Buying Qantas top-up points with a bonus: Worth it?

[MEL_Traveller]

Definitely only one way.

$1,600 return from MEL to CGK in business class would be a steal.



Really? On my end, if buying points and redeeming, it would be CA$1,125 (buying 30k pts (+22.5k bonus pts) = 52.5k pts) + CA$191 in taxes =~AUD$1,325.

Either way, $1.3-$1.5k for a one way business class seat from Australia to SE Asia is quite a good deal. Beats paying $3k+ for a regular cash fare anyday.

Just under 2c aussie per point with anything around 90% to 100% bonus… so base fare of ~$1050, and taxes (no fuel surcharges).

 

[MelbFlyer]

Just under 2c aussie per point with anything around 90% to 100% bonus… so base fare of ~$1050, and taxes (no fuel surcharges).

I have to say that's a very odd way of calculating it - I understand that you're calculating the
"effective" acquisition cost but it still doesn't change the amount of cash you're paying upfront to acquire those points.

On my end, buying 52.5k Aeroplan points is CAD$1,125 (30kpts + 22.5k pts bonus)
+
The taxes for a business class seat is CAD$191
= CA$1,316 =~ AUD$1,325

Just because you're buying points on special and then converting it to c/pt, it doesn't mean that the actual spend goes down (ie $1.3k spent doesn't magically turn into ~$1,050).

Likewise for QF points whilst on special too - what you pay is what you pay.

For a MEL-SIN business class reward seat, it's 82.1k pts. With the current special you'd need to buy 70k pts for a 17.5k pts bonus = 87.5k pts for AUD$1,919. Add on taxes and it's over AUD$2k for a reward seat. Still cheaper than a regular cash fare of >$3k+ though and of course subject to actual availability.

If you can show me where I can spend $1,050 actual cash (disregard c/pt, or any other irrelevant calculations) for a MEL-SIN/CGK one way business class fare, when it costs ~$1.3k/~$2k to purchase AP/QF points whilst on special / taxes, I'm all ears!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have to say that's a very odd way of calculating it.

On my end, buying 52.5k Aeroplan points is CAD$1,125 (30kpts + 22.5k pts bonus)
+
The taxes for a business class seat is CAD$191
= CA$1,316 =~ AUD$1,325

Just because you're buying points on special and then converting it to c/pt, it doesn't mean that the money spent goes down (ie $1.3k spent doesn't magically turn into ~$1,050).

Likewise for QF points whilst on special too - what you pay is what you pay.

For a MEL-SIN business class reward seat, it's 82.1k pts. With the current special you'd need to buy 70k pts for a 17.5k pts bonus = 87.5k pts for AUD$1,919. Add on taxes and it's over AUD$2k for a reward seat. Still cheaper than a regular cash fare of >$3k+ though and of course subject to actual availability.

If you can show me where I can spend $1,050 actual cash (disregard c/pt, or any other irrelevant calculations) for a MEL-SIN/CGK one way business class fare, when it costs ~$1.3k/~$2k to purchase AP/QF points whilst on special / taxes, I'm all ears!

many people, myself included, don’t buy the exact number of points needed for an award, as that may not represent the best value for money.

The lowest price per point - if you’re a regular user- is what you go for.

So if I’m only going to do Jakarta, I’ll buy 50k points plus 50k bonus = 100k, even though I only need 52.5k for the award. And I’ll likely have to come home anyway! So there’s the 100k gone.

If the max bonus starts at 100k, with 100k bonus, that’s what I buy.

On that basis it’s works out to just under 2c per point… around 1.9 (AUD) or thereabouts depending on the exchange rate.

I keep a pool of aeroplan points for major trips plus contingency for any last minute trips, so it’s always going to be 1.9c (sometimes a fraction more, or less) for the award.

Plus actual taxes, which I’ve always mentioned need to be added to any pricing in my posts here.

So if the taxes are 191, that prices my trip to Jakarta at AUD1188.

Still $400 (and change) cheaper than the QF option.

 

[CaptJCool]

Because earn and burn come with two different rates …

What it costs to buy or redeem is at the discretion of the airline so when the same airline controls the

thresholds
Rates
Range Brackets
Caps (floors / ceilings)

Rebates

Refundables
Non refundables

Cancellation charges

The volumes of available rewards

Means testing WP get phone a friend and advance access to reward flights

Freebies

Surcharges

Discounts

That rather monopolistic