Return flights to the US - help for a newbie

[JimBedoney]

Hi guys

At the outset, my apologies if this is covered elsewhere. I have done some reading but feel I would benefit from the input of some more experienced travelers/QFFs.

My plan is to travel to the US (New Orleans) in December for 10-12 days between 14/15th returning 25/26th or thereabouts. My dates are quite specific due to going for the NFL.

I have about 105k FF points. Can I use them in any meaningful way to reduce the cost of the flights or obtain an upgrade? Should I be looking at redeeming legs separately (i.e. Return to LA). I have 20,000 Mileage Plus points I could possibly use for a return internal flight to NOLA as well.

And can I expect cheaper flights closer to the date as, from a cash only viewpoint, I'm looking at $2400 minimum (for perspective, i flew to Orlando on three weeks' notice with United for $1400 last month).

Any input/tips are greatly appreciated!

 

[Miss Arrrr]

I'll let the seasoned users reply regarding the best way to use your points, but the dates you're looking at is why the prices are so high. Don't expect much of a price drop as it'll be hitting the peak travel time for Christmas/New Years when a lot of people go home/visit relatives for the holiday season. So high demand = airlines keeping prices up.

 

[Limewood]

I can see no dates for Y at all. What city are you in, good idea to update your info at left.

If you can't find award flight to US mainland at that time of year you could consider going to HNL or LAX and out of there to New Orleans using either points or pay for 1 or more sectors.

 

[JimBedoney]

My apologies - location updated. Thanks for the responses to date

I can see a Rewards flight to New Orleans via Sydney and Dallas Fort Worth for 55k points on the 12th - earlier than I'd like but attractive enough. I query whether I opt for that and look for a one way ticket back. The prices appear to be pretty steep for a single return fare though, and factoring in $320 odd for taxes on the classic rewards seat, I'm only about $300 better off overall with that arrangement.

 

[RichardMEL]

Peak season is very difficult for both reward tickets and upgrades - specially if you have no elite status with QF (ie: are Bronze level FF). It's not impossible, but one wouldn't bank on it.

Some might suggest using points to offset the ticket cost of a revenue booking (ie: "posts plus pay") though this is likely not the most effective use of points, but it really becomes a personal cost/benefit analysis.

I would not go with the one way option - as you say it's steep for a one way return, unless you found say a cheaper Jetstar option out of Hawaii or something like that, and then found a way from MSY to HNL - but all of this includes time and cost too.

if you're not a high point earner and don't travel a lot it may well be useful to consider points plus pay as an option to reduce the high season ticket cost.

Or, fly MEL-HNL r/t on a jetstar or similar fare and look for reward seats to/from MSY. That may be a bit easier.

You also quite being a UA MileagePlus member, it may be possible to fly UA to LAX/SFO and then QF reward to/from MSY (or some combination of the two) - assuming you have a decent points balance with UA.

I would not expect the revenue airfares to come down much for mid-dec departures

 

[trooper]

On Skyscanner fares on both VA and QF are available MEL-MSY (New Orleans) via various points for around $2000...QF is as low as $1976.... Leaving 14th, returning 25th.

I suspect those would not be upgradeable.... but given the difficulty one reads about of upgrading on QF anyway.....

QF just to LAX is $200 cheaper.... hard to see the value in booking those flights on to MSY separately!

Still....you COULD fly to LAX on FJ (Fijian) on those dates for $1392.... then use point for onward travel?

Just out of interest...I looked at Premium Economy for those dates....:mrgreen:... MEL-AKL-IAH on NZ in Y+ then UA in Y to MSY and return.... $2575!!! That is quite a deal....

 

[TomVexille]

Just out of interest...I looked at Premium Economy for those dates....:mrgreen:... MEL-AKL-IAH on NZ in Y+ then UA in Y to MSY and return.... $2575!!! That is quite a deal....

That's a pretty decent deal actually.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Having millions of Qpoints from credit cards and other sources, plus flying, if you are a NB, your chances on the route to the US will be hard.
I am QF SG, and I dread the thought of flying QF in whY even to NZ, and have been flying J or buying the seat next to me for myself, as I can't bear the thought of being "sardine canned". I only ever fly to NZ these days.
Once flew in Y PER to SIN on the former 330, not bad, but that is only 2 by the window, worst is the 3 by the window 380 to the US for those many hours. Or 5 hours (plus time difference Au to NZ in a 737!).
If you book an Aust dom flight, you can use points to upgrade straight after booking, and the upgrade if space is available, will be known to you immediately, or soon.
But on int flights, with QF, it all goes by status.
If you are QF SG or of higher status, your chances are better than QF PS or QF NB.