Points Conundrum - Advice Requested

[ChazBNE]

Hi everyone,

I have a nice (but confusing) conundrum, which is why I am respectfully requesting advice from AFF Members, as detailed below:

At current American Express Membership Rewards redemption transfer rates of 2:1, I have approximately 130,000 frequent flyer points available to transfer, and am considering transferring them to either Emirates, Qatar, or Singapore (in no particular order of preference), to use for a Business Class ticket to Barcelona (my wife & I will be travelling, so I hope to use Points + Pay for the second ticket).

I have the equivalent of 75,000 frequent flyer points to transfer out of Marriott Bonvoy.

I also have 225,000 QFF points (am currently Platinum, but lose this status at the end of September), but using them for a Classic Reward redemption seat in Business Class is "all but impossible", so QF isn't factoring into my decision-making process for this exercise.

I believe I can confirm an upgrade from Premium Economy to Business Class on Emirates (ex SYD), but one way tickets in PE are approximately AU$8000 for two seats, making Points + Pay in Business Class out of our hometown airport of BNE more attractive.

Please let me know your thoughts on "which airline" you would transfer 205,000 frequent flyer points to, and "why".

My wife & I have been fortunate to have flown Business Class with Emirates, Qatar, and Singapore (as well as Etihad) through the years, but honestly have no preference as to which one we fly to BCN.

Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions you care to provide!

 

[Cynicor]

When, is the big question. Otherwise if short term and if no seats it’s irrelevant the best program.
Are you flexible with any time more than 12 months out?

 

[jase05]

Use your QFF points to get to Asia, CGK or MNL usually has some decent availability ex SYD and then either pay for a revenue fare to Europe from there which often has great prices. There is often better award availability to Europe ex Asia too so you can transfer all those points over to a program that has availability

 

[SYD]

Use your QFF points to get to Asia, CGK or MNL usually has some decent availability ex SYD and then either pay for a revenue fare to Europe from there which often has great prices. There is often better award availability to Europe ex Asia too so you can transfer all those points over to a program that has availability

This.

Just completed similar. SYD-LON//MAD-SYD almost all business class for ~$4k plus points each.

QF Classic Reward SYD-CGK (QF J) // DPS-PER (JQ Y) - PER-SYD (QF J). These were all “day flights” so you could also save a few points doing it in whY.

We o/n in CGK and went to Europe on CX J CGK-HKG-LHR // MAD-HKG-DPS paid fare.

BA J LHR-LIS booked as a QF Classic Reward but plenty of other destinations and/or cheap paid flight options. Plane, trains and automobiles LIS-MAD.

A couple of days in Bali on the way home.

Use Google flights or ITA Matrix to look for good fares ex-Asia to Europe (CGK, SIN, BKK, KUL, MNL). Singapore is my preferred - it just works and it’s easy but difficult now to get reward flights . Be aware that Indonesia has the added cost of $50 pp each way for eVisa.

Sometimes open jaw can work out cheaper, so it helps to be flexible. I have seen some reasonable fares in/out of BCN but it pays to search nearby cities. The price difference could be much more than a short flight/train ride to get/from you final destination.

 

[jase05]

This.

Just completed similar. SYD-LON//MAD-SYD almost all business class for ~$4k plus points each.

QF Classic Reward SYD-CGK (QF J) // DPS-PER (JQ Y) - PER-SYD (QF J). These were all “day flights” so you could also save a few points doing it in whY.

We o/n in CGK and went to Europe on CX J CGK-HKG-LHR // MAD-HKG-DPS paid fare.

BA J LHR-LIS booked as a QF Classic Reward but plenty of other destinations and/or cheap paid flight options. Plane, trains and automobiles LIS-MAD.

A couple of days in Bali on the way home.

Use Google flights or ITA Matrix to look for good fares ex-Asia to Europe (CGK, SIN, BKK, KUL, MNL). Singapore is my preferred - it just works and it’s easy but difficult now to get reward flights . Be aware that Indonesia has the added cost of $50 pp each way for eVisa.

Sometimes open jaw can work out cheaper, so it helps to be flexible. I have seen some reasonable fares in/out of BCN but it pays to search nearby cities. The price difference could be much more than a short flight/train ride to get/from you final destination.

