Qantas confusion! Please help a newbie

[mangoss]

Hi there! This is my second post, but I love reading all the posts and info u guys provide - it has really helped me out.

I currently have 56,000 QFF points, which I have built up after a LOT of effort, and am hoping to use them towards a one-way QF flight to London, where I will be working for 2 years on a Highly Skilled Migrant Visa.

I am stopping off first in Vietnam, then Thailand; so was planning to fly SYD - HAN - BKK - then London Heathrow.

In anticipation of my trip - and that I am moving over for 2 years, thus will be taking a lot more stuff with me than I normally would - I bought a Qantas Club membership in Dec last year - on the basis that as well as enjoying the lounges (a new treat for me!) with all this travelling, that I would get the extra baggage allowance up to 32kgs.

HOWEVER!.....

The baggage allowance only seems to apply for flights on Qantas metal. And - I cannot for the life of me seem to locate ANY QFF seat on Qantas metal, only Finnair to London.

Im not sure I can use my points from Syd - Hanoi, as whilst it flies Qantas part-way, the rest is Jetstar metal...thus I wont get the baggage allowance, or the meals / inflight entertainment, etc - and Jetstar in my experience are generally not great.

I also can't seem to fly on Qantas metal to Bangkok or even coughet from Hanoi (or Ho Chi Minh city).

So....Im really kind of stuck. I paid a lot for the membership and was looking forward to the ease of the extra baggage allowance on all these flights, but it doesnt seem to work out. I can fly on other airlines for sure, but have to pay more baggage allowance and if they are not One World I cant use the lounges either! Plus to be honest I was kind of hoping that being a Qantas Club member and with a nice smile I might stand a better chance of getting bumped up to Business

Does anyone on here have any suggestions at all? Or if anyone on here actually works for Qantas and can explain why with all these points you cant actually get an economy seat on a Qantas aircraft?!!

Thanks Sorry if this seems green to those of you with far more experience on this site, but Im a little confused. I know its dumb, but I was so looking forward to flying with my national carrier that I even bought Qantas luggage and tags. Ill look great with that flying Air China now lol

(PS - Also - what is a J seat? I hear you guys talking about it and assume its a better class seat, but not sure whereabouts on the aircraft it is).

 

[samh004]

(PS - Also - what is a J seat? I hear you guys talking about it and assume its a better class seat, but not sure whereabouts on the aircraft it is).

Y refers to economy
Y+ to premium economy
J to business
F to first



http://www.australianfrequentflyer....viations-and-explanations-5056.html#post69096

 

[mangoss]

Thanks Samh! Much appreciated. I really am a newbie to all this Have a great evening!

 

[JohnK]

Are you sure that 56,000 QFF points is going to be enough to get to LHR? It normally costs 64,000 QFF points to get to LHR one-way, direct without stopover. It is going to cost more with a stopover.

Your best bet would be to try and get a classic award SYD-BKK requiring 30,000 QFF points + taxes and surcharges. Then purchase a cheap return flight on Bangkok Airways, Air Asia, Vietname Airlines BKK-HAN. Then try to get a classic award BKK-LHR, requiring 42,000 QFF points + taxes and surcharges, which is not going to be easy. Store the bulk of your luggage at BKK airport for a cost of THB100/day.

Your other bet could be to try and get a classic award SYD-SIN requiring 30,000 QFF points + taxes and surcharges. Then purchase a cheap return flight on Air Asia, or similar, SIN-HAN or maybe SIN-BKK-HAN. The try to get a classic award SIN-LHR, requiring 42,000 QFF points + taxes and surcharges, which should have better availability then the BKK route. Store the bulk of your luggage in SIN airport for a cost of ~SGD4/day.

 

[mangoss]

Are you sure that 56,000 QFF points is going to be enough to get to LHR? It normally costs 64,000 QFF points to get to LHR one-way, direct without stopover. It is going to cost more with a stopover.

