Qantas or Singapore Airlines, which offers more reward value?

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Stoffel

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I will be flying from Perth to Tokyo at least four times a year in J with my new job. My company has given me the option to take either Qantas or Singapore Airlines.

Singapore Airlines was my first choice as they offer more flight choices, the flight time via Singapore is shorter, and they offer a superior product in my opinion. However, when it comes to earning points (with the view to using these points for flight redemption), Qantas seems to have a significant edge. I don't mind spending slightly longer in the air to get more flight reward value.

These figures I've come up with (assuming status is Krisflyer Gold or Qantas Platinum):

Earning points

SIA (Krisflyer):

Perth-Tokyo-Perth: 15432 miles

QF (Qantas FF):

Perth-Tokyo-Perth: 37000 points

Redeeming flights

Krisflyer (Perth-Tokyo):

One-way Economy Saver Award ticket: 35000 miles

One-way Business Saver Award ticket: 58000 miles

Qantas FF (Perth-Tokyo):

One-way Economy Classic Flight Reward: 46000 points

One-way Business Classic Flight Reward: 96000 points

My conclusion

Qantas FF offers far more value, as a one way economy flight reward takes 1.24 trips to earn (46000/37000) and a one way business flight reward takes 2.59 trips to earn (96000/37000). Krisflyer, on the other hand, takes 2.27 trips to earn an economy flight (35000/15432) and a one way business flight flight takes 3.76 trips to earn (58000/15432).

Am I missing something or does flying Qantas indeed offer significantly more bang for buck on this route? Thanks for your help!
 
On this route it appears so.
You should also look at the $$ component of reward redemptions, though QF and SQ are both pretty bad on this front


I'd also look into the SQ flights on VA Velocity
 
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SQ fuel fines have been significantly reduced. If you go QF PER-SIN-HND/NRT, you get a coughpy 737 between PER-SIN, but at least decent QF codeshare on JL between SIN and Tokyo (otherwise you have to fly via SYD or BNE). Flying SQ you will get a much nicer (compared to QF) A330 from PER and B777 and even A350s from SIN.
 
I guess it also matters what your long term plans are. But I am guessing you can change horses in mid stream? Also what is your current status with QF and what are your life time status options?
 
Thanks for the replies. I have a clean slate with both airlines so will be starting off without status on either.
 
If you love wide jets SQ gets it down pat.
If you don't care, then you can pick QF.
SQ's points do expire after 3 years, so you have to earn and burn the points fast.
Where as QF's points never die, so long as you keep flying QF/partner.
You could fly QF to SIN in J, and then go up with JAL from there, SIN - HND/NRT.
Personally, I would go with QF. Despite the fact I don't like small narrow planes, but you will be fly J anyways.
 
If you love wide jets SQ gets it down pat.
If you don't care, then you can pick QF.
SQ's points do expire after 3 years, so you have to earn and burn the points fast.
.

As an SQ PPS points never expire. With 4 J flights a year I would think PPS is achievable.
 
Factor in your lifetime SCs too and whether this travel will assist your cause.
 
Per-sin-tyo is around 10400 miles return. If you book as VA codeshare flying SQ you should net 2 points per mile in J so 20800 and you'd be platinum reasonably quickly for a 100% bonus. 41600 points per flight can transfer direct to KF miles if needed and would be around 30800.

Doing this you'd miss out on star alliance gold perks and solitaire PPS, but on a pure points earn basis may be the best earner.

I value SQ miles higher than QF personally, but YMMV.
 
Per-sin-tyo is around 10400 miles return. If you book as VA codeshare flying SQ you should net 2 points per mile in J so 20800 and you'd be platinum reasonably quickly for a 100% bonus. 41600 points per flight can transfer direct to KF miles if needed and would be around 30800.

Doing this you'd miss out on star alliance gold perks and solitaire PPS, but on a pure points earn basis may be the best earner.

I value SQ miles higher than QF personally, but YMMV.

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, as part of a company travel agreement, the travel has to be either on QF or SIN metal - and no codesharing bookings.
 
Doing this you'd miss out on star alliance gold perks and solitaire PPS, but on a pure points earn basis may be the best earner.
.

Just for info, if you're on an SQ ticket, you can put both your KrisFlyer number and Velocity number in the booking, and credit points/SCs to Velocity but still earn PPS $. I've done this several times. There is of course some risk that it goes wrong, but I've always double checked with the agent at check in and it has always worked as intended. This opens up the possibility of getting PPS status and Velocity status with the same set of flights. The downside is, if you book SQ tickets and credit to Velocity you don't get any Platinum bonus points.
 
I have never been too concerned over the value of FF schemes as F/J availability, direct routing and no lengthy stopovers/redeyes being far more important along with being able to book at the preferred time and not having to pay full price for the ticket.
My credit card points banks have enabled me to send points to whichever FF scheme meets the above criteria and have used the following schemes based on 80 odd bookings:
SQ 28.6%
VA 30.3%
CX 3.1% - only started using in 2017 and now getting most OneWorld bookings providing better value over QF;
DL 25.5% - only high as a lot of USA bookings made at peak times and short notice;
QF 12.5%.

Main value of QF has been able to book EK though that has been reduced with phasing out the AKL flights used regularly by our family.

If I was based in Perth, I would go for SQ if looking to fly to the US/Asia or go with QF/EK if looking to redeem for Europe.
 
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If doing the trip regularly don't underestimate the value of schedule flexibility .

Also for awards, where do you want to use the points and how far in advance? I'd look at a availability now for flights around the destination and time in advance you would want to book to see what availability there is on your preferred booking.
 
If doing the trip regularly don't underestimate the value of schedule flexibility .

Good point - 4 SQ flights a day to Singapore, then ~6-8 flights a day from Sin to Tokyo (Haneda and Narita).

Also - in the invite of a technical issue the delays wont be too horrendous.
 
I think this is a win for SQ... quadruple daily services, leave and get home when you want, not when the airlines says you can. Much better award availability in premium cabins for awards, and no fuel surcharges. Consistently good service (as opposed to QF where it's far from guaranteed). SQ schedules protect you better during IRROPS. Better aircraft on SQ... who wants to finish a trip and spend five hours in a 37' pitch seat in business class?
 
I would pick SQ for many of the reasons suggested above (including schedule flexibility). Also keep in mind that SQ award availability is often much easier to come by than with QF, and you can use Star Alliance partners and VA as well.
 
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