My Personal Valuation of Qantas FF and Velocity Points

[amaroo]

Thanks - though everyone here including you seem to have better luck than me scoring Business seats. How do you do it on European flights?

IME it's book 350+ days out ... or last minute. Have enjoyed dozens and dozens of flights with CX/BA booking at the last minute.

 

[dajop]

Very personal. I also ignore commercial valuations of premium travel on a particular airline, and instead go with the cost on a substitute carrier that I would be willing to try instead. Or the value of buying AAdvantage or Life Miles to get the same award seat .

Also I know everybody says redeeming in Y and redeeming domestically is a waste. What a load of rubbish it may be a waste for some people but not for others, it all depends on personal circumstances (although as a general rule whilst fuel surcharges exit international economy isn't great value, and certainly lots if times woollies gift vouchers represent better value.). If you have a small amount of points and a large family then premium travel simply won't be an option. Sometimes domestically you can get good value. I've certainly redeemed points between MEL and MQL getting a value of about 2.3 c per point (actually QF link often provides good value).

 

[gaz0303]

IME it's book 350+ days out ... or last minute. Have enjoyed dozens and dozens of flights with CX/BA booking at the last minute.

With QFF...Last minute has worked for me in the last week for a BNE to MAN return trip. CX on way home but EK via PER or ADL on the way over. Also found by using the multicity search, can always find options via using itineraries that require little imagination. Might add a little in cost but at least I can use them.

So far, every time I have needed to use points for J upgrade or Y/J redemption I have no problem using them. I use most points for family trip Y redemptions. It helps that I fly from a regional airport to get better value. Its either a no fly holiday (5 fares adds up) or Y redemptions. I always check I'm getting a better value than a woolworths/myer gift card which is the closest points come to cash for me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks - though everyone here including you seem to have better luck than me scoring Business seats. How do you do it on European flights?

Generally speaking - for Qantas operated flights you need to book a year in advance - right when the booking window open (that's if you want two seats). If you are willing to fly emirates, there can be a lot more availability (comparatively speaking).

Otherwise, someone like Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines is a good bet. CX in particular simply because of the sheer number of flights they operate... triple daily from Melbourne and Sydney connecting to double or triple daily (or more) to a whole range of European destinations from Hong kong. There is a small surcharge for using your QF points on Cathay or Japan airlines.

 

[footy99]

You can get around 3c/point for QF international premium classes, particularly maximising oneworld awards.

Basically I only use them if they are worth at least 2c/point as a direct comparison. Anything less, pay cash and save points for when they'll save more cash per point.

Virgin are much more valuable generally. I'm usually shooting for a minimum of 3c/point to justify using them.

There are a million ways you could use them for way less value per point but why would you when they can save you more in other ways?

 

[JohnK]

Hardly ever the same calculation for 2 people.

I used to value QFF points at ~2.0c-2.5c/point and Velocity points at ~0.5c/point.

Now I value both ~1c/point possibly a little less. That's not to say that one cannot get better value at certain times. Recently I used 16,000 QFF points + ~$65 taxes for a BNE-SYD return where the Qantas airfares were > $200 each way and Virgin was $175 and $205 each way.

I don't need to purchase points but if I did have to buy the points I wouldn't pay more than 1c/point for any airfares I may need.

What is it that you find "too hard"?

If anything it's easier as more seats are available for points upgrades rather than being rationed.

Try SYD-BKK.

 

[Renato1]

IME it's book 350+ days out ... or last minute. Have enjoyed dozens and dozens of flights with CX/BA booking at the last minute.

Thanks for that information, though I don't understand how last minute bookings wouldn't wind up costing more for hotels at the other end. For me, hotel bookings have always been cheaper or bargains when booked well in advance.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Very personal. I also ignore commercial valuations of premium travel on a particular airline, and instead go with the cost on a substitute carrier that I would be willing to try instead. Or the value of buying AAdvantage or Life Miles to get the same award seat .

Also I know everybody says redeeming in Y and redeeming domestically is a waste. What a load of rubbish it may be a waste for some people but not for others, it all depends on personal circumstances (although as a general rule whilst fuel surcharges exit international economy isn't great value, and certainly lots if times woollies gift vouchers represent better value.). If you have a small amount of points and a large family then premium travel simply won't be an option. Sometimes domestically you can get good value. I've certainly redeemed points between MEL and MQL getting a value of about 2.3 c per point (actually QF link often provides good value).

That's an interesting and useful technique - comparing to a substitute carrier. Though who would you compare to for Qantas FF - Virgin or Jetstar? I must confess to being averse to Jetstar.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Generally speaking - for Qantas operated flights you need to book a year in advance - right when the booking window open (that's if you want two seats). If you are willing to fly emirates, there can be a lot more availability (comparatively speaking).

Otherwise, someone like Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines is a good bet. CX in particular simply because of the sheer number of flights they operate... triple daily from Melbourne and Sydney connecting to double or triple daily (or more) to a whole range of European destinations from Hong kong. There is a small surcharge for using your QF points on Cathay or Japan airlines.

Thanks, I hadn't though about Cathay. They were excellent last time I flew with them, and Hong Kong is great (except that cheeseburgers in McDonald's are made of pork).

As for Emirates, we have so few points with them that I am hopeful of an upgrade only on one leg of the next journey - else I don't know what to do with the points prior to their expiration, other than spending it at their shop. I notice that a return trip for two to New Zealand with Emirates takes 122,000 miles, which is a lot more than Virgin and Qantas's points for the same trip. I can't see the point of trying to accumulate the miles via other means.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

You can get around 3c/point for QF international premium classes, particularly maximising oneworld awards.

