Best Option to Fly J on QF points- Travelling with Partner on Cash J Ticket

[verduzzo]

Hi all,

Formalities out of the way- this is my first post, I'm a long-timer lurker- yarda-yarda! Have very much appreciated and lost many hours dissecting the discussions on AFF, so thank you all.
EDIT: it actually appears I have posted before...but my first post asking for help, so we'll let it slide?

What has led me to posting though is this situation:
I am hoping to accompany my partner, a very regular flyer and QF WP (currently just over 450K points in the FF account) on a trip to Europe, departing around August the 28th, for three to four weeks. His ticket will be paid J and, for obvious reasons, I would like to be sitting up there in J with him!

The trip will commence with 2 nights in Dubai, so EK flights, with a stopover, seem the most obvious; then heading to Europe, either LHR, LGW, CDG etc. (not too firm on Europe entry point as we will be moving around the continent over most of trip and cheap internal flights will be the go).

What we are trying to make sense of are the following:

• currently no Classic Award seats bookable on EK (not available until March 31st), but would a Classic Award J return break the points bank?
• JASAs seem prohibitively expensive, both re: points chew and $$?
• we are unsure if a YASA on EK metal (QF flight number) would be upgradeable to business on points? Obviously the J is not guaranteed either...
• would it be a better use of points to do OW RTW and can we upgrade with points?
• EDIT (again) would we best best to wait until after March 31st after the tie-up id fully ratified? Maybe there will be some specials / more transparency with the EK flights, both $$ and points?

As you can see we are getting into a wormhole of potential scenarios here- ANY assistance from this great community would be muchly appreciated.

Thanks,
verduzzo

 

[Limewood]

Can't answer about EK but most find to get ASA's best to book 10/12 months out for pricing and lower point count.

For instance we booked JASA Dec 11 SYD/LAX depart Aug 12, then couple months later found a JASA DFW/BNE via Expert Flyer paid $1200 + 185K in points (each).

 

[Mwenenzi]

Upgrades
QF points can only be used to upgrade a QF flight number on QF aircraft
QF points cannot be used to upgrade an EK flight number on QF aircraft
QF points cannot be used to upgrade an EK flight number on EK aircraft
EK miles cannot be used to upgrade an EK flight number on QF aircraft

 

[opusman]

Classic J award to UK is 256000 points return so you should be fine as long as there is classic availability. WPs are able to call and request additional award seats be released so worth trying this if no availability shows.

Flights on EK metal will not be upgradeable using points (whether booked on QF codeshare or not).

 

[verduzzo]

Thanks opusman & Mwenenzi for clearing up the confusion on upgrades. I thought that by selecting the QF flight numbers on EK metal on YASA search, I would be able to upgrade to J using points...thanks for clearing that up...and well,bummer!
the only classic awards via DXB at the moment are via MEL or SYD, as not showing EK flights- at least that has been my experience. Also, do you think clasisc award is the best use of points in this instance?

Nice work on the JASAs limewood!

 

[MYT105]

I booked a similar trip a few months ago with my ticket paid J and my wife on a classic awards seat, using my points. After spending some time on the QF website doing searches i was able to find J seats in one direction but not the other for dates that suited, so I rang the QF Platinum line and spoke to them giving the dates around which we want to travel, they were able to get a seat released that suited, so I booked my wifes ticket and then got them to book my paid seat on the same flights. Only issue is my wife in no in F from SYD to LHR, while I am in J, but both J on the way back.

All flights are QF number and metal.

So get your partner to ring asap and see what is available and lock it all in at one point, your partner will need to ring as it is the WP status that will make the difference to getting seats if they are any available.

 

[verduzzo]

Hi MYT105, yes, this may be the best option...will get it onto it ASAP.
Your wife is F SYD - LHR? Yowza- how disappointing for her wonder if I may be able to create such a terrible booking tragedy with my award booking!

Thanks for your help

 

[MYT105]

She was a bit upset when I told her I had booked the flights but couldn't get her in J for all of it, she thought I had her in Y, it was good to see her face when I said no it was F.

 

[verduzzo]

MYT 105- Bahhhaaa! Love it! Can imagine the look on her face!