Qantas or Virgin SYD-LAX in J?

[Gogo65]

I will be booking a flight to LAX shortly using points, I have both Amex points that I can transfer to velocity (with the current 15% bonus) or I have qantas FF points.
however with the current velocity promotion a one way fare will be around 82000 points in comparison to Qantas 96000. The other big difference is the taxes, virgin is $98.89 and qantas is $455.:shock:

I recently flew J for the first time on Virgin LAX-SYD, it was a very nice flight and we enjoyed it, however having never flown J before, I really can't compare.
my friend will be flying as well(with qantas) and wants me to fly with her, my original idea was she fly on QF 11 and I fly VA 1, as we would arrive at similar times, but I have since been thinking.....
To the experts, would you consider the 14000 point difference and $355 extra in taxes worth it, to fly/try the qantas product???
i have flown both qantas PE and Virgin PE and Virgin came out in front.
Thanks
gogo

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Do both VA & QF have award availability for the dates you want?

Is the QF award ticket a Classic or JASA? If the latter you would be earning points & SC.

A lot of people on AFF find that being a member of AA's Aadvantage program & redeeming on QF is better as the points required are less & taxes are much lower.

 

[Gogo65]

Thanks Oz, At this stage I am hoping both will have availabilty as I am looking at booking for April next year, we have a little flexibility, so will just keep,checking.
i could do a JASA, which does make sense, if available.

Not sure that I could redeem using AA though, as my points are with qantas and Amex(which doesn't allow for transfer to AA) unless there is a way to transfer points to AA??

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks Oz, At this stage I am hoping both will have availabilty as I am looking at booking for April next year, we have a little flexibility, so will just keep,checking.
i could do a JASA, which does make sense, if available.

Not sure that I could redeem using AA though, as my points are with qantas and Amex(which doesn't allow for transfer to AA) unless there is a way to transfer points to AA??

The good thing about AA is you don't have to earn a single point in their program as you can buy points. They recently had an offer of buy 60,000 miles & get 30,000 bonus points for around USD1,600.00 plus tax so under USD1,800.00 total.

From Aust to the US you only need 62,500 AAdvantage miles for J & the taxes are very low but no point or SC credits will be earned.

As QF award seats go on sale 353 days out ad midnight GMT (1000 Aust EST) I would practice trying to book seats to get familiar with the process.

Read the fare rules thorouhly because if the JASA is fully refundable you could book now then cancel down the track if not suitable.

It may be easier to do the return trip as two one way award flights as cancelling one sector can be problematic.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....what-you-burning-your-49092-2.html#post797242

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....age-questions-newbie-28236-36.html#post792420

 

[smit0847]

Be cautious about the taxes VA and QF will charge to LAX. Despite what they advertise, I thought the actual taxes on J rewards were much, much higher on both airlines.

 

[DaveB]

My two daughters flew separately to NY last year in J flying a combination of CX, QF and VA/DL using rewards. VA from memory cost around $600 return and QF a tad over $1k.
Whilst they liked the direct aisle access in CX and DL, their ranking of overall experience was VA just ahead of CX followed by QF and DL, noting they didn't care too much for the NZ Sydney lounge.
Having built up an alternative pool of points able to be to sent to VA, CX or SQ, I look to QF only if I can score a cheap JASA, otherwise the charges make the reward seats uncompetitive.

 

[smit0847]

My two daughters flew separately to NY last year in J flying a combination of CX, QF and VA/DL using rewards. VA from memory cost around $600 return and QF a tad over $1k.
Whilst they liked the direct aisle access in CX and DL, their ranking of overall experience was VA just ahead of CX followed by QF and DL, noting they didn't care too much for the NZ Sydney lounge.
Having built up an alternative pool of points able to be to sent to VA, CX or SQ, I look to QF only if I can score a cheap JASA, otherwise the charges make the reward seats uncompetitive.

I'm fairly sure I've heard of people booking J redemptions MEL/SYD - LAX return and having to pay over $1000 pp in taxes and fees on QF, and $800+ pp on VA.

 

[williamsf1]

I'm fairly sure I've heard of people booking J redemptions MEL/SYD - LAX return and having to pay over $1000 pp in taxes and fees on QF, and $800+ pp on VA.

Just made a test booking on QF and VA
Return tax on QF 842.18
Return tax on VA 131.78

 

[lovestotravel]

To the experts, would you consider the 14000 point difference and $355 extra in taxes worth it, to fly/try the qantas product???
i have flown both qantas PE and Virgin PE and Virgin came out in front.

Short answer - Virgin

Firstly for the $ and point difference, but mainly because of the seat/service which I feel is much better on Virgin.

The A380 J cabin feels like a dormitory, but it is quieter as the A380 is much quieter than the B777 which Virgin use.

You will find it easier to get availability on Virgin, and they seem to release the cheaper J award seats about 6-9 months out.

Be aware that Easter is school holidays so not sure what they will release for April 2014

Does your friend want to travel in J as well as you ? Getting 2 award seat on Virgin, I must admit I have never tried... Others can add to this

My only criticism of using Virgin would be the LAX lounge.. It's not up to the Qantas standard, but it's nice enough for a few hours. A lack of showers is my main concern!

 

[drewbles]

Short answer - Virgin

Firstly for the $ and point difference, but mainly because of the seat/service which I feel is much better on Virgin.

The A380 J cabin feels like a dormitory, but it is quieter as the A380 is much quieter than the B777 which Virgin use.