Your best bet would be to try and get a classic award SYD-BKK requiring 30,000 QFF points + taxes and surcharges. Then purchase a cheap return flight on Bangkok Airways, Air Asia, Vietname Airlines BKK-HAN. Then try to get a classic award BKK-LHR, requiring 42,000 QFF points + taxes and surcharges, which is not going to be easy. Store the bulk of your luggage at BKK airport for a cost of THB100/day.

Your other bet could be to try and get a classic award SYD-SIN requiring 30,000 QFF points + taxes and surcharges. Then purchase a cheap return flight on Air Asia, or similar, SIN-HAN or maybe SIN-BKK-HAN. The try to get a classic award SIN-LHR, requiring 42,000 QFF points + taxes and surcharges, which should have better availability then the BKK route. Store the bulk of your luggage in SIN airport for a cost of ~SGD4/day.

Hi John! Thanks so much for your advice - I think this is probably the only way it will work. I can def get from BKK - LHR for 56,000 according to the Qantas calculator (hope it is accurate!). But I can fly from SIN - LHR for 52,000 points according to the calculator - I cant seem to get a direct flight so the points are more unfortunately. I wont have enough points to get to Singapore from Syd so will have to just pay out of pocket - but will save if I can store my luggage at Singapore, which seems a lot safer than Bankgok airport from all reports! However, it is a QF flight that then transfers to BA....but am hoping that they will not charge me excess luggage on the BA second leg - does anyone know if they do that?

And I guess although Ill miss out on the lounges in BKK and HAN, I will save money on Air Asia flights too

Thanks again for helping a confused stranger I really love the helpfulness and generosity of people on this site...I am slowly getting addicted to it!

Kind regards,

Mandy

 

[JohnK]

I can def get from BKK - LHR for 56,000 according to the Qantas calculator (hope it is accurate!). But I can fly from SIN - LHR for 52,000 points according to the calculator - I cant seem to get a direct flight so the points are more unfortunately.

This sounds like the points cost for a Partner award not a Classic award. Try for other dates around that time as it will be important.

I wont have enough points to get to Singapore from Syd so will have to just pay out of pocket....

That may be an expensive option. Try doing it the other way around. Use QFF points to get to SIN and then return airfare SIN-BKK-HAN and leave luggage in BKK. Then BKK-KUL and see if you can get a cheap one-way on Air Asia or maybe even look for cheap(ish) one-way from BKK.

The reason I say this is the one-way is likely to be more expensive from SYD then it will be from BKK/KUL/SIN.

- but will save if I can store my luggage at Singapore, which seems a lot safer than Bankgok airport from all reports!

I have stored luggage and golf clubs in BKK and had no issues with Chubb. But as with anything in SE Asia make sure you have some sort of travel insurance and do not leave anything valuable in the luggage that will give them an opportunity to open your luggage.

However, it is a QF flight that then transfers to BA....but am hoping that they will not charge me excess luggage on the BA second leg - does anyone know if they do that?

Once the trip is broken it does not matter about the previous carriers. On BA you are entitled to 1 piece of luggage at 23kg and a carry-on bag. You cannot check more than 1 piece unless you pay excess luggage charges.

P.S What dates are you thinking of travelling SYD-SIN/BKK and then SIN-LHR? Are your dates flexible?

 

[Moopere]

I currently have 56,000 QFF points, which I have built up after a LOT of effort, and am hoping to use them towards a one-way QF flight to London, where I will be working for 2 years on a Highly Skilled Migrant Visa.

In anticipation of my trip - and that I am moving over for 2 years, thus will be taking a lot more stuff with me than I normally would - I bought a Qantas Club membership in Dec last year - on the basis that as well as enjoying the lounges (a new treat for me!) with all this travelling, that I would get the extra baggage allowance up to 32kgs.

I'm just a newbie myself at all this stuff. Others will hopefully correct me, however, I wouldn't buy QC membership for the extra baggage. Its something like $600-800 depending on your circumstances to join QC, thats a -lot- of extra baggage allowance you could potentially purchase.

