Im not too familiar with what a J Flight is but I will find out
My apologies. As Yo Yo Ma has said, J fares are Business fares, Y are Economy fares. I should have been clear. BFOD = Best Flight of the Day, generally the cheapest Y fare available on any given day you need to fly.
You value your points at 3c per point, can you please tell me how you redeem it and in your opinion what is the best way to get the highest points value possible
This forum is full of people with heaps of knowledge constantly playing "the game" - have a big read, there is a ton a relevant stuff. There is no easy answer you see - you have to read and gain knowledge because everyone's situation is slightly different.
However, to give a really quick and dirty example of what I mean by redeeming QFF points against Business class tickets to gain additional "point value", consider this:
PER-MEL, Business (J) class, any seat award ticket (so called JASA fare):
Points spent: 45,500 each way (look for the specials) = 91,000 return
Points earned: 5,000 (assuming no status)
Taxes = 0$
Same fare in Dollars: $2,978
Same fare as a classic Reward: 72,000 QFF points + $55
In these example cases, the points redemption levels would be:
JASA = 91,000 - 5000 = 86,000 points. If the dollars cost of the same fare = $2,978, then $2,978 / 86000 = 3.4c / point
Classic J = (2978-55) / 72,000 = 4.1c / point
Interestingly, JASA flights on QF allow you to offset points spend against money, so, for example, you can reduce the required points for the JASA from 91,000 to 72,000 if you contribute $244 in cash this gives an outcome of:
JASA + pay = 2,978 - 244 = 2734 / 72,000 = 3.8c / point
Generally speaking, combinations of Y fares, whether they be classic or YASA (Y Any Seat Awards) tend to redeem at 1c/point or less.
However, there is a hidden trap in amongst all this. If you have no interest in flying J, or F for that matter, then there isn't a lot of point redeeming at high point/dollar rates using J/F examples. Points are only worth what they are worth to _you_ ... it doesn't matter what they are supposedly worth to me. If I were quite satisfied flying in Y class then I'd concentrate fully on extracting maximum value from Y redemptions - probably trying hard to squeeze 1c or more from a point ... and be happy with that. I'd have to adjust my strategy to suit - no high priced Credit Cards, I'd stick with the best earning cards I could obtain that were free or close to free. I'm thinking Woolies EDR CC and the Amex QF disco card (for example).
When I was referring to $500 flights that was based on jets tar flights
I know it's not fair comparing qantas planes and jet star planes but when i go to a city or country that has jet star fleets and even if I book using qantas points I get the jet star flights and jet star service (no food no tv no drinks no nothing)
Im willing to change programs to get a far better redemption
Fair enough. It sounds like you may be in a similar predicament as myself. I want to use QF internationally, but most of my current focus/interest is in SE Asia and the Pacific. QF has pretty much withdrawn completely from these areas leaving me with JQ optons ... bleah.
As we talk about this stuff its worth noting that MH should be joining OneWorld later this year ... lets not count our chickens before they hatch, but if it happens then realistic options for OW travel to SE Asia and the region more generally will open up.
In the immediate term however, I have started re-directing much of my QFF earn to DJ. Their domestic J class points redemption options are extremely competitive, like PER-MEL return for 13,800 points + about $400, and points can be used for international flights on DJ (short haul), VA, SQ, etc, a host of partners ... most of whom are not OneWorld members ...
Perhaps rethinking your QFF strategy would be more satisfying, at least in the short term? Get a VFF (Virgin Frequent Flyer) earning credit card and redeem against DJ flights?
