Best use of points for my trip

[leseven]

Hi everyone,

Long time lurker first time poster here. Please go easy on me.

I'm planning a family (2 adults & 2 kids) holiday to Singapore and Malaysia at the end of year and would appreciate some suggestions on how best to use points (400k) for the trip. We're looking at flying out from MEL on 23rd Dec and returning on the 6th Jan. I have done a search for reward seats for those dates but there weren't any available, in fact there weren't many reward seats for the Dec-Jan period, safe to assume this is normal due to peak season?

Thanks in advance.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

We're looking at flying out from MEL on 23rd Dec and returning on the 6th Jan. .

Many businesses shut down for those two weeks...
Plus many people like to take those two weeks off due to 3 public holidays withina 2 week peiod
Plus is school holidays

So yes you would have huge competition for rewards in that period.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF leseven .

Yes, that is peak travel season and you have to be quick to grab award seats then (in fact, at most times of year).

Unfortunately just having a bank of FF points is just the beginning and unless you have some 'status' on QFF (eg Platinum or above) it can be tough going.

If you were looking at Economy seats, there is a truism here that they are 'bad value' for your points. Qantas will impose cash charges on top of the points which will be a substantial proportion of a cheap cash fare. if you have no other use for the points, and have your heart set on those flights, then by all means keep trying, but you will probably have to settle for another time of year.

There is a set time (to the hour) in advance when Award seats are released. Someone here will advise. Watch this like a hawk and jump in.

 

[leseven]

Thanks guys for your input.

Yes, I have read about the bad value of economy flights however I don't really mind if I can get reward seats on those dates. I think I will keep monitoring for the next couple months and should nothing become available, I will save the points for another trip. A side question - what is the general rule on how far in advance I should book flights during Dec-Jan peak season? Can I afford to wait until June?

Do Jetstar reward seats get released at the same time as Qantas? I've noticed that Jetstar have not released flights for December onward and I'm just wondering if that's the same with reward seats or is it that they have been released and snapped up already.

Thanks again.

 

[RooFlyer]

Do you mean Award or regular seats for Dec-Jan season? If Award, then you've answered your own question already. If paid, then June should be fine.

Can't help on JQ, sorry.

 

[Flippantflyer]

Did you look at whether there are any Emirates award seats? KVS tool seems to indicate that there are some business seats (not 4 though) on 24 Dec and first and business class seats on 28th... (MEL-SIN) though could be phantom. qantas will still hammer you with 'fuel surcharges' though. I prefer to use more points to fly on JAL so I pay fewer taxes - but Qantas points really aren't worth it for me.

 

[leseven]

Yes sorry for not being clear - I was referring to paid tickets. Good to know I still have a few months to hunt down award seats (although unlikely) or at least see if fares will be cheaper.

Thanks.

 

[BD1959]

I have done a search for reward seats for those dates but there weren't any available, in fact there weren't many reward seats for the Dec-Jan period, safe to assume this is normal due to peak season?

Thanks in advance.

Is it possible to defer until the beginning of January? I see *lots* of Y availability MEL-SIN from the beginning of January on EK. At first I thought it must be the number of seats you're looking for but gradually increased the dummy booking up to 2 Adults, 2 Children for Jan 3 ... not an issue.

112,000 points + $506.68 in total (hence why people think these are bad options!!)

I'd speak with QFF direct on your options for KUL-MEL, I don't think MH appears on the QF awards website and they might be able to see availability you can't.

Regards,

BD

 

[leseven]

How do I check for Emirates ward? I don't see them show up on QFF booking site.

I did call Qantas today and they did say that there are flights from KUL-MEL for the dates I wanted for only for 2 people. Again, I couldn't see these on the qantas site. Am I doing something wrong? How do you search partner airline award seats?

 

[BD1959]

How do I check for Emirates ward? I don't see them show up on QFF booking site.

Sorry, I've no idea what you're doing wrong. I thought - perhaps - the fabled WP search had kicked in for me and I was perhaps seeing availability which isn't visible to mere NBs, but I've just logged in using Mrs BD's account (who is firmly NB), searched for MEL-SIN Classic Awards on 3-Jan-2017 and Flexible dates and this is what I see:

I did call Qantas today and they did say that there are flights from KUL-MEL for the dates I wanted for only for 2 people. Again, I couldn't see these on the qantas site. Am I doing something wrong?

No, MH availability is not visible on the QFF website (as I alluded to prior). With some partners, you need to call QFF in order to book - and don't forget to remind the CSE that these could NOT be booked via the website and so should not incur the Assisted Booking Fee.

Regards,

BD