Qantas ff points to europe

[trblvb]

Hi

I have about 260K qantas ff points and wish to travel to Europe, probably London from Brisbane in May 2011 - two people travelling.

When is the best time to secure the seats (ie book now or wait closer to the dates). Any advice appreciated - new to this forum.

Thanks

 

[JohnK]

Although May is not high season I would book the seats as soon as possible since you are after 2 seats.

Closer to the date you may not be able to find 2 seats on the same flight.

 

[trblvb]

Thanks JohnK

Any advice on how I can get the best value for my hard earned points? Such as Business class, stoppovers etc.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Any advice on how I can get the best value for my hard earned points? Such as Business class, stoppovers etc.

What class you want to travel? Where do you want o go?

I think you'd have buckleys getting J points seats BNE-SIN, more likelihood (but still not very much) getting flights out of SYD or MEL

When we travelled to the UK (actually from the UK) we found plenty of availability - in various classes - on BA LHR-HKG. We also found availability in F on QF LHR-HKG

Finally we got better value booking CDG-LHR-HKG - common rated so no additional cost for the extra sector out of CDG and the taxes etc were lower than out of LHR.

Cheers skip

 

[JohnK]

Any advice on how I can get the best value for my hard earned points? Such as Business class, stoppovers etc.

I don't think you have enough points to travel business class to Europe and if you want a stopover somewhere in Asia then it is no longer a simple return award flight but a Oneworld award which will require more QFF points.

Just as an example you require 128,00 QFF points each for a return to Europe in economy and 256,000 QFF points each for a return in business class.

Another alternative is a QF Oneworld award for 140,000 QFF points each in economy and you can go round the world with up to 16 sectors, 5 stopovers and under 35,000 miles as long as you use 2 Oneworld carriers other than QF. Now you do not literally have to go round the world but you can have some stopovers in Asia and Europe.

 

[trblvb]

Economy is OK.

Flexible with destination in Europe, however would like Bris-HK-Europe(London, Paris, Frankfurt, etc.)-Singapore-Bris. With stopovers in HK and Singapore (if poss.).

Any advice on how to search and book this.

New to FF's. Taken two long years to save these points and want to use them wisely

Thanks.

 

[trblvb]

I don't think you have enough points to travel business class to Europe and if you want a stopover somewhere in Asia then it is no longer a simple return award flight but a Oneworld award which will require more QFF points.

Just as an example you require 128,00 QFF points each for a return to Europe in economy and 256,000 QFF points each for a return in business class.

Another alternative is a QF Oneworld award for 140,000 QFF points each in economy and you can go round the world with up to 16 sectors, 5 stopovers and under 35,000 miles as long as you use 2 Oneworld carriers other than QF. Now you do not literally have to go round the world but you can have some stopovers in Asia and Europe.

Hey very interested in QF Oneworld award for 140,000 QFF points, how do I go about booking this?

 

[JohnK]

If you use the multi-trip feature on the Qantas website to book award flights then enter the destinations and desired dates and see what the availability will be like. Should not have any problems fitting the routing you want into the QF Oneworld award.

Keep trying different combinations and if you need more help there are a number of threads on AFF that explain how to book QF Oneworld awards.

Just remember that half the fun of the holiday is in the planning. Some people see booking flights as a chore but to me it is fun as I am in control planning what I want to do....

 

[PineappleSkip]

Lots more Y seats available than J. cheers

 

[serfty]

Hey very interested in QF Oneworld award for 140,000 QFF points, how do I go about booking this?

Note that you don't have to go "Around The World" with this fare.

It can be any round trip up to 35,000 Miles. (As long as you use two oneworld carriers other than Qantas, have no more than 5 stopovers and 16 total segments.)

Aside from the 140K QFF points each, expect Taxes, Levies and Charges of around $800-$1200 per person.

 

[JohnK]

Note that you don't have to go "Around The World" with this fare.

It can be any round trip up to 35,000 Km. (As long as you use two oneworld carriers other than Qantas, have no more than 5 stopovers and 16 total segments.)

Hmmm.... Isn't that what I said? And it does not have to be a round trip either.

Oh and it is 35,000 miles not kms....

 

[serfty]

Hmmm.... Isn't that what I said? And it does not have to be a round trip either.

Oh and it is 35,000 miles not kms....

Yep, completely correct ... I missed your last part.

However, while you do not have to have a 'round trip', the distance between your final destination and your origin is taken into account for the 35K limit.

 

[Maggs]

Recently booked the 140k point trip to Europe (Paris and Spain) but I'm going via New York and back thru Bangkok, easy. Under $500 in taxes damn that Heathrow Airport. But book ASAP, while researching the flights available, they just kept on disappearing. Couldn't get back to AU on Q, but BA will be OK

 

[trblvb]

Bit disapointing - saving the points are a Joke

 

[JohnK]

Bit disapointing - saving the points are a Joke

Disappointing? Why is saving the points a joke?

 

[Maggs]

I have no idea how I accumulated so many points as I fly very little with Q. Just a nice surprise and a cheap around the world ticket. No complaints from me. Mel - NY-Paris. Barcelona - Madrid - Bkk - Melb...nice !

 

[trblvb]

Note that you don't have to go "Around The World" with this fare.

It can be any round trip up to 35,000 Miles. (As long as you use two oneworld carriers other than Qantas, have no more than 5 stopovers and 16 total segments.)

Aside from the 140K QFF points each, expect Taxes, Levies and Charges of around $800-$1200 per person.

Suppose I’m disappointed that I have to pay excessive taxes, levies etc. ($800-$1200 per person) and use all the very hard earned points! Plus loyalty to various Qantas partners.

 

[blu]

You (& I) will find getting awards and upgrades, is very competitive without status.
For example, look at the probability of purchasing a discounted SYD-LHR economy fare & then sucessfully getting an upgrade to business class (@125,000 points?).
In my case I'm also considering JL via NRT in Premium Economy.
As you can see from the responses you will get the best practical advice here.

 

[trblvb]

For all those interested finally organised our flights and got a ripper...
Gold Coast-New York-Madrid-Vienna-London-Rome-Helsinki-Hong Kong-Gold Coast
280,000 points and $956.94 for two economy class

 

[serfty]

For all those interested finally organised our flights and got a ripper......

Sweet