New member introduction

[JohnK]

WOW - why is it sometimes the simplest things are overlooked. Am I correct in the above assumption (assuming you can find special priced flights) Does QF hold back on points or SC on cheap flights, or do all paid for QF flights attract points and SC?

That is the beauty of the QFF program. No earning restrictions for the cheapest airfares. Most paid flights earn SCs and FF points.

By the way you would not need to book MEL-CBR-SYD return separately. This can be on the one ticket using the multi-city function. You are then protected against missed connections that are not your fault.

 

[iqis60]

Being able to accumulate that many lifetime SCs requires keeness and a fair of amount money. Unless you are flying regularly there is really no point in having status.

I have accumulated over 5,000 SCs in 6 years of flying, with most of them in the last 2 years, where I have paid for most of the flights and I am almost at the stage where I am sick of flying just for the sake of flying.

Yes, I think flying mostly for the sake of chasing status would eventually tire me too. I should probably stick to doing the flying I wanted to do anyway and just trying to maximise points there.

 

[serfty]

There are also other ways to gain SC's.

e.g. ADL-CBR on a "Flex" fare costs from $434.

• For a direct ADL-CBR flight it's $434 and you earn 30 SC's
• Go via MEL for $434 and you earn 40 SC's
• Go via SYD for $444 and you earn 50 SC's.

 

[medhead]

There are also other ways to gain SC's.

e.g. ADL-CBR on a "Flex" fare costs from $434.

• For a direct ADL-CBR flight it's $434 and you earn 30 SC's
• Go via MEL for $434 and you earn 40 SC's
• Go via SYD for $444 and you earn 50 SC's.

This is where the money vs time trade off kicks in for me. For the same routes, on a red e deal fare the cost is around about $105 to $125. Only half the number of SC are earnt, 15, 20 or 25 respectively. Overall, it costs about half as much per SC. But twice as many flights are needed to get to the same status level.

 

[Evan]

If i have time to burn i like the alternative routes
But i see myself often flying say SIN-MEL direct if its available simple because its easy compared to SIN-PER/SYD/etc-MEL and i see other advantages in that i can enjoy the lounger experience more prior to departure rather then being in transit.
E

 

[JohnK]

....But i see myself often flying say SIN-MEL direct if its available simple because its easy compared to SIN-PER/SYD/etc-MEL

For me coming back into Australia I am very tired with very little patience so I want to get home ASAP. On the way out I see no problem doing something like SYD-MEL-PER-SIN.

 

[Evan]

For me coming back into Australia I am very tired with very little patience so I want to get home ASAP. On the way out I see no problem doing something like SYD-MEL-PER-SIN.

I here you lound and clear When i do extra segments i like also to try to do it for a reason, like a city/country i have never visited. (on my next DONE3 i add cities i have never visited YVR, MEX, IST I love the adventure)

iqis60, See what happens ? you end up all over the world when you hand out here As it happens i have only 4396 lifetime SC till now since i dont credit everything to QF, but i probably will be close to 7000 LTS by end of 2009. (Remainder's of AONE5 and DONE3, yes i have more than OWE on the go at once)

E

 

[iqis60]

I here you lound and clear When i do extra segments i like also to try to do it for a reason, like a city/country i have never visited. (on my next DONE3 i add cities i have never visited YVR, MEX, IST I love the adventure)

iqis60, See what happens ? you end up all over the world when you hand out here As it happens i have only 4396 lifetime SC till now since i dont credit everything to QF, but i probably will be close to 7000 LTS by end of 2009. (Remainder's of AONE5 and DONE3, yes i have more than OWE on the go at once)

E

Haha, yes I can see that happening with me.

Where do you do your DONE3's out of?

 

[Evan]

Haha, yes I can see that happening with me.

Where do you do your DONE3's out of?

When the SA rand was really low and the OW fares had not caught up i did a AONE5 ex JNB in South Africa.
But my recent DONE3 was from Seoul ICN South Korea.
I used an SQ saver business award to get there from SIN, i spend a lot of time in SIN, hence why i was not to worried about it being a DONE4 and including AU, but it could be done easily for not much more cost.

Anyway it cost around 7000 AUD
ICN-KIX-SIN-HKG-JFK-DFW-JFK-YVR-MEX-YVR-LHR-MCT-LHR-IST-LHR-HKG-ICN

You will notice its not a fully optimised trip for miles or SC earn, i am visiting places i need or want to go.

E

 

[iqis60]

When the SA rand was really low and the OW fares had not caught up i did a AONE5 ex JNB in South Africa.
But my recent DONE3 was from Seoul ICN South Korea.
I used an SQ saver business award to get there from SIN, i spend a lot of time in SIN, hence why i was not to worried about it being a DONE4 and including AU, but it could be done easily for not much more cost.

Anyway it cost around 7000 AUD
ICN-KIX-SIN-HKG-JFK-DFW-JFK-YVR-MEX-YVR-LHR-MCT-LHR-IST-LHR-HKG-ICN

You will notice its not a fully optimised trip for miles or SC earn, i am visiting places i need or want to go.

