Planning a holiday on QFF points - Business or First?

[mghinoz]

Good evening AFF’s.

I am having some difficulty in deciding how best to use my QFF points, and would like to ask your opinion.
I have been collecting points over the past couple of years and the original plan was to save enough points for 2 x oneworld award tickets in J class, which I believe is 560k points. However, over the past few months I have been able to earn a bucket load of points (mostly through credit card expenditure), and now find myself with around 700,000 points.

So my dilemma is, do I bite the bullet and book the tickets in J, or do I hold out a bit longer and maybe go for First Class tickets?

Here is some more information to fill in the picture…

1. We (my wife and I) are infrequent international flyers, and tend to go every couple of years when we have saved enough QFF points.
2. As we are infrequent flyers, we are Bronze status only.
3. For our next trip we would like to visit Southern and Eastern Africa, Europe (still deciding where), the Middle East, and Dubai.
4. At the rate I am earning points, I would probably reach the 840k mark in another 4 months.
5. You know the stork that flys over people’s houses and delivers babies (Stork Airways)? Well I have a feeling that within the next year or two one of their aircraft could be travelling over my house for the first time. The point is that putting of this trip for too long could result in it being put off for a long loooong time!

So, what to do?


A few questions

1. Given that first class cabins seem to be disappearing from many routes, is first class even available on the routes that we are considering? In particular SYD to JNB, and JNB to LHR.
2. Even if first class does exist on those routes, are we really any chance of snagging seats (on multiple flights) with a bronze only status?
3. Would it be worthwhile trying to move up from bronze to help the availability of tickets?
4. For the extra 280k points (to go from J to F), we could alternatively cash in those points for Qantas Holidays vouchers – about $2000 worth. While not the best use of points, it would allow us to save that amount on accommodation expenses. Is this a sensible option?

Thanks in advance! I’ll promise a great trip report in return!

 

[cove]

Pass on cashing in points.
Look at Classic out 353 days going from your starting spot of either SYD,MEL or BNE.
Finally look at PER if all else gets you dust.
Be decisive when you spot something that works for you.
Look at Any Seat to see if that works for you but if the points required are too high just go Classic.

 

[amaroo]

IMO First is worth waiting for......if you're caught for time J is a good substitute.

If the majority of the route you are selecting has no F then the decision is easy......as a family man I can add that finding two seats is far easier than 3 or more.

 

[Simo]

Depends when you want to go.

If your are going to book JASA or FASA it depends on the cost versing gain as you will earn SC's and also FF points and then do the calculations.

 

[geordieladinoz]

Our opinion of this is that F is good (obviously) but we were just not convinced that F was worth it and we are happy with J travel when doing long haul on QF A380 (however we do intend on using 60k points each to upgrade to F on return from LHR to SYD in early 2013 for the 24hr trip - previous F experience was 14hrs LAX - SYD).

It sounds that with your travel you don't really need to be going F for the status credits as J would be more than enough to get you to Silver or even Gold which is an improvement on your current Bronze.

If you do commit to F there will most likely be a few flights where you have to travel in J due to no F but should still receive F status credits but as per the previous comment, you are not necessarily interested in that. Yes, more FF points due to cabin bonus but not earth shattering and you may not be needing them for a while by the sound of things.

My fiancee and I are planning a few trips in the next 18 months, UK trip for my family in Dec 12/Jan 13, Honeymoon to SA (South Africa, not South Australia) in Jul 13 and possibly Europe or South America in Jan 13/Dec 14 before the pitter patter of tiny feet come along so we may be doing something similar in 18 months time. Will keep an eye on this thread for tips and hints as we may have similar points.

All the best with your decision.

 

[Flying mermaid]

SYD-JNB is losing first and JNB to LHR will be BA so that will keep first (although I am not all that up to date on BA's plans for that route). We generally like to try and fly F when we can afford to, but realistically J gives you the essentials. The first lounge in Sydney is awesome but the F lounge in JNB not so much. If you fly into LHR from JNB in F you can go to a special F restaurant in the arrivals lounge in T5, but the food isn't really any different to the bit outside - just less busy and you get waited on rather than self serve. We were very happy with the SYD-JNB leg in F and sorry to see it go - food and service were excellent. The BA flight JNB to LHR in F - service good, food terrible.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

Too many of your flights won't have First so you will be paying (or using points) for something you are not receiving. Status also not important as you intend to do this as an award flight so my advise would be to go J and save your points.

Look at using your remaining points sometime after the stork arrives but before bub becomes to old to fly for free. You might need a holiday on some relaxing beach by that time and there are plenty of award J tickets into some nice resorts in Asia

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Go for J...and use the points for another J.

