Qantas Redemption Outbound and Paying For A Ticket Returning To Australia

[wsthong]

Hi

I am seeking for thoughts whether this approach is of any advantage.

Qantas points one way business class redemption for 82000 points plus taxes (2 passengers) - Outbound
Premium economy ticket for $6000 in total for 2 passengers. - Inbound
However, the return ticket for premium economy is about the same price?

Is is worth to redeem the Qantas points for one way?

 

[aikman]

For me it's not worth it. I'd rather use the points another time.

I'm sure others will feel differently and will say that flying business class is non negotiable for a 10 hour flight.

 

[wsthong]

For me it's not worth it. I'd rather use the points another time.

I'm sure others will feel differently and will say that flying business class is non negotiable for a 10 hour flight.

Make sense. What about paying $11K for a business return.

 

[jpp42]

Make sense. What about paying $11K for a business return.

Only you can assess whether it's "worth it" to you. I don't have that kind of cash and would have to suffer economy, or use my hard-earned points, because taking the trip is important to me. For others, if they have the money (or the suffering is just not possible), it may be a worthwhile way to spend that money.

If you want to ask whether that's a reasonable fare compared to sales/other options, please tell us your itinerary (departure/arrival airports and dates).

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

However, the return ticket for premium economy is about the same price?

Is is worth to redeem the Qantas points for one way?

International fares tend to be priced (when paying cash) so that the cost of a one-way fare is only somewhat cheaper than a return, rather than being half the cost of a return. (In contrast, domestic fares are generally priced so that a return ticket costs the same as two one-ways.)

It's a frustrating situation and it makes redeeming points for only the outbound (or only the inbound) journey very poor value, as you're basically paying close to double for the flight going the other direction.

I faced this a few months ago when I managed to find an award flight to the UK but no award flight coming back (for the dates I wanted). It would have cost me almost as much to buy a one-way ticket from the UK to Australia as an Australia-London-Australia return fare.

In your case you'll probably be better off trying to find award flights for the return trip, as the cost of award flights per leg remain the same regardless of whether you're going one way or return. In other words, if a flight - excluding the cash component - costs 200,000 points return, it'll cost 100,000 points one-way. In contrast an international cash fare might cost $2,000 return but $1,800 one-way. (These numbers are made up to illustrate the point.)

If you don't have sufficient points for two return flights, you might want to look into paying for one of your tickets in points and the other in cash. It may end up being better value.

You can mix and match classes for award flights by making separate bookings, ie fly out in Business and come back in Premium Economy. It's trickier when paying cash. You might need to settle for being in one class for both the inbound and outbound.

 

[RealtimeY]

You can try to book the outbound award and the inbound cash fare in PE in the same booking, and pay the lower "return" price instead of having it price as one-way.

 

[Mickey Mouse]

Hi

I am seeking for thoughts whether this approach is of any advantage.

Qantas points one way business class redemption for 82000 points plus taxes (2 passengers) - Outbound
Premium economy ticket for $6000 in total for 2 passengers. - Inbound
However, the return ticket for premium economy is about the same price?

Is is worth to redeem the Qantas points for one way?

I'm not giving advice either way ... however, if you follow that plan, it would be sensible to get the premium economy return ticket for the same price as one-way, and use the return component for an outbound trip in future....

 

[jpp42]

International fares tend to be priced (when paying cash) so that the cost of a one-way fare is only somewhat cheaper than a return, rather than being half the cost of a return. (In contrast, domestic fares are generally priced so that a return ticket costs the same as two one-ways.)

It's a frustrating situation and it makes redeeming points for only the outbound (or only the inbound) journey very poor value, as you're basically paying close to double for the flight going the other direction.

I faced this a few months ago when I managed to find an award flight to the UK but no award flight coming back (for the dates I wanted). It would have cost me almost as much to buy a one-way ticket from the UK to Australia as an Australia-London-Australia return fare.

