1,024,000 Points vs 700,000 Points (QF vs CX)

[Scrimo]

Hi There,

I was doing some planning for a trip to NYC with the family later this year and have looked at the points and taxes involved in 4 x business class tickets with QF and CX. This was for 3 adults and 1 child.

Qantas: 4 x Business Class tickets to NYC = 1,024,000 Points
Cathay Pacific: 4 x Business Class tickets to NYC = 700,000 Points

I was completely amazed to see that its nearly 324,000 points cheaper to go with Cathay Pacific! It was also noticeable that CX do charge a smaller amount of points for children between 2-11

As for taxes the CX price was approximately $625 per person and with QF the taxes are $825

In summary if I fly with CX I will save 324,000 points and $800

It will also take 4.5hrs longer...but that seems to be ok with me with those savings

 

[samh004]

Seems like a no brainer if those are classic awards.

 

[amaroo]

I was completely amazed to see that its nearly 324,000 points cheaper to go with Cathay Pacific!

Amazed me in the early days! These days I just accept that QF are very happy with their fat fingers all over your points & wallet.

Wouldn't hesitate to take the CX option.....love a HKG dumpling stopover

 

[DeKa]

You need to remember that CX have partial and zero earn rates, even when flying their own aircraft crediting to their own program.

Surely their earn rate would have to factor into their burn rate?

If you earn all your points on CC then it's worth taking advantage of this though

 

[ReLoad]

You need to remember that CX have partial and zero earn rates, even when flying their own aircraft crediting to their own program.

Surely their earn rate would have to factor into their burn rate?

If you earn all your points on CC then it's worth taking advantage of this though

Irrelevant if its a classic award redemption.

The CX option is definitely the way to go. Not sure if you are travelling with kids, but a great place to break the journey.

 

[DeKa]

Irrelevant if its a classic award redemption.

The CX option is definitely the way to go. Not sure if you are travelling with kids, but a great place to break the journey.

No it's not. If CX make it hard to earn, they need to make it easier to burn, otherwise people would just credit to Aanother program or even QFF. That sets the baseline.

If you're earning all your points on CC though, you should take advantage of that and burn at the lower rate.

 

[burmans]

No amazement for me, this comparison could be QF vs just about any other airline awards scheme (SQ, Asia Miles, US, Lifemiles to name a few).

 

[Paddy55]

A consideration for me is whether I can get a cheap JASA ... an outlay of 128K points + $596 with nearly 25K points and 240 SCs being earned can be tempting!

 

[ReLoad]

No it's not. If CX make it hard to earn, they need to make it easier to burn, otherwise people would just credit to Aanother program or even QFF. That sets the baseline.

If you're earning all your points on CC though, you should take advantage of that and burn at the lower rate.

I'm totally confused. Redeeming points whether 1m with QF or 700k with CX either way unless they are ASAs the earn on these flights is irrelevant.

How and which program the OP earns those miles through, that's a different story

 

[NM]

I am assuming the 700K points with CX is referring to 700,000 Asia Miles from a CX account, verses 1M QFF points from a QF account. If this understanding of the original post is accurate, then the difference really must consider the earn rate as well as the burn rate. The ability to earn QFF points (as an Aussie living in Australia) through non-flying activities most certainly affects the value of a point compared with a program with less/limited non-flying earning options.

But it does highlight the need to check all options available for redemptions. The thing that surprises me most is the ability to locate 4 x U (business class redemption) availability on the same flights Australia to New York.

 

[deadfish]

I'm pretty sure the OP means CX redemption with Asia Miles vs QF redemption with QFF miles. No chance that the tickets are ASA's so there's no possibility of a longer flight costing less with either QFF or CX AM.

For me the more generous QFF earn easily outweighs AM's lower redemption rates. YMMV.

 

[RooFlyer]

I am assuming the 700K points with CX is referring to 700,000 Asia Miles from a CX account, verses 1M QFF points from a QF account. If this understanding of the original post is accurate, then the difference really must consider the earn rate as well as the burn rate. The ability to earn QFF points (as an Aussie living in Australia) through non-flying activities most certainly affects the value of a point compared with a program with less/limited non-flying earning options.

But it does highlight the need to check all options available for redemptions. The thing that surprises me most is the ability to locate 4 x U (business class redemption) availability on the same flights Australia to New York.

Agree. The assumption is that the OP has lots of Asia Miles AND lots of QF points at their disposal. If so, then the CX redemption is the way to go.

However, if the general comparison is being made between the programs, then how easy or difficult to earn those miles/points in the first instance is very relevant. If for instance, QF allows you to earn at twice the rate of CX for more-or-less the same flying, then the redemption rate comparison in the OP means that QF is a relative bargain.

 

[Awesom Andy]

If I was in this situation, I would actually use QF points.

1. As a WP, if I was flying class O/Q/N/S on QF, I would earn double points. If I was a DM, flying in the same classes on CX would earn me zero. In other earning classes, there's no status bonus as such for MPCs (unless I'm mistaken).
2. QF availability is much harder to come by. i.e. the next time I want to redeem something, I would much rather have some AM saved up since it's a lottery whether I can find anything on QF. Not that availability on AM is guaranteed, but it's less of a lottery in my experience.

However, also keep in mind the 3-year expiry period for AMs, but technically speaking, QF points can stay alive "forever" as long as the account is active. If you are unlikely to burn those AM within a reasonable time frame, then definitely go with the CX option.

 

[k3nnis]

I'm impressed OP has 1 million QF points to burn!

 

[Awesom Andy]

I'm impressed OP has 1 million QF points to burn!

I have issues burning points, to be honest. Give it a few years, and I won't be surprised if I hit that mark myself. I suppose I would value my points at zero by that time.

 

[k3nnis]

Yeah I don't think I will ever reach 1 Million
I have approx 200000 in AMEX MR Ascent Premium at the moment. But not ready to burn yet and no idea where I would transfer it to.

 

[yohy?!]

I'm pretty sure the OP means CX redemption with Asia Miles vs QF redemption with QFF miles. No chance that the tickets are ASA's so there's no possibility of a longer flight costing less with either QFF or CX AM.

For me the more generous QFF earn easily outweighs AM's lower redemption rates. YMMV.

to get the good QFF earn though you have to fly QFF which is the problem! its the same issue if you try to credit any other carrier and the advantage is gone.

they keep making it more difficult or less desirable in addition with the Asia network changes and the downgrading to A330 product.

 

[burmans]

I am assuming the 700K points with CX is referring to 700,000 Asia Miles from a CX account, verses 1M QFF points from a QF account. If this understanding of the original post is accurate, then the difference really must consider the earn rate as well as the burn rate. The ability to earn QFF points (as an Aussie living in Australia) through non-flying activities most certainly affects the value of a point compared with a program with less/limited non-flying earning options.

But it does highlight the need to check all options available for redemptions. The thing that surprises me most is the ability to locate 4 x U (business class redemption) availability on the same flights Australia to New York.

The OP hasn't popped his head up since the post so impossible toi check but I am unsure from his post if he went as far as actually searching for availability.

 

[NM]

The OP hasn't popped his head up since the post so impossible to check but I am unsure from his post if he went as far as actually searching for availability.

Quite likely the case. Finding 4 x U class from Aus to JFK is not going to be an easy feat. Having the points/miles available is one thing, finding the necessary availability is generally the more difficult variable in the equation. But you will need to actually take the flight(s).