Velocity Works For me.

[drron]

At the start of February I started chasing velocity points and have got 200k since them though about 100k came from the stash of FB points back then.
So today was the test. I wanted to redeem some of those points for SQ J awards BNE - SIN. I had been watching Mrsdrron's QF account and there were very close to zero J awards from Australia to SIN. AA occasionally had a pair on BA SYD -SIN.

So logged on a bit after 8am this morning and I was pleased to see a pair of awards on SQ to SIN. Not on our first preference of flights but it was our second choice and still mainly a day time flight getting into SIN at a not unreasonable time of 8.45pm. So I booked them. Easy on the website to do this and confirmation email came immediately with the E-ticket numbers.

Best of all I have more than enough for 2 more such SQ awards. Now I will later try for seat reservation via my KF account.

 

[blackcat20]

We've had really good luck using our VFF points for SQ J flights too. Even getting four seats last year to Thailand and back.

 

[levelnine]

The superior Australian program for lots of Asia & most of Europe, mainly due to SQ, QR & EY, though EY has become less useful of late.

North America is more of a toss up. UA has good availability, but only to the West Coast and only 2-4 weeks from departure, while QF has a sprinkling of flights throughout the calendar and often opens up batches of award availability.

Shame that their carrier charges can be so high. It always hurts me to see a QR J seat Australia to Europe for 139K+$800 on VA while the identical flight is 85K+$USD106 on AA.

 

[Human]

North America is more of a toss up.

Actually Singapore Airlines has pretty good availability to North America, but via Singapore (both westbound and eastbound). So for extra availability you're paying the price of a much longer trip.

 

[levelnine]

So for extra availability you're paying the price of a much longer trip.

Which is why I don't really factor it into the equation.

 

[bernardblack]

Shame that their carrier charges can be so high. It always hurts me to see a QR J seat Australia to Europe for 139K+$800 on VA while the identical flight is 85K+$USD106 on AA.

Yes, but the more reasonable comparison for QR/EY through VA, is EK through QF, and they cost more again.

With VA points, SQ has more reasonable copays, but the J seats just aren't as good, at least not for a taller person.

 

[levelnine]

Yes, but the more reasonable comparison for QR/EY through VA, is EK through QF, and they cost more again.

Fair point. Unfortunately Australians get ripped off with carrier surcharges.

 

[SCM]

I got a SQ J from SIN -> FRA in September for Octoberfest which is pretty sweet, on the way back though absolultely nothing.

It's very sad to see EY restrictions, they used to be really good, but now even within 30 days or 60, I can never find any J, so it's more for earning than redeeming.