The baggage allowance only seems to apply for flights on Qantas metal.

Yes, that appears to be correct after looking at the QC website. Even JQ is not included.

Qantas Club Website:

"you also receive an additional checked baggage allowance when flying on a Qantas marketed and operated flight.^

^ You must be travelling on a Qantas aircraft with a Qantas flight number. "

And - I cannot for the life of me seem to locate ANY QFF seat on Qantas metal, only Finnair to London.

I may have missed the date you are leaving. I just did a couple of random searches on award seats, seems to be plenty of availability with QF though I couldn't find anything at 56,000 points. My very quick scan about seemed to be pulling up 64,000 points one-way with either QF or BA as JohnK has indicated.

Im not sure I can use my points from Syd - Hanoi, as whilst it flies Qantas part-way, the rest is Jetstar metal...thus I wont get the baggage allowance, or the meals / inflight entertainment, etc - and Jetstar in my experience are generally not great.

I also can't seem to fly on Qantas metal to Bangkok or even coughet from Hanoi (or Ho Chi Minh city).

JohnK has posted some great example routes. I'd be awfully inclined at this point to just pay for your additional luggage .. or go direct to LHR on QF metal at 64,000 points (or points+pay).

Without being able to book QF metal for your SYD-HAN-BKK-LHR it looks to me that you'll have to pay for your luggage in any event, or do as JohnK says and store it all somewhere ... depends what you will be doing in HAN and BKK I guess.

So what remains then is trying to extract the best residual use of your QC membership, which is going to boil down to lounge access I suppose. QC has no status with oneworld, but there is a partnership arrangement with BA and AA. If you can swing your SE legs on either QF, BA or AA you'll get lounge access at least ... all this fooling about though it unlikely to fit within a 56,000 point budget I fear.

So....Im really kind of stuck. I paid a lot for the membership and was looking forward to the ease of the extra baggage allowance on all these flights, but it doesnt seem to work out.

No. QC membership seems very restricted to me unless you do a lot of domestic or can afford to pay to fly only QF, BA or AA internationally.

I'm trying hard myself to find the killer excuse to justify membership, but I just can't seem to get there. I'd be better of spending the 800$ on single entry lounge passes. A few business class flights here and there would bump you up to Gold QFF which has complimentary QC membership + oneworld saphire.

I can fly on other airlines for sure, but have to pay more baggage allowance and if they are not One World I cant use the lounges either!

QC has no status with oneworld, so with QC only, and no QFF Gold or Platinum, you won't be getting into oneworld lounges I don't think. BA and AA only.

Plus to be honest I was kind of hoping that being a Qantas Club member and with a nice smile I might stand a better chance of getting bumped up to Business

Given some other posts on this forum that are fairly recent I'd say it seems this is a pretty small hope. Looks to me like Silver, Gold and Plat QFF would all get in ahead of you on upgrades. You'd probably be ahead of Bronze (me) and the general plebdom.

Does anyone on here have any suggestions at all? Or if anyone on here actually works for Qantas and can explain why with all these points you cant actually get an economy seat on a Qantas aircraft?!!

Its pretty frustrating I know. But theres not much use in screaming at the wind on this. You can get _somewhere_ with the points you have, SYD-SIN for instance costs 30K in Y.

With points + pay on partner airlines I'm sure you'll be able to make use of lounge access in partner lounges and use up all the 56K points you have stored away. For metal outside of QF you'll have to pay for baggage and also pay some extra for the various smaller trips you want to make on the way to LHR.

Sounds like its going to be a fun time for you - enjoy.

 

[mangoss]

Hi guys!

I think the 64,000 points you are talking about are one-way from Sydney to London. Im leaving either Singapore or Bankgkok to London...not trying to get one ticket all the way with stopovers or anything.