You will find it easier to get availability on Virgin, and they seem to release the cheaper J award seats about 6-9 months out.

Be aware that Easter is school holidays so not sure what they will release for April 2014

Does your friend want to travel in J as well as you ? Getting 2 award seat on Virgin, I must admit I have never tried... Others can add to this

My only criticism of using Virgin would be the LAX lounge.. It's not up to the Qantas standard, but it's nice enough for a few hours. A lack of showers is my main concern!

I respectfully disagree re the cabin (Although I've only been in the 'Emerald City' portion of the A380).

I find the A380 J seats on QF 10 times better than the VA seats. And the new quasi-matress they're using is great (the hook-over-the-top-of-the-seat one that's rolled up on your seat upon boarding). The VA seats are hard. Very hard. And when extended out to a bed, there's no padding and you feel every join and bump.

That said, VA are revamping their entire 777 cabins and removing the leather, so perhaps the new seats are better but I have not tried it yet to compare.

VA's bar concept is nice, but it's not very self service anymore, and you have to keep buzzing an FA to make you a drink (or provide you a glass to top up your wine/champers).

I did love the privacy of row 5, but as the cabin was full and someone was next to me in 5A, it was a little strange when the FA offered to close the curtain. I declined, but as the curtain to the bar, and the middle seats of row 5 were drawn, it was still a bizarre experience effectively being isolated with a complete strange

 

[lovestotravel]

Disappointed to hear the self-serve bar is gone, as for the seats, I found them OK, but then I sleep sitting upright, but can't remember them being too hard!

The new QF padding/mattress seemed nice last month, but I guess the large cabin on Qantas just feels more like a dorm room!

 

[drewbles]

Disappointed to hear the self-serve bar is gone, as for the seats, I found them OK, but then I sleep sitting upright, but can't remember them being too hard!

The new QF padding/mattress seemed nice last month, but I guess the large cabin on Qantas just feels more like a dorm room!

Agreed. I'd not like to be in the 'rear' J cabin. The Sky Coffins would really feel like it!

 

[Ausbt]

however with the current velocity promotion a one way fare will be around 82000 points in comparison to Qantas 96000. The other big difference is the taxes, virgin is $98.89 and qantas is $455.:shock:

Sorry can you link to that promo? I'm reading your post as one-way SYD-LAX in J being 82,000 points + taxes, is this correct?

Did a couple of searches, found 220,000 return with VA inc taxes, which appeared to be 20K in points.

 

[Gogo65]

The good thing about AA is you don't have to earn a single point in their program as you can buy points. They recently had an offer of buy 60,000 miles & get 30,000 bonus points for around USD1,600.00 plus tax so under USD1,800.00 total.

From Aust to the US you only need 62,500 AAdvantage miles for J & the taxes are very low but no point or SC credits will be earned.

As QF award seats go on sale 353 days out ad midnight GMT (1000 Aust EST) I would practice trying to book seats to get familiar with the process.

Read the fare rules thorouhly because if the JASA is fully refundable you could book now then cancel down the track if not suitable.

It may be easier to do the return trip as two one way award flights as cancelling one sector can be problematic.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....what-you-burning-your-49092-2.html#post797242

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....age-questions-newbie-28236-36.html#post792420

Thanks Oz I have points to burn, (as a result of the wonderful amex promotion a fewyears ago!)so not planning on buying any more, however the AA program does seem like good value. We are only looking at a one way, as will be heading to Europe from the US, will definetely look at booking at JASA if available.

 

[Gogo65]

Be cautious about the taxes VA and QF will charge to LAX. Despite what they advertise, I thought the actual taxes on J rewards were much, much higher on both airlines.

Have booked a few times using points and agree normally the taxes are outrageous but for some reason VA are amazingly good value at the moment!

 

[Gogo65]

@daveb, agree we also have a good stash of points in Amex, hence the VA option but also have around 300k QAntas points to use.
@williamsf1, yes that is what I have come up with, I actually booked the same flights for friends today using there points and the taxes were $260 for two return, however we also just returned on VA on the 30/3 on points in J and I am sur ewe paid closer to $400each o/w, VA have for some reason dropped their taxes!

@loves to travel and drewbles, thanks this is what I want, opinions on whether the extra money is worth it.

 

[Gogo65]

Sorry can you link to that promo? I'm reading your post as one-way SYD-LAX in J being 82,000 points + taxes, is this correct?

Did a couple of searches, found 220,000 return with VA inc taxes, which appeared to be 20K in points.

Velocity have a promotion in April, if you transfer points out of Amex into velocity you get a 15% bonus, so the normal points for a one way is 94000 or 82000 +12300 bonus, hope that makes sense, the taxes are then $98 syd to lax and $32 lax to syd.
15% Bonus Points Offer | Velocity Frequent Flyer

 

[travelislife]

Wow! Has virgin stoppe charging fuel surcharges? That would be a game changer! I am amazed this isn't being discussed in the Virgin forum.

 

[Gogo65]

Wow! Has virgin stoppe charging fuel surcharges? That would be a game changer! I am amazed this isn't being discussed in the Virgin forum.

MaYbe it's safer here

 

[RAM]

Have booked a few times using points and agree normally the taxes are outrageous but for some reason VA are amazingly good value at the moment!

With QF the taxes are mainly QF's own extra charges which they put in addition to the fare whereas VA have the bulk of their surcharges within the fare which is what makes their points scheme so much better.

For example look at the QF and JQ Honolulu flights and compare the 'taxes' - the QF taxes are nearly as much as the JQ cash fare!