QFF points redemption value?

[pongie]

My partner and I have saved up about 200,000 point through our credit card spending over the last 5 or so years and I'm wondering what's the best value to redeem these points?

option 1: we saw a pair of earrings she likes at a jeweler today, which had the price tag of $1720. Now this item just happens to be on the qantas store for 175,000 points (or 105,000 + $522).

option 2: use it to claim award flights for our next holiday. With the prices of flights coming down these days, I don't think this would get the best value.

option 3: use it to upgrade our next holiday. However, being a lowly bronze status with no status credits I doubt my chances. Plus I hate the fact that you don't find out until 24hrs before the flight.

Now we're getting married in Dec, and the earrings we have our eyes on is going to be part of her wedding accessories. So either way (points or not) we'll probably end up getting it. Question is should I hold the points for upgrades on our honeymoon or use it on the earrings? The thing is we'll probbaly be really disappointed if the upgrade gets rejected and all...

edit: option 4: continue saving the points for something else...

 

[Ms Lucy]

If you're going to be buying the earrings anyway, maybe using points to obtain them more cheaply or completely might be a good idea. I know that items from the redemption stores can be inflated in relative terms, if you consider how much you've spent to get the points, but if you've got the points, and it's something you would other would be paying a substantial amount for otherwise, why not?

Like you, I figure that using points for economy class domestic flights isn't the best use of the precious few points I have (I don't fly too often so most points come from credit card) when the cost of such airfares can be low if you book carefully. I've decided that my way of getting the best value from my points is to use them for the occasional Business class domestic flight. Consequently, I'll travel in one direction in Business class, which I could never afford to purchase, and the other on a cheap Red e-deal. Maybe if you decide against using the points for the earrings, you could consider using the points for Business class on your next domestic holiday flight.

Happy pondering!

 

[tuapekastar]

Try and put a value on the points dependent on what you do with them.

Using them for the jewellery would value each point at around 0.98 cents. (i.e. less than 1c per point)

For a return business class flight MEL-PER, random dates in October, there is a signifcant difference in cheapest/most expensive fares, but for a straight out business class redemption (not upgrade) on the:

Cheapest: Each point valued at around 3.2 cents
Expensive: Each point valued at around 4.7 cents

Clearly on straight out valuation of points, the flights are far better bang for your buck than the jewellery.

But that's not the only consideration of course - you may get a brilliant points value on a fare to Baghdad, but chances are you woudn't want to go there, so you need to factor in what is important to you at the time. But putting a monetary value on the points can be a good starting point.

BTW, I wouldn't upgrade domestically except on the longest of flights (eg. MEL/SYD/BNE to PER as an example), and would prefer to use points for either an international upgrade (as you say, a bit of a lottery) or an a straight out international redemption. Certainly not for domestic economy redemption, though there are some routes which can be quite expensive where it may be worthwhile considering using points, but most of the main ones do not fall into this category.

Whichever option you choose, enjoy!

 

[pongie]

I hardly fly so all my points are from credit card spending. That's why I have no idea about the flights. It would be lovely to upgrade our honeymoon flights to business class, but we haven't decided on that yet. It's like we would have to put our hopes into qantas or their partners when booking flights and hope we score an upgrade.

My other idea was to hold out for round the world trip. I've been reading the other thread and it's 140,000 per person. With the wedding costs being pumped into the card I may be close. Otherwise another year of bills and spending should bring it to 280,000 easily. The only issue would be accomodation and spending money. Everything is going towards the wedding this year so it would be hard to save more for this dream holiday.

 

[medhead]

where do you wish to honeymoon? is a full business redeemption possible, instead of holding out for an upgrade? that might be a better consideration. Otherwise, as you say save for a future trip, that is probably the best option in outright value terms.

 

[auriga]

Do think twice before going for a business class trip, as it is hard to go back to economy thereafter.

Good luck!

