Paying taxes with points

[Chucksta]

PER-SYD oneway is 18,000 pts plus $40.55 in taxes.

OR: 24,000 pts with $0 for taxes.

Is it worth it using another 6,000 pts to save $40.55?

At the moment PER-SYD is $308 one way.

Do you have to pay a credit card fee on an award booking?

thanks

Chucksta

 

[simongr]

It would depend on how many points you had and your personal cash position. If I had a heap of points I might use it to pay for taxes/surcharges on a big award. For $40.55 I wouldn't bother. 6000 points upgrades whY to J SYD-MEL which is worth more than $41 to me...

 

[oz_mark]

I don't recall paying a credit card fee when making an award booking.

 

[serfty]

IMHO; anything that values a QFF point at < 1¢ is of no interest to me. YMMV

There was no CC fee on award booking payments last time I did one (Late April).

 

[Chucksta]

Good points everyone... I think I will bite the bullet and pay the $40.55 in taxes.

6,000 pts is definitely alot better used to upgrade SYD-MEL. Thanks for putting it into perspective!

 

[medhead]

If <1 cent per point is bad. What is a good points value rate?

Taking this example, yes, the taxes are about 0.7 cpp ($40.55/6000)

but looking at the total fare it's more like 1.28 cpp (24000 - $308)

But then 18000 and ($308-40.55) is better again ~ 1.46 cpp.

So should someone be happy with 1.28, or go for the 1.46 and pay the taxes?

 

[serfty]

With the current QFF scheme, simple one-way or return bookings are about worst value use of points.

QFF "so-called" oneworld awards and upgrades generally provide better value.

Note that at least one regular poster here on AFF does not even value upgrades as they are happy to travel in WHY.

Personally, I believe upgrades are often the best value. How much?

Well Take SYD-PER for example; an upgradeable "SuperSaver" fare is $406, Business class is $1715.

An upgrade would cost 16,000 QFF points - in this example, a rate of about 8.2¢ per point. Of course, you need to find a flight with upgrade award availability first.

International Upgrades are another matter, in 2 days I'll find out if I'm 192K QFF points lighter with 2 PAX upgrades SYD-JFK, Disc Y to J. Point value (if it comes through)? Cheapest current upgradeable return economy fare is $2770; Cheapest return Business fare $15684 gives a 5.2¢ per point rate.

 

[bambbbam2]

Excellent point. I upgraded a DRW-PER fare last Sunday. I have paid about 400 for a flexi saver and used 16,000 points.

The full J fare was $1,815 or so, so got value of around 9c per point. I consider that a good usage..

 

[medhead]

Ahhh, ok, thanks

clearly, the difference between .6 and 1.3 or 1.4 is nothing compared to 5 or 8 cents per point.

edit: but then the business BNE - ADL I got at about 4.8c was not the best. Of course, being NB, I'd rather lock in the front of the plane, eddie, than miss out because of the status-ed. (the kids better bl**dly enjoy it.....)

 

[serfty]

On the QFF oneworld award side of things, a Economy Class Award costs 140,000 QFF points

.

This is "sort of" equivalent to an LGLOB34 costing $3,849

for low season.

That's about 2.75¢ per point.

Then again, a DGLOB34 is $10,499

- when compared with a Business Class QFF oneworld award at 280,000 QFF points

gives 3.75¢ per point

 

[Chucksta]

Then again, a DGLOB34 is $10,499

- when compared with a Business Class QFF oneworld award at 280,000 QFF points

gives 3.75¢ per point

What is a DGLOB34?

What fare class does a Biz Class QFF OW Award book into? Can you actually get seats or is it one of those bookings that are very difficult to find seats?

 

[NM]

What is a DGLOB34?

Business Class OneWorld Global Explorer fare to a maximum of 34,000 miles.

What fare class does a Biz Class QFF OW Award book into? Can you actually get seats or is it one of those bookings that are very difficult to find seats?

Depends on the airlines being flown. For QF fligts, its U class. However, for other OneWorld airlines it could differ. Can be hard to find seats, especially for the popular routes like to Europe or USA.

Note that with the QF OneWorld Award, flights with no business class cabin (such as 2-class AA domestic flights) end up in economy. This is different to OneWorld products like OneWorld Explorer and Global Explorer where the passenger is booked into A class ((First Class) on such flight.