Using QFF points on LATAM - worth it?

[global_nomad]

Hi all,

Somewhat of a noob question - and probably subjective too - but I'm curious to hear opinions. I have ~250k points and am considering using them for a LATAM redemption. According to the QFF call centre, a return MEL-SCL in J is 208k points. That's for a flight that currently costs $3057 return.

I've read that LATAM's 787-9 business class is alright, but not amazing. Can I 'do better' for 208k points? Other destinations on my bucket list are AU domestic (Broome, QLD), southeast asia and/or pacific islands. Would appreciate any input!

 

[RooFlyer]

Why LATAM and not Qantas to SCL? I just looked at the booking engine for direct reward seats SYD-SCL-SYD and found NONE for SYD-SCL for the second half of this year and very few coming back and none of those were on LATAM.

I'm doing SYD-SCL next week in J and will be doing a trip report but I suggest as a reward option, its going to be difficult.

As for an alternative - only you can judge that. South America is a huge, diverse continent and if you are only going once, then it deserves a month .. or two weeks bare minimum. Asia/Australia you could do in shorter time, anticipating more than one trip.

 

[TomVexille]

As you already have ~250k, would it be a stretch to earn another 30K for a 280K J award?

 

[RooFlyer]

Do you mean a R-T-W, TV?

 

[global_nomad]

Why LATAM and not Qantas to SCL? I just looked at the booking engine for direct reward seats SYD-SCL-SYD and found NONE for SYD-SCL for the second half of this year and very few coming back and none of those were on LATAM.

Thanks Roo. The point of using LATAM is that they are launching a new MEL-SCL direct route. And when I called QFF earlier today, there was J availability in October. Maybe I should have snapped it up already if availability is such a challenge.

And in terms of timing, I lived in Buenos Aires for 3 years and explored most of the continent. The point of this visit is to use SCL as a gateway for a few weeks in BA to catch up with friends and maybe a domestic flight to Atacama since I never made it there.

 

[RooFlyer]

Ah. I forgot about that route. Only searched SYD-SCL

 

[Mattg]

There is actually tons of availability on the direct MEL-SCL flight at the moment (most likely as it's a newly launched route - so I wouldn't expect this to last forever) but you can't see it on the QF website. You'd have to call Qantas to book.

If you can buy a J ticket on this flight for that price, it may be worth saving your points. Once you factor in the points earned from a return MEL-SCL trip in J, you'd probably then have close to 280,000 which is enough to fly around the world in business class (as has been mentioned upthread). But how you value your points is ultimately up to you.

By the way, Chile (and South America in general) is a great destination!

 

[TomVexille]

Do you mean a R-T-W, TV?

That's the one

 

[serfty]

Do you mean a R-T-W, TV?

That's the one

To be pedantic, 280K will purchase a Qantas FF "oneworld Award" in business class for the up to 15K miles zone/band. These need to have flight segments on two or more oneworld carriers other than Qantas.

They do no have to route "R-T-W"; you could go Asia, North America, Australia, North America and back to Asia; having no transatlantic segments.

 

[knasty]

Serfty isn't 280k award up to 35k miles?

 

[global_nomad]

If you can buy a J ticket on this flight for that price, it may be worth saving your points. Once you factor in the points earned from a return MEL-SCL trip in J, you'd probably then have close to 280,000 which is enough to fly around the world in business class (as has been mentioned upthread). But how you value your points is ultimately up to you.

Awesome suggestion! I have a heap of Diners points I can transfer to QFF, so that 280k is doable even without purchasing the flight.

To be pedantic, 280K will purchase a Qantas FF "oneworld Award" in business class for the up to 15K miles zone/band. These need to have flight segments on two or more oneworld carriers other than Qantas.


They do no have to route "R-T-W"; you could go Asia, North America, Australia, North America and back to Asia; having no transatlantic segments.

That sounds really promising serfty. I'll have to read up on the "oneworld Award" - surely I can do a few segments with other airlines. Is availability generally an issue? Or I suppose it varies per carrier?