Round the world

[bernard]

I have about 187,000 points at the moment and wish to travel round the world with my wife in a year's time. By then, I will probably have someway in the region of about 220,000 points. My plan is to go to Japan, Vancouver, Toronto, London, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and then back to Sydney. Can someone please advise what is the best way to utilise my points. Is it better to buy 2 tickets and use my points to upgrade from economy class? How many points are required for upgrading? And how many points are required for each person travelling economy class? Is it better to use Qantas or use partner airlines to maximise my points value? Thanks

 

[michaelblain]

Generally speaking the most value efficient way of using points is to upgrade. Then follows awards that are booked in F or J.

You can only use QFF points to upgrade QF flights.

If using your points to get a either 2 Y awards or one J or F award you might want to investigate QF's one world around the world award. I don't know much about it but it would seem to be the best fit for that rough itinery. Maybe someone else has more details or try searching the QF forum in Flyertalk.

 

[Rick93]

Speaking of "round the world"....
Is using Qantas's discount RTW fare a good way of racking up those Status Credits, in order to attain Silver / Gold / or even Platinum?
If you carefully selected an itinary that maximised the milage, and the status credits awarded, wouldn't it be possible to go from Bronze to Gold or even Platinum from the one trip?
The cheapest Qantas RTW fare being about $3,600. all up..... is it worth doing in a spare two weeks or so?

Thoughts?

Regards,

 

[icemann]

Hi Gordon,

I've done RTW discount economies in the past, and it is a fairly OK way to get some status. If your legs can take it.

But on the long international hauls, I would sooner do those segments in business. I think that if you can mix and match, that may be better. I sleep VERY badly on planes in coach, even though I am 5'6.

I've just flown AA coach, BAD IDEA. There was no liquor in the cabin, and it was a full flight from CHI-MAN, but the Admirals clubs do give you coughtails for free. I downed a Long Island Iced Tea in 3 minutes. AA domestic was o.k., but I would sooner fly QF or BA in the OW alliance.

And no offence to the American viewers, but please, we can all hear you. Please turn down the volume in coach, for some of us are trying to sleep.

 

[QF WP]

bernard and everybody, you'll want to make sure you are aware of the changes to the QFF program from 1 July (some rules only come into effect on 1 Jan 2004).

 

[QF WP]

Speaking of "round the world"....
Is using Qantas's discount RTW fare a good way of racking up those Status Credits, in order to attain Silver / Gold / or even Platinum?
If you carefully selected an itinary that maximised the milage, and the status credits awarded, wouldn't it be possible to go from Bronze to Gold or even Platinum from the one trip?
The cheapest Qantas RTW fare being about $3,600. all up..... is it worth doing in a spare two weeks or so?

Thoughts?

Regards,

Gordon, yes it's very possible, I did it in August 2002 - a 24 sector, 21 day part business/part pleasure F RTW. It got me from not quite qualified for Gold to better than Partner Gold (2,100), so you do the math.

It doesn't matter what class, a well constructed itinerary can get you Gold easily. that is why we status chase at every opportunity (even when I'm away on business, I look to change my flight if I can get more SC's and still get to where I want to within my planned schedule)

 

[Rick93]

Thanks for that Lindsay, I'll look closely at making some sort of RTW trip.... before the "beginning of the end" on 1 /1/04 (Qantas QFF program changes)

Regards,

 

[QF WP]

Clifford Reichlin (the Administrator of the BB) can actually help you in constructing that itinerary - contact him through the website.

 

[martynriddle]

What sort of prices are available for RTW J class fares on OneWorld?

Need to go to ORD for a meeting and called QF for quotes. Just over AU$10k for a SYD-ORD return and just over $9k for a RTW. My local TA beat the return fare by $3k but couldnt better the RTW. As I wouldnt mind stopping off in the mother country for a couple of days to catch up with family, I want to do a RTW but cant justify the additional $2k at the mo. One grand per day makes it an expensive trip!

