Melbourne to Asia - January destination recommendation on points

[thecrevis]

Hey all, I'm looking for a recommendation for a destination in Asia for a few weeks in January (preferably early to mid-Jan). I'm looking for a good deal using points and wondering if anyone can recommend a destination. I've already visited Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos (which I'd love to go to again) Singapore and Vietnam. There are flights from Melbourne to Nadi, Fiji for 36,000 points + $250 return from 4 Jan to 15 Jan, but wondering if anyone else has any destination/flights they can recommend

 

[RichardMEL]

Welcome to AFF. I see this is your first post.

January 2024? next month?

Do you have any sort of status?

you'll be limited by what reward seats you can actually find (few and far between most likely) rather than thinking of destinations imo.

Interesting you found reward to NAN - but of course Fiji isn't in Asia...

This is VERY close in and most, if not all, reward space will be taken. Maybe there may be economy rewards, possibly on Jetstar (JQ) out there, or some QF service, but they may be difficult to find - specially if you want more than one?

to/from Asia in January is a peak demand time. It will be difficult imo.

So, look to see if you can see anything to Singapore for example, and you could branch from there if you can get a seat there (Jetstar Asia flies all over).

 

[thecrevis]

Welcome to AFF. I see this is your first post.

January 2024? next month?

Do you have any sort of status?

you'll be limited by what reward seats you can actually find (few and far between most likely) rather than thinking of destinations imo.

Interesting you found reward to NAN - but of course Fiji isn't in Asia...

This is VERY close in and most, if not all, reward space will be taken. Maybe there may be economy rewards, possibly on Jetstar (JQ) out there, or some QF service, but they may be difficult to find - specially if you want more than one?

to/from Asia in January is a peak demand time. It will be difficult imo.

So, look to see if you can see anything to Singapore for example, and you could branch from there if you can get a seat there (Jetstar Asia flies all over).

Thanks for your reply. Yes Jan 2024, and no I don't have any status unfortunately. Is my best bet to search on the Qantas website or Jetstar? Good call re flying into Singapore and flying out

 

[SYD]

There’s actually a lot of whY and so called “Business” on JQ to Bali (DPS) throughout January. If you’re lucky, you can fly back via PER to avoid the red eyes home.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

January is also quite tight, as its school holidays.
May I be so bold to suggest, if you can, is to go "off peak", maybe non school holidays, and maybe May/Jun.
We do joke about JQ or Jetstar, but if you are happy to slum it with them in their Y service, or go for the J service, lowered expectations, they are not so bad, but if you want top notch, having no status, I assume you have amassed points via card and other land means, it will be hard.
J is a premium and QF knows it.
Would you be happy to go somewhere up north Qld?
For Aust QFd, if they have U seats, you can grab it as soon as you can see a U on expert flyer, or get a friend to see if there are any U seats.
For Asia, its hard, with no status with QF.
QF is quite limited, in there services, maybe look at CX to HKG, they have more flights from most capital cities.
Or MH, to KUL, where our Aud$ buys about 3.5 times, maybe go to Sarawak/Sabah, and go into the "jungle".
If you do get J, don't be happy or satisfied until the plane, at the least takes off with you in that J seat!