Long Term Plan for RTW FF

[Oscartulip]

I am saving Qantas FF points in hopes of a first class RTW trip with my son in a few years. I understand probably swapping my Qantas points to Cathy Pacific may get me RTW for less points.

The only reason I’ve gone with Qantas is my business eftpos system gets me points.

Is it right I probably need to book reward seats one year out? Is there a benefit to me doing status runs in the year before I book (so roughly two years out) to get me into Gold status with Qantas to get better access to reward seats? Or is it not worth it if I am going to redeem the points via Cathy Pacific RTW? Or should I be aiming for status with a Cathy Pacific program?

I am guessing I need to take my son for status runs too? Or if I am the adult and he doesn’t have Gold for example will I able to get him into lounges and better ques being with me? He’s eight.

Or should I not bother with status? We are going to be super flexible with travel routes and times - the first class travel is more the reward and destination is negotiable!

Any advice on how best to long term plan for the best RTW Trip we can create as it will be once in a lifetime.

Thanks!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am saving Qantas FF points in hopes of a first class RTW trip with my son in a few years. I understand probably swapping my Qantas points to Cathy Pacific may get me RTW for less points.

The only reason I’ve gone with Qantas is my business eftpos system gets me points.

Is it right I probably need to book reward seats one year out? Is there a benefit to me doing status runs in the year before I book (so roughly two years out) to get me into Gold status with Qantas to get better access to reward seats? Or is it not worth it if I am going to redeem the points via Cathy Pacific RTW? Or should I be aiming for status with a Cathy Pacific program?

I am guessing I need to take my son for status runs too? Or if I am the adult and he doesn’t have Gold for example will I able to get him into lounges and better ques being with me? He’s eight.

Or should I not bother with status? We are going to be super flexible with travel routes and times - the first class travel is more the reward and destination is negotiable!

Any advice on how best to long term plan for the best RTW Trip we can create as it will be once in a lifetime.

Thanks!

If you are accruing Qantas points you have to redeem through Qantas. This can include travel on Cathay Pacific, but it will be at the 'price' listed in the Qantas award tables. Cathay may be cheaper in terms of the points they would charge for the same itinerary, but you'd need to be earning points through their Asia Miles program (or accruing points on an Aussie credit card that allowed you to transfer them to your Asia Miles account).

Qantas platinums and above can request normal paid seats on Qantas flights to be converted to award seats.

For the rest of the status tiers, there may be some (limited) additional availability over bronze and silver, but that only applies to Qantas operated flights. Status will not increase award seats on Cathay pacific (or any other award partners).

Cathay Pacific will generally release one, maybe two first class seats about a year out. But they also release a bunch of seats close to the departure date... anywhere from two weeks up until the day of departure. There can often be two, three, four or even five F seats available for redemption. But, the trade-off is that your travel plans can't even be booked until two weeks before you go... not something most of us are willing to consider.

 

[Oscartulip]

Oh darn! Thought I could transfer FF points. Hmmm. So I’m stuck with using Qantas points for the RTW. Prob won’t get to first class level then for kid and I it’s a lot of points even with the business Eftpos. So maybe two RTW in business class. But I don’t think I can justify enough status runs for two of us to make it to Platinum just to make it easy redeem the points for RTW. I’m new to all this and seem a bit of a challenge to learn how best to make it work. Maybe I should sit on the points until kid has left home and then go first class alone lol.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But I don’t think I can justify enough status runs for two of us to make it to Platinum just to make it easy redeem the points for RTW.

Almost certainly not!

A bit of planning and you can probably get the seats you want anyway without having to spend $$$ for status.

 

[Scr77]

What about a last minute trip to experience F to Singapore? Emirates usually have seats available from Melbourne a few weeks out. This wouldn’t require as many points or as much forward planing as a RTW trip.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF .

To redeem FF points for J seats you will need to pounce, and I mean pounce when they come up on the system. Its not a year out, but something like 353 days and at a particular time; some-one like @serfty will be able to tell us for sure. Your flexibility will be a great asset.

If your son is travelling business, he gets all the access and privileges you do (except to be able to approach the bar ). Even if he was in economy, you could guest him into lounges and he could check in with you in priority queues.

Travelling business, there aren't very many additional benefits you will get with Platinum (WP as we call it here). But they include:
* Access to first class lounges for you and a guest;
* Higher priority in requests you make
* Ability to call and ask them to release a business seat (or two) if you miss out what you are wanting (but never count on this)

Note that only you need to be Platinum - you can make requests for others and can guest them into the First Class lounges.

Have a look at this thread as a starter on how to plan a OneWorld RTW on points .Oneworld Award (140K/280K/420K) Planning

Come back and ask questions - there is no such thing as a dumb question here (I should know )

 

[Deleted member]

If you’re not doing a lot of flying anyway, accumulating enough SC’s just to enjoy the ability to get reward seats released seems counterproductive.
I suppose if it were me and I wanted to guarantee a great experience, I would save up and pay for J seats, then look at trying (not always easy for non status pax) to get F upgrades. Even if one of you is WP (as mentioned above) you can weave a lot more magic with upgrade requests.

 

[rock86]

To redeem FF points for J seats you will need to pounce, and I mean pounce when they come up on the system. Its not a year out, but something like 353 days and at a particular time; some-one like @serfty will be able to tell us for sure. Your flexibility will be a great asset.

Just on that RooFlyer, I think now us NB only get access to QF J & F award flights at around the 300 days out after WP & SC have had first crack at them

 

[Mattg]

I personally wouldn't bother trying to get 2x RTW awards in F because so few flights actually have a first class cabin these days. Sure, you can plan the trip around airlines with an F cabin but that will end up being quite limiting. Business class is still good

Regarding availability, having Qantas status only gives you preferential access to QF flights. Availability on other oneworld airlines is exactly the same regardless of whether you have bronze or platinum one status with Qantas. So, don't go out of your way to earn QF status purely in order to book this trip.