 

[thadocta]

You could always try a SYD-LHR return with an AP/EH routing - the AP being SYD QF LAX QF ORD BA LHR and the EH routing being LHR QF SYD - might be cheaper than an RTW, since it isn't strictly an RTW.

Dave

 

[martynriddle]

You could always try a SYD-LHR return with an AP/EH routing - the AP being SYD QF LAX QF ORD BA LHR and the EH routing being LHR QF SYD - might be cheaper than an RTW, since it isn't strictly an RTW.

Thanks Dave, Please excuse my ignorance but what is AP and EH. And, if my outbound destination is LHR, will I be allowed to stay in ORD for four days?

 

[shillard]

What sort of prices are available for RTW J class fares on OneWorld?

Typicall $9K plus.

To maximise your opprtunity going via ORD, suggest J OWE 4 Continent:

SYd-NRT-LAX-ORD-BOS-SFO-LHR thence home via Singapore or Hong Kong, whatever takes your fancy. The SFO-LHR leg will help you rack up buku status credits on the trip, and if you have time you should avail yourself of the additional intra-Europe sectors available for the same fare. It all adds up, and you'll be platinum in no time.

It's unlikely that your TA will be able to better the fare you gt with QF direct, although they might be able to package accomodation/ car hire/ etc to cut the total trip cost for you.

 

[QF WP]

It's unlikely that your TA will be able to better the fare you gt with QF direct, although they might be able to package accomodation/ car hire/ etc to cut the total trip cost for you.

Gee, my TA must be good then as she beats the QF Res or QF Travel Centre prices every time. Agree that with additional services that they will have more fat from which they can cut.

It all adds up, and you'll be platinum in no time.

That you will, SC chasing is the only way to fly :wink:

 

[martynriddle]

Problem is I only have 7 days in which to fit a 4 day meeting in ORD plus two days in the UK. Am leaving Sydney on Sunday (need to be here on the Saturday to watch Bledisloe Cup) and need to be back for another meeting in Canberra the following Monday.

Usually I would look to maximise the SCs but dont think I can spare the time this trip. The main problem I am having is getting a RTW fare that is close to the SYD-ORD return fare of AU$7,700 my TA has secured.

 

[QF WP]

Martynriddle, you have discovered the flip side of SC chasing - it doesn't always work in the constraints of business trips...gee, I even have trouble in Aus.

Do whatever route and timing suits you..if it gets you closer to Plat, then well and good. But don't push the envelope too far or you're body won't take it and you'll be missing at the CBR meeting...

 

[thadocta]

You could always try a SYD-LHR return with an AP/EH routing - the AP being SYD QF LAX QF ORD BA LHR and the EH routing being LHR QF SYD - might be cheaper than an RTW, since it isn't strictly an RTW.

Thanks Dave, Please excuse my ignorance but what is AP and EH. And, if my outbound destination is LHR, will I be allowed to stay in ORD for four days?

AP is "Atlantic-Pacific" routing, so basically via North America. EH is "Eastern Hemisphere", so the Kangaroo route, although you can travel via HKG, NRT, etc if the fare rules allow.

Other exotic routings are AF - Africa - and PO - Polar (via North Pole, not sure how they define that now that the 744's have done away with the fuel stop at Anchorage) - and SA (South America) can be interesting.

As far as the stopover goes, as long as the fare allows a stopover, it won't be a problem.

Youa re basically combining two halves of a RT to LHR here - one half is an AP, the other half is an EH. So it depends on the fare rules, any fare allowing a stopover will see you clear.

Dave

 

[thadocta]

Do whatever route and timing suits you..if it gets you closer to Plat, then well and good. But don't push the envelope too far or you're body won't take it and you'll be missing at the CBR meeting...

When is that scheduled for again?????

Dave

 

[QF WP]

Dave, that's martynriddle's business meeting in CBR - see his post Sat 5 July not a QC get together. But now that you mention it...