Using Up my FF Points

[Gold60]

Hi All,

i am looking at using up my FFP to get a BIZ Class return ticket to BKK - either direct or with a brief transit (as in hours).

i have about 40K points in Amex, 82K points in Velocity and 3500 points/miles in SQ.

i am thinking of transferring some/all of my points over to somewhere like United to buy points then combine my so far earned points with my recently purchased points.

Not welded to any particular airline - but was mainly thinking of TG, SQ, or CX, nor do i have to use UNITED i guess, but i sort of figured United is POSSIBLY better, easier to deal with than someone like Avianca?


any ideas please ??

 

[trooper]

Not sure exactly what you mean by "transfer" your points. Airline points (such as your Velocity and Krisflyer) cannot be "transferred"...you can IIRC use Velocity points for SQ flights...

I'm sure someone knowledgable about that will be along soon!

 

[RooFlyer]

Not sure exactly what you mean by "transfer" your points. Airline points (such as your Velocity and Krisflyer) cannot be "transferred"...you can IIRC use Velocity points for SQ flights...

I'm sure someone knowledgable about that will be along soon!

Actually, points can be transferred between Virgin Velocity and SQ Krisflyer, however none of the points currencies mentioned can be transferred to or from the UA scheme.

I would consolidate my points in Krisflyer and then book the desired flight using your Krisflyer miles on, say, TG or SQ (if flying from Australia). If you don't have enough miles in Krisflyer after combining all available, I think you need to book a one-way using those miles, then, yes buy some United or Avianca miles and book the other one way leg using those miles.

 

[Gold60]

sorry trooper, i think you are right. i THINK the only points i can move around is/are Velocity to SQ at the usual rate, and my AMEX points to the various destinations as per the AMEX sites, and at the stated conversion rate.

Not sure exactly what you mean by "transfer" your points. Airline points (such as your Velocity and Krisflyer) cannot be "transferred"...you can IIRC use Velocity points for SQ flights...

I'm sure someone knowledgable about that will be along soon!

 

[Gold60]

TOP idea ROO!!! this is the type of wisened advice i am seeking. the warehousing in SQ could be the go, particularly if i know i can use them before they expire. i might also keep a few Velocity back for the odd trip to Tassie from time to time. Thank you kindly..............

Actually, points can be transferred between Virgin Velocity and SQ Krisflyer, however none of the points currencies mentioned can be transferred to or from the UA scheme.

I would consolidate my points in Krisflyer and then book the desired flight using your Krisflyer miles on, say, TG or SQ (if flying from Australia). If you don't have enough miles in Krisflyer after combining all available, I think you need to book a one-way using those miles, then, yes buy some United or Avianca miles and book the other one way leg using those miles.

 

[Finale]

however none of the points currencies mentioned can be transferred to or from the UA scheme.

40k Amex --> 20k SPG --> 60k Marriott --> 25K United with 4k left in Marriott... Still 5k short for Business class to BKK though. Would be perfect last year when United/Marriott gave 25% for transfer. I'm waiting for the bonus to do this transfer again.

 

[burmans]

40k Amex --> 20k SPG --> 60k Marriott --> 25K United with 4k left in Marriott... Still 5k short for Business class to BKK though. Would be perfect last year when United/Marriott gave 25% for transfer. I'm waiting for the bonus to do this transfer again.

yes, I moved a fair few under that deal, it was a great one!!

 

[JohnK]

I am looking at using some of my miles for 2 adults and an infant on multi-city SYD-HKG in First and then a few days later HKG-CNX in business and then 1-2 weeks later BKK-SYD in business.

It allows me to select each of the sectors but then get an error "Due to rapidly changing partner availability the following flights are no longer available." It lists all the flights I have selected. Outbound date is 19 March 2018 and inboubd is 04 April. Think I need to act quickly as availability before and after that date looks to be drying up quickly.

Anyone see this error before? I have tried business all the way and get same error.

 

[clifford]

I am looking at using some of my miles for 2 adults and an infant on multi-city SYD-HKG in First and then a few days later HKG-CNX in business and then 1-2 weeks later BKK-SYD in business.

It allows me to select each of the sectors but then get an error "Due to rapidly changing partner availability the following flights are no longer available." It lists all the flights I have selected. Outbound date is 19 March 2018 and inboubd is 04 April. Think I need to act quickly as availability before and after that date looks to be drying up quickly.

Anyone see this error before? I have tried business all the way and get same error.

Why not just book them as 1-ways? It won't cost you any more miles.

 

[JohnK]

Why not just book them as 1-ways? It won't cost you any more miles.

Do you get the stopover in HKG when booked as one-ways?

 

[clifford]

Do you get the stopover in HKG when booked as one-ways?

How many miles was it costing you PP for the total trip? We can then look at the various options available.

 

[JohnK]

How many miles was it costing you PP for the total trip? We can then look at the various options available.

It should be 70,000 miles per person with one leg in First or 60,000 miles per person with both legs in business.

Don't really need the detour but good to go somewhere different for a change.

 

[clifford]

I've looked at a few options for your dates and it appears that the system is quite happy to book your itinerary for 2 adults, but when you add an infant under 2, it gives the availability error.

I think it would be worth contacting the UA reservations centre in Singapore to see if they can book it. Might be worth any booking fee they might impose.

 

[JohnK]

Thanks clifford. Interesting that the infant is causing the availability error.

Anyone with any experience of what United charges for infants included in awards?

 

[clifford]

Thanks clifford. Interesting that the infant is causing the availability error.

Anyone with any experience of what United charges for infants included in awards?

It seems, from having a bit of a play with the system, that lap infants are free (but you can't book it), otherwise infants under 2 are full price.

 

[clifford]

Your question has piqued my interest, Johnk, not that any of my kids are infants (in fact they've now got families of their own).

However, I had a look on flyertalk and discovered that you would probably have to pay 10% of the cheapest business class revenue fare for the infant, which could amount to quite a few $$$. You may already be aware of this, but here's the link:
Lap Infant Ticket Pricing with Upgrade/Award Seat - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[JohnK]

Thanks clifford. I didn't know for sure but had a gut feel that would be the case. I suspect 10% would be ~$1000 which really throws a spanner in the works.

 

[JohnK]

Asked the question on Flyertalk. 10% for infant is right.

Checking United website and a return airfare in business SYD-CNX is ~AUD9,000 and in economy is ~AUD7,000. Not cheap are they? Trap for young players. I guess that does not leave much choice.

 

[Franky]

HI all - quick question re purchasing a ticket from my MileagePlus account - can an award ticket be purchased in the name of my wife or other family members? Para 31 of the T&Cs seems to indicate this is OK. Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Tiki]

HI all - quick question re purchasing a ticket from my MileagePlus account - can an award ticket be purchased in the name of my wife or other family members? Para 31 of the T&Cs seems to indicate this is OK. Thanks in anticipation.

Yes, I have used UA to book a ticket for my husband only for next year (used SQ miles for my own ticket). I've previously booked plenty of awards for us both using my miles though so I have a history with them.