Qantas vs Virgin reward booking fees

[Alexh92]

I am new to reward bookings but have saved quite a few points for both brands with approx 300k for Qantas and 120k for Virgin. Looking at options to book flights and Qantas seems to charge ridiculous fee's while Virgin seems to just charge a small point fee for taxes/surcharges. Is this common knowledge? I.e qantas from LA to Syd return is like $800 with point use while Virgin just seems to be straight points unless I am doing something wrong...

I have always favoured Qantas but Virgin seems to be a much cheaper option when redeeming?

 

[Hoe Bing Lo]

Qantas is well known to charge high fees.

There is a good resource with points hack about the best value redemption with Qantas and virgin. Check it out, just Google points hack Qantas and it'll be there.

 

[RooFlyer]

The OP could go there, but better just to browse and ask here .

Yes, Qantas is notorious for additional cash charges with its award flights. If you redeem economy, the extra cash costs can almost add up to the price of a cheap paid economy fare! Its a nasty lesson to learn, but one that comes up quite regularly here.

A better cash value way to use QFF points is to upgrade a Y seat to J - but note you need to buy a Y class fare that can be upgraded (definitely not the cheapest) AND the number of up-gradable seats is limited. QFF points can also be used for award seats on other OneWorld carriers, and these can have cash costs much less than Qantas. Search on the Qantas web site for these.

 

[Alexh92]

Hmm looks like I will be switching my cards to virgin branded seems much better. Might use the qantas points on an around the world trip as this seems best option to use them up

 

[pauly7]

Hmm looks like I will be switching my cards to virgin branded seems much better. Might use the qantas points on an around the world trip as this seems best option to use them up

Check some dummy dates with both airlines first then read the thread on Virgins evaporating international seats that are available for points redemptions before you make any decisions!!

 

[Alexh92]

Check some dummy dates with both airlines first then read the thread on Virgins evaporating international seats that are available for points redemptions before you make any decisions!!

I just compared a flight from LA to Syd return. Qantas was like 128,000 points plus $800 approx while Virgin was around 110,000 points with no fee and much more availability. Seems silly to book with Qantas when you can buy a flight for near that price. I'm sure there are other comparisons but the Qantas fee's are giving me a bit of a shock. Upgrades are obviously a different comparison haven't looked into that

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

I just compared a flight from LA to Syd return. Qantas was like 128,000 points plus $800 approx while Virgin was around 110,000 points with no fee and much more availability. Seems silly to book with Qantas when you can buy a flight for near that price. I'm sure there are other comparisons but the Qantas fee's are giving me a bit of a shock. Upgrades are obviously a different comparison haven't looked into that

QF ain't alone in the fuel surchage area. SQ / BA / ANA / LH

I suppose if they cut back on the surcharges ten they'd make he awards more expensive.

I've given up on QFF lately. Hard to get a J seat when you want.

 

[Alexh92]

QF ain't alone in the fuel surchage area. SQ / BA / ANA / LH

I suppose if they cut back on the surcharges ten they'd make he awards more expensive.

I've given up on QFF lately. Hard to get a J seat when you want.

Hardly know what to do with my points with them. I don't really care about upgrades because I wouldnt generally buy a Qantas flight to upgrade. Round the world is about the only thing appealing to me since the classic awards seem hardly worth using the points for. Almost tempting to just use them on gift cards lol

 

[legroom]

Hardly know what to do with my points with them. I don't really care about upgrades because I wouldnt generally buy a Qantas flight to upgrade. Round the world is about the only thing appealing to me since the classic awards seem hardly worth using the points for. Almost tempting to just use them on gift cards lol

It's common knowledge (well, at least on AFF) what you're experiencing.

No surprises there at all !

The yield is better in these scenarios IMO:

1) Upgrade (especially from J to F)

2) RTW

3) F Award

4) J Award

......

Last on the list is Y redemption.

Browse AFF some more and you'll find that not everyone is stacking QFF points as they used to do.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I knew it was bad but this seems like a bad joke.
Obviously I lost interest in this booking.

 

[Mogul]

We are just about to head off to Shanghai from Sydney.

Qantas wanted 330,000 points (that's all I have) plus just under $6,000 return in J for 2.

VA were 420,00 points plus $335 return in J on SQ via Singapore for 2.

No brainer really.

 

[Hoe Bing Lo]

We are just about to head off to Shanghai from Sydney.

Qantas wanted 330,000 points (that's all I have) plus just under $6,000 return in J for 2.

VA were 420,00 points plus $335 return in J on SQ via Singapore for 2.

No brainer really.

Yes, take the one that needs lower points.