Are domestic or international asa flights best use of points

[sumthinfornuthin]

I have my own opinion but would be interested to hear other people's opinion of BEST VALUE using points for ASA flights given International ( to me anyway) seem to be such EXPENSIVE BURN RATES.

Are some countries better value than others.

I am sure there is a wealth of knowledge out there

 

[fjc]

I think that it depends on your needs at that point in time. Recently, did a JASA down to HBA to retain SG, as I knew that, due to circumstances, I had to cancel 2 OS flights which would have requalified me.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Thanks....I'm leaning to using points for Domestic ASA J tickets and buying my international tickets and trying to use points for upgrades. Seems a more reasonable burn rate but of course no gurantee of upgrade. I'm Bronze at the moment but should be Platinum by end of October so hopefully upgrades are more likely ??

 

[freepyjamas]

My thinking is that Dom is no big deal in Y, particularly if you have status and can get a half-reasonable seat and lounge access. So I'm happy using cash to buy cheap Dom tickets.

But International Y is a pure form of hell to me, and I can't think of a better use of points than to either go the JASA or a points upgrade from a purchased Y fare.

For me, the latter (points upgrade on International) is the very best use of FF points.

 

[Mongo]

But International Y is a pure form of hell to me, and I can't think of a better use of points than to either go the JASA or a points upgrade from a purchased Y fare.

I'm curious why you rate International Y so poorly, is it just because of the (typically) longer travelling time over most domestic flights? Or do you feel the service on International is actually inferior to Domestic?

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

i RECKON IT'S TOO TIGHT..............i'M 6'2" TALL

 

[markis10]

Some fabulous bargains can be had on the international routes and the points earn makes them very attractive.

 

[serfty]

JASA's start from 96K+ ~$500 East cost Oz to LAX.

With a Oz domestic connection can earn from ~10K & ~220 SC's.

IMHO, good value if you are going to the USA in any case.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[Pleb Status]

International JASA are better value for money (retail $/pt used) but domestic JASA are better value for status credit earn (SC/pt used), especially if you are connecting. So it depends on what you are looking for.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

i'VE BEEN LOOKING AT mel-lax AND IT SEEMS TO BE 5/600,000 POINTS ??

 

[markis10]

Like many things the good bargains are not always obvious and some work/ patience as well as knowledge is required.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Last week I was just playing around and searched week by week for a trip to LAX up till next March and there was only one return flight at about 115,000 points but absolutely nothing around that going over.

Are they ramping up the point cost because the loads are full and they can or is there a secret ??

 

[Deleted member]

Last week I was just playing around and searched week by week for a trip to LAX up till next March and there was only one return flight at about 115,000 points but absolutely nothing around that going over.

Are they ramping up the point cost because the loads are full and they can or is there a secret ??

You probably needed to search nearer to June.

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

Thanks guys....does STATUS have anything to do with availability ??? ie do some people see ASA's that others can't ??. I'm Bronze at the moment but will be Platinim in October

 

[Deleted member]

I think so

 

[freepyjamas]

I'm curious why you rate International Y so poorly, is it just because of the (typically) longer travelling time over most domestic flights? Or do you feel the service on International is actually inferior to Domestic?

Personal circumstances.

There's nothing wrong with International Y. But just about all my o/s trips (for leisure at least) are either to the States or Europe. So we're looking at anywhere from 14 to 24 hours.

I can't do much better than get an hour or two's sleep in Y, and when I combine lack of sleep with the general feeling of Y-ness... it's just a hardship I'd rather not have to put up with if I don't have to.

Y Domestic isn't great either, but I can easily suck it up for 1 - 5 hours during the daytime, so I don't want to pay any extra in points or $ just to have a bigger seat and nicer food. Most of my Dom travel is Syd-Mel, and J is a complete waste of points and $ there.

I'm not tall, and I'm not wide, so sitting in a Dom Y seat for a few hours isn't as tough for me as it would be for others.

(Chuck in travelling with a child who uses a wheelchair... in International Y they make you get off dead last, after everyone else has left the plane. Makes it trickier to make connections. Not to mention having to board well before everyone else... it's just not too pleasant really)

 

[Ontime]

There used to be much more availability to the US when the Auckland LAX flights were available.

 

[Kangol]

Thanks guys....does STATUS have anything to do with availability ??? ie do some people see ASA's that others can't ??. I'm Bronze at the moment but will be Platinim in October

From reports here, no.
ASA availability is just like any other commercial fare availability AFAIK.