New member, long term QFF questioning my loyalty (or theirs)

[Richard64]

And yes I did look at the fares - but a "Saver" fare from NY to Sydney on the 27th Jan (one way) is $1,754 USD - which is $13K AUD for 6 tickets. That's an awful lot for one way discount economy

 

[prozac]

And yes I did look at the fares - but a "Saver" fare from NY to Sydney on the 27th Jan (one way) is $1,754 USD - which is $13K AUD for 6 tickets. That's an awful lot for one way discount economy 

Richard, have you seen the latest post here by Coley? Similar issue might suggest a temp hiccup though finding 6 redemptions might be an ask.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ward-140k-280k-420k-8228-320.html#post1409691

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If anyone has advice I'd be very grateful.

Best thing I ever did with respect to FF programs was to think beyond just QFF (though I was originally an "Ansett" devotee).

So look at:

* A diversity of FF programs
* Think Alliance and not just Airline FF program (and this includes Partner Awards like SQ/KF have etc)

Work out what YOUR requirements are as it is different for each of us (ie is stautus importnat, do you want to redeem J or F, where to you want to fly, how can you earn points and status).

For all but those with the most limited earning abaility you can normally greatly increase both your "earn" and " burn" by being in at least 2 or 3 FF programs.
* Some points can only go to a particular program (or alliance), or can be greater to one airline FF program. So having the ability to direct your points increases your overall points earn.

And as you have already discovered it is also the ability to actually redeem that is important too. Points can be pointeless if you cannot use them when you want in the cabin type yu want! So "availibilty" I find to be be far superior in other programs. In addition if you cannot find seats through one program, you may be able to find it via another program. So multiple programs increases your chances.Even QFF has its uses

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hi Prozac,
Holidays aren't going to get any easier for a long time - my eldest daughter finishes school in 2017, my youngest son started school last year though  , have two others in between so school holidays will be a factor for a while yet !

My kids are now coming out the far end with the last 2 of 3 now at Uni.

However have used points for all 3 throughout their lives for holiday flights. Ansett was great before it went belly up (I was lucky too as I redeemed 500K of points on SQ with them 2 weeks before they went into administration!). QFF used to be ok, but $$ charges became huge and the wrinkles that allowed cheap domestic redemptions disappeared with "enhancements".

Switching to KF as my prime FF program allowed us to only fly in J or F mainly pretty much when we wanted. For school holidays on popular routes yes you still had to book almost a year out, but could get all 5 in J/F though sometimes on consecutive days/flights. When I could not book that far out I could normally get J seats through KF by booking a *A redemption.

I occasionaly redeem thru VA (ie On Etihad Melbourne to Nairobi in Jand loved the fees being only $57 per person) or QFF (just redeemed for middle daughter to go to South East of USA as a graduation trip in J in Aug16 but on mainly on AA metal via Japan with a stopover and so taxes and fuel fines were only $400 vs the $1000 that QF metal would have been).

 

[awkwardpaws]

welcome Richard64! One tip that I think may help is - there are often advertised (and non advertised) status matches that are offered by other FF programs around the world.

You can use your QFF WP and try and status match it with other programs. There will be forums here about cold-calling (or emailing) VA (or other FF programs around the world) to see if they will match your Platinum and you can maximise the benefits there.

I know thats not helpful in using your QFF miles that you have now, but it will help in the long run!

 

[Richard64]

Thanks for the advice LTO,

The AA flights via Japan sound interesting - who did the Aus - Jap sector ?

 

[Dr Ralph]

Welcome to AFF Richard64

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks for the sage advice - but will I end up with two pools of points that I can't use anyway ? Is Virgin's Velocity program better at getting FF seats ?

If you can't use your QF points now, what's the point of earning any more? But you'd be hard pressed not to be able to use your points in any way; its just that at the moment you have the same idea as probably millions of other QFF members (taking the family on school holidays) . Taking routings that aren't direct is one of the things many AFFers now take in their stride. For paid tickets there's a saying "Why fly direct when you can connect?" - meaning you get more points and SCs on a two leg flight compared to a direct one. Doesn't work for everyone though.

As a Plat did you know you can call the Plat line and request for J award seats to be released on the flight you want to take? Its not guaranteed (few things are these days) but I've had them open a J Award seat up for me on a number of occasions and only been denied once - when the request was only a week out from the flight. Obviously more than one seat is tougher - but not unknown.

I haven't tried VA internationally, so can't compare BUT remember that you can transfer your VA points into SQ Krisflyer miles and then claim SQ award seats. Again, not easy but that's a business product (or better!) worth flying on.

Here's an idea. As you appear to travel to the US frequently, why not join AA's program Aadvantage? There are people here on AFF that are 'double platinum' this way. In the US you can use your QF plat status to get lounge access travelling domestically and also earn AA miles to use economically on their program. You'll have to watch the AA flight qualification criteria, but that shouldn't be hard. I would have done that but since I fly to and around Canada a lot I went for Air Canada's program - its not great overall but the upgrade system is peachy and at times of flight disruptions, they look after you.

I try not to accumulate any more than 250,000 QFF points at any one time, fearing a devaluation. I use them on domestic upgrades which wile not the best value, isn't bad when the points are 'surplus'.

 

[dajop]

And yes I did look at the fares - but a "Saver" fare from NY to Sydney on the 27th Jan (one way) is $1,754 USD - which is $13K AUD for 6 tickets. That's an awful lot for one way discount economy 

Also note, sometimes the QF booking engine can be a fickle beast. Often look at the most difficult sectors and take it from there.

For example, on 27th Jan entering JFK-SYD yields no results for economy awards. Yet entering LAX-SYD yields options via BNE. Entering a multisector JFK-BNE, BNE-SYD (or JFK-MEL, MEL-SYD) gives availability. Also you can get availability EWR-DFW, DFW-SYD but with a 9 hour layover in DFW

 

[BAM1748]

Wlcome Richard64, enjoy the stay.

Matt

 

[Richard64]

Thanks Roo,

I have used the Plat line and only had minimal success in getting seats - although I did just get seats back from NY to Syd this way - just a day too late for my daughter to start her school year (any other year other than Year 12 and it wouldn't be a problem). I have been meaning to get my AA membership renewed - it expired a few years ago. I have heard their FF miles are the best value and a friend of mine regularly takes them up on their "points top up" offer - $2.4K AUD for 140K AA points which is almost the same as 200K QFF points - a pretty good deal when you think it will almost get you business class return to NY.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Thanks for the advice LTO,

The AA flights via Japan sound interesting - who did the Aus - Jap sector ?

TIP: Use the multicity option and you will see more options.

I only just booked and on the dates available in the end I went for Jetstar as availibility was very limited. QF was available on some dates, but not the dates that suited my daughter.

If I had booked earlier more Onewaorld Partner airlines would have been an option. Using Cathay via Hong Kong is also an option (I could have done this but my daighter prefered the quicker option of MEL to Tokyo on JetSatr Starclass even though it is not true J.

Or JAL if you call up.

My daughter is meeting friends in Orlando and so the AA flight that was direct from Tokyo to Orlando was a good plus.