Once a year flyer...Qantas or Virgin?

[Powerballsam]

I am looking to take the family to Disneyworld around September. So basicly SYD to MCO.

Assuming I am bronze member in both Frequent Flyer programs, and the money for the flights is roughly the same. We are flying in economy. We are once a year flyers at best.

Which airline would you travel on?

 

[mannej]

How long is a piece of string? I would personally make a choice and go with it. There are so many factors such as timing, how many in the family etc.

At the end of the day yes you do get the 380 out of SYD, but you are the only one who can really make that decision either way.

 

[Mogul]

Depending on how many in your family VA would be my choice. Register everyone for VFF and pool points to one family member at least that way one of you will probably attain some form of status.

 

[UP4014]

If it was me, I would choose QF and hence AA. Allows for more flight opportunities when the connections don't work.

Matt

 

[Powerballsam]

There is 5 of us. 2 adults and 3 children.

 

[harvyk]

Either / or...

For me I'd pick QF, but then again I like QF... If you have no real alignment (actual or simply "like") with either airline, and the price is the same, chose by schedule... It's as good as any way to pick.

 

[drewbles]

Based purely on being able to family pool, i'd choose VA (as another person mentioned, you'd gain some status at least).

You're looking at 5 x 80 SC's alone for SYD-LAX in Discount Y (for the return) so there's Silver, and depending how you add the LAX-MCO leg on, you could easily end up with Gold (it'd be 200SC's based on discount Y LAX-MCO-LAX).

I actually prefer VA's Y offering to QF's, but YMMV.

And depending on fare classes, you'd be looking at around 48530 Velocity points.

Of course, if you go QF, you could do SYD-DFW-MCO as well.

 

[markis10]

Based purely on being able to family pool, i'd choose VA (as another person mentioned, you'd gain some status at least).

You're looking at 5 x 80 SC's alone for SYD-LAX in Discount Y (for the return) so there's Silver, and depending how you add the LAX-MCO leg on, you could easily end up with Gold (it'd be 200SC's based on discount Y LAX-MCO-LAX).

I actually prefer VA's Y offering to QF's, but YMMV.

And depending on fare classes, you'd be looking at around 48530 Velocity points.

Of course, if you go QF, you could do SYD-DFW-MCO as well.

I don't think status enters into the equation for a once a year flyer, the value of points do and with QF being more flexible with family transfers it takes the advantage VA have away re pooling, flip a coin!

 

[drewbles]

I don't think status enters into the equation for a once a year flyer, the value of points do and with QF being more flexible with family transfers it takes the advantage VA have away re pooling, flip a coin!

Both QF and VA allow 4 per year, up to 100k per transfer, so that doesn't help either side.

VA's points are arguably better for redeeming flights, as taxes are massively less for international flights, and availability is vastly superior to QF (at least in my experience and supported by anecdotal evidence).

A once-a-year flyer may not be concerned with status, but it is an added bonus regardless (and, i've not factored in the bonus points earned as a result of this; whilst marginal, it does add up).

Status will also help in the event of irrops (at least on VA metal, not on VX or DL so much) which may be helpful for a family of 5.

 

[Austff]

If you are not chasing status I would go with whoever is cheaper for the dates you want , use the savings to do more in Orlando , & there is plenty to do .
Sept is good time to go , good weather & less crowds , if family members want to shop , leave OZ with 1 bag each & buy everything there as its a shoppers paradise .

 

[nonpop]

Based purely on being able to family pool, i'd choose VA (as another person mentioned, you'd gain some status at least).

You're looking at 5 x 80 SC's alone for SYD-LAX in Discount Y (for the return) so there's Silver, and depending how you add the LAX-MCO leg on, you could easily end up with Gold (it'd be 200SC's based on discount Y LAX-MCO-LAX).

I actually prefer VA's Y offering to QF's, but YMMV.

And depending on fare classes, you'd be looking at around 48530 Velocity points.

Of course, if you go QF, you could do SYD-DFW-MCO as well.

+1 to my support on this.

Status is a funny thing ... when you have it, you tend to fly more IMHO.
Having access to status perks may also 'encourage' more flying or at the very least, provide some perks on their next trip if within 12 months.
And a Gold with soft landing to Silver isn't that bad either.
The family pooling would make it achievable.

 

[Mwenenzi]

If you are not chasing status I would go with whoever is cheaper for the dates you want.....

For 5 people the costs soon add up
Also there is
- United (B777 coming)
- Delta
- Air NZ, via AKL with UA for domestic
- Hawiian

A once a year flyer is not going to get many miles. Status will give little if not flying
For me I would go with QF, do a famly transfer and keep the account alive by shopping once a year at Woolworths (everydayrewards.com.au). If the family are not QF freq flyers now join via Woolies for free

 

[drewbles]

For 5 people the costs soon add up
Also there is
- United (B777 coming)
- Delta
- Air NZ, via AKL with UA for domestic
- Hawiian

A once a year flyer is not going to get many miles. Status will give little if not flying
For me I would go with QF, do a famly transfer and keep the account alive by shopping once a year at Woolworths (everydayrewards.com.au). If the family are not QF freq flyers now join via Woolies for free

No one would fly UA or DL long haul willingly though.

