How to Use Up Qantas Points? Obviously not on flights

[robolb]

I have to say the current environment with regard to Classic Award flights is becoming very frustrating.
There is an obvious move to push us to Classic Plus or straight out purchase as a revenue grab.

Starting to look at award seat flights to Bangkok ex Sydney and it's a joke.
Via KL, via Hong Kong, via another Oz city, jetstar rather than Qantas.
It's like they are doing everything possible to make members just give up and buy a ticket.
What are we supposed to use our points for? Wine!

Anyone want to buy a million Qantas points?

Sorry......just a frustration fueled rant.

We're going to focus on other airlines now.

 

[RooFlyer]

We're going to focus on other airlines now.

Join the club

 

[aikman]

There's plenty of classic award seats to Bendigo and Broken Hill. I haven't been but I hear they're nice places.

 

[Cloud9]

There's plenty of classic award seats to Bendigo and Broken Hill. I haven't been but I hear they're nice places.

Don't knock it too hard. Nice cheap way of me getting from Bendigo to Sydney!

 

[robolb]

There's plenty of classic award seats to Bendigo and Broken Hill. I haven't been but I hear they're nice places.

Not a bad feed at the Broken Hill Musicians Club!
and of course stunning views from the top of the hill at the Line of Lode Miners Memorial

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have to say the current environment with regard to Classic Award flights is becoming very frustrating.
There is an obvious move to push us to Classic Plus or straight out purchase as a revenue grab.

Starting to look at award seat flights to Bangkok ex Sydney and it's a joke.
Via KL, via Hong Kong, via another Oz city, jetstar rather than Qantas.
It's like they are doing everything possible to make members just give up and buy a ticket.
What are we supposed to use our points for? Wine!

Anyone want to buy a million Qantas points?

Sorry......just a frustration fueled rant.

We're going to focus on other airlines now.

I use the ‘transference’ method! Use points for my regular domestic travel, and for any international I can get. The cash banked from those is used to buy miles in Aeroplan (etc) which does have good availability. (For example return MEL-SYD business is ~38k QFFFF points, banking me $700 in cash saved. Three of those trips and i’ve bought Aeroplan one way to Europe in business.)

 

[JackMiles]

(For example return MEL-SYD business is ~38k QFFFF points, banking me $700 in cash saved. Three of those trips and i’ve bought Aeroplan one way to Europe in business.)

Impressive! Is this based on only buying Aeroplan during promotions? $AU4200 for AUS-EU return in J does not fit what I found from a quick online search, but I emphasise quick and I am probably missing something.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Impressive! Is this based on only buying Aeroplan during promotions? $AU4200 for AUS-EU return in J does not fit what I found from a quick online search, but I emphasise quick and I am probably missing something.

Yup, during a 100% sale. It actually work out to AUD4400 give or take depending on the exchange rate. Plus actual taxes (no fuel or carrier charges).

 

[JackMiles]

Yup, during a 100% sale. It actually work out to AUD4400 give or take depending on the exchange rate. Plus actual taxes (no fuel or carrier charges).

Aha, that accords with the info I found. Thanks so much for the reply and the insight. Guess I'm pretty late to this party!

 

[drron]

Yes it is very difficult to use QFF points for international classic awards in premium cabins on a flight and destination that you actually want to fly. We did find J awards on JAL in early 2020 but they obviously fell ove with Covid.. But I was a bit late in planning our next tip coming up in 9 days and when I began to look the day time flights on SQ had gone. We really don't like to start a long trip with an overnight flight.
So I did look at QF and lo and behold there was a classic award BNE _ BKK in J. The downside was it is on JQ. But beggars can't be choosers so we will start with our first ever international JQ flight and at least in J.

 

[Cloud9]

Yes it is very difficult to use QFF points for international classic awards in premium cabins on a flight and destination that you actually want to fly. We did find J awards on JAL in early 2020 but they obviously fell ove with Covid.. But I was a bit late in planning our next tip coming up in 9 days and when I began to look the day time flights on SQ had gone. We really don't like to start a long trip with an overnight flight.
So I did look at QF and lo and behold there was a classic award BNE _ BKK in J. The downside was it is on JQ. But beggars can't be choosers so we will start with our first ever international JQ flight and at least in J.

As long as you temper expectations to expect a W class flight, it's actually not a bad experience.