Points to fare ratio-when is it better to pay cash for fare rather than redeem points

[dajop]

Re: Points to fare ratio-when is it better to pay cash for fare rather than redeem po

from melbourne to Thailand and Singapore is now only 60,000 points via economy, about 2 months ago, I booked a trip for one of my family members with my points for 72,000 points, so they must have dropped the points required, since they seem to be diluting points like crazy

Mel to Singapore has always been 60K. Mel to Bangkok is also 60K return if you fly Jetstar on their direct flights. Otherwise it's still 72K if you want to go on Qantas via Sydney.

 

[Dave Noble]

Re: Points to fare ratio-when is it better to pay cash for fare rather than redeem po

from melbourne to Thailand and Singapore is now only 60,000 points via economy, about 2 months ago, I booked a trip for one of my family members with my points for 72,000 points, so they must have dropped the points required, since they seem to be diluting points like crazy

The points requirements have not changed; for 3601-4800 miles, it is 30k on Qantas and 35k on a partner each way so 60k/70k for economy. If going non-stop from Melbourne it will ( and was ) 30K. If you go via Sydney, however, the total mileage is 5100 rather 4662 and so the 36k/72k charge is applied

so this is what I have deduced, (pls correct me if Im wrong)

Melbourne to Thailand/Singapore is 60,000 points return economy or 120,000 points return business class

Yes if travelling on JQ

however since a business class trip>2 x economy class trip paid for with cash/credit, being up to 3-4 times the cost, that is why people are paying for an economy fare and then getting upgrades to business class

Travelling to BKK , an upgrade can only be done if on QF and to upgrade (discount economy) via SYD would be 8000 for MEL-SYD and 40,000 for SYD-BKK coming to 48,000 points each way or 96k rt Upgrading just SYD-BKK is more reasonable at 80k return which starts looking a better value . Travelling on a Y fare then the 25k each way upgrade looks more appealing. My personal choice is , to Singapore, use 10k e/w to upgrade Y to PE since the flights are by day. Going to BKK, I would tens to upgrade to PE on the flight there and J on flight back since it is an icky overnight flight for 35k.

Dave

 

[SOPOOR]

Re: Points to fare ratio-when is it better to pay cash for fare rather than redeem po

thanks for your replies everyone,
I really need to check and fiddle around with this site......
something is not quite right, I feel like its almost a weird dream,

a few years ago I went to Japan from Melbourne using the points, the way there was Qantas and the way back was Jetstar, and it was 36,000 points each way,

and every year, I give enough points to a family member to either go to Japan, Thailand or Bali, and I do the bookings for them each time,

most of the time they fly jetstar because thats the only option availalbe and I have probably booked 6-7 times and every time its been 72,000 points required return economy......

scratching my head...

 

[serfty]

MEL-NRT is 5060 miles, so it was in "Zone6" and 36K QFF points one-way.

SYD-NRT is 4846 miles, again in "Zone 6" and again 36K one way..

MEL-BKK is 4546 miles and in "Zone 5", so 30K one way.

Since Qantas do not fly to BKK from MEL, if you wish to travel on Qantas rather than jetstar, the shortest routing is MEL-SYD-BKK and the distances are added to get the "Zone". MEL-SYD is 439 miles and SYD-BKK is 4662 miles, so that's 5101 miles in total and "Zone 6" at 36K each way applies.

 

[perthtraveller]

Re: Points to fare ratio-when is it better to pay cash for fare rather than redeem po

Thanks everyone for your insights. I see it is definitely a personal decision based on numerous factors. Decided to pay for the flights this time round.

Thanks again!

 

[SOPOOR]

Re: Points to fare ratio-when is it better to pay cash for fare rather than redeem po

MEL-NRT is 5060 miles, so it was in "Zone6" and 36K QFF points one-way.

SYD-NRT is 4846 miles, again in "Zone 6" and again 36K one way..

MEL-BKK is 4546 miles and in "Zone 5", so 30K one way.

Since Qantas do not fly to BKK from MEL, if you wish to travel on Qantas rather than jetstar, the shortest routing is MEL-SYD-BKK and the distances are added to get the "Zone". MEL-SYD is 439 miles and SYD-BKK is 4662 miles, so that's 5101 miles in total and "Zone 6" at 36K each way applies.

Great! is there a world map that shows how many miles each country or region is??? that would help me work out the best points/miles ratio as well!

 

[serfty]

See here for QFF zones definitions: Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Qantas & Partner Classic Awards - Points Tables

See here for a Great Circle distance calculator utility: Great Circle Mapper

e.g. MEL-SYD-BKK

 

[thewinchester]

Re: Points to fare ratio-when is it better to pay cash for fare rather than redeem po

See here for QFF zones definitions: Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Qantas & Partner Classic Awards - Points Tables

See here for a Great Circle distance calculator utility: Great Circle Mapper

e.g. MEL-SYD-BKK

To do the value propositioning easily, you may want to take a gander at the Qantas Frequent Flyer earning calculator. V0.3 was just uploaded, and it will give you $/sc and $/point ratio calculations as well as making total points and SC's earned for each routing a little bit easier to find out.