Sydney - Gold Coast Return suggestions via QFF for Jan 13

[Binxx]

Folks,

Wanted to know what's the best way to do this.

For mid Jan for a family of 4, Award booking wants 96k points for Syd - Gold Coast in Business and Gold Coast - Syd in Economy.

128k points for Business return for same flights.

Again, for same flights, Any seat Awards is 99,912 points return, economy of course.

Got around 350k points to burn.

Paying for the same flights, Red-e-deal tickets are $936 on the sale that began today I think via Qantas website.

Is it a no brainer that I should go Award and go Business all the way or should I wait?

We are not regular FF's and have earned most of the points on other spend.

Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[markis10]

Why not a JASA with the points dropped back to the classic level?

Minimum Points:	128,000
All Inclusive Points:	201,416
Total Payment*
Points:	128,000
Credit or Debit Card:	$657.84	(AUD)

 

[Binxx]

Showing my stupidity am I not?

Sorry but you lost me there, what is JASA and how is the table beneficial?

 

[markis10]

Showing my stupidity am I not?

Sorry but you lost me there, what is JASA and how is the table beneficial?

A JASA is a Business Any Seat Award, and its best practice to reduce it to classic levels to conserve points as the dollar value for those points is far lower that what you can buy them for:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....uent-flyer-program/how-do-i-book-j-29610.html

 

[yohy?!]

An Any Seat Award in Business Class (JASA) will earn points and status credits at business class levels which means that you can effectively subtract the points you will earn from the 128k you paid. For SYD-GC this would be 2,500pts per person and 80 status credits meaning it would effectively cost 118k points plus $650odd dollars...

 

[Binxx]

Got it.

But you forgetting that I'm not a FF unlike most folks here.

Should SC and FF points be taken into the equation at this stage for us?

At most, I might have 2 more QF flights in the next 12 months, is the 80 SC's worth it?

But the $650 QF spend could get more points (roughly 1.5k points?) as with Westpac Platinum Qantas card.

 

[samh004]

As you say, the SC might not be worth it, but you'll each earn points back for your flights to be put into future flights, travelling the whole thing in Business, which you wouldn't get if you just chose a Classic award. Just have to weigh up the cost, seems worth it.

 

[markis10]

I don't think it's worth it when that 128k will get you a business class fare return to Asia for one, and the seat on SYD OOL can be quite cheap.

 

[Kefci2000]

Agree with Markis10, save the points for a round the world ticket or upgrade down the track.

Hell, family of 4, I would drive to Gold Coast (from Sydney).

 

[Princess Fiona]

I personally wouldn't use 350K points for 4x SYD-OOL. For that balance you can get 2 x Round the World Explorer fares or 1 x business class RTW with 80K points spare. I would be looking at SYD-BNE as well as SYD-OOL on QF and VA for the cheapest cash fare (I booked for Jan school hols SYD-OOL $48 one way on the QF sale ages ago)

 

[Binxx]

Agree with Markis10, save the points for a round the world ticket or upgrade down the track.

Hell, family of 4, I would drive to Gold Coast (from Sydney).

Agree, that was the initial plan but due to time constraints and not having a reliable car, decided on the flying option.

 

[Binxx]

Thanks for the replies.

Im tempted to go ahead and blow 128k points as it will be a experience for all of us in Business unless some good fares come up in the next month or so.

I have also heard that the Business Lounge in Gold Coast is quite kid friendly which I assume we will have access to?

How many points are required for upgrading from Economy to Business. I guess the Red-e-deal fare are ineligible?

Do more seats become available over time?

 

[markis10]

I have also heard that the Business Lounge in Gold Coast is quite kid friendly which I assume we will have access to?

The lounge is closed while it is refurbished into a Qantas Club, so its kid friendliness is TBA, as is the opening date which is quite likely to be after your travels if delays impact the end of year date.

 

[serfty]

... as is the opening date which is quite likely to be after your travels if delays impact the end of year date.

Such delays would have to be really significant given the renovations are only expected to take a few weeks with an opening date around the end of November.



Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[markis10]

Such delays would have to be really significant given the renovations are only expected to take a few weeks with an opening date around the end of November....

Tried getting a builder on the coast since the floods ? I note there is no building application yet with the airport despite the lounge closing Sunday, so a delay would not surprise, not much work in the industry gets done from the 17th Dec through to mid Jan, its a narrow window and something worthy of keeping in mind.

 

[serfty]

Tried getting a builder on the coast since the floods ? I note there is no building application yet with the airport despite the lounge closing Sunday, so a delay would not surprise, not much work in the industry gets done from the 17th Dec through to mid Jan, its a narrow window and something worthy of keeping in mind.

Not sure how much actual building is required given it is still functioning as a lounge. (maybe just a Furniture removalist)

It is to close as a JQ lounge on Sunday, reopening as a QP in late November.

Lounges | Jetstar

Having posted that, I'd really consider driving ex Sydney rather than flying.

 

[pauly7]

Not sure how much actual building is required given it is still functioning as a lounge. (maybe just a Furniture removalist)

It is to close as a JQ lounge on Sunday, reopening as a QP in late November.

Lounges | Jetstar

Having posted that, I'd really consider driving ex Sydney rather than flying.

QF use some of the same interior people we use, if there is hard structure changes then a builder may be used, maybe markis10 thinks there is a structure change....

However if it is light aesthetics it will probably be shop fitters and limited trades basically doing all the work which are much easier to secure, even in QLD. These guys however like builders disappear around Xmas no matter how much money you throw at them.

So unless someone knows exactly what they are doing its hard to guess how long. Personally I have a few flights already booked on QF to the GC so hoping sooner rather than later

 

[markis10]

Having been in the JQ lounge recently I would expect a structural change, the fact it has no windows is one thing that should change!

 

[Binxx]

If blowing 128k points, would flying into BNE be any more beneficial as Princess Fiona suggested earlier in the thread?

Planning to hire a car once there anyway, drive back into Surfers is around a hour I take.

 

[eastwest101]

To the OP - as I have see fares as low as $49 one-way between SYD-OOL plus with Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar and Tiger all competing with each-other I would just search for the best priced deal and pay cash if its for 4 people. I personally wouldn't waste valuable FF points redeeming SYD-OOL flights - as Princess Fiona also stated.