Points Variation

[Gladstone Tim]

Just wondering, can anyone explain the points variation with the 18:30 flight…business class half the number of points, plus $42 dollars, of flying economy? Of course I took it!

 

[Ade]

The 56k-ish points is actually a commercial fare purchased using points instead of cash. Imagine if you said I don't have any cash with me, but I'd like to purchase this fare, can I pay it with points instead?

The 27k-ish fare is a classic reward fare plus $42 taxes.

 

[henrus]

Just wondering, can anyone explain the points variation with the 18:30 flight…business class half the number of points, plus $42 dollars, of flying economy? Of course I took it!

What you are comparing is any seat prices with classic award flights.

Any seat fares allow you to book any seat that is available with cash but instead using points at a terrible rate. The cheaper one is the classic award fare which are limited in availability but a fixed price for the route.

 

[Gladstone Tim]

Excellent. Thanks for the replies. So, obviously, if a classic award seat is available at a lower points cost, you would take it?

 

[Ade]

Excellent. Thanks for the replies. So, obviously, if a classic award seat is available at a lower points cost, you would take it?

My understanding is that Classic Reward seats (on any given leg) will always be lower points cost than Any Seat paid using points (on the same leg). The only variable component when purchasing CR seats is the tax that needs to paid in $

There is one notable exception ; If the CR booking involves more than one leg and if the 2nd leg is on a different calendar date, then the CR points needed would increase based on the distance. For instance, CBR-SYD on 01/01 is 8000 points + $50-ish in taxes, however, CBR-MEL-SYD route where CBR-MEL is 01/01 and MEL-SYD is 02/01, then this will cost 16k points & at least $110-ish in taxes. However, if CBR-MEL-SYD is on the same calendar day, then the trip will cost 12k points & $80-ish in taxes.

 

[SYD]

My understanding is that Classic Reward seats (on any given leg) will always be lower points cost than Any Seat paid using points (on the same leg). The only variable component when purchasing CR seats is the tax that needs to paid in $

Classic Flight rewards are as per the QF redemption table + taxes (you can also pay those taxes with points if you want) but should always be significantly cheaper than an “any seat award” but there are limited number of seats per flight (book early!).

Classic Flight Reward Tables | Qantas Frequent Flyer

Find out how many Qantas Points you need for Classic Flight Rewards.

www.qantas.com

There is one notable exception ; If the CR booking involves more than one leg and if the 2nd leg is on a different calendar date, then the CR points needed would increase based on the distance. For instance, CBR-SYD on 01/01 is 8000 points + $50-ish in taxes, however, CBR-MEL-SYD route where CBR-MEL is 01/01 and MEL-SYD is 02/01, then this will cost 16k points & at least $110-ish in taxes. However, if CBR-MEL-SYD is on the same calendar day, then the trip will cost 12k points & $80-ish in taxes.

Not entirely correct. Mixing international and domestic, you actually have a 24 hr stopover window before it prices separately. Domestic to domestic is shorter but something like 8 to 12 hrs. This was discussed recently in another thread @serfty had the correct answer.

 

[astrosly]

Excellent. Thanks for the replies. So, obviously, if a classic award seat is available at a lower points cost, you would take it?

There are notable differences between the two fare types.

For a regular fare where you pay for it in points instead of cash, you receive frequent flyer points and status credits just like the cash fare in that category.

For a Classic Reward - with the ribbon icon in the top right - you don't receive either points or status credits (unless you are in Points Club where you earn a reduced amount of status credits).

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I just leave this here:

 

[AIRwin]

View attachment 301332

Is your screenshot from 7 September?

 

[Gladstone Tim]

Is your screenshot from 7 September?

Yes
i figured I would complete the journey before raising my question in case it was a technical glitch and QF cancelled it/came chasing me.

 

[encryptededdy]

There are notable differences between the two fare types.

For a regular fare where you pay for it in points instead of cash, you receive frequent flyer points and status credits just like the cash fare in that category.

For a Classic Reward - with the ribbon icon in the top right - you don't receive either points or status credits (unless you are in Points Club where you earn a reduced amount of status credits).

Also worth adding that a Classic Reward is often more flexible than a Red e-Deal, given it carries "only" a 6000pts cancellation fee / 5000pts change fee.