Using QFF Points for BNE-HND/NRT in December 2017

[monojoker]

Hi All,

Been starting to plan a family holiday to Japan for 10 days or so over Christmas - hoping to get a white Xmas and maybe a few days skiing and see Tokyo/highlights. Never been before but have skied/boarded a lot and it seems to be the cheapest (FF points wise) of getting to a cold weather Xmas trip I can think of.

When searching for Qantas Classic Reward seats there's a large mixture of Jetstar/Qantas seats going BNE-NRT and mostly (only?) HND-SYD-BNE coming home but all QF seats. I have 200K FF points so hoping to do it all Economy via those only - 2 adults 1 child 6 years old.

Could I get some tips on how to get QF only Brisbane-Japan using classic rewards or at least the "best" options as far as points used and value - assume international JQ is similar for free meals/drinks or not?

Sorry, lots of n00b questions. If this should go in the "plan my itinerary for me for $30 please" forum then let me know but at this stage it's very much dependent on my other thread asking if Ski & White Xmas is doable in Japan on these dates

Thanks for any tips or ideas.

 

[travelislife]

You would usually be a bit late for December. I am surprised there is any availability at all this late in the year for peak time. I would be jumping on whatever is available. You could call and ask them to try and get you on specific flights if that is what you are after.

 

[travelislife]

Oh and to have a white Christmas you will have to go to the mountains. Hokkaido is most likely but Honshu can also be a go.

 

[kamchatsky]

Look at Japan Airlines route from MEL-NRT. It is still pretty new route and may still have seats available depending on what day. You can use Qantas Points to redeem it but you need to call up to search for availability.

 

[travelislife]

Look at Japan Airlines route from MEL-NRT. It is still pretty new route and may still have seats available depending on what day. You can use Qantas Points to redeem it but you need to call up to search for availability.

This is a good idea. Can check availability online through BA search. Will have to call Qantas to book.

 

[monojoker]

Awesome, thanks for the info. Mainly I was after how to find direct flights which were on Qantas. Not bothered about flying Jetstar except I believe we'll have to pay extra for meals, baggage, drinks, etc which might add up. The idea of using FF points on what is probably not the most effective use of them is to save $. Someone suggested flying out of OOL but that would be guaranteed to be Jetstar I assume, even flights like QF11 which is direct OOL-NRT?

Will look into MEL-NRT on JAL, thanks for the tip!

 

[travelislife]

Out of OOL is all Jetstar. Qantas direct is Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Tokyo (mix of HND and NRT). And there is now also to Osaka from SYD during that period.There may be seats on that but would jump on quick.

 

[serfty]

Look at Osaka via SYD.

Yesterday there were plenty of reward seats from mid December through New Years Eve.

Also a $699 sale on for a few days.

 

[Himeno]

Could also use QF points for CX via HKG to either NRT or HND (or a number of other ports in JP), or via SIN. JL has 3 flights to TYO (2xHND, 1xNRT) from SIN daily. QF codeshares on all 3.

 

[PenguPenguin]

Using JL is best if you want low taxes, but not much availability during december. If you book a JQ flight on a QF ticket you will get a hot meal and amenity kit.

 

[rock86]

Looks like there's not much availability to HKG out o Aus in December.

But there are 4 x J seats for MEL-NRT on 19 Dec & 4 x W seats for NRT-MEL on 2 Jan - all on JAL.