Your advice please for booking Qantas FF seats Syd - LHR - but not via Melbourne

[Kate_v]

Hi Everyone

Thanks for such a useful site. Sorry to ask such a basic question but we have been saving and saving our Qantas FF forever points to book a family holiday from Australia to the UK next June and I really want to get it right! We have between us a bit over 658,000 points and are both bronze members.

I wanted your advice on how to best book 5 FF seats for 2 adults and 3 young kids SYD to LHR for around June 25 2011. Return around 23 Jul 2011. I have been looking at the Qantas FF site and notice that all flights seem to go via Melbourne which for us seems a hassle. We want to get there and back as directly and quickly as we can. The kids will probably be fine for more than 24 hours but I get cabin fever!

Should I do it by phone and pay the extra points? What seats should I book? Can I opt for another partner carrier instead of Qantas?

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[markis10]

Not sure how you can see availability and options when its over a year away? How did you get that info?

 

[Kate_v]

Oh - sorry. I can't see for those dates yet - only what is there eg: as at today's date you can book up to June 6, 2011.

 

[medhead]

I'm not sure how you can be seeing award flights for that time as the flights are only released no more that 12 months in advance, or maybe even 355 days in advance.

I just did a quick search and I can see economy SYD-LHR on 1 June 2011 on QF 31 and QF 32 return on 6 June 2011 for 2adults+3kids. But then I am a gold member and I believe I'm given more options. So you're status might give you fewer options. I'm not sure if ring up would over come the status differences. But I'm sure others can advise on that point.

For those same days I can also see flights on Cathy pacific via Hong Kong.

One big tip is that you would probably be best booking each leg separately when they come available. As if you would need to wait until July to book the flights together and a lot of the award seats for June might have been snapped up by then.

 

[kamchatsky]

If you are doing more than straight SYD-LHR return, you may want to consider 35K miles OW award for 142500 points for each adult. U are allowed 5 stopovers around the world. You need to have at least 2 OneWorld airlines in your itinerary (eg British Airways and Cathay Pacific). It is one of the best value redemptions given you can do a lot more stops around the world

Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Qantas & Partner Classic Awards - Points Tables

 

[anat0l]

Hi Kate_v, welcome to AFF.

Keep in mind that you can only book reward seats about 353 days in advance.

I had a look at the QFF website myself and tried to do a dummy booking with my account (2 adults & 3 kids); of course I don't have enough points... but anyway I can see your dilemma. Almost every outbound route wants you to go via MEL, which is wierd (I'm guessing that the MEL flights have smaller loads). The only other option I could find (and I did not check thoroughly on all dates) was SYD-HKG then HKG-LHR (overnight flight to HKG, 2 hr connection then flight to LHR). Although I didn't look very hard so glad to hear from medhead that there is an option for QF31 on select dates (probably not easy to find, however).

As for inbound from LHR, most of the options on days forced me to book on CX, which is a partner award hence attracts a higher cost in points than a QF Classic. I did manage to find one day that gave me QF32 (direct to SYD via SIN). I did see an option to go back via the USA, but as much as that can be a bit insane (since you get cabin fever) it is also expensive (because BA flights except for Kangaroo routes are considered partner awards).

If you can't see these options, you may need to call QF and work out whether you can squeeze onto particular flights or beg with the agent to help you find a suitable routing.

Do keep in mind that partner awards are higher in cost than QF Classic awards, which will probably blow your points budget unless you have another truckload of points coming in soon. Also, since the points are split between you, you may need to ask/beg QF if you can use the balance in both your accounts if it is one booking. Otherwise, you will need to book twice - once using your account (and whatever points you have) and once using your partner's account.

 

[kamchatsky]

Hi Kate_v, welcome to AFF.

Keep in mind that you can only book reward seats about 353 days in advance.

I had a look at the QFF website myself and tried to do a dummy booking with my account (2 adults & 3 kids); of course I don't have enough points... but anyway I can see your dilemma. Almost every outbound route wants you to go via MEL, which is wierd (I'm guessing that the MEL flights have smaller loads). The only other option I could find (and I did not check thoroughly on all dates) was SYD-HKG then HKG-LHR (overnight flight to HKG, 2 hr connection then flight to LHR). Although I didn't look very hard so glad to hear from medhead that there is an option for QF31 on select dates (probably not easy to find, however).

As for inbound from LHR, most of the options on days forced me to book on CX, which is a partner award hence attracts a higher cost in points than a QF Classic. I did manage to find one day that gave me QF32 (direct to SYD via SIN). I did see an option to go back via the USA, but as much as that can be a bit insane (since you get cabin fever) it is also expensive (because BA flights except for Kangaroo routes are considered partner awards).

If you can't see these options, you may need to call QF and work out whether you can squeeze onto particular flights or beg with the agent to help you find a suitable routing.

Do keep in mind that partner awards are higher in cost than QF Classic awards, which will probably blow your points budget unless you have another truckload of points coming in soon. Also, since the points are split between you, you may need to ask/beg QF if you can use the balance in both your accounts if it is one booking. Otherwise, you will need to book twice - once using your account (and whatever points you have) and once using your partner's account.

If QF engine does "force" you to book partner awards, then I strongly suggest you consider OneWorld round the world award.

 

[anat0l]

If QF engine does "force" you to book partner awards, then I strongly suggest you consider OneWorld round the world award.

Not a bad idea, as long as Kate_v is open to more travel, and can find another 50,000+ points.

As I also said, if the points are split across two accounts, that can create a problem...

 

[kamchatsky]

Not a bad idea, as long as Kate_v is open to more travel, and can find another 50,000+ points.

As I also said, if the points are split across two accounts, that can create a problem...

That's when you hope QF will again offer the 50K point bonus offer for signing up their QF Amex Ultimate Card.

Also OP can transfer points between the two accounts, so that they can maximise their point utilisation?

 

[anat0l]

Also OP can transfer points between the two accounts, so that they can maximise their point utilisation?

Transfers of points between members of QFF can only be through the Family Transfers option, and the T&Cs limit the number of points that can be transferred between eligible family members per year. See:

Combining points with other Frequent Flyers to redeem an Award

and

Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Family Transfers

and

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions

QFF may waive on this but then again they may not...

 

[futaris]

If you can't combine the points, and can't get availability for 5 people on all sectors, consider flying on different flights and/or dates. e.g. 1 adult with 2 kids, 1 adult with 1 kid.

Generally, the more people traveling together and doing things together, the more complicated a booking is. This pretty much goes for any booking, not necessarily a frequent flyer booking.