Help! I have over 2 million Qantas Points I can never seem to use!

[CaptJCool]

It would seem that availability ex any Australian city except Sydney and Melbourne is far better ....

There was a recent article Joyce says there is strong case for Qantas-Emirates alliance to be reauthorised | Australian Aviation suggesting redemptions on EK by QF FF members had risen significantly.

I can't find the one that has the figures. 486,000 mainly international over 5 years while EK Skywards members 70,000 mainly qantas domestic ....so they are there.....

Lastly with the advent of Perth-London and A380 re-routings via Singapore there has been some Classic Rewards seats on the QF Website.

 

[serfty]

can anyone add times for some of the others eg AA?

If looking at the limit it is midnight in DFW OR midnight at the origin, whatever is later (e.g. LAX is two hours after DFW).

Note that AA don't tend to have much availability at that time these days; it seems to pop up (if it's going to) 2 days or two weeks after that.

 

[CaptJCool]

If looking at the limit it is midnight in DFW OR midnight at the origin, whatever is later (e.g. LAX is two hours after DFW).

Note that AA don't tend to have much availability at that time these days; it seems to pop up (if it's going to) 2 days or two weeks after that.

And now with the Melb-San Fran route opening, here's the info from AFF on that
Qantas Launches Direct Melbourne-San Francisco Flights

 

[vlocity160]

There was a recent article Joyce says there is strong case for Qantas-Emirates alliance to be reauthorised | Australian Aviation suggesting redemptions on EK by QF FF members had risen significantly.

We looked at redeeming points to Europe for July 2018 late last year and the points that were required for EK flights were reasonable, the taxes however were through the roof! Definitely couldn't justify it.

Lastly with the advent of Perth-London and A380 re-routings via Singapore there has been some Classic Rewards seats on the QF Website.

There's been an increase in classic rewards seats available via the website? Is that what you're saying? Sorry don't understand exactly what you mean by that statement. Thanks!

 

[RichardMEL]

Well the "taxes" (aka real taxes and "fake news" QF surcharges) have long been the bane of many a QF flyer.

One option is flying through HKG where the law forbids this, so charges should be less. Also note flying OUT of the UK in a premium cabin attracts a horrid APD price to be aware of..

These charges are why many people tend to pick their awards to lower these or redeem points on upgrades or other things.

Of course as a points rich, status poor flyer had you considered "paying" the carrier surcharges also with points?(I think this is an option still)?

The problem with the carrier surcharges is that sure, one could try another program like AA which doesn't (yet) do this kind of thing, but you're still stuck with all those QFF points. And wanting to travel at peak demand imes you're up against those with status even when trying at the first possible chance... so you're up against it from that point of view.

With that in mind, I'd look to secondary destinations in Europe. Say you want to go to LHR or CDG maybe loook to places like MXP or AMS or MUC/FRA where one can easily get to the other points in Europe via rail or cheap flight.. it would also open up the options for reward seats that aren't to the mega popular hubs. Also looking for flights originating in other oz cities

 

[mviy]

My strategy is to build towards lifetime status and accumulate points and then redeem points later on.

LTS is going to be better than being a NB.

 

[Dr Ralph]

My strategy is to build towards lifetime status and accumulate points and then redeem points later on.

LTS is going to be better than being a NB.

Good strategy, but I'd be worried about points being devalued by that time or even the scheme collapsing completely. I've seen too many people loose a lot of money buying gift cards with businesses that went broke before they could use their cards.

 

[mviy]

Well I do use some points for upgrades (but I try to replace those points straight away with points from flying and credit card sign up bonuses) and may end up breaking with my strategy from time to time or permanently as budget dictates.

You can progress to lifetime status pretty quickly if you can maintain WP. However if I use my points for classic awards on my personal big international trips then maintaining WP won’t be realistic.

It’s the big dilemma. Status helps with redeeming seats using points but if you do so it becomes harder/impossible to maintain status.

 

[JohnK]

The game gets harder and harder if you've only got a small window ~12 months out to book.

I've been saving points for a long time hoping I can use those points on economy Oneworld awards and now there are 3 of us. It would be interesting to see what's available when we get around to try using those points.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The game gets harder and harder if you've only got a small window ~12 months out to book.

I've been saving points for a long time hoping I can use those points on economy Oneworld awards and now there are 3 of us. It would be interesting to see what's available when we get around to try using those points.

The advantage is that economy award availability is generally wide open save for a very few blackout dates.

But with fares at their current rock bottom levels (singapore airlines $900 return to europe, premium economy return to europe and USA on china airlines for $1500... with points crediting to delta and redeemable on virgin australia)... how do the taxes fees and carrier charges stack up?

 

[mviy]

I know some families that use economy awards. Very easy to get but often the taxes aren't that much cheaper than an economy fare on a good sale meaning the value per point is very poor.

I'd want to use my points for J/F seats (one of the reasons I'm trying to accumulate a lot as I know that just one trip would use up a huge amount of points). But then booking for one versus booking for a family is a big difference.

