Booking Seats on AA using QFF points

[petertct]

Hello,
Bought cheap tickets to Dallas on the QF Flash sale so want to use up some of my 750 k points for internal travel. What is the best possible way to do this?
Could be very basic question but appreciate any help

Thanks

PT

 

[Doggy]

Just go to the QF site and search for reward availability on whatever routes you like. When choosing cities make sure you check the box in the top right corner that says something like "Use reward seat cities". Or something like that.

Should be pretty straight forward.

 

[Austff]

It is easy & straight forward to ckeck availability but you may have to call to book , my online booking would not proceed to payment stage.
If you have lots of QFF points & don't want to use USD it is pretty good value , especially as the AUD is low.

 

[Limewood]

tick white box select cities then.

 

[grussellt]

Hello,
Bought cheap tickets to Dallas on the QF Flash sale so want to use up some of my 750 k points for internal travel. What is the best possible way to do this?
Could be very basic question but appreciate any help

Thanks



PT

It could be worthwhile to join AAdvantage and search for award flights on the AA site. Since the merger with US there could be multi-city awards that may not show up on QFF.

 

[petertct]

Thanks for this, is it worth going on the US section of the Qantas web site or should stay in Aus part?

 

[Doggy]

Thanks for this, is it worth going on the US section of the Qantas web site or should stay in Aus part?

Going to the US QF site won't increase award availability if that's what you're getting at.

 

[grussellt]

Thanks for this, is it worth going on the US section of the Qantas web site or should stay in Aus part?

To find additional routes you need to search on the American Airlines website. For example on May 4, 2016 a search on QFF shows availability for JFK-LAX as AA33 only. A search on AA for the same day will also offer routes via MIA/PHX/ORD/DFW and others. Of course some of these routes may cost more QFF points than JFK-LAX direct.

 

[Pushka]

To find additional routes you need to search on the American Airlines website. For example on May 4, 2016 a search on QFF shows availability for JFK-LAX as AA33 only. A search on AA for the same day will also offer routes via MIA/PHX/ORD/DFW and others. Of course some of these routes may cost more QFF points than JFK-LAX direct.

And if you find flights on the aa website and want to use QF points - do you call Qantas to book?

 

[grussellt]

And if you find flights on the aa website and want to use QF points - do you call Qantas to book?

Either call or if you input the flights you find as a multi-city search on QFF you should be able to book online.

You can only use QFF points to book an award with QFF but clearly on whichever airline(s) offer the award seat availability.

 

[Danger]

Hello,
Bought cheap tickets to Dallas on the QF Flash sale so want to use up some of my 750 k points for internal travel. What is the best possible way to do this?
Could be very basic question but appreciate any help

Thanks

PT

Just go to the QF site and search for reward availability on whatever routes you like. When choosing cities make sure you check the box in the top right corner that says something like "Use reward seat cities". Or something like that.

Should be pretty straight forward.

Just don't be surprised if the first few redemption options have you routing via Dubai on Emirates - even when you're searching for a flight between Miami and Dallas.

 

[diningdecadence]

interested in opinions on the following option.

i need to book DFW-IAH, on a short 1 hour flight connecting from QF7 SYD-DFW on an award ticket.

other travellers in our party have direct flights from SYD-DFW-IAH however for some reason they can't extend the award tickets to be on the same flights.

options
1. AA cheapest economy = USD$166, but only 1 piece of baggage
2. AA first = USD$228 (up to 3 bags)
3. AAnytime Y award = 20,000 AA miles (milesaver not available, business also not available)
4. Qantas award = 8k for Y, 24k for F.

so i'm thinking a Qantas award is the best bet, but first should try to get them to extend the award tickets - any other ideas?

 

[Mattg]

interested in opinions on the following option.

i need to book DFW-IAH, on a short 1 hour flight connecting from QF7 SYD-DFW on an award ticket.

other travellers in our party have direct flights from SYD-DFW-IAH however for some reason they can't extend the award tickets to be on the same flights.

options
1. AA cheapest economy = USD$166, but only 1 piece of baggage
2. AA first = USD$228 (up to 3 bags)
3. AAnytime Y award = 20,000 AA miles (milesaver not available, business also not available)
4. Qantas award = 8k for Y, 24k for F.

so i'm thinking a Qantas award is the best bet, but first should try to get them to extend the award tickets - any other ideas?

Honestly, I'd go for paid F on that route (and at that price). But if you are happy enough with Y and just want the "best value" option, I'd go for a QF classic award in Y. Save your AA miles.

 

[Danger]

interested in opinions on the following option.

i need to book DFW-IAH, on a short 1 hour flight connecting from QF7 SYD-DFW on an award ticket.

other travellers in our party have direct flights from SYD-DFW-IAH however for some reason they can't extend the award tickets to be on the same flights.

options
1. AA cheapest economy = USD$166, but only 1 piece of baggage
2. AA first = USD$228 (up to 3 bags)
3. AAnytime Y award = 20,000 AA miles (milesaver not available, business also not available)
4. Qantas award = 8k for Y, 24k for F.

so i'm thinking a Qantas award is the best bet, but first should try to get them to extend the award tickets - any other ideas?

If the flight is only connecting then there shouldn't be a problem checking your bag through from SYD, given you'll be connecting to another oneworld flight. Alternatively, maybe you could check the bag in under one of your companion's allowance.

 

[serfty]

Agree with mattg ... go the paid F ... 40 SC far cheaper than any thing within Oz.

Note there'll be no (real) food service in F for such a short flight.

 

[exceladdict]

interested in opinions on the following option.

i need to book DFW-IAH, on a short 1 hour flight connecting from QF7 SYD-DFW on an award ticket.

other travellers in our party have direct flights from SYD-DFW-IAH however for some reason they can't extend the award tickets to be on the same flights.

options
1. AA cheapest economy = USD$166, but only 1 piece of baggage
2. AA first = USD$228 (up to 3 bags)
3. AAnytime Y award = 20,000 AA miles (milesaver not available, business also not available)
4. Qantas award = 8k for Y, 24k for F.

so i'm thinking a Qantas award is the best bet, but first should try to get them to extend the award tickets - any other ideas?

I have used QF points to pay for AA whY flights in the past when it was 12k vs $600 (US); so in AUD that's returning 7c/point, which to me was worth it.

In your case it's roughtly 2.9c/point for Y or 1.3c/point (AUD) redeeming for F (as AA F flights are normally 50-100% more expensive for A or P class (instant upgrade F fares), whereas QF F redemptions are 3x Y).

Given it's in the sad zone (<750miles), you'd be looking at only 40 SCs for F, so $8.14AUD/SC, not the best value to be found on AA F.

Also if you try to alter the QF7 award ticket, I imagine you'll be hit with a change fee - need to take that in to account.