LHR – HKG - J Class – All Points or Upgrade?

[pax1a]

Which option is the best value and what are the pro’s and con’s
If you have to travel between LHR – HKG return (or HKG – LHR return) ticket can start at either airport as long as it's return.

Traveling with a One World Airline with QF points.

- (1) Discount Economy + Points to Upgrade

- (2) Full Economy + Points to Upgrade

- (3) Points Only

Any suggestions?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Depends on fare & award availability. In general a business award is more cost effective than paid economy + points upgrade.

Also if you want guarantee of business class then only an award (subject to availability) will give that - upgrades are only confirmed just before departure.

Edited to add - sorry I'm assuming you refer to Qantas. Air NZ has confirmable airpoints and elite upgrades Not sure about VS, BA or CX.

 

[simongr]

Edited to add - sorry I'm assuming you refer to Qantas.

Traveling with a One World Airline with QF points

Note if using QF points to upgrade you will only be flying QF and some flights are not upgradeable (or is that just domestic). You cant use QF points to upgrade non-QF flights.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

didn't read properly

note awards can be one way, which can be advantageous

 

[serfty]

Assuming QF, it costs less points to upgrade from Full Economy (35K against 56K), however, the full economy prices are normally ridiculously expensive. It's often cheaper to actually purchase the J seat outright in the first place.

However, having a look at Expert Flyer, a return fare in 'Full" Economy (HKG-LHR-HKG) can be had for AUD1740 & +++ (YHFFEAQF).

The cheapest discount Economy fare showing is AUD1144 for MHRCRTQF.

An award in economy with QFF is 84K QFF point and +++; in J it's 168K (& +++).

 

[serfty]

So for the round trip (Assuming your upgrades come through):

1. AUD1144 + 112K QFF points
2. AUD1740 + 70K QFF points
3. 168K QFF points

(note the prices exclude +++'s)

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

By comparison my upcoming AKL-LHR return cost less in economy than option 1, and confirm upgrade to business on 1 sector using elite vouchers. To upgrade a 2nd sector to business on standby would cost 660 airbucks (equivalent to about 45k points).

 

[NM]

Biggest issue is going to be availability.

Can you get the award flight confirmed for when you want to travel? If so, then you have a confirmed business class seat for your trip.

If you purchase an economy ticket and plan to use points to upgrade, you can only waitlist for the upgrade and hope it is successful. If you do not have Gold or Platinum status with Qantas, then your chances of the upgrade clearing are low and you should expect to be flying in economy.

Purchasing a full fare economy ticket (must be Y fare basis) is a very expensive option considering you may very well be travelling in the economy cabin if the upgrade waitlist does not clear.