TIP: Redeeming Amex points for flights

[Duffa]

I booked through Amex 2 of the above and it cost $640 each or 64,000 points. On top of that I got points and status credits for the flights too.

I used 64,000 (well 63,500 to be precise) points recently and scored myself a J single to Amsterdam with SQ.
Now that, IMHO is way better value!
But as everyone points out, YMMV

 

[cove]

Amsterdam is a really good place to go Duffa.....that is a really good redemption on SQ.

 

[angusburns]

Hi Cove,

Awesome redemption.

In your experience, what cities in Europe generally have the most availability for J redemptions on SQ, or are they all the same / vary based on demand?

Getting to the UK seems to almost always involve a mixture of Saver and Standard legs when I look - last one was 221k points so less than Qantas 256K points anyway with (I hope) a better flying experience...

Thanks!

Angus

 

[sunbeamrapier]

Cough..... I'd be flying Y if I had to pay for that. Lol

Yes, rather steep... I thought the £100 black cab fare i paid last June was outrageous, but a helicopter ride is probably cheaper than the chauffeur service!

A word of warning: London cabbies don't always accept credit cards. It does not seem to occur to them to say so, despite collecting you from an international airport, so make sure you have cash - or look carefully at the cab for credit card stickers... I had to dump my bags and go in search of an ATM when I got to the hotel...

 

[sunbeamrapier]

You can only redeem for Y with SQ using VS miles...

Yes, you are quite right - I had missed that! If you are paying for a SYD-LON-SYD flight you will be shown only SQ flights, but if you use points you will see only VS flights. I wonder why VS prefer to send paying passengers to London on SQ when they fly their own planes SYD-LON....

Not that I know of any reason to choose SQ in preference to VS... I like VS Upper Class but I have never flown SQ business class...

 

[cove]

Angus it is mainly Saver to Singapore and Standard to the UK but we did get a Saver to Manchester (2 hours and 7 minutes train ride to London). I am still relaxed about Standard as I often have to go on a schedule that suits the business I have set out to do.
If it was all leisure I would have more flexibility.
I have tried both Business and First on SQ points and both services are really excellent.
I want to start flying out of London City Airport to European cities as we can get to that airport on the DLR in about 15 minutes from our London place.

 

[sunbeamrapier]

It is now 200000 miles for SYD-HKG-LHR return in Upper Class

Yes, you are quite correct... I haven't looked since last year. The flight cost is A$7381 depending on dates, so still not a bad return on your points. I never use points on domestic flights - if you do a $ per point comparison international business/upper is usually much better value as long as you like to fly in comfort on a long flight...

Oh, and Virgin Atlantic is offering a 30% bonus for Amex transfers at the moment...

 

[sunbeamrapier]

So here is a calculation on SYD-LHR dep 1 May and return 1 June on DJ in business

Virgin quoted $9825
Velocity Points cost is 1,146,000
American Express MR cost is 982,500

I found a flight on web jet on V Australia for less than what the virgin website quoted directly.

Seems logical to utilize Amex points here.

Seems a lot of points to burn... Why not transfer Amex points to Virgin Atlantic before end of March and get 1.3 VS miles per Amex point, and spend 200,000 VS miles to fly Upper class on Virgin Atlantic via Hong Kong. 153,846 Amex points will get you to London and back in a flat bed and the use of the arrivals lounge in London for a shower, massage and brekky...

 

[sunbeamrapier]

Good point about Qantas and the bean counters. Might have to investigate the VA option and go to HK rather than SIN.

The VS Hong Kong lounge is very nice. Good menu and wine list and they encourage you to eat in the lounge before you board for London so that they can turn out the lights as soon as the seat belt lights go out... Tick the "don't wake me for breakfast" option and sleep until just before landing... The Heathrow VS lounge is HUGE and great food choices (I had sushi with my drinks followed by an excellent sit-down 3 course meal on my way out last trip). Great staff too - they seem to love flying for Branson - a change from grumpy QF cabin crew...

 

[sunbeamrapier]

It all depends I what you book. J and F seats are certainly poor value, but here is an example of where they were exceptional value.

2 x Mel-DRW flights is 72,000 points on a QF classic.

I booked through Amex 2 of the above and it cost $640 each or 64,000 points. On top of that I got points and status credits for the flights too.

So it all depends on the sales as to the points benefit.

So, its $320 to buy the flight or 32,000 points? So you would get 6.25 flights for 200,000 points or $2080 worth of flights?

But if you transferred to Virgin Atlantic you can fly upper class return to London for 200,000 points - a $7,500 flight if you paid for it.

... which is 3.75 times the value of using your Amex points on a domestic flight by my calculation...

... and right now you only need 153,846 Amex points because Virgin Atlantic will give you an extra 30% for your Amex points...

 

[k3nnis]

Yep same with you. I never flew SQ J before, a few J on VS though... Maybe one day

Yes, you are quite right - I had missed that! If you are paying for a SYD-LON-SYD flight you will be shown only SQ flights, but if you use points you will see only VS flights. I wonder why VS prefer to send paying passengers to London on SQ when they fly their own planes SYD-LON....

Not that I know of any reason to choose SQ in preference to VS... I like VS Upper Class but I have never flown SQ business class...

