First booking

[michaelt]

Just made my first ever QFF booking! Think I did ok. BNE to LAX business class with FJ to minimise the taxes in May 2016. Now we have to get home. Looking at ANC to HNL, stay a few days and then home to either Gold Coast or BNE. Two PAX with about 200,000 QFF points and I am a member of AA Advantage but don't have any miles. Any strategies?

 

[Mattg]

Just made my first ever QFF booking! Think I did ok. BNE to LAX business class with FJ to minimise the taxes in May 2016. Now we have to get home. Looking at ANC to HNL, stay a few days and then home to either Gold Coast or BNE. Two PAX with about 200,000 QFF points and I am a member of AA Advantage but don't have any miles. Any strategies?

Welcome to the forum.

In your case, I would look at making two separate bookings, one from ANC to HNL using American or Alaskan miles. Then I would look at booking HNL-BNE using QF via SYD or Jetstar direct.

In each case, you'll need to weigh up the value of using points vs booking with cash. AA only release award seats 330 days out, so you may not be able to book ANC to HNL just yet, but keep an eye out on AA.com. For 37.5K AA miles + about $5 in taxes you can fly to HNL in first class, but it will probably be via the east coast of the USA (Seattle, Phoenix, Las Vegas or Los Angeles). The aadvantage of AA miles is that you can purchase them, and then use them to fly on partners like Alaskan and Hawaiian as well as AA itself. However, purchasing 75K will cost about $1600 US (and that's with the current bonus miles promotion). Otherwise, you can also use QF points on this route but they charge a premium for a first class seat. I'd probably just fly economy if using QF points.

For HNL-BNE I'd be looking at QF points, or alternatively, purchasing a Jetstar business class ticket if any are available for a discounted price. JQ business IMHO represents the best value for a paid cash ticket on that route.

In any case, it's good to see you are planning in advance. A lot of frequent flyer point newbies don't realise how quickly those reward seats can sell out!

 

[michaelt]

Thanks very much Mattg, I will take that all onboard.