NON STOP TERMINAL INTL TERMINAL 1 DURATION 4:55
RESERVATION CONFIRMED - G ECONOMY
ON BOARD: BREAKFAST
FLIGHT OPERATED BY ZEAL320 LTD/ FULL AIRNZ SERVICE
EQUIPMENT:AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320-100/200

 

[serfty]

I'm a noob and have no idea what those acronyms mean

See this thread:

• http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...viations-and-explanations-5056.html#post69096

 

[Alan in CBR]

I'm a noob and have no idea what those acronyms mean

MR = mileage run - flights taken for no other reason than to accumulate miles (usually in pursuit of status)

K-UP and Y-UP - Economy fares (US domestic) on American Airlines which are automatically allocated confirmed seating in domestic First. Caveat is that if the flight is cancelled they can reaccommodate you on another flight in Economy without compensation.

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

K-UP and Y-UP - Economy fares (US domestic) on American Airlines which are automatically allocated confirmed seating in domestic First. Caveat is that if the flight is cancelled they can reaccommodate you on another flight in Economy without compensation.

As it seems that the OP may well be proposing to fly G class on NZ, a sensible option would be to join Airpoints and have the 16,000 odd miles credited there (assuming it can be done).

Maybe it would be better to pay a higher fare on NZ (but still less than QF) and book into a fare class that can credit points to the BD FF scheme, where they are likely to be more useful.

Any MR in the US (which may or may not be on the agenda) should then be on a * carrier, probably using an airpass.

 

[Poguemahone]

yah, I noticed after posting and adjusted my reply for $1000 cheaper in economy, it would seem pretty much a no brainer to me unless you have a company paying

Dave

I tried this on with UA a couple of months ago and they had no idea what I was talking about.

is anything online?

thanks

Pog