Qantas.com - new feature to pay with points

[MarcB]

Not sure if this has been posted already - I searched but nothing turned up. I was just looking at booking a domestic trip BNE-SYD return and noticed that when I got to the 'Flight Bookings - Review' page, there is a new button under the Total Price which says 'Use Points'. You have to be logged in, but it allows QFFs with at least 16000 points to use a combination of points and credit card to pay. You can select any amount of points as long as it's at least 16000.

Fare books as a Qantas Any Seat award according to the T&Cs that appear when you select the button. Just a note, log in before searching for flights as you can't log in once you get to that page without starting again.

 

[albatross710]

Not sure if this has been posted already - I searched but nothing turned up. I was just looking at booking a domestic trip BNE-SYD return and noticed that when I got to the 'Flight Bookings - Review' page, there is a new button under the Total Price which says 'Use Points'. You have to be logged in, but it allows QFFs with at least 16000 points to use a combination of points and credit card to pay. You can select any amount of points as long as it's at least 16000.

Fare books as a Qantas Any Seat award according to the T&Cs that appear when you select the button. Just a note, log in before searching for flights as you can't log in once you get to that page without starting again.

Is this a reverse approach to the Any seat award system? ie the same number of points?

 

[nlagalle]

Not sure if this has been posted already - I searched but nothing turned up. I was just looking at booking a domestic trip BNE-SYD return and noticed that when I got to the 'Flight Bookings - Review' page, there is a new button under the Total Price which says 'Use Points'. You have to be logged in, but it allows QFFs with at least 16000 points to use a combination of points and credit card to pay. You can select any amount of points as long as it's at least 16000.

Fare books as a Qantas Any Seat award according to the T&Cs that appear when you select the button. Just a note, log in before searching for flights as you can't log in once you get to that page without starting again.

See I can do that on the Amex website and get a proper fare class which gets me SC's and FF points. Done it several times now as sometimes it was cheaper than doing a classic award flight.

 

[oz_mark]

Is this a reverse approach to the Any seat award system? ie the same number of points?

Looks to me as though it is the Any Seat Award system, just exposed to Frequent Flyers during the normal booking process.

 

[futaris]

The points cost seems to be slightly higher, and it appears on any booking > 7 days.

It seems to appear on any booking that you can afford...

 

[futaris]

See I can do that on the Amex website and get a proper fare class which gets me SC's and FF points.

Booking via QANTAS gives a proper fare class... It's just that it won't earn in QFF. Try another program for earning, if your points are already in QANTAS.

 

[anat0l]

Booking via QANTAS gives a proper fare class... It's just that it won't earn in QFF. Try another program for earning, if your points are already in QANTAS.

Does this mean that if you use an Any Seat Award to buy a "Super Saver" domestic fare, you will get a ticket for (say) S class, rather than X class?

Obviously if you try and credit this through QF you'll get bugger all, but is it implied you could try crediting it to another ow program, e.g. AA, and get something?


It'd be a riot if any of the above to questions were in the affirmative.

 

[serfty]

... It'd be a riot if any of the above to questions were in the affirmative.

If any found this to be the case, it certainly would not be wise to publicise it on an open forum. :-|

 

[futaris]

Even if it were true, it's not exactly like you'll get a good return redeeming on a flight via any seat rewards (or Amex rewards).

e.g. BNE-SYD @ $79, or 10,188 points (8,000 min + taxes). You'd get at most 1,000 points in AA, or a max of approx 9.8%...

Besides, I think most people value their QF points at more than 1c/point in most cases.

Usually it's much better to go 60,700 Amex = 20,031 SPG = 25,031 AA...

If you did above (using Amex Rewards), you get 6 or 7 BNE-SYD flights, and only 6k or 7k AA points. I suppose 28% of what you'd get through SPG isn't bad if you've already got lifetime status, and don't really need the points (or need a lot of cheap short haul flights, since 6 or 7 BNE-SYD flights has to be worth more than the 18k AA your giving up).

Too bad QANTAS stopped flying in NZ, or for around 3k-4k MR points you could get a flight and 1k AA points, and almost match the Amex->SPG->AA transfer rate.

 

[thegurio]

Is this only a domestic feature? I just tried a J booking from SYD-LAX and it didnt come up...

EDIT: It appears that any booking i do wont get the button to come up either domestic/international J or otherwise.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Also with your QC Membership..

Mine is due for renewal by end of October.

A Renewal Icon is now on my Qantas screen and if you click on it it has payment by 100% cash or 100% QFF points.

 

[medhead]

Does this mean that if you use an Any Seat Award to buy a "Super Saver" domestic fare, you will get a ticket for (say) S class, rather than X class?

Obviously if you try and credit this through QF you'll get bugger all, but is it implied you could try crediting it to another ow program, e.g. AA, and get something?


It'd be a riot if any of the above to questions were in the affirmative.

Of course, when booking an Award flight you need to log in, in order to use your points. This means that your QF number is put against the booking, as a general rule. Sure it is possible to change the program against a booking. But would it be possible to do that for an award booking, would QF allow you to remove your QF number?