Best way to use QANTAS FF points- Sydney to New York return

[mflyeryahoo]

Hi Guys!

Have my heart set on using my QANTAS frequent flyer points for a return flight from Sydney (or Melbourne) to New York.

Will leave early Sep 2015 and return end October 2015.

Have about 100 000 Qantas Frequent Flyer points (could probably bump this up to 150,000 before I leave).

Am definitely going to the US only and cannot change destinations (visiting ppl there).

I know that there are probably other destinations which will give me better value on the points. However, assuming US is the only option- any suggestions on the best way to do it?

Classic rewards?
Any seat rewards?
Points + Pay?
Ticket upgrade?
Best time to book?
Other options?

Would greatly appreciate any advice ppl could give me. Am kinda confuse with all the rules and things : ).

Thanks all!
M

 

[smit0847]

You'll probably be too late for classic award seats if you want to fly in J. They need to be booked exactly 12 months in advance.

 

[ketsuzei]

96,000 points + a bit over AUD500 will get you from Los Angeles back to Melbourne or Sydney in business class on November 11.

Can't see anything earlier, and 100,000 points isn't enough to go further.

And that would still leave you with the problem of how to get over there.

150,000 points closer to the time wouldn't do much good, because it would be too late to book.

You could theoretically use those points to try to get an upgrade, but the odds aren't very good at all.

And Classic Awards in economy are pretty bad value once you factor in the cash co-payment and compare it to the cost of buying a ticket outright.

Unfortunately, probably best not to have your heart set on using your points under this scenario.

 

[dalereardon]

Ah come on people - be a little more innovative. You can fly MEL/SYD-DXB-JFK in business class for 128000 points one way. Go get a credit card with a bonus points offer and top up your points. The availability on Emirates is quite good and you can always fly out of Adelaide to get even better availability.

You may get the award seats now or Emirates usually has last minute availability.

The using points calculator tells me that MEL-HKG-JFK is 164000 in J because it is on Cathay but I don't think that is correct. Call up Qantas to check and you may be able to go that way with CX as well which always has availability including last minute.

Your best use of points and enjoyment is going to be to treat yourself one way in J and then pay for an economy return.

Do you have US Airways or American Aadvantage accounts - you could always buy miles for the return journey and go via HKG - using AA may mean 2 awards to find seats though.

Dale.

 

[ketsuzei]

You can fly MEL/SYD-DXB-JFK in business class for 128000 points one way. Go get a credit card with a bonus points offer and top up your points. The availability on Emirates is quite good and you can always fly out of Adelaide to get even better availability.

I can't see any J availability out of Sydney or Melbourne around that time, and availability from Adelaide only from mid-September.

Just to give an idea as to co-pay:

ADL-DXB-JFK is 128,000 points + AUD642.18
JFK-DXB-MEL is 128,000 points + USD920.49

So I know which direction I'd be choosing.

Still leaves the question of how you'd get back.

 

[PLANT]

Is that an ONL on DXB or change planes/refuel?

 

[smit0847]

Ah come on people - be a little more innovative. You can fly MEL/SYD-DXB-JFK in business class for 128000 points one way. Go get a credit card with a bonus points offer and top up your points. The availability on Emirates is quite good and you can always fly out of Adelaide to get even better availability.

You may get the award seats now or Emirates usually has last minute availability.

The using points calculator tells me that MEL-HKG-JFK is 164000 in J because it is on Cathay but I don't think that is correct. Call up Qantas to check and you may be able to go that way with CX as well which always has availability including last minute.

Your best use of points and enjoyment is going to be to treat yourself one way in J and then pay for an economy return.

Do you have US Airways or American Aadvantage accounts - you could always buy miles for the return journey and go via HKG - using AA may mean 2 awards to find seats though.

Dale.

13+ hours in an angled flat? Not thanks!

 

[markis10]

You'll probably be too late for classic award seats if you want to fly in J. They need to be booked exactly 12 months in advance.

Pity award seats are not released exactly 12 moths in advance :shock:

Unfortunately, probably best not to have your heart set on using your points under this scenario.

Other options should not be overlooked, such as picking up the phone and looking at partner flights, or flights departing from the pacific islands of NZ and FJ