Using points for a Y redemption is a waste, except ...

[BD1959]

Hi All,

Normally I'd agree with the statement that using points on a Y award redemption is a waste of points:

• Fees are high
• There is no SC or points earn
• Better value $$$ on J or even F

However there are times when this is less true and right now, with the QF Sale on, is one of those times.

Pricing up a QF Y MEL-LHR-MEL return offers prices such as $1376 return (May 2 out, May 22 return. QF35/QF1 and QF10). If you were to book this as a Classic Award (which would route you via Sydney) it'd cost you 120,000 points plus $736 in taxes.

HOWEVER ....

Going back to the sale and buying "Cash" but then converting the the payment option to Points+Pay means you can travel via SIN for that 120,000 points and only pay $596 in fees. The "upside" is that (if you are a WP) you earn SCs PLUS get 24,800 back!! Better still, "borrow" that 24,800 points from your existing balance and paying 144,800 reduces the "taxes" to just $409 PLUS you still earn 140SCs!!

Better still, you *may* find even cheaper fares using EK metal. For the dates above MEL-DXB-LHR on QF8409/QF8003 is available, you still earn your 140SCs but with the base price reducing to $1249 the co-pay becomes $459 (120k) or $273 (148k). I'm sure folks could find a cheaper return option too.

I know that Y redemption is still not everyone's idea of good use of points (me included!) - even with this SC earn - but thought I'd highlight this "current anomoly" in case it helps. I have pointed this out previously, so while P+P remains as a payment option for "Cash" purchases the approach stays good and *should* work on other routes where there is deep Y discounting.

Regards,

BD

 

[WLGFlyer]

Hi All,
Going back to the sale and buying "Cash" but then converting the the payment option to Points+Pay means you can travel via SIN for that 120,000 points and only pay $596 in fees. The "upside" is that (if you are a WP) you earn SCs PLUS get 24,800 back!! Better still, "borrow" that 24,800 points from your existing balance and paying 144,800 reduces the "taxes" to just $409 PLUS you still earn 140SCs!!
BD

In this example you are paying 120,000 points to save $967 ($1376 - $409), or receive a value of $0.008 per point.

Even with 140 SCs this isn't exactly great value in my opinion...

 

[serfty]

And it just shows how poor value many classic awards can be.

Pricing up a QF Y MEL-LHR-MEL return offers prices such as $1376 return (May 2 out, May 22 return. QF35/QF1 and QF10). If you were to book this as a Classic Award (which would route you via Sydney) it'd cost you 120,000 points plus $736 in taxes.

So the spend saving of $640 by using 120k points value a point at at a terrible 0.53 cents each.

It's that that makes the points plus pay option seem attractive.

 

[Mattg]

Personally, if I can get better value by using Points+Pay rather than booking a Classic Flight Reward, I would just pay cash for the fare and save my points for something better.

 

[Aus ATC]

Normally I'd agree with the statement that using points on a Y award redemption is a waste of points:

I think this statement hold true for the Points + Pay example as well - just that it is a slightly less of a waste of points than the Classic Award for a similar flight.

Having said that, I will plead guilty to using points for domestic Y flights, sometimes the value is OK (to me at least) for a small points burn.

 

[Mattg]

Having said that, I will plead guilty to using points for domestic Y flights, sometimes the value is OK (to me at least) for a small points burn.

Absolutely. Short domestic flights that are otherwise normally expensive are not a bad use of points at all.

MQL-MEL-CBR or CBR-BNE for 8,000 points (for example) is better than spending $250+ one-way.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If you want to redeem for Y travel then you really, really need to be in Krisflyer and not QFF. The first is good value these days for Y redemptions, the second is terrible value in most casess.

 

[serfty]

Of course T class on AA can have sweet spots, especially transpacific with emerald/sapphire status.

eg 45k points with $172 +++ for MEL-(X)-xAKL-(T)-LAX. No fee for Main Cabin Extra which includes exit row seating.

 

[JohnK]

Personally, if I can get better value by using Points+Pay rather than booking a Classic Flight Reward, I would just pay cash for the fare and save my points for something better.

Define better? Me personally. I have limited points earning capabilities. I would love for my points to take me as far as possible rather than a short way in premium cabins.

Note we all want different things out of travel. We all have different goals.

 

[Mattg]

Define better? Me personally. I have limited points earning capabilities. I would love for my points to take me as far as possible rather than a short way in premium cabins.

Note we all want different things out of travel. We all have different goals.

Better in terms of "cents per point" value. Points+Pay bookings are going to get you around 0.8 cents in value for each point, no matter what the route or class of travel.

I too have only a limited number of points, so I would rather redeem them for something that I can't otherwise buy cheaply using money.

 

[JohnK]

I too have only a limited number of points, so I would rather redeem them for something that I can't otherwise buy cheaply using money.

I find sometimes the $180+ SYD-BNE flights for 8,000 points to be pretty good value.

 

[Mattg]

I find sometimes the $180+ SYD-BNE flights for 8,000 points to be pretty good value.

I agree, that is good value. Assuming $40 in taxes/YQ, that's still nearly 2 cents per point.

 

[kermatu]

16,000 points and around $150 for CBR-MEL-DPO and return has worked for me (or more often my family) a few times.