Which points are worth more? QF or VA?

[Warks]

I'm just looking at some reward bookings to the South Island of NZ in a year's time. Trying to fly into CHC (Christcurch) or ZQN (Queenstown). With QF I can now book on 27 December 2014 to CHC but can't book more than '331 days' in advance with VA. It's worse than that for rewards though - the earliest flight I can book with reward points is 30 November. For some reason dates in the first half of December (no good to me anyway) show as "sold out" for all classes which is patently false.

Anyway back to the topic. This is for four people.
QF SYD-CHC 72 000 points PLUS $378.

VA SYD-ZQN 108 800 points OR
67 600 points PLUS $328.

I thought VA points were worth a fair bit more but looking at this they are the same, more or less.

Not sure how this works out for other calculations and I guess this isn't exactly an apples with apples comparison because of different destinations but pretty similar distances. I note that VA flights vary in the number of points too.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. I've got a feeling this has been covered before but not for a while maybe.

 

[AdMEL]

I'm just looking at some reward bookings to the South Island of NZ in a year's time. Trying to fly into CHC (Christcurch) or ZQN (Queenstown). With QF I can now book on 27 December 2014 to CHC but can't book more than '331 days' in advance with VA. It's worse than that for rewards though - the earliest flight I can book with reward points is 30 November. For some reason dates in the first half of December (no good to me anyway) show as "sold out" for all classes which is patently false.

Anyway back to the topic. This is for four people.
QF SYD-CHC 72 000 points PLUS $378.

VA SYD-ZQN 108 800 points OR
67 600 points PLUS $328.

I thought VA points were worth a fair bit more but looking at this they are the same, more or less.

Not sure how this works out for other calculations and I guess this isn't exactly an apples with apples comparison because of different destinations but pretty similar distances. I note that VA flights vary in the number of points too.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. I've got a feeling this has been covered before but not for a while maybe.

I notice that you are comparing two different destinations, which on the surface, is not a fair comparison, unless VA to CHC is the same number of points. My guess is it will be significantly less, given the cash value of the fare to CHC is significantly less than to ZQN.

 

[mark4217]

Correct adMEL. No point comparing apples with oranges. Destinations have different levels of value. My guess is Syd/CHC comp between 2 will show significant difference . Hey, will jump on iPad and have a look. Back soon.

 

[mark4217]

Are your quoted per person or for total 4pax?

 

[serfty]

Looking at reward booking purely, it depends on where you wish to travel and how.

Also, for cost in points and $$ and how one can garner same.

e.g. MEL-LAX one-way on VA is 94K velocity and $96, QFF for the same route is 96K and $508.

The former is no good if you can't generate Velocity points.

 

[drron]

Bit of a toss up for me.have looked at SIN-BNE awards early next year.Points required + copayment nearly identical.
Also booked award from NAN-SYD later in the year.For dates QF was nearly the same in J as VA in Y+.
I am sure you will find some routes where VA is better and some where QF is better.
But seeing my main program is OW then I rate QF more than VA.
And in my honeymoon stage of my affair with LM so value those more than VA!
To each his own as always.

 

[mark4217]

VA 67,600 + $440 tax SYD -CHC-SYD. Dec not available yet. Maybe QF is best option if you can book now.

 

[JohnK]

The value is different for everyone.

No point saying "earn and burn is great" if you cant earn points easily with that airline.

FWIW I value Velocity points at ~0.5c each as their use is very limited to me. Qantas offers me a little more variety.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

As others have said, the value is different for everyone. Just one data point, SYD-MEL one way in economy:

QF - 8,000 points + $35 in taxes
VA - 6,900 +$21 in taxes

Given that for a SYD-MEL return with work I would earn 2,000 QFF points, but as a Gold earn 4,000+ Velocity points....

 

[JohnK]

Given that for a SYD-MEL return with work I would earn 2,000 QFF points, but as a Gold earn 4,000+ Velocity points....

So your employer has spent at least $457 for that return airfare?

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

So your employer has spent at least $457 for that return airfare?

Yes I usually travel on flexible fares because of work timing requirements, and both VA and QF price out at around this level. Definitely less expensive than when QF had a lock on the market, they used to charge up to $700 for a flexible ticket!