QF rewards (lack of availability), SING-MEL Oct 23

[flyingdoc`]

This page hasn't changed in over a month - bugger all Rewards availability.
Looking for mid-Oct flights, 3x adult, 1 child.

Do I keep checking in, or give up, save my points for another era and purchase tickets through a cheaper airline (eg Scoot)?

 

[mviy]

What’s your status level with QF?

Also, the more seats you are looking for the harder it is to find availability.

 

[flyingdoc`]

What’s your status level with QF?

Also, the more seats you are looking for the harder it is to find availability.

Bronze. Can anyone with higher status see anything from their end?

 

[Sprucegoose]

This page hasn't changed in over a month - bugger all Rewards availability.
Looking for mid-Oct flights, 3x adult, 1 child.

Do I keep checking in, or give up, save my points for another era and purchase tickets through a cheaper airline (eg Scoot)?
View attachment 309212

Doc,

I see, Lifetime Bronze; this is not a winning hand.

Do your plans have any flexibility? - I wouldn't rely flying on this date with the Red Rat.

You can consider alternative options such as Malaysian. A cheap ticket is not a bad option; you can buy better seats and fly quite well (Do as I say, not as I do!)

Happy hunting.

 

[ANstar]

Prob cheaper to just buy Scoot tickets after you factor in QFs taxes etc They have also been pretty stingey in not releasing any premium awards 330 days out like they used to.

 

[dsotm]

This page hasn't changed in over a month - bugger all Rewards availability.
Looking for mid-Oct flights, 3x adult, 1 child.

Do I keep checking in, or give up, save my points for another era and purchase tickets through a cheaper airline (eg Scoot)?

SIN MEL is really hard with QA. I'm bronze and had to use up 51K x 2 Krisflyer points to book a daytime September 2023 PE flight from Singapore to Melbourne. I would have rather flown with Qantas metal or BA (and saved my Krisflyers) but they don't have daytime flights or any CR availability for a Bronze.

 

[Franky]

This page hasn't changed in over a month - bugger all Rewards availability.
Looking for mid-Oct flights, 3x adult, 1 child.

Do I keep checking in, or give up, save my points for another era and purchase tickets through a cheaper airline (eg Scoot)?
View attachment 309212

That's what we've done - in Perth and have cash flights SIN-MXP

 

[RooFlyer]

give up, save my points for another era and purchase tickets through a cheaper airline (eg Scoot)?

That would be my suggestion. I'm QFF Plat, and will be for another 14 months and I'm warehousing my 350K points until international J redemptions return to some form of reliability..

 

[marki]

Prob cheaper to just buy Scoot tickets after you factor in QFs taxes etc They have also been pretty stingey in not releasing any premium awards 330 days out like they used to.

And yes, this confirms that the points in QF have devalued (nothing to purchase despite points' monetary value being the same), but before giving up Doc, apart from the fantastic advice above, it may be worthwhile to phone through. I say that as recently Qantas has beefed up the inventory.

 

[Sprucegoose]

it may be worthwhile to phone through.

that's if you have a spare day...

 

[1022]

FWIW as gold I see the same (lack of) availability as you do. There are a few days in late Sept where JQ8 has 4 "business" class seats. I also searched on just 2 pax in case splitting up and flying a day apart was an option. No joy. Better off saving the points and just paying for flights on this trip I suspect!

 

[Sprucegoose]

FWIW as gold I see the same (lack of) availability as you do. There are a few days in late Sept where JQ8 has 4 "business" class seats. I also searched on just 2 pax in case splitting up and flying a day apart was an option. No joy. Better off saving the points and just paying for flights on this trip I suspect!

There was 4x I class on QF36 when I looked a few hours ago - an option.

 

[SYD]

Non even JQ? When I search SYD-SIN it often shows a shedload of availability until I click through to see QF4xx SYD-MEL and then JQ whatever to SIN - pass…

 

[flyingdoc`]

Non even JQ? When I search SYD-SIN it often shows a shedload of availability until I click through to see QF4xx SYD-MEL and then JQ whatever to SIN - pass…

JQ is one of the cheaper alternatives we will need to look at.

 

[marki]

that's if you have a spare day...