 

[JohnK]

But with fares at their current rock bottom levels (singapore airlines $900 return to europe, premium economy return to europe and USA on china airlines for $1500... with points crediting to delta and redeemable on virgin australia)... how do the taxes fees and carrier charges stack up?

Taxes and surcharges are awful. I'm too scared to look.

Looking at something like SYD-SFO-JFK-GLA-ATH-BKK-SYD. There will obviously be transit points and preference of QF/EK where possible on longer legs. Not sure what a revenue airfare would cost. To me that's worth ~$3,000 per person so if taxes are ~$1,500 per person I'm getting a return of ~1c/point. Not great but certainly better than nothing.

What else is there to do?

 

[rock86]

Taxes and surcharges are awful. I'm too scared to look.

Looking at something like SYD-SFO-JFK-GLA-ATH-BKK-SYD. There will obviously be transit points and preference of QF/EK where possible on longer legs. Not sure what a revenue airfare would cost. To me that's worth ~$3,000 per person so if taxes are ~$1,500 per person I'm getting a return of ~1c/point. Not great but certainly better than nothing.

What else is there to do?

Buy toasters

 

[big_RED]

For me, being Silver Qantas it is really all about:

1. Booking 353/308 days in advance and knowing my travel requirements a year out (I set a calendar reminder on the booking date so I don't forget to book)
2. Spending a while doing as much due diligence as possible across Qantas' search functionality and trying to enter/exit varies ports rather than going on the most direct/convenient route. (which is unfortunate as it might extend the travel time, or cut into additional annual leave dates)

Over the last year though I've been extremely fortunate to have been able to do all my overseas travel to America in Business class with Qantas (a first in Business, and a first using points!) so it's been quite exciting. Previously I'd have booked too close to the date, but learning about the 353/308 booking period I feel has given me more options. Also looking to land in San Fran, LAX or Dallas and conducting searches for all these options has given me better availability.

I've been able to do 3 x Business return to either San Fran or LAX (for 2 pax), and just last week, somehow, I picked up 1st class SYD to Dallas for November '18!!!! And then the return in Business from San Fran.

And obviously, the last bit of advice is - if you're not Platinum, then I'd say travelling at peak periods (e.g. over Christmas) is just a no go zone for awards bookings for America. Based on my experience. I just know I don't have the status to compete.

 

[zoomzoom]

Yep, there is a problem with QF. In my experience they are the meanest and most expensive airline when it comes to FF points. The taxes they imose are nothing short of robbery. eg. If for example you can find a couple of J class tickets to the USA the taxes and charges are virtually a return economy ticket price. If you use say AA taxes and charges are nominal!

I dumped QF years ago, only fly them when necessary for domestic travel. There are heaps of better and less expensive carriers out there. Better product, lower prices, newer better aircraft. .,I just love fully flat herringbone beds! And often better and more service oriented crew. (Some QF crew are nothing short of appalling)

 

[rock86]

I do love the bagging of QF's surcharges and taxes on QFF redemption's, always get's peoples blood boiling.

As a member I think it completely sucks when looking at some of the other FF programs, but then I'm still getting business/first class experiences for less then the price of an economy ticket so I'm not too unhappy.

Then I think about it as an investor and businessman - it is great policy and one that will cover part of the inventory cost to QF on the redemption but having them still earning a nice little penny for the QFF points QF Loyalty are selling.

 

[edwina86]

and just last week, somehow, I picked up 1st class SYD to Dallas for November '18!!!! And then the return in Business from San Fran.

me too! might see you in the Flounge!

 

[Mattyana2003]

QF doesn't make finding seats easy. But they are usually there, somewhere. Either on QF flights, or Emirates or Cathay. Cathay is best searched Australia to Hing kong, and then hong-kong to Europe separately... you can do this a multi-city booking so it's still all on the one ticket and the same number of points. Other partners simply aren't on line... you need to search using the British Airways tool (free, but you need an account with a UK address), or the Japan Airlines tool (free, no account restrictions).

Last year looking to come back from Europe there was nothing on the QF site 'dates not available', but searching found a combination of Finnair and Emirates via SIN. And that was for two seats. Booked via the call centre.

For a small fee there are also award search assistance companies (one is even provided by AFF).

After reading this I joined JAL looking for 3 x J Tokyo to Sydney in 11-12 months time. Seems to be zero availabilty with everything listed as “wait list”. Any hints on when availability comes up on JAL or how to navigate this clunky web site?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

After reading this I joined JAL looking for 3 x J Tokyo to Sydney in 11-12 months time. Seems to be zero availabilty with everything listed as “wait list”. Any hints on when availability comes up on JAL or how to navigate this clunky web site?

BA's tool is more user friendly in terms of searching across dates (and not just for JL but also CX for example). I then cross reference the BA results with JL if there are known issues with phantom seats (for example QF or CX).

 

[cove]

I find we use lots of our Qantas points to fly from Perth to Melbourne or Sydney and return in business class than for international. Business class for those runs on the A330 using points saves quite a lot of cash and represents a high value saving for us.