There are sometimes workarounds in those scenarios - award flights into Australia are difficult, but there are Asian cities that you can terminate your reward ticket at , and then pick up a cash fare on a low-cost airline that doesn't have round-trip penalties. For example, if you can find an award flight to Singapore, there are numerous affordable options (Scoot unbundled one-way fare as low as $603 for premium economy) - Jakarta seems to be popular as well although I'm not sure the details.

If OP can post their itinerary, there might be some suggestions that members can make.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

There are sometimes workarounds in those scenarios - award flights into Australia are difficult, but there are Asian cities that you can terminate your reward ticket at , and then pick up a cash fare on a low-cost airline that doesn't have round-trip penalties.

Good point. Although one should allow plenty of times between these flights at the Asian city as they'll be on separate bookings, and therefore not protected if the flight into the city is cancelled or delayed.

I've not done this workaround myself yet, but would allow half a day at least, or even overnight.

 

[wsthong]

Only you can assess whether it's "worth it" to you. I don't have that kind of cash and would have to suffer economy, or use my hard-earned points, because taking the trip is important to me. For others, if they have the money (or the suffering is just not possible), it may be a worthwhile way to spend that money.

If you want to ask whether that's a reasonable fare compared to sales/other options, please tell us your itinerary (departure/arrival airports and dates).

Mel via Syd to Tokyo (Haneda) - 28/8 - Qantas Points
Tokyo via Syd to Mel - 18/9 - $$$ Premium Economy

Thank you

 

[Mwenenzi]

International fares tend to be priced (when paying cash) so that the cost of a one-way fare is only somewhat cheaper than a return, rather than being half the cost of a return. (In contrast, domestic fares are generally priced so that a return ticket costs the same as two one-ways.)

<snip>

Not always. Depends on the market. Do not need to fly QF out and back (cash or award)
Airline tend to have high prices *from* their home airports. Many people only look at the home airlines. Same in AU, UK, Germany, USA. wherever.
Other none home airlines tend to price a lot keener. ABC-XYZ-DEF, where XYZ is the airlines home airport.

As for PE vs business what is the schedule? (departure - arrival times) Economy - PE more acceptable in a day time flight for most people.
And what route are you looking at?

Edit
See going to Japan.
A Jetstar "business" flight can be a good option. Is more like PE seat / price on full service long haul international airline.
Look where JQ flys from/to for Japan. Do not need to arrive/depart from HND. Look at other airports in Japan for the outbound or inbound.

 

[jpp42]

Mel via Syd to Tokyo (Haneda) - 28/8 - Qantas Points
Tokyo via Syd to Mel - 18/9 - $$$ Premium Economy

Thank you

As mentioned in the other reply, if you can stomach Jetstar and its high cancellation rate, their business class product (equivalent to premium economy) is reasonable - looks to be around $2000 from Narita to Melbourne, with a transfer in Gold Coast (and economy from there to Melbourne), including the max bundle for full Qantas points and SC's. If you're not concerned about SC's and can be a bit flexible (+/- 1) on dates, I found quite a few one-stop options on other airlines, such as Vietnam Airlines with a stopover in SGN for $1406 (Premium Economy) or Royal Brunei (with a stopover) business class for $1853 (note: no booze). Google Flights or IATA Matrix are a good way to find these fares, but always book direct through the airline.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi

I am seeking for thoughts whether this approach is of any advantage.

Qantas points one way business class redemption for 82000 points plus taxes (2 passengers) - Outbound
Premium economy ticket for $6000 in total for 2 passengers. - Inbound
However, the return ticket for premium economy is about the same price?

Is is worth to redeem the Qantas points for one way?

Couple of thoughts… Cathay pacific has, or recently had, a return business class from Tokyo to Australia for $3000 return. Rather than premium economy one way you’d be better off buying business class and simply not using the return!

Alternatively, ANA had return business class from australia to tokyo for $3039… better using that and saving all your qantas points!