Advice of use of QFF points for AA flights please - complex!

[perthgirl1]

Hi We are a family travelling from Australia this Dec/Jan. I can't use points to get there which means I have to use points internally or pay.

I've done a little research and have discovered the following:

LAX to New York is $224 pp plus tax etc or 25000 pts
NY to Orlando is $82pp etc or 12000 pts
Vegas to LAX is $131pp with much better times or $131 pp person
I couldn't get Washington DC to Vegas the day I wanted on points so will have to pay $340 pp or fly another airline (which I am fine with, just don't know which one yet)

I could also use points to get from Perth to Sydney 18000 pp which would save me $262

Of course the other options are to book using combination of points and pay (I currently have 150000 pts or convert the pts I will have by then into Westfield voucher worth $1000 and just book with a TA at a Westfield Centre.

The trip is costing us alot and any cash I can save is worth it for me, even if it means I'm not getting the best value for my points - but having said that I don't want to waste them either. eg Seems silly to spend 36000 pts on trip to orlando when i can spend $246 plus tax etc. Or am I totally wrong?

Thanks so much for your help and advice - it is great to have experts who are willing to take the time to help a stranger!

 

[drron]

Re: Advice of use of AA points please - complex!

First AA awards can only be booked 331 days out so nothing after 9/1/12 which is maybe why you cant get availability.4th-9th january has mile saver awards on all your routes-12500 for Y,25000 for F.
I wouldn't suggest the NYC-MCA route-that fare is cheap enough.
Also for LAS-LAX consider hiring a car if there are 3-4 of you-cheaper and you will be able to stop at outlets in Primm,Barstow and Ontario.No drop off fee between Nevada and CA.

 

[dk4]

Re: Advice of use of AA points please - complex!

...4th-9th january has mile saver awards on all your routes-12500 for Y,25000 for F...

I think that the OP was referring to using QFF points to fly AA, rather than AAdvantage Miles - and started the thread in the wrong location?

:idea: Hints, like -

• booking with "westfield vouchers" for $1000 at a local (Australian) TA
• 18,000 points PER-SYD (when 17,500 is sufficient for Business with AAdvantage miles)
• 12,000 points NYC-MCO (when the minimum for US domestic with AAdvantage mileSAAver is 12,500)

To the OP, can you please clarify if you are redeeming AAdvantage miles or Qantas Frequent Flyer Points. (And if the later, can you please message a moderator to move this thread to :arrow: Qantas Frequent Flyer Forum?)

 

[perthgirl1]

Re: Advice of use of AA points please - complex!

I think that the OP was referring to using QFF points to fly AA, rather than AAdvantage Miles - and started the thread in the wrong location?


:idea: Hints, like -

• booking with "westfield vouchers" for $1000 at a local (Australian) TA
• 18,000 points PER-SYD (when 17,500 is sufficient for Business with AAdvantage miles)
• 12,000 points NYC-MCO (when the minimum for US domestic with AAdvantage mileSAAver is 12,500)

To the OP, can you please clarify if you are redeeming AAdvantage miles or Qantas Frequent Flyer Points. (And if the later, can you please message a moderator to move this thread to :arrow: Qantas Frequent Flyer Forum?)

Sorry - you are right, it was redeeming Qantas points on American airlines.

 

[perthgirl1]

Re: Advice of use of AA points please - complex!

Sorry - you are right, it was redeeming Qantas points on American airlines.

Sorry - but I don't know how to message the moderator to have this moved! I am a newbie.

 

[NM]

Re: Advice of use of AA points please - complex!

Sorry - but I don't know how to message the moderator to have this moved! I am a newbie.

you can click on the "Report Post" button (the triagle with the !)available on all forum posts.

I have moved to the QFF forum and adjusted the title to reflect the QFF program and flight on AA.

 

[casanovawa]

Sorry not sure why you can't use points to get there, but 150,000 is enough for a round the world fare with One World which will allow you 16 flight segments and 5 stops so maybe you could use that for all your flights to/from and within the US (or if you can't do it book your wifes fare??), save you a grand and half or more and then use that money to get the other fares for the rest of the family?

not sure if it might mean not sitting together on flights if in different classes unless you might be able to get up and walk around after take off?

 

[sydney_kings]

I few things I noted when I travelled to the USA.

Certain domestic sectors can be expensive using cash. So check each leg using websites like orbitz.com

You can have rough idea of Qantas AA availability using the aa.com website and selecting "Redeem AAdvantage Miles". Qantas generally uses the cheapest points option only, this will give you a rough idea on routing/seats without constantly calling Qantas.

Finally, the easiest way of using cash in the USA is with the 28 degrees Mastercard. Either google or search this on the AFF forum.

Enjoy your holidays!

 

[yo yo ma]

LAX to New York is $224 pp plus tax etc or 25000 pts
NY to Orlando is $82pp etc or 12000 pts
Vegas to LAX is $131pp with much better times or $131 pp person
I couldn't get Washington DC to Vegas the day I wanted on points so will have to pay $340 pp or fly another airline (which I am fine with, just don't know which one yet)

We are taking a similar trip in October / November!
LAX-LAS
LAS-JFK
JFK-MCO
MCO-LAX

I used points to travel SYD-LAX (2A; 3C) and am paying for the above flights on AA (just under $4k for 5 people). I am booking the flights on Monday. Hope it all goes well for you. A good site for comparing US carriers is
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/