Redeeming points via travel agent booking

[babysun]

Hi,

We have currently got a decent amount of points up our sleeves between my husband and myself and are thinking of going away next school holidays. Of course points for flights are higher than non peak times.

We don't really care where exactly we go. We would just like to go flop on a beach for a few days somewhere in the South Pacific.

I can't be bothered trawling through the airlines sites to find flights with the best value in points.

My question is whether a travel agent offers this as a service instead of paying with cash.

If yes what experience have you had and do you have any recommendations?

We are in Brisbane.

Thanks!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

My question is whether a travel agent offers this as a service instead of paying with cash.

Most FF programs would not allow (as in the rules) you to transfer points to a non-family member.

There are people who would help you how to use your points for a fee.

If you made a post about how many points you have, which program (ie airline FF program, credit card points etc) how many in your family (ie just the 2 of you or are there kids as well) then most like some AFF members would give you some good advice and suggestions for fre as they do in most threads.

 

[Steady]

Of course points for flights are higher than non peak times.

Classic award fares don't cost more points during peak travel times - they just get snapped up as soon as they are released.

 

[drewbles]

Spend a little time and search your respective FF programs award engine to find something you'd be interested in.

There are premium paid-for services that enable you to have them do all the heavy lifting but they are typically very expensive (and often specialise in premium award space availability). The cost of paying someone to help you use your points will likely eat into your budget for spending money.

Which program are you with, and how many points? As Steady mentions, points required for 'classic' awards to not vary from season to season, and if you're looking at 'any seat awards' you're likely to be gouged by the airline (they are almost never value as they are putting a direct price per point on the redemption, as they are 'purchasing' a seat that would otherwise be offered to someone else for cash).

An hour or so planning and you're likely to find somewhere that suits if you're flexible with timing. Advance planning is always the key (and half the fun IMHO; the satisfaction of finding an award is always a good feeling).

 

[babysun]

Thanks for your replies.

We have about 200,000 points with Virgin Australia, 65,000 with Qantas and 16,500 with Etihad which we can redeem on VA flights.

There are 2 adults and 2 children (under 12).

Like you said drewbies and Steady it's the any seat awards that are the whopper redemption rates. That's what I meant by "higher".

We have got some good seats in the past but booked well in advance and it was probably before our kids were at school too so we could travel out of holiday times.

Normally we don't leave it so late to book and we would rather use our points on economy seats for such short flights. Maybe one day we might lash out in the pointy end for a long haul trip (without the kids!).

I've seen the flight search thread here on the AFF. I might ask somebody for some help if I get stuck. I'm just being lazy and can't be bothered searching myself this week! I do love to plan a holiday usually like you drewbies.

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[get me outta here]

You may be better to pay for a trip if you can afford it to build up some more points for use later when you can pre plan. Four seats are hard to get on a reward, and what you have is not a huge amount. We may be able to make some other suggestions on maximising the build up of points.

 

[babysun]

Thank you. I would love to use our points for a trip in the future but with primary school kids we won't be heading far for a while. We've been able to get seats in the past but like you said. Pre planning is the key. This is rather spur of the moment for booking reward flights. Unfortunately we are a bit cash strapped to pay for flights so I thought if I could get an agent to find somewhere for us to go I am happy to hop on a plane!

We have family pooling on Velocity and we have an amex velocity card which we buy just about everything on to build up points and transfer flybuys points to Etihad guest. Qantas points have come from Everyday Rewards and flying with them.

I am always open to ideas about how to maximise points usage and earning ideas! Thank you.

 

[coco50]

Hi,

We have currently got a decent amount of points up our sleeves between my husband and myself and are thinking of going away next school holidays. Of course points for flights are higher than non peak times.

We don't really care where exactly we go. We would just like to go flop on a beach for a few days somewhere in the South Pacific.

I can't be bothered trawling through the airlines sites to find flights with the best value in points.

My question is whether a travel agent offers this as a service instead of paying with cash.

If yes what experience have you had and do you have any recommendations?

We are in Brisbane.

Thanks!

I did this last year through Escape Travel in Ballina where my TA works. She set up a RTW booking in first class using points. I would say that you would need to trust the agent. We had a great trip with well organised booking and seating. We also booked hotels and rail in Europe through her and paid the usual TA fees. We burned about 800 000 FF points for the two of us.

 

[babysun]

Thanks Coco50 for sharing that you've done it. Must've been an amazing trip! I might find a local agent and have a chat to them. I presume just not a flight centre type one.

 

[get me outta here]

I think Escape Travel is owned / affiliated with Flight Centre.

Thanks Coco50 for sharing that you've done it. Must've been an amazing trip! I might find a local agent and have a chat to them. I presume just not a flight centre type one.

 

[coco50]

I think Escape Travel is owned / affiliated with Flight Centre.

Don't know who owns them. My TA was with Harvey World Travel some years ago. She booked a RTW trip for me in 2008 including a river cruise in Europe. That went so smoothly that I will not enter into complex arrangements for travel OS unless I consult with her. I trust her completely and I think that is an essential quality when you have a TA using your points to book travel. The fact that she works for Escape is purely incidental.

 

[drewbles]

Don't know who owns them. My TA was with Harvey World Travel some years ago. She booked a RTW trip for me in 2008 including a river cruise in Europe. That went so smoothly that I will not enter into complex arrangements for travel OS unless I consult with her. I trust her completely and I think that is an essential quality when you have a TA using your points to book travel. The fact that she works for Escape is purely incidental.

They are certainly owned by FC.



TA's make no money off a points redemption, so unless the TA charges large fees (like some corporate ones try to) there's really no reason to ask (unless you know your TA well as I do). In the case mentioned above, the TA booked other things (Which are typically quite high margin for commission to they make plenty).

It's unusual to find a knowledgeable TA (especially regarding constructing OW award fares), let alone one in the FC group (hold on to 'em!).

 

[coco50]

They are certainly owned by FC.

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TA's make no money off a points redemption, so unless the TA charges large fees (like some corporate ones try to) there's really no reason to ask (unless you know your TA well as I do). In the case mentioned above, the TA booked other things (Which are typically quite high margin for commission to they make plenty).

It's unusual to find a knowledgeable TA (especially regarding constructing OW award fares), let alone one in the FC group (hold on to 'em!).

I never read the small print on signs and if I feel that there is value in a transaction I am happy to pay a fair price. In this case, the value comes from having a TA that I can trust and who I know will do an excellent job, so that I don't end up in a hotel in Milan at 2000 hours that tells me that I haven't got a booking. I will follow her from agency to agency just to be able to book with confidence!