MEL-JFK advice please

[tosh04]

Hi all
I've never used points before to book international travel. After some advice on the best way to go about booking MEL-JFK return for Sep 2015. I've got around 356000 points and need to book for 2 adults and 2 kids.

Thanks in advance....

 

[Limewood]

Log in to QFF select cities and dates, tick box search Qantas and Partners Classic Awards see if available, 4 in Y possible but not enough points.

Might have to go via HKG if MEL/LAX/NYC not available.

 

[moa999]

Welcome to AFF.

It is not clear what points you have, but I will assume Qantas points.

Be prepared that you will need to pay additional taxes and fuel fines (and I would expect this to be almost $1000 pp).
Getting 4 award seats on the same aircraft is likely to be tough (and Im not sure if you have enough points in any event)
(eg. a Basic MEL-JFK return in Economy all on QF is 128,000 points plus $844.62 - more if you need to include other oneworld airlines - so at most you only have enough points for 2 tickets)

You also ideally want to be booking 12 months out, as most of the award seats for Sep 2015 will have already been snapped up.

That said you are best going through the call centre who can look at flight options on other oneworld carriers that wont show on the online tool.

 

[TomVexille]

Hi tosh04. Welcome to AFF!

Sorry to say that 356k QFF points is not going to get 4 people from MEL-JFK return.

 

[tosh04]

Thanks for quick responses. Yes they are Qantas points and do realise not enough for all 4 tix.

 

[tosh04]

Tanks for that - will do.

 

[tosh04]

Appreciate the tip - thanks.

Welcome to AFF.

It is not clear what points you have, but I will assume Qantas points.

Be prepared that you will need to pay additional taxes and fuel fines (and I would expect this to be almost $1000 pp).
Getting 4 award seats on the same aircraft is likely to be tough (and Im not sure if you have enough points in any event)
(eg. a Basic MEL-JFK return in Economy all on QF is 128,000 points plus $844.62 - more if you need to include other oneworld airlines - so at most you only have enough points for 2 tickets)

You also ideally want to be booking 12 months out, as most of the award seats for Sep 2015 will have already been snapped up.

That said you are best going through the call centre who can look at flight options on other oneworld carriers that wont show on the online tool.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I assume from your post today that you successfully used points to book your trip?

If so you might like to share your experiences.

 

[casanovawa]

With the prices of around $1000 for trips OZ-USA recently it would barely seem worth using points for economy flights once fuel surcharges started to be applied...

 

[Dr Ralph]

With the prices of around $1000 for trips OZ-USA recently it would barely seem worth using points for economy flights once fuel surcharges started to be applied...

True at the economy level, but not for the higher levels.

 

[tosh04]

Couldn't make it work with points in the end. Maybe next time.....