2009..the year to NOT redeem points???

[lovetravellingoz]

With todays CHEAP Qantas sale to the USA it strike me that 2009 is very much a year to not redeem your frequent flyer points, well at least for flights anyway.

I mean fora about a $1000 inc taxes you can get 20K FF points....which should be worth in a good year $400-800. At the $800 level the current USA flight is almost free :shock:

We have already in recent months seen a stream of very cheap deals. 2 for 1, kids fly free etc etc...and not just on QF.

So it would seem to me that generalising that one is better paying for flights in 2009..and then redeeming in a future year (hoping the airline does not go belly up of course).

However one problem is that one never knows when a sale will be on , or to where it will be too.

So to follow this strategy you have to be prepared to be very flexible about where you will holiday.

If you really want to go to somewhere in particular you will run the risk of redeeming a healthy amount of points just to finda great discount offered later for cash.

Or at least in economy though, as business while discounted is not discounted as much.

 

[simongr]

Conversely I have found 2009 is the to redeem awards as availability is comparably through the roof so get it while it's hot.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Conversely I have found 2009 is the to redeem awards as availability is comparably through the roof so get it while it's hot.

Maybe that makes ita great year for Business or First redemptions...but not so good if used for economy?

 

[Flashback]

Keeping in mind the longer the points sit there, the more value they lose. Enhancements may well hit in 2010, and thus any gains would be nullified.

 

[aus_flyer]

I mean fora about a $1000 inc taxes you can get 20K FF points....which should be worth in a good year $400-800. At the $800 level the current USA flight is almost free :shock:

Wish I could you sell every single point I own for $800 per 20,000 points!

 

[Flashback]

Wish I could you sell every single point I own for $800 per 20,000 points!

Just what I was thinking :mrgreen:

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Wish I could you sell every single point I own for $800 per 20,000 points!

Well I woud not buy them for that (ie I bought 20K from earth effectively for $125, though the card had other point gain benefits)...but I intend to try and use them for values of that order.

As these are QFF points...

Say a RTW economy redemption should see points worth over 2 cents each = 20,000 = $400

A business redemption at 280K should be worth around 4 cents each.

 

[ANstar]

Depends on the program I guess - with Singapore ailrines it IS the year to redeem... ie with the recent 50% off offer... same for BA with their promo

 

[drron]

As I prefer using my miles for premium cabin awards I am firmly in the camp of using them now.With the GFC I feel I should be conserving cash and the plan this year was for just 1 DONE4.But with the availability of J awards I have been able to get a Circle Pacific trip for me and an award for mrsdrron.
I had given up on getting back to EXP but with this and possibly a MR in the USA with the double EQM might just get there.Next year will be back to 2 DONE4s as long as I can get awards for mrsdrron.

 

[sr81]

The value you place on points is all realative.

I needed to fly on a holiday from ORD to JFK and the current price is USD 160~ each. Given I am about to be unempolyed I think that 12,000 points +$5 tax for this two hour flight is good value.

Given I only have a small balance and DONE's are now completly off the radar I figure that using them is better than letting them stagnate.

Conversly I need a flight from RDU to ORD but these are only AUD100. Not worth the points and so will buy these flights.

I also redeemed two F seats from JFK to MEL and whilst expensive in terms of points it is also a treat for me and I feel that I got a good value redemption.

 

[futaris]

I'm in the camp that says use your frequent flyer points ASAP. Availability in J and F is much better than previous years. Also, depends on your current cash flow and status renewal requirements. e.g. If you have status for the next 24 months, just redeem now and worry about status later.

For credit card points, redeeming them via the 1c/point offer(s) may be better (than redeeming for frequent flyer points), depending on where you're going, and how many people are flying, what status they have, what current bonus offers there are, etc, etc.

See this post for my quick comparison.

You may find redeeming for SQ for e.g. SYD-SIN-ZRH/LHR is a great offer, if you were already planning on flying in May.

Of course, YMMV (no pun intended).

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Yes I was aware of the Krisflyer discounts. Unfortunately for me they are in periods that I cannot take leave in fora variety of reasons

Still hopefully more will come..

 

[wandering_fred]

It's still 35K AA miles/points for a PER-NZ round trip in J.....

Quite good value $-wise......... If I could only get time away from PER.

The may also be other reasons I credit flights to AA rather than QF.

Fred

 

[JohnK]

With todays CHEAP Qantas sale to the USA it strike me that 2009 is very much a year to not redeem your frequent flyer points, well at least for flights anyway.

So are you saying that I am wasting my 280,000 QFF points for a RTW trip for 2 people in August/September? Should I keep the points in my QFF account for use in another year?

 

[Aray]

It's simple .. use your point for the domestic flights *within* the US !!

I booked one of the Qantas cheapies a while ago - and got the Florida return seats on AA using QF points only 36k - where the airfare would have cost around A$600 ... nearly as much as the OS flights themselves !

Now is it just me or have the amount of status points required to retain Gold done up ?? Its now 700 points im sure it was less a few years ago..

 

[2muchplastic]

....Now is it just me or have the amount of status points required to retain Gold done up ?? Its now 700 points im sure it was less a few years ago..

No, it's just you. It's 600 SCs to retain, but 700 to gain. See Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Benefits & Privileges

 

[JohnK]

It's simple .. use your point for the domestic flights *within* the US !!

Only if your final destination is the USA and not a RTW trip....

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So are you saying that I am wasting my 280,000 QFF points for a RTW trip for 2 people in August/September? Should I keep the points in my QFF account for use in another year?

No, not at all.

I would think that with a RTW that while one leg may be at sometime advertised cheap that all the legs would not.

Plus a RTW is generally speaking a higher cent per point earner than a single destination return.

My OP was also just mean to get some discussion going.

I am planning a RTW, but unfortunately this year fora number of reasons I canot do one.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

I too join the camp of 2009 being the year of redemption - however I wouldn't bother with whY when fares are so cheap.

Just booked RTW for two in Business for 280,000 points each - couldn't believe the great availability on BA, CX, MA and AA at the moment - pretty much had choice of any commercial flight in September. QF J redemption however, quite a challenge. Not sure what that's about.

A tip for newbies - QFF members can only redeem CX segments over the phone (QF - are we in 2009 here?). A compelling argument may get the booking fee waived as this is the only option.

I challenge anyone to try to get $19,800 worth out of 560,000 points any other way. This is by far the best value points redemption IMO. Would have been 512,000 just from SYD to JFK or LHR in J! :mrgreen:

Will most likely lose the Gold this year due to the redemption though - as this will be our big trip of the year... oh and the Earth Platinum goes back to 1.5 points...

 

[serfty]

... (QF - are we in 2009 here?). ...

I am not sure this isn't deliberate.

In 2005 I was easily able to make an award booking for CX flights using www.Qantas.com.