Using QFF Points for First Class

[Harpoon]

Nobody can really answer this for me. I suppose I'm just looking for others opinions if you were in my shoes. Are QFF points worth spending on First class? Or is it a waste?

I'm one of those that can't afford to fly in F, nor J myself, although with work travel I've flown in J a few times and loved it. But it's highly unlikely I would fly First until I'm old and grey or win tatts

I have almost enough QFF points for MEL-LHR (one way) in F. I would love to experience the F lounge and of course F on QF A380 on a long haul trip to really soak it up. But do you reckon it's poor value for points to use them on an F flight?

As I said above, of course nobody can answer that for me - but looking to whether others have done something similar? Saved up points just to give First a try for a once off? Was it worth it for the thrill?

 

[serfty]

My only Qantas first class trip was for 60K QFF Points MEL-SIN on QF9 back in 2001.

It was an interesting experience - my only issue was staying awake through the flight to get the most from it.

In your shoes I would not burn 192K QFF points to travel to London - you could do an Fist Class ATW for 420K.

 

[NM]

I believe F awards are very poor value redemptions in the QFF program. QF's multiplier that mean if its X points for an economy award, then its 2X for business class and 3X for first class makes QF's premium cabin FF redemptions amongst the most expensive around.

But its always nice to travel in first class. So its really a matter of what else you could do with the points and then deciding which is of best value to you.

 

[anat0l]

I burnt a F classic award that I am flying in November.

I'm in a similar financial situation to the OP (except I haven't had any J or F long haul until recently).

192k points is a pretty expensive to blow at once, but I did it any way. I had to get to Europe some how and I didn't think I'd ever be able to afford F again. Besides, the points came easy (thanks Amex!...and lucky I swept them off then, because I wouldn't be able to do it now).

In time, if I keep up this WP status, I could very well accumulate 420k points within a fair amount of time so I could fly an F RTW as serfty mentioned. Even at a mere 5 stopovers and only 35,000 mi, that's obviously better value than 192k points. Of course, NM and Lindsay Wilson will tell you that an AA award is far, far better (but that means you need to credit towards AA first).

Of course, the next time I think about flying on an F award, I could very well be married. And like hell the SWMBO is going to let me fly that award alone, and equally like hell am I going to have 840k points to burn for the two of us. :shock:


Keep in mind that F classic awards are as rare as hen's teeth. I had to get my F awards via WP request over the phone. Having said that, as a WP I still managed to find a good cache of F awards around the place. You just need to be superflexible.

 

[NM]

Of course, NM and Lindsay Wilson will tell you that an AA award is far, far better (but that means you need to credit towards AA first).

Since you asked

AAdvantage One Way awards Australia to Europe cost 45,000 miles for economy, 60,000 miles for business and 80,000 miles for first class.

 

[ejb]

Slightly OT but....

How does one book a RTW F trip?

Do I phone? or is it just booked flight by flight and the system works out it is a RTW ticket?

What would taxes and fees be (roughly)?

Thanks for any help as due to Amex's wonderful promo I am taking mrs ejb on a 4 week tour of the world next year.

ejb

 

[serfty]

Tax may be around the $1000 mark give or take a few hundred dollars- a lot depends upon UK transits/stopovers and the (up to £110) APD.

A QFF oneworld ward simply must involve two carriers other than Qantas.

After that the basic rules are:

1. Up to 35,000 miles total round trip distance;
2. up to five free Stopovers are permitted;
3. additional Stopovers are not permitted;
4. only one Stopover is permitted in any one city in the Itinerary; and
5. only two Transfers may be taken at any one city in the Itinerary.

Also, see this thread: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...lyer-program/140-000-pts-rtw-award-16582.html

(Note that it has become seemingly harder to book these online.)

 

[craven morehead]

If you only have enough points to go over in F does that mean coming come in economy? This would be hard to stomach. Might be far better value to do a return in J .. Have indulged once for a return F award flight but had to book a year out to get 2 seats. Having said that I will only burn points at J rate from now on to get more trips in. :mrgreen:

 

[Danger UXB]

Harpoon
Craven Moorhead is right it's hard to go back. If you are the kind of person who would die wondering what it was like upfront then do it. I thought my one and only trip in May would be my one and only but thanks to the ATO and a plat Amex I'm doing my best to do it again
Cheers Danger UXB

 

[Harpoon]

Thanks all for the input. I spose I would really enjoy the thrill of F so at some stage i want to do it. And yes even if I have to fly Y back home...

