Using Velocity points to London in Sep 2014?

[PLANT]

Hi all,
Family has 300k+ Velocity points.
2 people to London from Brisbane would be on Ethiad all the way or Virgin to Abi Dhabi... then Ethiad to London?
Bronze member are they guaranteed seats?
Economy or business best use of points?
Is there a better route to take?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Velocity does not use the term Bronze, you are either Red or next up is Silver.
Would you be happy to go SQ, I would go via SIN, myself, if I were in your shoes/position.
Thats just on aesthetics, you might not have enough points to do/go the SQ route, but its an option.
Just that I am not too keen on going and supporting an Arabian country.
Reference: http://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Redeem/Airlines/PointsTables/index.htm
You can play around there to see what suits, if you want PY, or Y all the way.
Don't think 300,000 is enough to go Z (Business class redemption all the way), but enough for part way in Z.

 

[markis10]

Just that I am not too keen on going and supporting an Arabian country.

And EY own how much of VA????? so by virtue of said ownership any VA business at least partially shows support.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Mmm.
Didn't click in my pooch head, too true Markis.
And EY's CEO is now on VA's board too.

 

[PLANT]

So online
Brisbane to Singapore 82k in points business
Singapore to Heathrow 110k points in business
ONE WAY BOTH FLIGHT per person.

ARE Velocity business class seats limited?

 

[PLANT]

Is this the best option for using points to get to Heathrow don't mind Ethiad and is it better to go economy to get a seat/use of points?

 

[zainman]

Mmm.
Didn't click in my pooch head, too true Markis.
And EY's CEO is now on VA's board too.

It's okay.. at least he's Australian.

 

[PlutekPlutek]

So online
Brisbane to Singapore 82k in points business
Singapore to Heathrow 110k points in business
ONE WAY BOTH FLIGHT per person.

ARE Velocity business class seats limited?

That's huge. Almost 192k points one way or almost 400k return. Pretty sure that's way more than QF are asking? I think EK cost less points? Can anyone confirm?

 

[williamsf1]

That's huge. Almost 192k points one way or almost 400k return. Pretty sure that's way more than QF are asking? I think EK cost less points? Can anyone confirm?

BNE x/SIN LHR in J on SQ would be 175k points not 192k

VA/ EY would be cheaper

 

[777]

If you're planning on travelling in Sep 2014, the correct answer is probably "whatever you can get" ... availability will be thin so close to travel date.

 

[Frostydog007]

In April I booked 2 pax in J for 250k points + $224 ex Syd flying in Sept 14 on EY

 

[tekkyy]

That's huge. Almost 192k points one way or almost 400k return. Pretty sure that's way more than QF are asking? I think EK cost less points? Can anyone confirm?

well in March 2014 I booked for October 2014
SYD-DXB-LHR J QF for 128k QFF points + ~$575

EK doesn't cost less
same QFF points but only + ~$400 and more availability

it's lower because it's one ticket on QFF but two on VFF

 

[PlutekPlutek]

well in March 2014 I booked for October 2014
SYD-DXB-LHR J QF for 128k QFF points + ~$575

EK doesn't cost less
same QFF points but only + ~$400 and more availability

it's lower because it's one ticket on QFF but two on VFF

I agree, EK is the same as Qantas. I meant that EY costs less points than SQ. I understood the original poster as the points they stated were per person.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Is going Y all the way ok?
That would be paying just the taxes.
Rather than getting J one way, and having to pay cash (a lot) to fly one way $$$ on the way back, seeing Air Asia does not fly to LHR anymore (from KUL).
SQ and some of the other mainline carriers don't like one wayers, they charge a lot for it.
I have priced one wayers from ADL to SIN with SQ before the service was stopped, it was more expensive to fly a one wayer, than the one way trip of a return fare.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Plutekplutek, I think its 300,000 for the both of them, not 300,000 each. So they will be getting one way J, and then having to pay for the return.
If it was 300,000 each, wow, that would be enough for J all the way!
Now we wait for the OP to confirm.

 

[PLANT]

Well it turns out they have 300k in velocity points and 680k in Qantas ff points.
Any suggested routes to London and points cost for 2 people return in Sept 2014.
Also can you get stopover on way and back?

 

[bulldog88]

Well it turns out they have 300k in velocity points and 680k in Qantas ff points.
Any suggested routes to London and points cost for 2 people return in Sept 2014.
Also can you get stopover on way and back?

If you're looking for business seats I would be flexible and check flights to Birmingham (Emirates) and Manchester (Emirates & Etihad), not far from London anyway.

I think VA/Etihad will be 250,000 points return in Business per person
QF/Emirates 256,000 each but higher taxes.

 

[notzac]

it's lower because it's one ticket on QFF but two on VFF

I'd say it's higher with VFF because SQ awards have insane pricing - if you look for EY flights instead, SYD-LHR via AUH in J is 125k points + $82.62 in taxes + $30.00 CC fee.

 

[zainman]

I'd say it's higher with VFF because SQ awards have insane pricing - if you look for EY flights instead, SYD-LHR via AUH in J is 125k points + $82.62 in taxes + $30.00 CC fee.

I recommend using more points to bring the taxes figure down to under $50 so the $30 CC fee is waived.

 

[tekkyy]

I'd say it's higher with VFF because SQ awards have insane pricing - if you look for EY flights instead, SYD-LHR via AUH in J is 125k points + $82.62 in taxes + $30.00 CC fee.

Oh I see. Not too bad then.
The VFF website Mileage Calculator says "Not Available" and I incorrectly thought it had to be two tickets.