Even when the stork comes....you don't stop travelling, or at least I didn't. Though you change the way you travel.

 

[Deleted member]

If status doesn't matter ( because you don't fly often) I would be tempted to go in F. ( classic). You get all of the fringe benefits. However going in J would mean you have points left over ( head start for your next overseas odyssey.) and you still get lounge access and better baggage, just not as flash as the F lounge.


It is I, Leclerc !

 

[Greggsy]

Could you get the J tickets and upgrade with points to F for the important legs?


Greg.

 

[Sprucegoose]

What is the main considerations you require ticked off before you embark? J would have all these covered I am sure. Is there an expiry issue with the points?


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[gumpy]

F is a massive treat but personally i'd save the points and go J. The points saved can be used for your next trip in j =)

 

[mghinoz]

Thanks for all the replies so far!

I think the head is saying J and the heart is saying F.

Could you get the J tickets and upgrade with points to F for the important legs?

Can I do that with a Oneworld Award (RTW)?

Also, if I book a Oneworld Award in F but fly a leg in J due to no F being offered, do I get to use an F lounge?

 

[TheFergus]

Go First. You won't regret it.

Business is like economy but with better crockery.

Travel is for experiences and memories. Create the best ones in First.


Next year you will have more points. Try Business then.

 

[draper]

Throw this costing into the mix.
All my own points (Transferred to Wife and daughter), not earned through the Company etc
I have a problem at times on domestic flights with the "Look at me suits " up the front and their corporate FF status gained on a Company or Government largess.
I digress:

Recent Qantas costings for a return flight for 2 Melbourne to France

Taxes, Fees and carrier charges amounted to $1,113.83 EACH which makes a total of $ $2,227.66

On top of this there was the addition charges to "select their seat" of $20 each per flight
in total 4 x 20 = $80.00 (They are Bronze status)

All up a POINTS flight in Qantas economy to France has cost $2307.66
and the loss of 148,000 points EACH = 296,000 Points


So 2 return ECONOMY Reward flights to France with Qantas has cost:
296,000 points +
$2307.66 in cash.

Go figure!

 

[madrooster]

Throw this costing into the mix.
All my own points (Transferred to Wife and daughter), not earned through the Company etc
I have a problem at times on domestic flights with the "Look at me suits " up the front and their corporate FF status gained on a Company or Government largess.
I digress:

Recent Qantas costings for a return flight for 2 Melbourne to France

Taxes, Fees and carrier charges amounted to $1,113.83 EACH which makes a total of $ $2,227.66

On top of this there was the addition charges to "select their seat" of $20 each per flight
in total 4 x 20 = $80.00 (They are Bronze status)

All up a POINTS flight in Qantas economy to France has cost $2307.66
and the loss of 148,000 points EACH = 296,000 Points


So 2 return ECONOMY Reward flights to France with Qantas has cost:
296,000 points +
$2307.66 in cash.

Go figure!

You know for 140,000 points each + similar amount in taxes you could've done a oneworld award RTW in Y... partner classic awards aren't the best value.

 

[mannej]

Throw this costing into the mix.
All my own points (Transferred to Wife and daughter), not earned through the Company etc
I have a problem at times on domestic flights with the "Look at me suits " up the front and their corporate FF status gained on a Company or Government largess.
I digress:

Recent Qantas costings for a return flight for 2 Melbourne to France

Taxes, Fees and carrier charges amounted to $1,113.83 EACH which makes a total of $ $2,227.66

On top of this there was the addition charges to "select their seat" of $20 each per flight
in total 4 x 20 = $80.00 (They are Bronze status)

All up a POINTS flight in Qantas economy to France has cost $2307.66
and the loss of 148,000 points EACH = 296,000 Points


So 2 return ECONOMY Reward flights to France with Qantas has cost:
296,000 points +
$2307.66 in cash.

Go figure!

Is that due to the SIN-CDG leg being AF?

 

[draper]

QF to London
BA to France
In both directions

 

[mghinoz]

Ok, decision made - First Class it is!

I've been trying to find a link or listing of which carriers in the OneWorld group have First Class cabins, and which routes have First Class cabins available.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

[amaroo]

Ok, decision made - First Class it is!

I've been trying to find a link or listing of which carriers in the OneWorld group have First Class cabins, and which routes have First Class cabins available.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Not sure with the whole of OW however, this is a great tool for BA British Airways route overview - FT Dashboard NF means New First Class Cabin.....OF, you can guess. If flying BA avoid OF routes at all cost.

Cheers & enjoy.