Someone slap me...I'm considering an AnySeat award!

[Febs]

(Well, a Jetstar AnySeat award anyway)

Looking at a little HBA getaway next weekend, and Jetstar have the best flights (arr HBA 11am Saturday, arr SYD 10pm Mon). Flights are $258 per person for JetSaver (though we'd probably only need JetSaver Light @ $238pp).

Classic award flights (QF) are 24,000 + $82.30 or 36,000...and are at terrible times.

Under AnySeat though, I can get the same JQ flights (JetSaver) for 33,553pts, or 24,000pts + $81ish.

Not the best use of points I know (compared with something like SYD-LAX or Award Explorer)...but it is one of those rare situations where the AnySeat award isn't ridiculously bad value compared to the Classic award (though granted, the Classic award would include food/bev).

Hmm...tough decision. I've always said it's a waste using points for Australian domestic travel, but I've got enough to spare (and still have 280,000+ for 2 upcoming award explorers)...and a DONE4 coming up (which should earn me another 60,000+ points)...might as well.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[opusman]

SLAP!

 

[JohnK]

That many points and on Jetstar to boot! Consider yourself slapped.

How about picking a place other than HBA for the weekend?

 

[v8Statesman]

I looked at 1 way fares in asia in Y and it gave me a :shock:. What I wanted was $1,500 AUS all in.

On the phone to QF. For my award booked for 28k points +$81 in fines.

Fair use of points IMHO.

 

[Febs]

That many points and on Jetstar to boot! Consider yourself slapped.

Thanks.

Agreed it's a poor waste of points, but they're points I have to spare...so why not save myself some cash?

(Plus, with all the travel coming up in the next few weeks, I kind of probably owe my girlfriend...)

How about picking a place other than HBA for the weekend?

It's one of the few places in Australia I haven't been to, the flights are at good times, cheap, and there's enough to keep us busy (Port Arthur, Cascade Brewery, Salamanca Market etc...). Accommodation and car hire is cheap.

Considered other places (e.g. would love to visit Ayres Rock again), but the flights were either too expensive or at bad times, or both. Canberra or Hunter Valley are options too, but we've done both recently. MEL/ADL - done them too many times. PER - had a long weekend there in April.

Other option was NZ...though it'd be my girlfriend's first time there, and two nights really isn't enough.

Where would you suggest?

Cheers,
- Febs.

Edit: The only silly part is...we'd be getting back at ~10pm, and I leave for LAX at 8am the next morning.

 

[v8Statesman]

Other option was NZ...though it'd be my girlfriend's first time there, and two nights really isn't enough.

No brainer, NZ!

Everyone knows. If you are after brownie points with the girfriend, Needing a passport creates a multiplier affect! Even if it is only 2 days.

 

[JohnK]

I would definitely choose NZ over Tasmania. We did those places you mention in HBA during the latest Ozfest and they were nothing special. I wouldn't rush to go back again. Cascade Brewery was disappointing and Salamanca Market offers nothing that you could not see anywhere else.

Do you have to fly? How about a weekend in Batemans Bay or even Picton and Kangaroo Valley. Another of my favourites is the Lakes Macquarie area.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Just burn the points; its not a bad use of points. I used around 40,000 points to go to Hamilton Island in March/April this year, but I have plenty of miles so why spend the money when you got some points.

Use the points on JQ.

New Zealand if the girlfriend hasn't been 2 days is not enough time.

Plan a longer New Zealand trip for next time.

 

[Febs]

Do you have to fly? How about a weekend in Batemans Bay or even Picton and Kangaroo Valley. Another of my favourites is the Lakes Macquarie area.

Don't have to fly, no.
Batemans' - Yawn. Been several times. Great fishing spot, not a lot else to do.

Picton - Grandmother lives there, go there all the time.

Port Macquarie etc.. are options, but may be heading there in summer anyway.

v8statesman - NZ will definitely be on the cards one day, but 2 nights is simply a waste of money. I think I spent 2 days on bungy jumping alone last time!

 

[simongr]

Points are only as valuable as the enjoyment you get from using them. xx_,xx_ points on screen on an online account have zero cash value - you cant trade them - you can only use them on things that you might have considered spending money anyway so your investment is a sunk a cost.

Take the flights, use the points - the "better" use of them in other people's minds has no bearing on your belief in their worth.

 

[v8Statesman]

Points are only as valuable as the enjoyment you get from using them. xx_,xx_ points on screen on an online account have zero cash value - you cant trade them - you can only use them on things that you might have considered spending money anyway so your investment is a sunk a cost.

Take the flights, use the points - the "better" use of them in other people's minds has no bearing on your belief in their worth.

I agree in part. I have sever hundred thousand QFF points. However I will not use them on a PER-ADL-PER for AFF Meet #2 as I see that as poor use of them. I would however use some for a Y-J upgraded or as posted earlier, on a 1 way ticket as the value to me is high. As I fly a reasonable amount. I can pick and choose what flight to buy, and what fights to use points on. As always, YMMV

 

[Febs]

"YMMV"...that's it really. Value is different to everyone.

While points might be "most valuable" for a Y->J or J->F upgrade on say, SYD-LAX...to me, that's a poor use of points. If paying for the ticket myself, I wouldn't be paying for J or F...so using points for an upgrade would have $0 value to me.

Using points on SYD-LAX, or an Award Explorer in Y however - that's good value to me.

(Having said that, I do plan a one way J->F upgrade SYD-LAX when the A380 comes into service . Luckily 95% of my travel is work-funded, and in J).

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Platy]

'Fraid it's a slap from me! :shock:

 

[JohnK]

Points are only as valuable as the enjoyment you get from using them. xx_,xx_ points on screen on an online account have zero cash value - you cant trade them - you can only use them on things that you might have considered spending money anyway so your investment is a sunk a cost.

I love looking at my growing points balance and imagine all the places I could visit and then get upset that I do not have the time to use them.

Seriously though you can trade FF points on Coupon Connection if you have trust in the people wishing to trade....

 

[simongr]

Seriously though you can trade FF points on Coupon Connection if you have trust in the people wishing to trade....

I would seriously disagree with this - the risk is significant and there are now players in teh game who may appear trustworthy and have proved not to be.
S

 

[JohnK]

I would seriously disagree with this - the risk is significant and there are now players in teh game who may appear trustworthy and have proved not to be.

I have read posts where some deals have gone wrong but the majority of people appear to be satisfied with coupon connection.