Agree about the $50 Indonesian fee but when you are saving hundreds if not thousands in airfares then $100 doesn’t seem to much of an imposte. I love Manila but hate MNL and CGK is such an easy airport to navigate that despite the pretty average lounges it has been our preferred destination to go through but KUL and SIN also aren’t bad alternatives and even DPS has some decent sales to Europe from time to time

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Availability is the big thing… only transfer to an airline’s FF program if you can see the award you want, or know one will be available.

Then consider the taxes and fuel surcharges. Some airlines can charge thousands.

Then consider the paid fare for the second person.

$8k for premium is ridiculous. You can get business class all. the way from australia to europe for like $5000 on carriers like Bamboo. Or, as pointed out above, top tier carriers ex asia for $4000 return.

Agree using QFFF points to get to jakarta or the like - even bali- and picking up a cheapie from there is a good option. With separate tickets it’s a good idea to leave a day at the transit point. This makes bali ideal.

 

[jase05]

$8k for premium is ridiculous. You can get business class all. the way from australia to europe for like $5000 on carriers like Bamboo. Or, as pointed out above, top tier carriers ex asia for $4000 return.

Agreed on that price for PE.
EY has fares from MNL-BCN or other Euro ports for under $3k quite often

 

[ChazBNE]

When, is the big question. Otherwise if short term and if no seats it’s irrelevant the best program.
Are you flexible with any time more than 12 months out?

Hi Cynicor,

We won't be travelling until late November or early December 2024 (my wife & I like to plan our travel very-well in advance), so hopefully will be able to secure on Business Class seat using points.

I like the idea of flying to an airport in Asia using points, and then paying $$ for Business Class flights to Europe.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi Cynicor,

We won't be travelling until late November or early December 2024 (my wife & I like to plan our travel very-well in advance), so hopefully will be able to secure on Business Class seat using points.

I like the idea of flying to an airport in Asia using points, and then paying $$ for Business Class flights to Europe.

Then the equation needs to factor (a) availability (b) the cost of one award including potentially hefty fees and surcharges + one paid ticket.

Divide that by two and see how it compares ex Asia. The beauty of ex Asia is that those tickets are paid, so you can fly whenever you want, and potentially earn a swag of points, or even SCs depending on carrier.

 

[ChazBNE]

WOW, and thank you to everyone who has already taken time to reply to my post, and provide advice and guidance, it's most appreciated.

Asia (most likely BKK or SIN) it will be for my wife & me to fly using QFF or VAV points, and then we will fly on Open-Jaw Business Class tickets to Europe (BCN is preferred, but LIS is also a consideration - we want to spend a few days in either city before going to Athens to board a cruise to Mumbai).

Thanks again for the great advice!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

WOW, and thank you to everyone who has already taken time to reply to my post, and provide advice and guidance, it's most appreciated.

Asia (most likely BKK or SIN) it will be for my wife & me to fly using QFF or VAV points, and then we will fly on Open-Jaw Business Class tickets to Europe (BCN is preferred, but LIS is also a consideration - we want to spend a few days in either city before going to Athens to board a cruise to Mumbai).

Thanks again for the great advice!

The los west fares may not be available from BKK or SIN, and also not award availability to those ports, particularly BKK, can be difficult. DPS is usually ok in economy, and Jakarta is usually pretty good in business.

It’s been rumoured that Qantas will release some more awards in October, so maybe keep an eye out.

when you say an open jaw, that means flying into one city, and flying back from another. It would be unusual for an open jaw to cover a flight into Europe, but coming back from Mumbai.

 

[SYD]

The los west fares may not be available from BKK or SIN, and also not award availability to those ports, particularly BKK, can be difficult. DPS is usually ok in economy, and Jakarta is usually pretty good in business.

AY usually has good fares from time to time ex-BKK. QR also has some reasonable fares ex-SIN. Yes, neither ports might not be the cheapest but there's that balance of value and ease. Agree, getting to either from Oz on points is harder but noting the next bit below, maybe the trick is flip things. Paid to Asia and points to/from Europe/Mumbai.

when you say an open jaw, that means flying into one city, and flying back from another. It would be unusual for an open jaw to cover a flight into Europe, but coming back from Mumbai.

Yes, that could throw a spanner in the works for cheap paid fares and leans more towards trying to find separate reward seats.