Use Points, Pay Full Price or Cross Fingers and Hope For A Sale?

[whereishome]

Hello! Long time, no post! I will probably write up about our weddings earlier this year (two weddings, two countries in 8 days) and the horrors that went with the travel logistics of that excercise, but at the moment, a more pressing issue:

I am trying to organise the bones of our Christmas/New Years trip to Japan.

Problem
Which of the following is the best solution for being frugal (cos two weddings in two countries), yet still means we get the dates we want for our travel. We need to depart CNS on 5 December for KIX, and depart KIX on 19 January for CNS.

a) 96k points + $800 in taxes for a QF Classic Award (which will use 2/3 of my point balance which accrues VERY slowly nowadays)
b) Cross fingers and hope for a JQ sale in the next 2-3 weeks that gives us our dates (or one of them)
c) $1800 in cash to just buy the damn tickets already

Help me AFF, you're my only hope!

 

[Hvr]

Your fixed dates adds some complexity. My personal view is that you're better off either using your points or paying the money right now to be sure you get the dates you need.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Bu use of "our Christmas/New Years trip' guessing 2 people
Hoping for 2 or 1 awards at Christmas/New Years is very optimistic: I would ignore that option. Unless awards are available now : just book then

 

[lovestotravel]

I'd be waiting a week or two for a Jetstar sale when the 787 arrives!

 

[whereishome]

So far, one vote for each option!

There are currently award seats available. If there is a JQ sale, is it likely to be in the next two-three weeks?

 

[lovestotravel]

So far, one vote for each option!

There are currently award seats available. If there is a JQ sale, is it likely to be in the next two-three weeks?

I am going with yes and I would never spend 96000 points to save a few hundred $

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Even if there was a sale to be released it's going to be unlikely that the dates you want will be included as school holidays often have embargoes.

The sale released at the end of August was for travel dates 24 Sep - 11 Dec 2013 then started up again some time late January 2014.

By all means wait a couple of weeks for a possible sale but you need to have a back up plan also.