QFF redemption - is it worth it?

[AndyGoodyear]

Hi Everyone

I've been collecting my QFF points for a few years now and have about 145,000. I know compared to some here 145K points is not many, but I have spent some time collecting them.

Anyhow, I'm heading from Sydney to San Francisco at Christmas time, looking to fly around 11th Dec and back around the 3rd Jan. I've found a classic award in Premium Economy which seems like good value - 144,000 points and $850 (ish). I like the idea of travelling PE although it is not a must. The only thing that puts me off is the fact that it is a classic award and so I will earn no points or SC's. I've tried the old ASA at classic awards level, but at the christmas break this doesnt make any difference. A regular return flight in economy for the Christmas break is around $2000.

So I'm asking for your opinion? Spend 144,000 and $850 for an award flight with no earnings, but fly premium economy OR save points for another time of year when they may be better value, pay $2000 and fly normal economy? What would you do?

As a side question the flight out is via LA (A380) but the flights back all seem to be via LA & BNE with long haul on 747. Any reason for this and is the A380 and 747 PE worth it?

 

[Alanslegal]

Fly to LAX in business class (96k) and start your holiday in comfort. Return home via economy redemption or if you can find a cheap way home such as via HNL. Even if you have poor flights home in Y at least you can recuperate in your own bed back at home

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi Everyone

I've been collecting my QFF points for a few years now and have about 145,000. I know compared to some here 145K points is not many, but I have spent some time collecting them.

Anyhow, I'm heading from Sydney to San Francisco at Christmas time, looking to fly around 11th Dec and back around the 3rd Jan. I've found a classic award in Premium Economy which seems like good value - 144,000 points and $850 (ish). I like the idea of travelling PE although it is not a must. The only thing that puts me off is the fact that it is a classic award and so I will earn no points or SC's. I've tried the old ASA at classic awards level, but at the christmas break this doesnt make any difference. A regular return flight in economy for the Christmas break is around $2000.

So I'm asking for your opinion? Spend 144,000 and $850 for an award flight with no earnings, but fly premium economy OR save points for another time of year when they may be better value, pay $2000 and fly normal economy? What would you do?

As a side question the flight out is via LA (A380) but the flights back all seem to be via LA & BNE with long haul on 747. Any reason for this and is the A380 and 747 PE worth it?

if a classic award is available, and ASA should also be available on the same date for the same points as the classic (but you have to pay a bit more $$).

 

[AndyGoodyear]

Fly to LAX in business class (96k) and start your holiday in comfort. Return home via economy redemption or if you can find a cheap way home such as via HNL. Even if you have poor flights home in Y at least you can recuperate in your own bed back at home

Thanks for the suggestion. I already looked at that idea but there are no J award seats around the dates I need. I can fly out between 11th-16th Dec, but if looking at J would need to be 4th Dec

When you say a cheap way home via HNL, are you talking about booking a separate one way flight originating out of the US?

 

[AndyGoodyear]

if a classic award is available, and ASA should also be available on the same date for the same points as the classic (but you have to pay a bit more $$).

Thanks for your response too. I've had a look at ASA but the difference is drastic - presumably due to Christmas.

Classic Award would be $850 with 144,000 pts for PE
ASA for all inclusive PE is 726,000 pts and if I bring the slider to 145,000 pts it is still $5000!

ASA just doesnt work in this case I'm afraid.

 

[opusman]

I would nab the classic award if I were you, seems like a reasonable use of points and if flights are heavily booked in Y you've got a fair chance of a bump up to J anyway.

 

[AndyGoodyear]

I would nab the classic award if I were you, seems like a reasonable use of points and if flights are heavily booked in Y you've got a fair chance of a bump up to J anyway.

I think I may. My next dilemma is Y class on 747 or on A380! If I go on one day it is SYD/LAX/SFO with A380 on longhaul route, or next day is SYD/BNE/LAX/SFO with 747

Does anyone have an opinion to the better Y service? I read they took away the self serve bars on the A380 (

 

[Alanslegal]

There is a J seat on 11/12 SYD-BNE-LAX if you are willing to go via BNE,LAX and make your own way (separate ticket) to SFO.

 

[grussellt]

If you are willing to fly FJ you can J between SYD-NAN-LAX on your dates. That won't leave you much for the return but you could always buy AA miles (see threads in American AAdvantage forum).

 

[whatmeworry]

On 08/12 there is a J seat SYD-BNE-LAX for 96k plus payment of $767.85. You would earn at least 11,999 (plus status bonus points) and 220 SC.

 

[UP4014]

At that time of the year you take what you can get on the awards front, which ever you choose book it now.

matt

 

[AndyGoodyear]

On 08/12 there is a J seat SYD-BNE-LAX for 96k plus payment of $767.85. You would earn at least 11,999 (plus status bonus points) and 220 SC.

Thanks for that info. So I presume when doing these trips its good to try and break up the journey (just doing the route to LAX and not including the SFO leg)? I did have a look at 8th Dec, and all I found to LAX via BNE was 139k points and $800 in J. I was putting in for a one way flight - is this what you did?

 

[whatmeworry]

I used flexible dates, selected for JASA and found a one way for around 170k from SYD and and if you start from MEL it was around 150k. I quote 96k when you slide the points required to the left.