I have phoned Qantas's overseas numbers with more tremendous success.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have phoned Qantas's overseas numbers with tremendous success.
Sure I was coming from the perspective that Doc was a Bronze, and QF is very status-focused.

Happy to hear of your positivity.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Forgive me if this is a silly question, but thought I'd ask: do you happen to have any points laying around in other programs like Virgin Australia? The reason I ask is that other programs are showing tons of availability in October next year. For instance you can fly SQ direct from SIN to MEL for 29,000 points + $136 in taxes & fees per person:


There's even business class awards available at a cost of 67,000 points + $225.88 in taxes & fees per person. And that's for an itinerary with 3 adults and one child as you stated (the date I chose was Thursday October 19, 2023 for your reference).

That being said, I do anticipate QF and BA will release additional inventory for the SIN > Australia leg as we move further down the track.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Sprucegoose]

Forgive me if this is a silly question, but thought I'd ask: do you happen to have any points laying around in other programs like Virgin Australia? The reason I ask is that other programs are showing tons of availability in October next year. For instance you can fly SQ direct from SIN to MEL for 29,000 points + $136 in taxes & fees per person:

View attachment 309240
There's even business class awards available at a cost of 67,000 points + $225.88 in taxes & fees per person. And that's for an itinerary with 3 adults and one child as you stated (the date I chose was Thursday October 19, 2023 for your reference).

That being said, I do anticipate QF and BA will release additional inventory for the SIN > Australia leg as we move further down the track.

-RooFlyer88

Actually, a good time to fly, you can clear your day calendar, enjoy a dinner opportunity, then head to the airport................and grab five hours of sleep if you're savvy.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I am QF Gold so have access to the advanced inventory and did some checking on the QF side and yes there are some Y awards available at that time, primarily with CX for 45,000 points per passenger. However, the taxes & fees are pretty high (around $300 SGD per passenger) which hardly makes it much of a deal:



If you got the Virgin points, I'd recommend booking through them since it's fewer points and fewer taxes and fees plus it's non stop on a SQ A380. I'd argue it doesn't get much better than that! You can transfer Flybuys points over to Virgin Australia. In addition, you can transfer points from a number of credit cards to Virgin Australia such as AmEx membership rewards.

Also Singapore Airlines as usual has tons of awards available with them down to MEL albeit for slightly more points than Virgin Australia:

Along with Premium Economy:


And BusinessFirst (again slightly more than booking thru Virgin):


Having flown Singapore a couple of times, I'd argue that their hard and soft product across all cabins is a cut above Qantas (apologies for ardent Qantas flyers who are offended, it's the truth though). Only downside I see to Singapore if travelling in business would be that their lounge at SIN isn't great (at least the KrisFlyer Gold lounge I visited back in late 2018) - no restroom in the lounge - seriously?

-RooFlyer88

 

[Sprucegoose]

I am QF Gold so have access to the advanced inventory and did some checking on the QF side and yes there are some Y awards available at that time, primarily with CX for 45,000 points per passenger. However, the taxes & fees are pretty high (around $300 SGD per passenger) which hardly makes it much of a deal:

View attachment 309244

If you got the Virgin points, I'd recommend booking through them since it's fewer points and fewer taxes and fees plus it's non stop on a SQ A380. I'd argue it doesn't get much better than that! You can transfer Flybuys points over to Virgin Australia. In addition, you can transfer points from a number of credit cards to Virgin Australia such as AmEx membership rewards.

Also Singapore Airlines as usual has tons of awards available with them down to MEL albeit for slightly more points than Virgin Australia:
View attachment 309245
Along with Premium Economy:
View attachment 309246

And BusinessFirst (again slightly more than booking thru Virgin):
View attachment 309247

Having flown Singapore a couple of times, I'd argue that their hard and soft product across all cabins is a cut above Qantas (apologies for ardent Qantas flyers who are offended, it's the truth though). Only downside I see to Singapore if travelling in business would be that their lounge at SIN isn't great (at least the KrisFlyer Gold lounge I visited back in late 2018) - no restroom in the lounge - seriously?

-RooFlyer88

The latest reviews on SQ by AFF Editor et al. attest to your proposition. I am not aware of the bathroom arrangements in SIN Gold Lounge; suffice to say if that is still the case, life remains good!