 

[sunbeamrapier]

I agree with Medhead but then again I have one of those Amex Cards

Is that an Amex card which automatically transfers points to QFF? (meaning you have no choice?) I cancelled all those cards which were rebranded as QF cards because I don't fly QF, or the abominable Jetstar...

 

[k3nnis]

If AMEX keeps the 1:1 for Asiamiles, I will be flying CX and QF, BA more often

Is that an Amex card which automatically transfers points to QFF? (meaning you have no choice?) I cancelled all those cards which were rebranded as QF cards because I don't fly QF, or the abominable Jetstar...

 

[sunbeamrapier]

There is no way I would use a million Amex points to get $10,000 of travel when you could use about 200,000 points for a trip in business class to America out of an east coast capital city. Five times $7k to $12k of value is what those points are worth on international redemptions so don't sell yourself short! That is what the Frequent Flyer game is about.

1 million Amex points would take me several years to accumulate!

The "any seat" option for QFF was the final straw for me - whoever it was aimed at, it isn't me, and that told me I was flying an airline who didn't want my business. I changed to Virgin/Virgin Atlantic and cancelled all my cards that forced a points transfer to QFF. Never flown Qantas since...

... an interesting marketing exercise though. There is no way back to QF for me since I cannot transfer any points to QFF from either of my credit cards. So QF not only piss their customers off, but they make the loss of a customer permanent... heh heh... Only an airline run by an accountant would think this was a sensible way to treat a customer...

 

[k3nnis]

Can I ask how much do you guys actually spend on average on your AMEX per year. In terms of dollars. I only spend approx $48000 annually... So I will need to rely on bonus points or sign up bonuses!

 

[straitman]

1 million Amex points would take me several years to accumulate!

The "any seat" option for QFF was the final straw for me - whoever it was aimed at, it isn't me, and that told me I was flying an airline who didn't want my business. I changed to Virgin/Virgin Atlantic and cancelled all my cards that forced a points transfer to QFF. Never flown Qantas since...

... an interesting marketing exercise though. There is no way back to QF for me since I cannot transfer any points to QFF from either of my credit cards. So QF not only piss their customers off, but they make the loss of a customer permanent... heh heh... Only an airline run by an accountant would think this was a sensible way to treat a customer...

Care to explain your aversion to ASAs?

Some ASAs represent incredible value and you simply ignore the rest.

I'm just trying to understand your reasoning.

 

[sunbeamrapier]

Next week we are going on points SIN-LHR in Standard on SQ in First for 306k points return. Typically you can get from OZ to SIN in J for sub 100k return.
Now I have not given you Saver points rates but I would suggest you look at places you can transfer those AMEX points as you can do better than I listed.

Now that many J class cabins have flat seats, great food and wine and good lounges, is there much benefit flying First? Its only 200,000 points SYD-LON in VS Upper Class, or 153,000 if you take advantage of the current Amex to VS transfer bonus...

 

[cove]

You will know when you have spent enough...you will get offered an account manager.
i used to be jealous of a guy who was paying a $700,000 telephone bill and then js posted that the ATO was trialling tax payments on credit cards. I think there are some pretty big annual spends out there where there are 2 commas in the numbers on a monthly and/ or quarterly basis.

 

[sunbeamrapier]

Care to explain your aversion to ASAs?

Some ASAs represent incredible value and you simply ignore the rest.

I'm just trying to understand your reasoning.

incredible value? really? do you mean domestically or internationally?

I never use points for domestic travel - only for international business. Before I stopped flying QF I never saw an international business ASA flight that I could ever afford - mind you it was also becoming impossible to find a classic award in QF J class to anywhere I wanted to go...

 

[sunbeamrapier]

You will know when you have spent enough...you will get offered an account manager.
i used to be jealous of a guy who was paying a $700,000 telephone bill and then js posted that the ATO was trialling tax payments on credit cards. I think there are some pretty big annual spends out there where there are 2 commas in the numbers on a monthly and/ or quarterly basis.

A $700,000 telephone bill? heh heh... I wonder if he's ever heard of Skype!

But, I get your point, and you confirm my own - the ASA programme is not for the vast majority of QF customers...

... and remember that ASA was launched to deflect increasing criticism of the difficulty in spending QF points because seats were so hard to get. Perhaps not domestically, but you get terrible value for points on QF domestically, and you have to fly the abominable Jetstar these days...

I live in Byron. I had a Qantas Club membership until Qantas closed their Gold Coast lounge. Qantas excels in finding ways to drive their customers to other airlines - you can see that in the drastic decline in their international market share. I have seen this happen in other big companies when they appoint accountants to the top job - the focus changes to screwing the customer instead of delighting them. Richard Branson, who is not an accountant, knows how to treat his customers (and his staff) - and I fly Virgin Atlantic and love it. Virgin Australia is a much friendlier airline than Jetstar - don't forget when Jetstar launched they didn't allocate seats and they still threaten you with refusing boarding if you are running late, even if the plane hasn't started boarding... Only Ryan Air is as nasty to their customers!

ps: I take that back - Ryan Air has never grounded their airline and stranded their customers...

pps: another QF policy that infuriated me - having to fly economy from Tokyo, at the back of the plane, surrounded by noisy schoolgirls, because no J class classic award seats were available both before the flight and at check-in - and then discovering at least 10 empty J class seats after taking off...