Why QF points are worthless (multicity booking rant)

[Anna]

I want to travel ADL - SIN - ZRH return in April, spending 3-4 days in SIN on the outward journey. To book this with QF online, I have to use the multicity booking tool.

Ideally I would like to use points for classic awards for the ADL - SIN and SIN - ADL legs. Flights are available for the dates I want, transiting either MEL or SYD (the need to transit is a rant in itself but I won't go there today).

The multicity booking tool won't let me do a mixed classic reward/cash booking, it's all or nothing.

If I use 60,000 points for ADL - SIN return I have to pay AUD500 in "taxes". The cash price to continue the journey with QF codes SIN - ZRH return via DXB is coming up as SGD 1359 or so. Total price is thus around AUD 1850.

The cash price for ADL - SIN - ZRH return for the dates I want is coming up as AUD 1888 in Y (transiting DXB), for a saver fare where you can't get points upgrades on the QF metal. Flexible fare is AUD 3278.

So I can use my points and pay about $1800 for the trip, or not use my points and still pay about $1800 for the trip - plus not be eligible for points upgrades on the QF metal using the points I've saved on the fare.

Honestly I cannot see any value in having the frequent flyer points when the fare is going to be the same whether I use them or not.

Side rant - the multicity booking tool is clunky and user unfriendly - it's not easy to remove ADL - SIN as the first leg and SIN - ADL as the last leg and get a new price. I have to enter all the flights in again to get only the SIN - ZRH return price. Why can't it just delete the first leg and all the other legs change numbering accordingly?

I didn't even try to look at a mixed-class booking. I know that is way beyond the QF IT work experience kids. Luckily all sectors would be around 7 hours.

 

[mannej]

As it has been mentioned previously many a time, Y-class redemptions do not offer great value after you take co-payment into consideration.

 

[hutch]

Are they worthless? Or is it a case of finding the right avenue to use your points?

If you are flying economy, to a destination with heaps of competition, then frequent flyer points are unlikely to be of any benefit.

 

[medhead]

Regardless of the value proposition of economy awards, they should actually offer a price saving.

To the OP, you looking for an upgradable fare from SIN-ZRH? Have you tried calling Qantas to price cash fare SIN-ZRH-ADL? Just tried that in multicity and it's not available online.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

What about booking a paid fare ADL/xMEL/SIN/xSYD/ADL & maybe put in a points upgrade request ex SIN for the overnight flight SIN/SYD if there isn't a huge price difference between a (non-upgradeable) sale fare and (upgradeable) saver fare.

You could then puchase a cheap J return to ZRH ex SIN?

 

[yohy?!]

Are they worthless? Or is it a case of finding the right avenue to use your points?

If you are flying economy, to a destination with heaps of competition, then frequent flyer points are unlikely to be of any benefit.

most people, not being AFFers would not be looking to use points in premium classes or for complex oneworld awards so it would seem the answer to your first question (and Anna's) is yes, points are worthless for the travel most punters would be after.

Plenty of other airlines offer economy redemptions at more reasonable rates than QF (ie you actually save some money for your loyalty rather than being gouged).

 

[medhead]

What about booking a paid fare ADL/xMEL/SIN/xSYD/ADL & maybe put in a points upgrade request ex SIN for the overnight flight SIN/SYD if there isn't a huge price difference between a (non-upgradeable) sale fare and (upgradeable) saver fare.

You could then puchase a cheap J return to ZRH ex SIN?

I did a couple of random searches and upgradeable fares were maybe 50% to 100% more.

 

[hutch]

most people, not being AFFers would not be looking to use points in premium classes or for complex oneworld awards so it would seem the answer to your first question (and Anna's) is yes, points are worthless for the travel most punters would be after.

Plenty of other airlines offer economy redemptions at more reasonable rates than QF (ie you actually save some money for your loyalty rather than being gouged).

I wasn't born a 'AFFers'. I've made an effort to inform myself in order to maximise any "benefits". With the amount of information out there these days, I don't think it's particularly difficult to have some basic knowledge.

It's like many things in consumer world... it pays to do your research (banks, insurance, communications, hotels, frequent flyer programs).

 

[ozbeachbabe]

If it was me I would purchase a paid fare ADL/SIN/HKG/ADL in whY then use points for a Classic award HKG/ZRH/HKG in J on CX for 78,000 points one way plus HKD282.00 taxes (AUD50.00) or HKD680.00 taxes (AUD122.00) return.

Just checked availability on the QF website and there are oodles of dates in April with J award availability HKG/ZRH on CX.

QF and CX can through check bags so on the way back if you are not having a stopover CX will through check your bags to QF on separate pnrs as all One World.

So IMHO QF points aren't worthless you just need to find the best use for them which ain't down the back of the bus.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Rather than being worthless, I'd say you've left it too late.

 

[Anna]

As it has been mentioned previously many a time, Y-class redemptions do not offer great value after you take co-payment into consideration.

The last time I did an F redemption the 'taxes' were as much as an entire Y fare would have been. So the excessive 'taxes' are not limited to Y redemptions.

 

[opusman]

The days of QFF equating to "free flights" are long gone.

 

[Anna]

If it was me I would purchase a paid fare ADL/SIN/HKG/ADL in whY then use points for a Classic award HKG/ZRH/HKG in J on CX for 78,000 points one way plus HKD282.00 taxes (AUD50.00) or HKD680.00 taxes (AUD122.00) return.

Interesting routing idea, thanks, but having to fly to somewhere I don't want to go (HKG) to be able to get decent usage out of the points underlines why I think the points are useless.

The points are useless if I can't use them advantageously for what I want to use them for. The fact that there might be other possible uses for the points is irrelevant.

 

[Awesom Andy]

In this example, it seems that points do have a value. You can either pay about $1800 cash and earns points on the trip, or use your points, pay $1800 cash, and earns zero points on the trip. And the fact that you'll be worse off for using points means that they indeed have a value - although it is a negative one.

 

[dajop]

I would agree that points are more or less useless as far as Australia-SIN routes go unless you want to book J 12 months out. Difficult to get saver awards in Y unless commercial fares are low enough such that you get savings in the order of 0-0.5c per point. When fares are higher availability is just not there.

 

[gaz0303]

The other option is to leave it to last minute and wait for EK offerings to show. Doing a dummy booking for later this week allows economy to SYD, first to SIN and business to Dubai and economy to ZRH for $500 and 180000 points. Wont give you the best value but allow you to travel up the front.

 

[burmans]

I would agree that points are more or less useless as far as Australia-SIN routes go unless you want to book J 12 months out.

So would I but somewhat surprised that people are still surprised by this, it's hardly a new phenomenon!

 

[JohnK]

Honestly I cannot see any value in having the frequent flyer points when the fare is going to be the same whether I use them or not.

Which brings us back to levying fuel surcharges on award tickets. Hope this ludicrous burden is removed one day.

 

[incumbent]

It's not ludicrous when people either pay those fees or hoard points in hope of... something.

 

[Renato1]

Which brings us back to levying fuel surcharges on award tickets. Hope this ludicrous burden is removed one day.

Especially since the price of oil is now back to the level just below that of six years ago - when from memory, taxes and charges were about a third of what they charge now on award flights.
Regards,
Renato