Gamble on an upgrade or redeem QFF for Classic Flight Rewards?

[catinjapan]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the community here and to finally managing the multiple airline awards accounts I have .

I'll be flying one way Melbourne to London in the first week of March. I have accrued 84k QFF points (Bronze status only).

I'm trying to decide which option to take (in order of preference):

• purchase an Economy Saver ticket at $1314 and request an upgrade to business class (it looks like this is possible as it states QF9 is operated by Qantas); or
• redeem 64k points and pay $328 in fees and taxes for a Classic Reward seat; or
• fly with Etihad at $400 cheaper and continue saving up points

It seems from reading a number of forums that upgrade requests can sometimes be quite difficult to get. Have any of you found this is the case? Which option would you go with?

Cheers.

 

[QPProletarian]

• purchase an Economy Saver ticket at $1314 and request an upgrade to business class (it looks like this is possible as it states QF9 is operated by Qantas); or

- this may be O or Q class and non upgradable, although One Way may be a higher booking class. you'd have to check this very carefully. Probably low chance of upgrade unless you go midweek off-peak time of year.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the community here and to finally managing the multiple airline awards accounts I have .

I'll be flying one way Melbourne to London in the first week of March. I have accrued 84k QFF points (Bronze status only).

I'm trying to decide which option to take (in order of preference):

• purchase an Economy Saver ticket at $1314 and request an upgrade to business class (it looks like this is possible as it states QF9 is operated by Qantas); or
• redeem 64k points and pay $328 in fees and taxes for a Classic Reward seat; or
• fly with Etihad at $400 cheaper and continue saving up points

It seems from reading a number of forums that upgrade requests can sometimes be quite difficult to get. Have any of you found this is the case? Which option would you go with?

Cheers.

Hi and welcome to AFF!

As a bronze (indeed even a silver or gold Qantas frequent flyer) I'd expect to travel only in the class you have booked and paid for. Even if you request an upgrade now, a silver member buying a week before travel and also requesting an upgrade at that time would be higher on the list than you. And upgrade requests to London are thick and fast.

So I'd look at one of the other options. 64K and $328 in fees doesn't sound too bad, but it depends how much the 64K in points is saving you, and whether that's worth it to you. It looks like it might be saving you around $1000 - which is not bad value at all.

It also depends what you want to do with your points in future. Do you have a goal in mind? 120K points will get you business class return to Asia. 60K one way. Do you want to save an treat yourself for that?

Have a play around with googleflights and also STA Travel (who have some really good deals sometimes)and see the cheapest one way and go from there. Unfortunately one-ways aren't usually that great a value and you can get the return for just a few hundred dollars more.

 

[opusman]

Are you sure about the 64K figure? From memory business MEL-LHR is 256k return (i.e. 128k each way).

 

[catinjapan]

Thanks QPProletarian!

 

[catinjapan]

As a bronze (indeed even a silver or gold Qantas frequent flyer) I'd expect to travel only in the class you have booked and paid for. Even if you request an upgrade now, a silver member buying a week before travel and also requesting an upgrade at that time would be higher on the list than you. And upgrade requests to London are thick and fast.

So I'd look at one of the other options. 64K and $328 in fees doesn't sound too bad, but it depends how much the 64K in points is saving you, and whether that's worth it to you. It looks like it might be saving you around $1000 - which is not bad value at all.

It also depends what you want to do with your points in future. Do you have a goal in mind? 120K points will get you business class return to Asia. 60K one way. Do you want to save an treat yourself for that?

Have a play around with googleflights and also STA Travel (who have some really good deals sometimes)and see the cheapest one way and go from there. Unfortunately one-ways aren't usually that great a value and you can get the return for just a few hundred dollars more.

So much useful advice - thanks! I'm travelling through Europe and the Americas for a year; I'm expecting 50k more points in 4 months' time from my new BankWest but it'll be too late by then to combine it with the 84k for something more worthwhile.

I'm going to have a play around with Google flights, but knowing that it's quite unlikely I'd get a business class upgrade makes redeeming my points for an economy Classic Rewards flight the decision I'll go with.

 

[catinjapan]

Are you sure about the 64K figure? From memory business MEL-LHR is 256k return (i.e. 128k each way).

For an economy Classic Rewards flight, not business. If only!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So much useful advice - thanks! I'm travelling through Europe and the Americas for a year; I'm expecting 50k more points in 4 months' time from my new BankWest but it'll be too late by then to combine it with the 84k for something more worthwhile.

I'm going to have a play around with Google flights, but knowing that it's quite unlikely I'd get a business class upgrade makes redeeming my points for an economy Classic Rewards flight the decision I'll go with.

Royal Brunei (supposedly not too if you can manage without alcohol!) is coming in at $691 one way MEL-LHR in early march on STA travel. Not a bad deal and would save you your 64K points for later.

If you are continuing on to the Americas, you might find your points come in for better value either Europe-USA or USA-Australia at the end of the trip (you might even have enough for business class to fly back from the USA at that stage on points).

