Any seat or classic award?

[Inbetween]

My husband has about 265,000 qantas points and Bronze status. (He should be very close to silver). We want to fly to New York next January. Is it better to use the points for two classic awards seats and pay $1770 in taxes, or one any seat award and pay $2400 for the other seat. If we take the any seat award we could earn points and status and have the possibility to upgrade if we have enough points by then. Not sure that the extra $600 is worth it. We know from previous experience the upgrade is unlikely with Qantas. Would love some advice please

 

[markis10]

If you can see two seats as classics, have you tried calling to find out the cost of an ASA booked into the classic award bucket and the points reduced to classic level, you might get a surprise.

 

[deejo77]

We flew in economy in March on a sale fare with Qantas for around $1000 each so that price is high to me - however I do know that loop hole has closed. Have you considered a Classic Round the world ticket for 140K worth of points and roughly the same in taxes? there is a thread here about it if you are not sure what it is. From Bronze to Silver is no real benefit and obviously not flying that much to attain a status.

 

[markis10]

My husband has about 265,000 qantas points and Bronze status. (He should be very close to silver). We want to fly to New York next January. Is it better to use the points for two classic awards seats and pay $1770 in taxes, or one any seat award and pay $2400 for the other seat. If we take the any seat award we could earn points and status and have the possibility to upgrade if we have enough points by then. Not sure that the extra $600 is worth it. We know from previous experience the upgrade is unlikely with Qantas. Would love some advice please

Have you thought about Fiji Airways (Formerly Air Pacific) from NAN to LAX in Business, ie:

[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD][h=2]Air Itinerary Details[/h] [/TD]
[TD="align: right"] Fare Rules
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD="class: colDeparture"] Nadi (NAN), Fiji
Mon, 13 Jan, 22:00
[/TD]
[TD="class: colArrival"] Los Angeles International (LAX), United States Of America
Mon, 13 Jan, 12:00
[/TD]
[TD="class: colFlight"]

FJ810
Fiji Airways
[/TD]
[TD="class: colDetails"] Biz Saver
Business Class
Non stop
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: colAircraft, colspan: 4"] Airbus Industrie A330-200
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD="class: colDeparture"] Los Angeles International (LAX), United States Of America
Mon, 20 Jan, 21:30
[/TD]
[TD="class: colArrival"] Nadi (NAN), Fiji
Wed, 22 Jan, 04:35
[/TD]
[TD="class: colFlight"]

FJ811
Fiji Airways
[/TD]
[TD="class: colDetails"] Biz Saver
Business Class
Non stop
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: colAircraft, colspan: 4"] Airbus Industrie A330-200
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]



Fare breakdown
[TABLE="class: detailsTable, width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD="class: colFirst"]Passenger Type
[/TD]
[TD="class: colPrice"]Base Fare
per person
[/TD]
[TD="class: colPrice colTaxes"] Taxes & Fees
per person
[/TD]
[TD="class: colPrice"]Total Fare
per person
[/TD]
[TD="class: colPrice"]Number of
passengers
[/TD]
[TD="class: colLast colPrice"]Total Fare
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: rowLastrowOdd"]
[TD="class: colFirst"]Adult
[/TD]
[TD="class: colPrice"]3,373.00
[/TD]
[TD="class: colPrice colTaxes"] 276.40
[/TD]
[TD="class: colPrice"]3,649.40
[/TD]
[TD="class: colPrice"]x 1
[/TD]
[TD="class: colLast colPrice"] 3,649.40 FJD
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]



NAN-LAX: Biz Saver Fare Family Benefits


LAX-NAN: Biz Saver Fare Family Benefits


View Baggage and Optional Charges.


Total Air Fare: 3,649.40


Thats $2000 return in our dollars, sure you need to get to NAN and also LAX-New York, which points could be used for.

 

[Limewood]

Markis10 is that in the new aircraft?.

 

[markis10]

Markis10 is that in the new aircraft?.

Yes, the A330s.

 

[harvyk]

I'd save the points, eccon awards are notoriously bad value once you factor in the taxes. With that sort of points you'd be able to do a J return to somewhere in Asia for the two of you, and at $1770 in "taxes" well you may be able to find some full fare options for not too much more which would mean you'd be able to keep your points for something of better value and you won't really be eating into your holiday $$$.

Keep an eye out for sales. I'd be very surprised if there is not one between now and January, and worst case scenario there isn't a sale between now and then you should still be able to purchase something in November without too much trouble.

The ASA's become valuable when you find them at classic award (or near classic award) rates for the higher classes.

 

[Inbetween]

Thanks markis10. If I understand what you are suggesting, they quoted me $2000 plus points for an ASA booking , which is better.

If you can see two seats as classics, have you tried calling to find out the cost of an ASA booked into the classic award bucket and the points reduced to classic level, you might get a surprise.

 

[Inbetween]

I know that the round the world is a better use of points. We did it business on points last Christmas, but we have time constraints this time. Thanks for your post.

We flew in economy in March on a sale fare with Qantas for around $1000 each so that price is high to me - however I do know that loop hole has closed. Have you considered a Classic Round the world ticket for 140K worth of points and roughly the same in taxes? there is a thread here about it if you are not sure what it is. From Bronze to Silver is no real benefit and obviously not flying that much to attain a status.

 

[Inbetween]

Thanks again markis10. It looks like a possible option.