From the QFF website: "
Points required for a Qantas & Partner Classic AwardTripsointsZone (Miles)ClassAward Sydney - London (stop) 6400010(10586)Economy QantasTotal points 64,000"


Sorry, it def costs 52,000 from Singapore to London, but as you say that is a "Qantas / Partner" award - I have NO idea what the difference is! Sorry...very green. Is there another way for me find and apply for a seat under the 'Classic' award you mentioned?

Unfortunately I am locked in by dates - I have to leave on 31st March, and because I have a UK visa starting date, have to be in the UK by May 5th. I guess thats why Im having trouble finding a QF metal flight - is it possibly because they do not release them until the last minute and Im looking too far ahead?

For me to fly Qantas metal direct to Singapore on 31 March 2011, its $673.27 inc taxes - does that seem reasonable? It would cost me close to $1000 to fly from Singapore direct to London.

So it seems that to reduce my cost and maximise the use of my points, using them towards the SIN-LHR route might be best?

I am inclined to agree the Qantas Club was probably a waste of my money...It was on special for around $450, and I figured at the time with all the legs I had to do, knowing Qantas charge about $45 a kilo over or some ridiculous amount, plus wanting to relax in the lounges and chill before flights...well, it seemed like a good idea at the time! But given that I cant utilise it to its max benefit, I might have to consider calling and asking for a refund....but yes I know my chances

Oh and as for Business class - Ive never been a FF before the last 2 years, but have found I nice chat and a big smile has had me bumped up twice...thought the Qantas club could not have hurt my chances. I could never afford to fly business on my own BTW!

Thanks,

Mandy

 

[mangoss]

Also just checked - you were right about the One World lounges, but there are 'associated lounges' in places like Frankfurt (my SIN-LHR stopover), and a few scattered others that are non BA / AA like Nadi, Noumea, Shanghai, Christchurch, plus the BA/AA ones in useful places like NYC, BKK, SIN and LHR.

At least I know if I can't get a refund, I will hit some of these lounges on my travels around Europe / US later in the year and drink as much free booze as I can to get my money's worth! P) Plus the priority check-in will facilitate my getting as quickly to the lounge as possible!

Lesson learned I think

Thanks for all your help guys. My choices are much clearer now

 

[extracta]

You are probably better off cutting your loses with QANTAS and flying another airline. If you had enough points to get you right through to LHR it would be different. You could continue to accrue points until you have enough to achieve a flight in the future.

In the meantime you should look around for an airline that will provide you with a routing that suites your purpose.

There are a number of airlines that do one way flights to LHR at around about half the price that QANTAS charge. ie Malaysian, Air China and others.

You could have a stopover and do your flight to VIetnam and back.

I have looked at joining QANTAS Club and using Qantas but everytime I look I cannot justify the expense in comparision with using other airlines.

I have no favourite airline and I think that If you limit yourself to flying QANTAS you will find that you may end up paying through the nose when there are good deals offered by other airlines.

 

[NM]

You can always travel within the weight limits of the included baggage allowance, and then pay to freight your additional belongings to London (assuming you have a destination address to ship to). That is generally cheaper than paying excess baggage fees to airlines.

 

[medhead]

Just a couple of minor comments:

The $1000 SIN-LHR is that Australian $ or Singapore dollars? That can make a big difference. Also remember that SIN-LHR is a longer flight, so on a crude measure of $/hour it is probably cheaper.

I have used the QF partner lounge in FRA as a QC member, but i was flying with QF.

Shame your not travelling on the 28th, i could have guested you to the first class lounge in SYD.

 

[Moopere]

Also just checked - you were right about the One World lounges, but there are 'associated lounges' in places like Frankfurt (my SIN-LHR stopover), and a few scattered others that are non BA / AA like Nadi, Noumea, Shanghai, Christchurch, plus the BA/AA ones in useful places like NYC, BKK, SIN and LHR.