 

[andye]

Personally I'd go on the cheaper Etihad flight (and collect some VA points)

If the thought of a continuous 23 hour trip in Y bothers you, you could think about a Classic Award SYD-BKK-DXB-LHR. You can set it up as day flights. Providing you don't have over 24 h layover it costs the same-there are of course costs in accommodation and transfers

There are clever options of getting cheap (or points) flights to SIN/BKK and then going J on Finnair or Sri Lankan which some people swear by

 

[Mattg]

• purchase an Economy Saver ticket at $1314 and request an upgrade to business class (it looks like this is possible as it states QF9 is operated by Qantas); or

- this may be O or Q class and non upgradable, although One Way may be a higher booking class. you'd have to check this very carefully. Probably low chance of upgrade unless you go midweek off-peak time of year.

The "Saver" fares are generally upgradeable. It's the "Sale" fares that are not.

But you're correct about the chances of getting the upgrade being slim. I wouldn't risk it if you really want to fly Business, although if you're prepared to fly economy then travelling off-peak can increase the chances of getting an upgrade.

 

[catinjapan]

Royal Brunei (supposedly not too if you can manage without alcohol!) is coming in at $691 one way MEL-LHR in early march on STA travel. Not a bad deal and would save you your 64K points for later.

If you are continuing on to the Americas, you might find your points come in for better value either Europe-USA or USA-Australia at the end of the trip (you might even have enough for business class to fly back from the USA at that stage on points).

I do have to admit that, being a light sleeper, it's the alcohol that helps put me to sleep on a long flight!

The only reason I initially didn't consider royal Brunei is the 20kg checked limit; I'm looking for at least 30kg as I'll be living and working in LDN for 4 months before travelling.

I was looking at purchasing additional miles for the to/from US journey, actually. I only joined AA's award program the other day -- unfortunately I'll miss out on their mileage sale special that ends on 30 Nov . Although United have a sale until 14 Dec where one can purchase miles with up to 80% bonus.

 

[Mattg]

I was looking at purchasing additional miles for the to/from US journey, actually. I only joined AA's award program the other day -- unfortunately I'll miss out on their mileage sale special that ends on 30 Nov . Although United have a sale until 14 Dec where one can purchase miles with up to 80% bonus.

Just be careful with AAdvantage - award availabiliy to the USA is very difficult to find. American is also increasing the cost of redeeming miles on many routes for bookings made after March 2016. So do take this into account if you plan to buy AA miles.

 

[catinjapan]

Personally I'd go on the cheaper Etihad flight (and collect some VA points)

If the thought of a continuous 23 hour trip in Y bothers you, you could think about a Classic Award SYD-BKK-DXB-LHR. You can set it up as day flights. Providing you don't have over 24 h layover it costs the same-there are of course costs in accommodation and transfers.

I don't quite understand this, or if it would work if I'm originating in Melbourne, but I'll do some more research to look into it. Thanks!

There are clever options of getting cheap (or points) flights to SIN/BKK and then going J on Finnair or Sri Lankan which some people swear by

I'll look into this, too! Thanks for the tips . Considering the chance that my flight arriving in SIN/BKK could be late and I might miss the next flight, is this when you would recommend going through a travel agent instead of booking yourself?

 

[catinjapan]

Just be careful with AAdvantage - award availabiliy to the USA is very difficult to find. American is also increasing the cost of redeeming miles on many routes for bookings made after March 2016. So do take this into account if you plan to buy AA miles.

Thanks for the tip - noted! I'm overwhelmed by how helpful you all are, with such a newbie like me.

 

[Mattg]

Booking award flights from Melbourne to Bangkok, then Qatar/Vietnam Airlines/Sri Lankan/Royal Jordanian/Finnair from Bangkok to Europe in Business class is an excellent method. Bangkok to Europe and back is often little more than $2,000 return in Business class using these airlines. But I do recommend overnighting in Bangkok in case of missed connections etc.

No need to book through a travel agent... IMHO the AFF community is more knowledgeable than your average travel agent. Any questions, just ask us.

 

[Dr Ralph]

How about the cheapest QF flight you can get and booking the exit row with your points?

 

[Mattg]

How about the cheapest QF flight you can get and booking the exit row with your points?

The exit row idea isn't a bad one, but why would you use points for that? The cost is $180 or 23,500 points for long-haul flights. That's a value of 0.77 cents per point, which is almost in "Points Plus Pay" territory (i.e. poor value). As the OP is short on points, I would suggest saving them for something of better value. 23,500 points is almost enough for three domestic flights, and not far off a one-way flight from Melbourne to Bangkok (30,000 points).

 

[catinjapan]

Booking award flights from Melbourne to Bangkok, then Qatar/Vietnam Airlines/Sri Lankan/Royal Jordanian/Finnair from Bangkok to Europe in Business class is an excellent method. Bangkok to Europe and back is often little more than $2,000 return in Business class using these airlines. But I do recommend overnighting in Bangkok in case of missed connections etc.

Brilliant! I've found business class flights from BKK>LHR for $1580 via Finnair and $1771 via Vietnam Airlines. There are comparable Air India and Kuwait Airlines flights, but I'm not familiar with those airlines. So many options!

No need to book through a travel agent... IMHO the AFF community is more knowledgeable than your average travel agent. Any questions, just ask us.

Haha - thanks again!

 

[Mattg]

Brilliant! I've found business class flights from BKK>LHR for $1580 via Finnair and $1771 via Vietnam Airlines. There are comparable Air India and Kuwait Airlines flights, but I'm not familiar with those airlines. So many options!

Cool! Is that return or one-way?

 

[catinjapan]

Cool! Is that return or one-way?

Just one way, as that's all I need. Is that a good deal?