Qantas points bookings - Perth-LAX Return.

[DT95WA]

Hi all, Apologies if this has been covered multiple times. Ive tried searching and havent found the answer im looking for.

I currently have approx 250k QFF points (Once we all merge points together). Im looking to make a booking for August 4 +/- a day and return 5-6 weeks after. I really want to try get a business seat there and back for 3 people.

On the Qantas app is says business from Perth-LAX is 112k points + $494 per person but doesnt say what dates i could book. If i search a return flight paying for the flight the cost is almost what its worth just to book the return trip in business each.

Am i wasting my time trying to get more points to try get a business seat, or should we just try for a premium seat?

Should we book a Flex seat and try for an upgrade?

Mate who is coming, his brother is a QFF platinum member. Would it be better to transfer points to him and get him to book for us?

Hopefully this makes sense. Want to fly in better seats for less $$ (dont we all?)

Thanks,

Adam

 

[blackcat20]

I think youll find it hard to get three seats on the same flight. Its also summer in the US and many of the QF seats have already been snapped up...

 

[Danger]

Yes, Qantas taxes are extortionate making the value proposition of using points for an award flight difficult to understand. A flex ticket that enables an upgrade is a gamble but may be a better option. That way, you can also request an upgrade to Premium Economy if the Business upgrade doesn't clear. August 4 is a Friday (a disadvantage) but it is also not Australian school holidays (an advantage). The other thing to remember with an upgrade is a person's upgrade priority is affected by their QFF status. You're friend is Platinum so the chances are better. If you chose to upgrade, yes, transfer points (to your eligible family member of course) and have that person book all three seats under his name.

 

[juddles]

I am a die-hard Qantas fan. But it is because I love their people, not their policies. ANY plan that involves hoping for an upgrade is fraught with peril. I cannot emphasize this too much - hoping for an upgrade on a flight to the USA is absolute Lotto material.

 

[trooper]

Looking for award seats you need to use the website.... it would appear there is nothing available on the 4th... but there DOES seem to be 3 Business seats available at that 112,000 each level on the 6th... PER-BNE-LAX

Probably need to book sooner rather than later...

 

[lathiat]

I am a die-hard Qantas fan. But it is because I love their people, not their policies. ANY plan that involves hoping for an upgrade is fraught with peril. I cannot emphasize this too much - hoping for an upgrade on a flight to the USA is absolute Lotto material.

Seems the LAX routes in particular are usually very full.. the DFW route less so.

 

[dajop]

Given you are starting from PER have you considered CX ? There are others ways of "skinning the cat" too, not just one way on award and one way on cash. Use cash to get to an intermediate point and back, and use QFF points from their to the US and back to intermediate point - or vice versa. For example a few weeks ago Qatar had a sale from Colombo to some US destinations for $2000 aud return in business class. If that was the case you could have (tried to use) QF points to get to Colombo and paid the fare from Colombo to US.

Unfortunately trying to find 3 premium awards on same flight is difficult. Other option is to suck it up and travel separately, my partner and I do sometimes. For example finding single awards for the three of you via MEL, BNE and SYD may be easier than all on the same SYD-LAX flight.

Afraid you have to get a bit creative sometimes to get what you want with points!

 

[juddles]

Seems the LAX routes in particular are usually very full.. the DFW route less so.

Not only are they full, but I suspect (no real stats known to prove this) that Australia - USA flights are probably fairly heavy in the high-status flyers area. It is an expensive route and there would be many that ply that route who hold WP or P1 status. Competing with them for award seats is being in the hardest game that QF upgrades can offer.

 

[cjd600]

If the 4 August and the LAX are a little more flexible I see 4 x J PER-SYD-SFO for Aug 9 + Aug 10

 

[cove]

We booked 3 in premium economy on QF from MEL to LAX and they were all upgraded on points to LAX. We have done this twice. Going through Sydney didn't work for us.

 

[DT95WA]

Thanks for the replys. Its looking alot like we will be flying economy again until we can get a heap more points banked.