Krisflyer Miles

[auriga]

Until I got and started using Westpac/Krisflyer cards, I had always focussed on OW trips but I am surprising myself with FF points accumulated over past 3 months. Today's account shows 87k points.

Interestingly, Virgin Atlantic requires 70k for Syd-Hkg for business award but I read elsewhere that this may not be true business class but PE. SQ may be better value for this sector then.

Are there other good value sectors across SQ / *A group?

Using Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club miles, SYD to HKG one way in Upper Class is 40000 miles. So, not bad value.

 

[Foreigner]

My Krisflyer account today shows balance of 201,000 from 87,000 a month ago.

The anniversary specials are gone. I am hoping these points can be put to good use. One post suggested Australia-South Pacific was terrific value on star alliance - 35,000 points in business class. I agree. Are there good value intra-asia sectors in business class?

By good value I mean long(er) trips with relatively low(er) number of redemption miles.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

My Krisflyer account today shows balance of 201,000 from 87,000 a month ago.

The anniversary specials are gone. I am hoping these points can be put to good use. One post suggested Australia-South Pacific was terrific value on star alliance - 35,000 points in business class. I agree. Are there good value intra-asia sectors in business class?

By good value I mean long(er) trips with relatively low(er) number of redemption miles.

Try something like Bangkok to Manila in Business on SQ - 20000 points one way less online booking discount = 17000 points, and u get a 2 hour and then a 3 hour flight. Both in regional J but still nice! or Bangkok to Denpasar for something similar. I did it in F when they had F still on BKK runs, and it was 25% discount, 22500 points for 2 x F sectors, lovely, and i overnighted in singapore.

 

[drron]

If you are interested in the South Pacific if you check the chart for Star Alliance partners you will note it is only 25000 points economy return from Australia to not only Auckland (or anywhere in New Zealand) but also Tahiti, Fiji, Vanuatu. Tonga, Cook Islands, New Caledonia flying Air New Zealand. 35000 points business return. It is where our family usually use our points.

Just looking at my back up CC options and many do credit to KF.However reading about the program it seems they are stingier than QF-eg activity alone doesnt prevent points expiring,elite status is only 12 months from qualifying poor premium award availability at high points cost.
Now this award to the South Pacific appeals but when i used the points calculator for Australia to Samoa,Cooks etc it comes up with no direct flights so is it really possible to use just 35000 points in J to South Pacific or do you have to do a NZ award then a South pacific one.
Flying I can requalify AA plat and Mrsdrron QP on one DONE4 so we could switch our other trips to A*.Just wondering whether it is worth joining KF.

 

[limlib]

You have to ring the Krisflyer centre to do the award. They e ticket it for you and will tell you over the phone your options. There is no additional cost in points for the assisted booking. We had a free stopover in Auckland as well on the return leg one year. The travel is all Air New Zealand but organised through Krisflyer.

 

[Foreigner]

Just looking at my back up CC options and many do credit to KF.However reading about the program it seems they are stingier than QF-eg activity alone doesnt prevent points expiring,elite status is only 12 months from qualifying poor premium award availability at high points cost.
Now this award to the South Pacific appeals but when i used the points calculator for Australia to Samoa,Cooks etc it comes up with no direct flights so is it really possible to use just 35000 points in J to South Pacific or do you have to do a NZ award then a South pacific one.
Flying I can requalify AA plat and Mrsdrron QP on one DONE4 so we could switch our other trips to A*.Just wondering whether it is worth joining KF.

My understanding is that Australia-SW Pacific as far east as Tahiti is 35k KF points. Of course, that means flying via AKL. That would include syd-akl, I presume.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

My understanding is that Australia-SW Pacific as far east as Tahiti is 35k KF points. Of course, that means flying via AKL. That would include syd-akl, I presume.

Wow, I didn't realise that, Tahiti from Australia business class return 35,000 miles. What a great deal!! I think I might take advantage of that sometime soon. Thanks for the tip!

 

[savydog]

For an upcoming trip to auckland, I used the air new zealand webpage Cheap Flights, Airfares & Holidays - Air New Zealand Official Site - Australia
to find the flights I wanted. Next I completed the Reservation Request Form link on here when your logged in, https://www.singaporeair.com:443/saa/en_UK/Account/RedeemMiles.jsp and faxed it to Singapore. As I had domestic flights already arranged, I entered only the prefered itinerary and left the alternative blank. I got a call from singapore about 2 hours later to tell me my business class seats were available on the flights I wanted and the cost was $140.56 in taxes and 35000 points. Accepted and an e.ticket was emailed to me soon after.

Very easy and painless.

 

[albatross710]

For an upcoming trip to auckland, I used the air new zealand webpage Cheap Flights, Airfares & Holidays - Air New Zealand Official Site - Australia
to find the flights I wanted. Next I completed the Reservation Request Form link on here when your logged in, https://www.singaporeair.com:443/saa/en_UK/Account/RedeemMiles.jsp and faxed it to Singapore. As I had domestic flights already arranged, I entered only the prefered itinerary and left the alternative blank. I got a call from singapore about 2 hours later to tell me my business class seats were available on the flights I wanted and the cost was $140.56 in taxes and 35000 points. Accepted and an e.ticket was emailed to me soon after.

Very easy and painless.

Do you know if at the time of requesting your flights if J redemptions were available on those particular ANZ flights?

ie did say the ANA Tool indicate that J redemption seats were available?

 

[savydog]

No, I just put in my request and hoped that an award seat would be available. I am not an Air points member, but if I was I guess I could have checked online to see what was there. I sent the fax as when your running a business you can't always stay on hold for 20 minutes when ringing Singapore Airlines Sydney office.

 

[albatross710]

No, I just put in my request and hoped that an award seat would be available. I am not an Air points member, but if I was I guess I could have checked online to see what was there. I sent the fax as when your running a business you can't always stay on hold for 20 minutes when ringing Singapore Airlines Sydney office.

OK. It seems that SIA has some flexibility in opening up award seating where it isn't otherwise appearing on the award booking tools.

I've been looking for some J availability on NZ next year and have been disheartened. After your success I might just send in a fax and put my trust in the KF gods.

 

[Foreigner]

For an upcoming trip to auckland, I used the air new zealand webpage Cheap Flights, Airfares & Holidays - Air New Zealand Official Site - Australia
to find the flights I wanted. Next I completed the Reservation Request Form link on here when your logged in, https://www.singaporeair.com:443/saa/en_UK/Account/RedeemMiles.jsp and faxed it to Singapore. As I had domestic flights already arranged, I entered only the prefered itinerary and left the alternative blank. I got a call from singapore about 2 hours later to tell me my business class seats were available on the flights I wanted and the cost was $140.56 in taxes and 35000 points. Accepted and an e.ticket was emailed to me soon after.

Very easy and painless.

Mind you, 35000 points could have extended your trip well beyond Auckland with corresponding increase in taxes.

A bit late in the day but I am just assuming the airfare syd-akl-syd or bne-akl-bne would be say A$2,000 (excl. taxes) and it cost 35000 points. so value of a point is around 5.7 cents.

I am doing this calculation to estimate value of putting a purchase on the KF cards. So, if I had opportunity to collect 33000 points, the value is just under $1,900 - almost good enough to make a syd-akl-syd trip in business class.

I am not too savvy with FF schemes but does the above make sense or should I consider other issues?

 

[albatross710]

I am not too savvy with FF schemes but does the above make sense or should I consider other issues?

The current deal with Westpac KF is a good return if you want flights to *A destinations.