E

I had noticed that the DONE3's out of South Korea were much cheaper than elsewhere. Is $7000 including all the taxes you have to pay? I also notice that they say the cost depends on the itenerary. Is that purely due to taxes and surcharges or do you pay more if you try and squeeze in more hops.

 

[Evan]

I had noticed that the DONE3's out of South Korea were much cheaper than elsewhere. Is $7000 including all the taxes you have to pay? I also notice that they say the cost depends on the itenerary. Is that purely due to taxes and surcharges or do you pay more if you try and squeeze in more hops.

16 segments max, i used a Oneworld explorer xONEx, but there is also other milage limited options called a global explorer that has a few extra airline options.
All the info can be found here...
oneworld - Round-the-World Fares

The base price is fixed regardless of 4 flights or upto 16 flights.
Only the taxes change... and stops (not transits) of LHR in a premium cabin cost a lot so thats one possible thing to avoid.

Yes my 7k included taxes, my taxes were low since it was an AA issues ticket (they have less fuel surcharges) and were around $830 AUD

Even though there may be a low cost country dont forget you need to budget to get there... most like me use reward miles so little cost (Actually my SQ flights was about $135 in taxes/fuel surcharge ! so not that cheap when you compare the other trip)
What i am saying is just be aware the cheapest is not always the cheapest !

E

 

[Evan]

Also dont forget Star Alliance also have round the world fares
Round the World Fare - Star Alliance

Much the same as the oneworld product.
And sometimes a couple of airlines like BA/QF will come up with there own mini-rtw fares which can be good for some people depending on where they want to travel to.

E

 

[iqis60]

Well I have done my first trip of the year, Sydney to Adelaide for the Tour Down Under-
QF735 0710 terminal 3 Sydney 17/1/09
QF730 0600 terminal 1 Adelaide 26/1/09
Flights were good, if a bit early, but I think I'll take some advice on the best seats to target for my next flight.
I was plesantly suprised with how easy it was to bring my bike along. I had it boxed up and it didn't cost me anything extra in baggage.

My next flight is to Melbourne in March-
Fri 20 Mar 09 20:30 Sydney 22:00 Melbourne QF489
Sun 22 Mar 09 20:30 Melbourne 21:55 Sydney QF492
Its a red-e deal with discount economy.

What's the best seat to go for here?

Also, I used the e-checkin service before the flight, which becomes available 24 hours before you fly, but I noticed there was only a limited number of seats to choose from. I just chose the closest aisle seat to the front.

Is the best way to get you seat of preference to try and do an e-checkin as soon as you get the email 24 hours before hand or is there a better way to secure the best seats?

 

[nlagalle]

Is the best way to get you seat of preference to try and do an e-checkin as soon as you get the email 24 hours before hand or is there a better way to secure the best seats?

Seating is determined on FF status, and as you have no status yet, you'll bascially get the bottom of the barrel. So yes at the moment your best bet is to check in as soon as you hit the 24hour mark.

Once you get to Silver then Gold and Plat you'll see you get better seating allocation.

Cheers,

Nick

 

[medhead]

Is the best way to get you seat of preference to try and do an e-checkin as soon as you get the email 24 hours before hand or is there a better way to secure the best seats?

Yes (as mentioned) check in early. Also check in often.

I also have no status and the available seats often change during the 24 hours time period. As others check in better seats seem to open up. I've moved from an initial row 23 to row 10 to 14 ish by rechecking.

 

[JohnK]

Once you get to Silver then Gold and Plat you'll see you get better seating allocation.

As I have been findng out recently Platinum does not necessarily guarantee better seat allocations....

 

[nlagalle]

As I have been findng out recently Platinum does not necessarily guarantee better seat allocations....

Really?? although having said that, I'm only a PS and tend to get good seats.. I wonder what it will be like when i am a SG next month...

 

[JohnK]

Really?? although having said that, I'm only a PS and tend to get good seats.. I wonder what it will be like when i am a SG next month...

Although when I say that I am sure some Platinums are getting good seats. As it happens I am not one of them. I am finding myself further back in the cabin but that may be due to the el-cheapo airfares I keep purchasing. I cannot remember the last time I was actually pre-allocated a seat in row 4 of 737....

 

[nlagalle]

Although when I say that I am sure some Platinums are getting good seats. As it happens it is not me. I am finding I am getting further back in the cabin but that may be due to the el-cheapo airfares I keep purchasing. I cannot remember the last time I was actually pre-allocated a seat in row 4 of 737....

I actually got row 4 from KGI to PER 3 seats, 2 were award tix and mine was a O go figure!

 

[JohnK]

Really?? although having said that, I'm only a PS and tend to get good seats.. I wonder what it will be like when i am a SG next month...

You may have better luck than me. On a totally full flight today I have been allocated 30J on a 767 and last week had 9D on the 738. I was not getting these type seat allocations as a Gold.

I am not sure of the configuration of todays 767 operating flight QF549 but assuming first row is row 23 there are at least 32 Platinums ahead of me in aisle seats. Yes the flight is 5:15pm but I find it hard to believe there are that many Platinums on a single flight BNE-SYD.