what to do with points

[Tejas]

Hi Guys
i'm a QF frequent flyer member with just over 22,000 points. now i need to travel to MEL in a few weeks, and i was wondering, what do you guys think is best?

1 - use points + cash for a return ticket, or,
2 - book 1 way in discount economy and 1 in full economy, than use my points to get a business class upgrade? i'm leaning towards this option for 2 reasons - 1- i have never traveled on the pointy end of the plane and 2 - around $600 for return business class fares to melbourne (assuming i get the upgrade) is a damn good deal.
i'm traveling on a friday night, returning on a monday. what are my chances of an upgrade being a lowly bronze?

thanks for your help

 

[harvyk]

Whilst you haven't said where your flying from, I'm guessing it's somewhere like SYD. IMHO, save your points... Dom J is not worth it, your only in a Y seat for an hour or two anyways, and using points to fly Dom always seems an expensive way to use them.

Save up a few more points as 36K points would get you from SYD \ CBR \ MEL to AKL in J one way (Pity QF25 \ 26 no longer uses a 747 for the AKL to MEL leg, it was a cheap way of experiencing a skybed ) or a return in Y.

I should also add that travelling in full Y for the chance of an upgrade could simply mean your paying more than you need to for a Y seat, as upgrades are never guarenteed. I personally only travel on upgradeable fares if there where no cheaper fares available.

 

[serfty]

Domestically, if you book in an upgradeable fare class and that flight has award Business class availability you can upgrade almost immediately.

However, to re-iterate what has been posted, Domestic business class is not that flash.

It is extremely rare that I would consider wasting points on a domestic flight segment.

e.g. MEL-SYD can be had for $89 or on points:

• 8000 QFF points and $12.09 or
• 11,000 points.

The first values a point at 0.96¢ each, the second 0.81¢.

 

[djfuzz]

I assume you're flying from BNE, and concur with the above posts - don't use your points for an upgrade or points+pay, save them up for something better.

 

[simongr]

I have upgraded all of my domestic evening flights taken this year where possible so I do see some value in the upgrade.

How long have you been amassing these points for? If this was a quick win with a planned ongoing growth in points I think it would be interesting to give it a go for once to see what it is like - remembering that you can get access to the domestic J lounge which extends the experience from not just being the 1 hour flight.