Yeah, I saw this. Not much detail on 'associated lounges' but I think the important thing that they mention in the fine print:

"both you and your guest need to be travelling together further that day on a Qantas marketed flight.++++ Qantas marketed means a flight with a 'QF' flight number on your ticket."

If I'm reading the rules correctly its not enough to simply be present at such an airport with an associated lounge, you actually need to be flying out, that day, and under a QF ticket.

Honestly, for people who don't fly that much, like me, I'm thinking that Priority Pass might be the go. Even then, I'd have to check this years itinerary because many airports seem to have lounges to which "single entry" tickets can be purchased for 30-50$, it may prove cheaper to simply buy entry at the lounge door.

If I were to fly to 4 destinations this year, so 8 individual flights (as each is return) and as most lounge programs allow access only for outgoing tickets, not when you land, this is 4 potential lounge stops. QC charges 800 to start a membership, thats 200$ / lounge use in the first year (!!). Even at a big discount, like 450$ a year to join its still $112.50/visit.

Guesting a travel partner starts to make the numbers look more reasonable, but even then, probably pretty close to single entry buy-at-the-door access.

It fills a funny niche QC from the look of it. If you actually do enough domestic to warrant the cost then you are probably streaking for Gold QFF anyway and will get it gratis - perhaps QC is there for QFF Gold aspirants who can't wait for the time it takes them to actually achieve the required SC?

Internationally it looks like routing will almost always get in your way, unless you modify your destinations specifically to include QF or BA or AA flights which would be a weird way to travel and a sort of reverse loyalty ... ie; Instead of the airline giving me perks to remain loyal I give them money and am forced to be loyal as a result ...

 

[antycbr]

It fills a funny niche QC from the look of it. If you actually do enough domestic to warrant the cost then you are probably streaking for Gold QFF anyway and will get it gratis - perhaps QC is there for QFF Gold aspirants who can't wait for the time it takes them to actually achieve the required SC?

If you fly a lot of discount Y domestically it takes a lot of flights to make it to Gold - 70 short sectors (60 to renew). Adding Perth into the mix reduces the number somewhat. If you travel more than monthly for work, and have access to a corporate scheme, then QC membership is worthwhile. I did the maths and it worked out to about $7 per visit - and considering how much everything at the airport costs that's pretty good value.

What sucks is the removal of priority checkin for QC members, which is the reason why the last 14 sectors and the next 11 sectors booked for me are all on DJ.

 

[JetLagged]

I guess thats why Im having trouble finding a QF metal flight - is it possibly because they do not release them until the last minute and Im looking too far ahead?

More like Mandy that you have left it too late: award seats are released roughly twelve months prior to the fly date: so looking to travel in May 2011 means that they have already been out about 7 months and therefore often snapped up mid 2010. Still always worth looking - and being as flexible as possible helps to constrain the budget. For instance, is the side trip absolutely necessary, or a break before starting the new job? If the extra days travel is a 'luxury' rather than a 'necessity' you can a) score a seat, and b) save on the storage costs.

Happy hunting!

 

[Moopere]

If you fly a lot of discount Y domestically it takes a lot of flights to make it to Gold - 70 short sectors (60 to renew). Adding Perth into the mix reduces the number somewhat. If you travel more than monthly for work, and have access to a corporate scheme, then QC membership is worthwhile. I did the maths and it worked out to about $7 per visit - and considering how much everything at the airport costs that's pretty good value.

What sucks is the removal of priority checkin for QC members, which is the reason why the last 14 sectors and the next 11 sectors booked for me are all on DJ.

Yep, I can see how it might work for Discount Y up and down the east coast thats true.

DJ must be a strong contender now though as they also have domestic lounges and its cheaper to buy yearly access as well as at-the-door access to their lounges ... no idea of quality differences though as I've not used them (yet).

 

[mangoss]

Just a couple of minor comments:

The $1000 SIN-LHR is that Australian $ or Singapore dollars? That can make a big difference. Also remember that SIN-LHR is a longer flight, so on a crude measure of $/hour it is probably cheaper.

