About the term “ positioning city” ?

[Lisa Julie]

I am a recently joined member and this is my first post.It is just a general query at present.Please tell me if this is the correct forum to ask this question.Also, I note that people using this forum are supposed to have posted 10 times elsewhere.But where exactly- I dont get this?
I think the idea of paying a small stipend ( or a larger one depeding on work involved) is a great idea.
My general question is about the term “ positioning city” used by Matt in my first webinar a couple of weeks ago.I’m pretty sure I get the concept- be prepared to fly out of a less popular city eg Manila and your chances of redeeming points for a business class flight to Europe from there will be increased. Have I got this right? I plan to use points to get a business class flight to Europe next September.I know it is too early to do that now ( 297 days out - right?) but would like to make sure I understand concept properly.
So....
- book and pay for a flight to positioning city.
- redeem points for business class to Europe from there .
????? Right.
But only useful if positioning city is fairly close( economy flight paid for) and the long sector to Europe can be business ( points redeemed for business.
Your thoughts would be most welcome.
Cheers

 

[Steady]

Welcome aboard Lisa Julie, you have the concept correct. You could purchase the positioning flight with cash or points

 

[Ade]

I am a recently joined member and this is my first post

Welcome to AFF, @Lisa Julie and congrats on your first post

be prepared to fly out of a less popular city eg Manila and your chances of redeeming points for a business class flight to Europe from there will be increased. Have I got this right?

Yes, you are correct in understanding that the chances of securing a business class (J) seat is better when flying out of a less popular city.

I plan to use points to get a business class flight to Europe next September.I know it is too early to do that now

I personally don't think that it's too early. I mean, the earlier you are, the chances of getting the seat you wanted is high. So why not usually airlines take booking (commercial/reward) 1 year (365 days) in advance.

but would like to make sure I understand concept properly.
So....
- book and pay for a flight to positioning city.
- redeem points for business class to Europe from there .
????? Right.

Yes, sounds right ...

 

[andye]

Welcome to AFF Lisa Julie

Yes a positioning flight is one that takes you to an Origin where you can secure a good deal (usually for long-haul premium classes). This could be a cheap cash fare (e.g some fares to Europe may be substantially cheaper out of Asian ports) or availability of a points fare.

The postioning flight could be a cheap Economy or a points flight on a different airline.

As the positioning flight will be on a separate ticket (PNR) you need to factor in for delays or risk missing your sought-after long-haul flight.

 

[Lisa Julie]

Thankyou for those thoughts fellow Frequent Flyers.
Sorry to be asking apparently basic questions but one thing I thought I gleaned from webinar and other forums is that lowly bronze status(Qantas) customers like me( heaps of points but not from flying) do not get a chance at finding flights until after Premium/Gold etc flyers get their go ie they get first chance at 364(?) days and then us bronze status flyers get a chance at 297 days?

 

[andye]

Thankyou for those thoughts fellow Frequent Flyers.
Sorry to be asking apparently basic questions but one thing I thought I gleaned from webinar and other forums is that lowly bronze status(Qantas) customers like me( heaps of points but not from flying) do not get a chance at finding flights until after Premium/Gold etc flyers get their go ie they get first chance at 364(?) days and then us bronze status flyers get a chance at 297 days?

This is generally true for Qantas-group flights (where you may also have extra seats made available with higher status). However you should have the same chance as other QF members on other Oneworld flights.

 

[Lisa Julie]

I see- thanks for that.
I didn’t realise that Oneworld had different rules.
I’m onto it!!

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Hi @Lisa Julie and welcome to AFF.

Positioning Cities are one of the major tools once you really get into the world of frequent flying. Usually of course if you are flying in Business or First then the cost of a cheap positioning flight (more lingo) to that city and an over night's stay, preferably in an airport hotel, far outweighs the cost saving of the fare from that city. Oslo used to be an excellent choice for a positioning city for fares back to Australia but it's sadly dropped away now. The name of the game is to find better ones

 

[wandering_fred]

The use of a "positioning city" can also apply to the purchase of regular (ie paid for) tickets.
The most used example can be found with the xONEx round the world fares which are priced according to the city/country which is used for the first flight. xONEx World questions and answers will demonstrate all the examples that will confuse you no end. The second example is to fly from Australia to SE Asia (KUL seems cheapest at the moment for me) on a cheap(er) ticket (Scoot or Air Asia anyone) and then fly in a premium cabin to your final destination in Europe or North America.

Welcome to AFF and Happy wandering
Fred

 

[offshore171]

- book and pay for a flight to positioning city.
- redeem points for business class to Europe from there .
????? Right.

Yes that's pretty much it. You'll likely see the term "positioning flight" is more commonly used than "positioning city" (which refers to your staging point for the desired award sector).

It doesn't always require a flight to Asia though - sometimes places like Adelaide and Brisbane have award seats where sydney and melbourne have none.

Another thing to consider if staging through a city in Asia using a positioning flight, is that the award flight will be on a separate itinerary. So if your paid sector is late, or worse cancelled, then you may miss your premium award seat for the long sector to Europe.

With this in mind, it's often a good idea to fly in to the staging point a day early. It's both a stopover and a contingency.

 

[Lisa Julie]

Thankyou everyone- I appreciate your time in repying