NZ via AKL and LAX and possibly a third hop in the USA with 3 kids is not going to be fun.

Flights from Hawaii to the mainland are pricy, and it's still yet another hop to add in.

VA is typically cheaper than QF to the USA (and connecting flights have proven to be very competitive).

Any other reason you'd fly QF? The FF program is definitely not worthwhile considering when compared to VA (and there are still ample opportunities to earn VA miles outside of flying, albeit not as good as EDR, but if EDR is your only method of earning outside an aircraft, you're going to take a *long* time to earn anything, and then have to cough up a *lot* in taxes and fuel fines).

This isn't chasing status, it's acquiring it by fortune (ie, the 'fortune' that there are 5 people travelling together).

 

[Powerballsam]

Just to get it in prospective, if after this flight we are possibly planning on a get away to Las Vegas (adults only no children) in June 15 does that change anything?
Roughly how much does a rewards flight to Las Vegas cost with Virgin compared to Qantas?

 

[AdMEL]

Just to get it in prospective, if after this flight we are possibly planning on a get away to Las Vegas (adults only no children) in June 15 does that change anything?
Roughly how much does a rewards flight to Las Vegas cost with Virgin compared to Qantas?

Then definitely VA. You won't earn anywhere near enough points for the Las Vegas trip, but Gold status that you will likely achieve (as detailed above), will provide some useful benefits, including lounge access, priority boarding, better seat selection, increased luggage allowance.

 

[drewbles]

Just to get it in prospective, if after this flight we are possibly planning on a get away to Las Vegas (adults only no children) in June 15 does that change anything?
Roughly how much does a rewards flight to Las Vegas cost with Virgin compared to Qantas?

As a rough guide, here's a random Classic Award quote from QF:

So, $861.16 per person, *plus* 96000 points. Simply ridiculous considering what you can pay for the flight (you can get SYD-LAS for around $1500 at times).

VA doesn't allow the LAX-LAS part being booked online, but SYD-LAX is 94000 points (return, each) and around $136.76. Even if you did that and paid for a LAX-LAS flight (usually sub-$100 each way per person), you'd still be streets ahead of QF.

 

[Powerballsam]

So if we fly Virgin one of the adults gets to gold and we have enough points to get a Sydney to lax flight for $132. Qantas no status and we have to pay $800 odd for the same flight.

 

[drewbles]

So if we fly Virgin one of the adults gets to gold and we have enough points to get a Sydney to lax flight for $132. Qantas no status and we have to pay $800 odd for the same flight.

Actually, it's around $100 for the SYD-LAX and around $36 for LAX-SYD. Keep in mind though, the airlines don't price international flights like they do for domestic, ie a one way is often more than a return. You may be better off using the VA points for something else, or saving them up. Look at supplementing them with on-ground spends and credit cards (shopandearn.com.au is good, but points can take months to come through). Beef it up to the requisite 94000 and at least one of the returns would be free.

But in a nutshell, yes. One adult will get Gold, which entitles you and a guest to lounge access, bonus points when flying, better seating allocation, business check-in and priority boarding. Not a bad deal for doing nothing more than taking a family holiday IMHO.

 

[medhead]

If you're not always going to take your once a year flight to the US. Is say Virgin for family pooling and cheaper airfares that are generally available closer to the date of travel.

Partner network can be an issue and points earning opportunities are lower.

 

[eastwest101]

I notice that in ITA matrix that fares start rising around the magical date of 15th Sept, so I am assuming that this is the school holidays effect on airfares in action, as some other posters often say - price probably an important consideration and then maybe timing, it depends if you want to arrive/depart the USA in either LAX or DFW so only the OP will know how good or bad the kids are as travellers or in transit. I have found most kids are great on the aircraft and often can sleep easier than adults but some kids can deal with customs immigration and transit at airports better than others.

Via LAX whether it VA & DL or QF with AA I am seeing mostly around $1500-$1600 per person (or $11K-$12K AUD$ total but different ages of kids and particular dates will change prices of course)
Via DFW with QF and then AA is only a hunderd dollars more so (or $12K-$13K total so almost the same price).
Via SFO with UA then its still about the same amount of money.
Via AKL on NZ just introduces an extra stop at AKL but may be worthwhile considering if its a massive price difference.

A lot of people dismiss american carriers like UA or DL out of hand but as you are spending lots of money flying 2 adults and 3 kids even in Y class the fare differences can add up, and hey it is Y class after all, whatever you choose you will arrive in MCO alive and in one piece but jetlagged. If all the prices were the same or within 5% of each other then I personally might choose QF via DFW or even UA via SFO but that would be my personal preference to avoid LAX. Its a personal choice but if its say $50 cheaper for each person but it means a 5hr layover in LAX as opposed to a 3hr layover in LAX only you can make the decision about whether that $250 saving for the 5 of you is worthwhile or not. Being on holiday you also have to think about what $250 will get you when you are in the USA - say an extra day at Disney World or an extra nights acomodation etc

If you don't fly that often then earning status or indeed points in either VA QF or even UA or DL is probably not that important to you, unless you can pool all the status and points to one person and use them again to redeem say a cheaper points +pay flight or upgrade from Y to J class on either QFF or Velocity.