I have used the QF partner lounge in FRA as a QC member, but i was flying with QF.

Shame your not travelling on the 28th, i could have guested you to the first class lounge in SYD.

Thanks Medhead! Your offer would have been lovely....unfortunately time has restricted me.. Its AUD the flight from SIN-LHR, but dont quote me on it exactly - just a rough estimate from the travel agent.

Is FRA 'Frankfurt'? If so I am now stopping there from a QF flight for a few hours, then getting on a BA plane...so hopefully I can still use the Qantas lounge there?

Thanks for ur help! People are really friendly on here

 

[mangoss]

Yeah, I saw this. Not much detail on 'associated lounges' but I think the important thing that they mention in the fine print:

"both you and your guest need to be travelling together further that day on a Qantas marketed flight.++++ Qantas marketed means a flight with a 'QF' flight number on your ticket."

If I'm reading the rules correctly its not enough to simply be present at such an airport with an associated lounge, you actually need to be flying out, that day, and under a QF ticket.

Honestly, for people who don't fly that much, like me, I'm thinking that Priority Pass might be the go. Even then, I'd have to check this years itinerary because many airports seem to have lounges to which "single entry" tickets can be purchased for 30-50$, it may prove cheaper to simply buy entry at the lounge door.

If I were to fly to 4 destinations this year, so 8 individual flights (as each is return) and as most lounge programs allow access only for outgoing tickets, not when you land, this is 4 potential lounge stops. QC charges 800 to start a membership, thats 200$ / lounge use in the first year (!!). Even at a big discount, like 450$ a year to join its still $112.50/visit.

Guesting a travel partner starts to make the numbers look more reasonable, but even then, probably pretty close to single entry buy-at-the-door access.

It fills a funny niche QC from the look of it. If you actually do enough domestic to warrant the cost then you are probably streaking for Gold QFF anyway and will get it gratis - perhaps QC is there for QFF Gold aspirants who can't wait for the time it takes them to actually achieve the required SC?

Internationally it looks like routing will almost always get in your way, unless you modify your destinations specifically to include QF or BA or AA flights which would be a weird way to travel and a sort of reverse loyalty ... ie; Instead of the airline giving me perks to remain loyal I give them money and am forced to be loyal as a result ...

Hey, after reviewing it all, I agree that I would not purchase the QC again....in this case I have kind of made it suit my purpose - Ive settled on flying Qantas metal Syd direct to Singapore - get priority check in and extra baggage allowance, but can use the club in Syd. Then going to do my trips round Asian in Jetstar, which means I can still chill in the BKK and SIN clubs. Leave my extra baggage at SIN. Then...luckily (?) Ive managed to secure a QF / BA flight tonight on 4 May so I can use my extra baggage allowance part way to Frankfurt, use the Clubs at both SIN and FRA whilst I stop over for a few hours, then have a comparatively cheap baggage fee (around $80 Ive been told, compared to other airlines that charge upwards of $40 - $95 per kilo!) on BA.

So...in the future, priority pass is the go. No more QC for me once the membership runs out!

 

[mangoss]

You can always travel within the weight limits of the included baggage allowance, and then pay to freight your additional belongings to London (assuming you have a destination address to ship to). That is generally cheaper than paying excess baggage fees to airlines.

Hi, already shipping a lot of stuff...via sea as its much cheaper. But there are some things I really need to bring with me in person...I think Ive worked it now where I can avoid the baggage fees with the exception of one leg

 

[munitalP]

Hi, already shipping a lot of stuff...via sea as its much cheaper. But there are some things I really need to bring with me in person...I think Ive worked it now where I can avoid the baggage fees with the exception of one leg

Hi there, I have recently done QF to BKK then VN to HAN

Here's a report

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....reports-and-trip-photos/c-ng-h-x-h-26662.html

munitalP