Though I think you're right. I could get a lot more flights around Australia in Y for 192k and see my own country :|

I was thinking London in F because my brother lives there now so it's a great excuse to visit!

I can do Singapore return in F for that amount of points.... perhaps a better option for a holiday and then I won't have to slum it in Y on the return leg

 

[anat0l]

Thanks all for the input. I spose I would really enjoy the thrill of F so at some stage i want to do it. And yes even if I have to fly Y back home...

Though I think you're right. I could get a lot more flights around Australia in Y for 192k and see my own country :|

I was thinking London in F because my brother lives there now so it's a great excuse to visit!

I can do Singapore return in F for that amount of points.... perhaps a better option for a holiday and then I won't have to slum it in Y on the return leg

But of course the thrill of doing it to LHR in F is that you have a 10+ hr sector to enjoy it. Sure, most of it will "probably be sleep" - although the soft bed is one big plus of F! - still, the longest sectors are the best ones to enjoy F.


LOL - if I took my advice then I probably should have tried for via JNB rather than Kangaroo route for my F award... or possibly via USA....

 

[straitman]

Nobody can really answer this for me. I suppose I'm just looking for others opinions if you were in my shoes. Are QFF points worth spending on First class? Or is it a waste?

If you have the points then do it :!:

 

[tuapekastar]

Bundy Bear has a sig (not sure whether here or on FT) which says something like "In twenty years time you'll regret the things you didn't do, rather than those you did".

And I think he's probably right.

 

[straitman]

Bundy Bear has a sig (not sure whether here or on FT) which says something like "In twenty years time you'll regret the things you didn't do, rather than those you did".

And I think he's probably right.

That is what I was alluding to in post #12 but was too lazy to go and find.

 

[Maca44]

I was lucky enough to burn 200K Ansett points in 2001 and flew F class with United, and was very pleased with the services etc (not to mention only losing 4K points when Ansett went belly up). Anyway, last year I burnt 192K and flew QF Sydney to San Francisco simply because I do not fly enough to attain any status and also I had never flown QF F class and to experience the Flounge etc. Even though I have built up enough points to fly F class again to SFO I will fly J class. I have experienced QF F class and it is great. If you can afford the points, go for it as your a long time dead.

 

[Hvr]

My only experience in F was an upgrade from SYD-BKK last year. For 25,000 points it was well worth it. The SYD F lounge just has to be experienced to be believed.

Do it you will not regret it. You will remember it forever.

 

[cove]

Hello Harpoon,

You can get a massage before your long flight if you arrange it in Melbourne First
Class.....very nice.
The service is excellent on board as the staff in First are attentive to your needs.Great PJ's,a bed and special bedding all for you.
Why go grey wondering?
Currently there is availability on points which has been caused by business cut backs and this may not last as the world markets could recover.
As far as value goes if points are worth about a cent or two each then 192,000 points pulls in a retail value more than 5 times that notional worth.
Go for it!

 

[obrienja]

A few years ago to "celebrate" getting my PhD and coming home to Aus. I got an F award SIN-PER and it was definitely worth the points at the time. I haven't flown first since but I might get lucky with a J-F points upgrade early next year.

As others have said the service is great, the lounge access definitely worthwhile and the other little privileges are nice as well. Make the most of the points - you can always get more

 

[Tooner]

I would never have thought about F, even after reading accounts here, until an op-up from SIN-LHR a few years ago. Since then I've upgraded HKG - SYD on the overnight twice.

My view: an upgrade from J -> F is worth it for the experience - preferably on a long sector. HKG - SYD is really too short for an overnight leg unless you go straight to sleep, in which case you miss out on the great service.

 

[NM]

While SYD-SIN-SYD may get you on the A380, finding F awards on that aircraft may not be very easy. If you want the best QF F award experience with reasonable availability, try for QF127 SYD-HKG and QF30 HKG-MEL to get you two day-time 9hr 744 F experiences.

Note QF30 is sold without F for a few months, but is to return to F at the end of the year.

And I think HKG is a more interesting destination for a holiday than SIN.