 

[JohnK]

My other idea was to hold out for round the world trip. I've been reading the other thread and it's 140,000 per person.

Many people consider a Oneworld award to be the best value use for QFF points. I am starting one next week and I have managed to accumulate enough QFF points for another Oneworld award and I will start researching for a golf trip to Scotland in the next couple of years.

Upgrades to business class are nice as well but not guaranteed and you also need to purchase the right fare class to be able to upgrade. Some people are very clever and able to predict which flights would have a better chance for upgrade.

 

[pongie]

Havinge ruled out Maldives (due to cost) and Europe (due to winter season), the honeymoon destination looks like Thailand/Hong Kong. According to the poitns table that's 30,000 for economy, 60,000 for business nad 90,000 for first class. 5,000 higher for partner classic awards. However, when I checked the flight oppurtunities for awards it only has economy listed. Does that mean business and first class isn't available?

I wonder how many points is the any seat awards.... edit: quick search has 173,653 return pp for economy and 721,440 for business. That's shocking!

JohnK: Can you breifly describe how to do flight search and make it an Oneworld award?

 

[NM]

I don't place a monetary value on FF points/miles. I use them to do things I would not otherwise be doing, so using the points/miles has not saved me the monetary value of the redemption, but has allowed me chance to go somewhere I would not have otherwise been able to go or to do something I would not have otherwise been able to do. So for me, the value is "priceless" to quote a famous credit card advertisement.

This week I used 40,000 QF FF points to upgrade from discount economy to business class HKG-BNE. As I would not have spent cash to upgrade the seat, I did not save myself $3000. But I did enjoy a more comfortable journey that if I had not redeemed the points. So for me the value of the points is measured experientially and not financially.

Similarly I redeemed 380,000 AA miles for 2 mixed J/F tix in a few weeks time. We would not be taking this trip if I did not have the AA miles to redeem, so I cannot claim that the miles have saved me $15,000. The value is the opportunity to celebrate 20 years of marriage doing something we would not otherwise be able to do. So the value? .... Priceless .

So I suggest looking at different ways to use the points and decide which will bring you most enjoyment. In my opinion, that is the one that is best value.

 

[medhead]

Havinge ruled out Maldives (due to cost) and Europe (due to winter season), the honeymoon destination looks like Thailand/Hong Kong. According to the poitns table that's 30,000 for economy, 60,000 for business nad 90,000 for first class. 5,000 higher for partner classic awards. However, when I checked the flight oppurtunities for awards it only has economy listed. Does that mean business and first class isn't available?

I wonder how many points is the any seat awards.... edit: quick search has 173,653 return pp for economy and 721,440 for business. That's shocking!

JohnK: Can you breifly describe how to do flight search and make it an Oneworld award?

Sounds like you might be looking at Any Seat Rewards. You need to check the classic awards. When doing that you often ahve to tick a check box to look for buisness or first seats. Do the search with the flexible travel dates option.

 

[JohnK]

JohnK: Can you breifly describe how to do flight search and make it an Oneworld award?

Click on multi-city itinerary and input the destinations and the dates you want to travel. Then start selecting the flights as they appear on the screen and after each sector it will calculate how many QFF points are required so far. Once you have satisfied the rules for Oneworld award the award booking engine will show Oneworld award 140,000 QFF points required. Remember to satisfy the rules for a Oneworld award the itinerary must be <35,000 miles, upto 16 sectors, 5 stopovers and use 2 Oneworld carriers other than Qantas.

So say you were booking something like SYD-(QF)LAX-(AA)JFK-(BA)LHR-(AA)ATH-x(BA)LHR-(QF)HKG-(QF)SYD it would be a Qantas/Partner award up until you selected flights for the ATH-xLHR-HKG sector at which point it turns into a Oneworld award.

Have a play around to get the feel of how to use the award bookng engine....

