Points Usage Dilemma: QF A380 Biz Class or Virgin Atlantic Upper Class?

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CDS1959

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For a trip to London in October 2010, my wife & I have two options we are considering for using some of our American Express points with either Qantas or Virgin Atlantic:

Qantas A380 business class SIN-LHR (84,000 points per pax one-way)

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class HKG-LHR (50,000 points per pax one-way)

As we'll be continuing to the US, we can't use our Virgin Flying Club points for travel with SQ (our preferred airline) without being charged points for a round-trip flight which we don't need and won't use, as we're returning to BNE via the Pacific.

My question is first addressed to those travellers who might have recently flown Qantas business class in the A380, and who might also have flown Virgin Atlantic Upper Class:

Is the 34,000 point differential per person "worth it" to fly Qantas business class in the A380 over Virgin Atlantic Upper Class?

I'm willing to expend some additional points for us to fly on the the A380 one time, but want to know that the Qantas service somehow justifies a 68% premium compared to Virgin Atlantic (for which American Express is offering a 20% bonus on points transfers to Flying Club until November 18).

All comments, thoughts, and suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks!
 
I believe that both are lie flat. So for 34 K pp I wouldnt choose QF (the F lounge is good but not THAT good).

The only thing would be the style of service - I believe that VA is very "funky" so personally would be unsure of travelling with them. Mind you I don't enjoy QF J and would always try CX over QF personally...

BUT 34K pp is a big difference...
 
If you take into account the 20% bonus then you only need 41667 Amex points per person to convert to 50000 VS points for your one-way LHR-HKG. So there is really a 42333pt difference, or QF J is 101% more expensive than VS J.

Both are flat beds and have AVODs. So for both airlines you will get some good sleep and entertainment. Sure QF J is newer and has probably bigger beds and nicer and bigger AVOD (and maybe better food, but cannot confirm) but would you pay twice for something similar?

Why not save the points now, and then you can try something like 1 way QF SYD-SIN J on A380 sometime in the future?

I would definitely go for VS on the basis that there are so many points saved for your next trip.
 
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I've flown both, and must say that due to the HUGE points differential, I'm now converted to using VS for all my flights from SYD-LHR and also flights from LHR-NYC.

From a product point of view, you certainly get a more 'proper' service from QF, however, I'm not saying that the VS crew are nasty at all. Being in my mid-20's, I personally enjoy the VS crew more because they offer a slightly more informal, relaxed environment that I prefer. You can sit at the onboard bar and have a great chat with them and other passengers, and the beds are certainly very comfortable as they have the similar setup to NZ with different padding depending on whether it is used as a seat or a bed.

Also, if you get a chance to see the Clubhouse at LHR, it is absolutely amazing!!!
 
What is availability like on VS? This might be a more useful use of my Amex points...

Any idea what they charge for kids to fly?
 
What is availability like on VS? This might be a more useful use of my Amex points...

Any idea what they charge for kids to fly?

Generally I've found them to be pretty good. The big thing for booking with QF is that BA release quite a few flights, but actually getting in J on QF metal can be a little more taxing IMO.

On the SYD-LHR route with VS they have pretty good availability when looking 6 months + out (other than peak seasons such as the two weeks before Xmas, etc). However, the one drawback is that you sometimes have to spend a night in HKG and catch VS239 from HKG-LHR, instead of VS201 all the way from SYD-LHR. This certainly isn't always the case though.

For LHR-NYC, there are plenty of seats for this and is never a problem getting a flight in UC.

Sorry, I'm not sure what they charge for kids.
 
For infants, VS charge 10% of points required for Adult award.
 
Thanks to both of you. Looks like my next personal UK trip might be on VS...
 
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply to my question that started this thread, I appreciate all the comments and suggestions.

The decision has been made: Business Class BNE-HKG (QF or CX? 60,000 points each), overnight Hong Kong SkyCity Airport Marriott, then Virgin Atlantic Upper Class HKG-LHR (50,000 points each).

After going through this little exercise I'm now more convinced than ever that Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers far superior value to Qantas Frequent Flyer.

