QFF points vs cash

[brenty80]

Apologies if there’s a thread about this. Been trying to find one!

I’m wondering if there’s a formula that helps me decide if it’s better to use points vs pay cash.

EG 8,000 points + $40 one way to ADL or $120 cash. How do I know which is better value?

 

[Steveinparadise]

I guess everyone has a slightly different view on the “value” of a point. Personally I value them at 1c each, in which case your two options are equal.
But apart from the value you place on a point, your circumstances may make one of those options better than the other. For example, if you are saving up for a larger reward (eg an international trip) you may prefer to hold the points and pay the full cash fare for this trip.
On the other hand, if you have no other use for the points, then it may be better to use them for this trip rather than have them (eventually) expire.

 

[aikman]

I also value my points at 1c each so from a dollar perspective your two options are equal.

Other things I would consider are
- the award ticket has free cancellation while the cash ticket does not
- the cash ticket earns status credits while the award ticket does not

 

[Seat0B]

If you are saving points for a bigger reward, you might also consider the risk of your points being "enhanced" in the future by some sort of points devaluation, or the risk of losing your points as many people experienced in the past with Ansett if the airline should go out of business. There are varying opinions on here about how secure Qantas is financially, and we all know about old Virgin.

Also, as pointed out by @aikman, you can cancel an award ticket without any penalties at the moment until 30 April.

So unless you are after the status credits that come with a paid ticket, the award option might be better at the moment given the frequent short notice border closures etc - faster and easier to get your points and taxes back than to get your money back if you just change your mind about the trip.

 

[hachoo]

Also, as pointed out by @aikman, you can cancel an award ticket without any penalties at the moment until 30 April.

This is the most enticing reason imo to use points at the moment. I have qf credit already from previous cancelled flights which i already am hesitant to use and the ease of which to cancel award flights on my phone without penalty really takes the pressure off, particularly with previous border closure timings.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Things to think of too.
As mentioned above, is there somewhere down the "runway" that you can save points for, maybe a flight to CTS, maybe something closer.
Do you need the SC to retain status?
For me, I a lowly NR at the moment, with no hope now (due to finances) of getting to PS/SG, (but have in the past), so I tend to burn my points, either with P+P or buy Y and put in a cash upgrade/points upgrade request, (J as an upgrade award).
If you say you have 8000 or more of QFF points, and are up the QF SC ladder, you could buy that subclass of Y fare, and put in an upgrade request to J.
But for the basic of flying, if you are not interested in attaining/retaining status, using 8000 points plus $40 for taxes for a quick 1 hr flight, is not bad.
Have done that with QFF in the past.
Just used P+P to get back from BNE to ADL, reduced a $190 fare down to about $130 or so, 14000 QFF points, and I still earn 15 QFF SC.

 

[andye]

Things to think of too.
As mentioned above, is there somewhere down the "runway" that you can save points for, maybe a flight to CTS, maybe something closer.
Do you need the SC to retain status?
For me, I a lowly NR at the moment, with no hope now (due to finances) of getting to PS/SG, (but have in the past), so I tend to burn my points, either with P+P or buy Y and put in a cash upgrade/points upgrade request, (J as an upgrade award).
If you say you have 8000 or more of QFF points, and are up the QF SC ladder, you could buy that subclass of Y fare, and put in an upgrade request to J.
But for the basic of flying, if you are not interested in attaining/retaining status, using 8000 points plus $40 for taxes for a quick 1 hr flight, is not bad.
Have done that with QFF in the past.
Just used P+P to get back from BNE to ADL, reduced a $190 fare down to about $130 or so, 14000 QFF points, and I still earn 15 QFF SC.

Surely you can find a better redemption than 0.4c Pooch?

 

[justinbrett]

1c is a little conservative
SYD-LAX in J one way is around 100K - that's got to be work minimum $3K - which is around 3c
SYD-DRW upgrade from (d)Y to J is around 27K, worth around $1K - that's well over 3c.

I think a lot of the articles (eg Choice) come up with figures like 1c which is weighed heavily on Y redemptions - which is the worst way to use your points. Well, the worst way flying Qantas.

I guess if you don't value premium classes then you would have to value them on the lower end. I almost always use mine for either long haul J redemptions or any J upgrades (mostly domestic) - the few times I've done Y redemptions is where the cash fare is high but they have classic rewards available.

 

[andye]

1c is a little conservative
SYD-LAX in J one way is around 100K - that's got to be work minimum $3K - which is around 3c
SYD-DRW upgrade from (d)Y to J is around 27K, worth around $1K - that's well over 3c.

I think a lot of the articles (eg Choice) come up with figures like 1c which is weighed heavily on Y redemptions - which is the worst way to use your points. Well, the worst way flying Qantas.

I guess if you don't value premium classes then you would have to value them on the lower end. I almost always use mine for either long haul J redemptions or any J upgrades (mostly domestic) - the few times I've done Y redemptions is where the cash fare is high but they have classic rewards available.

Yes but the proposition changes if you would not normally pay a J fare with cash

Personally I would not generate points for more than 1c nor would I redeem for less. I'd usually reckon to get at least 2c value just dividing the (marketed fare-surcharge) by (points+points forgone by not paying cash)

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I am not into all those valuations.
If I want, to fly J, I will just put in a request, now at NR, so won't have a lot of a chance to use points upgrade down the status ladder, so just P+P to get a seat.
Or buy a comfort seat booking.
1c/2c/4c/5c valuations, are all beyond this old pooch way of life.
Hoping for a shadow on my flight BNE back to ADL with QF in Jun, long weekend, ... scary thought stuffed between in that 17inc wide seat.
Scary thought, after not having flown for so long, would I be able to stand it.
Had already used P+P already, not enough points now to put in an upgrade request, but as a QFF NR, don't think that I would make it, or/so if they give me an op up, that would be nice, but maybe not.
Sorry for the waffly.