Basically I only use them if they are worth at least 2c/point as a direct comparison. Anything less, pay cash and save points for when they'll save more cash per point.

Virgin are much more valuable generally. I'm usually shooting for a minimum of 3c/point to justify using them.

There are a million ways you could use them for way less value per point but why would you when they can save you more in other ways?

Yes you are right - though the extra value comes from buying more expensive premium services which I normally don't bother with. I'm fairly mundane - drinking a Pepsi Light in economy is going to be pretty much the same as drinking one in Premium Economy or in Business.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[footy99]

Yes you are right - though the extra value comes from buying more expensive premium services which I normally don't bother with. I'm fairly mundane - drinking a Pepsi Light in economy is going to be pretty much the same as drinking one in Premium Economy or in Business.
Cheers,
Renato

Good to meet a fellow Pepsi man. We'll get along fine!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As for Emirates, we have so few points with them ...

You can use your Qantas points to redeem Emirates flights. Book them directly on the Qantas award website.

 

[dajop]

That's an interesting and useful technique - comparing to a substitute carrier. Though who would you compare to for Qantas FF - Virgin or Jetstar? I must confess to being averse to Jetstar.
Cheers,
Renato

I was more thinking of this as a way of valuing international business class. For example I won't take the $9K that QF charge to get to Europe in J, but might value the 256K + $1000 in surcharges against a $5K Finnair fare.

As for Jetstar vs Qantas. It depends. MEL-SYD probably yes. MEL-SIN, no way in business class (JQ business is premium economy), but in economy as both are A330s that leave at the same time, probably would after factoring in food/luggage and purchase of a few movies or TV shows on itunes for the Jetstar fare (which usually means it is more expensive than QF to buy). Mind you moot point, as the surcharges make that sort of redemption ridiculous, worse than Woolie's vouchers.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As for Jetstar vs Qantas. It depends. MEL-SYD probably yes. MEL-SIN, no way in business class (JQ business is premium economy)...

My friends recently bought JQ 'business' MEL-SIN... $700 return (combining that with UL ex SIN). I think $700 is actually pretty good for the space and comfort!

 

[amaroo]

Thanks for that information, though I don't understand how last minute bookings wouldn't wind up costing more for hotels at the other end. For me, hotel bookings have always been cheaper or bargains when booked well in advance.
Cheers,
Renato

Depends on the booking/hotel/brand I suppose - hotel cost has never been a problem for me. I always book flexible conditions and very often the prices drop considerably as the checkin date approaches.

Recently posted about a saving of around $200/night for an IST booking I made 10 months out ... I changed the booking three times to take full advantage.

 

[Renato1]

Good to meet a fellow Pepsi man. We'll get along fine!

Glad to meet a fellow devotee. Yes, my favourite drink is PepsiMax straight, followed by PepsiMax and single malt scotch whiskey, then PepsiMax and dark rum, then PepsiMax and Bourbon whiskey, then PepsiMax and blended Scotch whisky. And occasionally I substitute Pepsi Light for the PepsiMax. Very rarely, I also use Coke Zero.

The odd thing is that where I stay in Italy, all they sell is Pepsi Light, whereas as I found on my last trip, all they had in Amsterdam was PepsiMax. It's good to live down here where we can have both.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

You can use your Qantas points to redeem Emirates flights. Book them directly on the Qantas award website.

Well, that adds a new dimension. Thanks for that.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I was more thinking of this as a way of valuing international business class. For example I won't take the $9K that QF charge to get to Europe in J, but might value the 256K + $1000 in surcharges against a $5K Finnair fare.

As for Jetstar vs Qantas. It depends. MEL-SYD probably yes. MEL-SIN, no way in business class (JQ business is premium economy), but in economy as both are A330s that leave at the same time, probably would after factoring in food/luggage and purchase of a few movies or TV shows on itunes for the Jetstar fare (which usually means it is more expensive than QF to buy). Mind you moot point, as the surcharges make that sort of redemption ridiculous, worse than Woolie's vouchers.

Fair enough, thanks for the explanation.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Depends on the booking/hotel/brand I suppose - hotel cost has never been a problem for me. I always book flexible conditions and very often the prices drop considerably as the checkin date approaches.

Recently posted about a saving of around $200/night for an IST booking I made 10 months out ... I changed the booking three times to take full advantage.

My experience has been the opposite. I would book four or five months before flying there and got some fantastic deals. On my last trip I decided to not fly to capitols but to drive there instead. And I used Booking.com to book one or two days in advance. What I'd saved on plane fares I more than lost in high hotel fees. So for this next trip I'm still driving but booked the hotels six or seven months in advance - and they were all far cheaper than what I'd been forced to pay on my last driving trip. Unfortunately, I lose flexibility - if we really like a place, we often can't stay there longer as I'm booked to be somewhere else.

I've also taken advantage of very inexpensive hotel fares in Croatia after mid September. They seem to drop quite a bit after the bulk of Germans go home, leaving German pensioners hanging around. My most expensive booking is at 50 Euros a night.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Deleted member]

Thanks, I hadn't though about Cathay. They were excellent last time I flew with them, and Hong Kong is great (except that cheeseburgers in McDonald's are made of pork).

I'm confused. You buy McDonalds Cheese Burgers In one of the most exciting food destinations in the world?!!