 

[pongie]

Wasn't many award flights available after the wedding. The best I could find was the return flight from hong kong to Sydney. So book it for 120,000 points in business. Got allocated seat 5A and 5B. Gotta head off to flight centre to finalize the rest of the honeymoon now. Well prepared with all my expedia qoutes.

 

[serfty]

Be very ware of FC.

If you do a search on Flight Center on this and other forums you make wish to look elsewhere.

 

[lovestotravel]

Look & Book elsewhere is my opinon

 

[pongie]

Didn't have any drams yesterday. Was actually pretty smooth. Though I did have my itinerary written down with the best prices I found on expedia.com.au (and one or two from air Asia website or asiarooms.com). The lady pretty much spent the first 15 mins verifying it all by visiting the wesites an then said she could beat it by $140. Not much savings but I reckon it was better to book it all at once then go through the various websites.

Here's what we ended up with. All prices are inclusive of tax and charges and for 2 adults.

14 Dec Sydney to coughet on jetstar for $998.
3 nights in Ayara Hilltops Benjamart Garden View for $725.
17 Dec coughet to Ko Samui on Bangkok airways for $220.
3 nights in Six Sense Hideaway Pool Villa for $2145
20 Dec Ko Samui to Bangkok on Thai airways for $330 (Bangkok airways was slightly cheaper but Thai Airways gets QFF points)
27 Dec Bangkok to Hong Kong on Air Asia for $320
3 nights in Kowloon Shangri-la harbour view for $944
30 Dec Hong Kong to Sydney (stop over in Brisbane) on Qantas with my awards booking.

I know I could of saved abit more if I have waited for jetstar or air Asia to have some sort of sales. But I don't think we wanted to wait it out. The accomodation in coughet and Hong Kong were pretty good I reckon, seeing the third night was free. Six sense in Ko Samui was really the one that blew the budget, but hey it's a honeymoon so I have to treat myself once in a while. There's no accomodation in Bangkok cause I'm visiting my relatives. Still need to work out airport transfers, or is it better to wing it there with the local tuk tuk?

Really looking forward to my first business class trip. The extra baggage allowance would come in handy after shopping in Hong Kong. Would of liked to spend new years eve there (to see something different other than the Sydney fireworks) but the only other business flight avaiable from Qantas was on the 1 Jan. Departure time was really early aswell. Don't think it would have been worth while to stay up all night to celebrate the new year and then rush to air port and sleep my way through my first business flight.

 

[Ms Lucy]

20 Dec Ko Samui to Bangkok on Thai airways for $330 (Bangkok airways was slightly cheaper but Thai Airways gets QFF points)

Don't think Thai are actually part of the QF FF program so don't think you would get points for that (unless, of course, it's a codeshare and you're ticketed on QF. Do QF codeshare with Thai?)

Does sound like a great trip though!

 

[pongie]

Thai international is part of the star alliance so I figured Thai airways would be too. It was only a $10 difference anyway.

Edit: just realized qantas is oneworld alliance and not the star alliance. Might have to sign up with krisflyer or Thai royal orchid now. Which is better?

 

[Bundy Bear]

Your business class airfare will get you into a J lounge in Hong Kong before your flight back to Australia.

Now you only need another 25,000 points to get the jewelery you first looked at.

 

[pongie]

J Lounge? Never been in any lounges before. Will definitely have a visit.

hmm... wonder if I can use the remaining points to upgrade my jetsaver ticket to starclass (Sydney - coughet). What type of fare class is jetsaver? Just reading the Jetstar ODU thread now and it looks like the price is now $500. The fare difference was under $300.

 

[Flashback]

J Lounge? Never been in any lounges before. Will definitely have a visit.

hmm... wonder if I can use the remaining points to upgrade my jetsaver ticket to starclass (Sydney - coughet). What type of fare class is jetsaver? Just reading the Jetstar ODU thread now and it looks like the price is now $500. The fare difference was under $300.

AFAIK you can't use your points to upgrade a JQ flight. Only a Qantas marketed flight on Qantas metal.