Consider the following examples:

Assume 1 American Express Membership Reward Point = 1 QF Point or 1 Flying Club Point (disregard 20% Amex Bonus Promotion currently on offer with Flying Club)

Virgin Atlantic Upper Class SYD-HKG-LHR (return) - 190,000 Flying Club Points per PAX

Qantas Business Class SYD-LHR (return) - 256,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer Points per PAX

Singapore Airlines Business Class SYD-LHR (return) - 205,000 Flying Club Points per PAX

Something to consider.

Thanks again!
 
After going through this little exercise I'm now more convinced than ever that Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers far superior value to Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Completely agree! That's why I'm now fully converted to using them. Also, I use their program for booking flights on Air NZ which is a lot better value. For example;

Air NZ SYD-AKL Return Business Class - 30,000
Qantas SYD-AKL Return Business Class - 72,000

Air NZ SYD-LAX Return Business Class - 125,000
Qantas SYD-LAX Return Business Class - 192,000

Enjoy your UC Experience!
 
How do the fees/surcharges compare though?
I can tell you exactly as I'm doing these (sort of) in two days.

SYD-AKL return is $130 (the same as QF)
AKL-LAX return is $60

Not 100% on SYD-LAX as on this next trip I've split them into two separate bookings so I can spend the weekend in AKL.
 
Completely agree! That's why I'm now fully converted to using them. Also, I use their program for booking flights on Air NZ which is a lot better value. For example;

Air NZ SYD-AKL Return Business Class - 30,000
Qantas SYD-AKL Return Business Class - 72,000

Air NZ SYD-LAX Return Business Class - 125,000
Qantas SYD-LAX Return Business Class - 192,000

Enjoy your UC Experience!

Just to be crystal, you are transferring MR points to Flying Club then using that to redeem on NZ? (Just cos the MR transfer rate to NZ direct is lousy).
 
Has anyone found a way of looking at a range of available flights for redemption on Flying Club? So far I have had to keep on changing dates hoping something pops up?
 
Has anyone found a way of looking at a range of available flights for redemption on Flying Club? So far I have had to keep on changing dates hoping something pops up?
Their system is a bit weird. Sometimes when you do a search with your date being unavailable and a closer date is available, it will show the entire month with all the options. However, I have found this to be pretty random as it doesn't always work.

Best option is probably to ring them. They don't charge for booking over the phone like QF.
 
Correct!!!

So if I've worked this out correctly, through Virgin Atlantic FC you can redeem a Syd-Lhr J return cheaper on Air NZ than their own metal? Bit weird (but fine because Air NZ J is better!)
 
Completely agree! That's why I'm now fully converted to using them. Also, I use their program for booking flights on Air NZ which is a lot better value. For example;

Air NZ SYD-AKL Return Business Class - 30,000
Qantas SYD-AKL Return Business Class - 72,000

Air NZ SYD-LAX Return Business Class - 125,000
Qantas SYD-LAX Return Business Class - 192,000

Enjoy your UC Experience!

Are you sure it's return? I had a look at their website and it doesn't say return - mind you it doesn't say one way either, but would make sense that redeeming VS points on VS metal would be cheaper than partner metal.
 
So if I've worked this out correctly, through Virgin Atlantic FC you can redeem a Syd-Lhr J return cheaper on Air NZ than their own metal? Bit weird (but fine because Air NZ J is better!)

I've only done SYD-LHR on VS metal, but certainly used NZ for SYD-AKL and SYD-LAX. However, from their website you can fly NZ J return SYD-LHR via AKL & LAX for 180,000 which is the same amount as SYD-LHR via HKG on VS J (I'll continue to use VS via HKG for this route though).

Are you sure it's return? I had a look at their website and it doesn't say return - mind you it doesn't say one way either, but would make sense that redeeming VS points on VS metal would be cheaper than partner metal.

The figures are definitely return in J, I've done them quite a few times over the last year or two.
 
Guys, found this thread happening at FT.... seems like there are serious availability issues atm on VA (esp compared to QF and most other airlines at the moment with quite alot of inventory available), have a read:

No award seats SYD-HKG until Aug 2010 !!?? - FlyerTalk Forums

Apparantly zero award seats, (all classes) for 10 months syd/hk

hmmmmmm

I'm bouncing between FC and Krisflyer for my amex points and both seem to be having major issues! Starting to wish I dumped them in QFF!!
 
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