Young flyer with various questions (Melbourne - Honolulu Promotion)

[AlexanderWalker]

Now we are pretty much retired that is the view we took

Well yeah the views some of you more experienced flyers are gonna be different for a 20 year old. But there's still a lot I can take away.

Overall there are a lot of options but I've learnt a lot so far.

I wouldn't even think to flier AS from Australia but see, now I know that's an option for me! So many options.

 

[RichardMEL]

Welcome to the Game of Miles !

Yes, there be dragons (at lounges), wars (DL vs AS at SEA), white walkers (road warriors), castles (F Lounges), knights and peasants (those stuck in Y), legends and prophecies, alliances and betrayal (how many was MX in before it failed totally? ), King Joycey (or is that The Imp?), and yes, even incest (I'm looking at you AB, SQ and yep, even a bit of AS ). Fun for all the family (warning: some "adult material"). Playing can reap rich rewards, or one can go from a lord to a humble peasant (or worse) as the calendar turns

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

In regards to the amassment of miles and SCs, not to mention the opposition, aka JB and VA and its partners.
I do have a soft spot for VA and SQ, ... for the time being, QF will still be the main one for me.
Next time you want to try, go and have a look at fares, :...
AU to SIN with SQ, SQ from SIN to Canada, and then something like DL from Canada to US, HA from US to HNL, HA from HNL to AU.

 

[medhead]

Has anyone managed to point out that a sale fare on QFi is generally ineligible for upgrades?

I haven't read in detail because of the nonsense posts about using points plus pay for premium cabin fares. (How can anyone seriously say points plus pay is the only way to get premium cabin fares? Have they not heard of cash money) Points plus pay is best value for the cheapest fares (ie Y sale fares) not the most expensive fares.

 

[zoomaloid2000]

Another example:

CBR-SYD-DXB (J-F, flying on QF)

AA: 60,000 points + USD87.80
QF: 144,000 points + AUD441.59

Dad-in-law recently bought 160,000 AA points using the current promo, and used them to book MEL-LHR return in F on Qantas. All up, about AUD4,800 including taxes.

Same thing would have cost him 384,000 QFF points plus some hefty taxes.

Hi Trixydoza,
Can you explain how Dad-in law did that? I've just done a bit of research on the AA website, and it seems that J class would cost 250k AA points booking LAX - LHR and MEL - LAX returns as 2 rewards. I'm not keep not pay for points if I don't know I can get a flight at a good rate! Thanks very much.

 

[andye]

You dont have to fly via US. Take a look at the AA partner award chart between south pacific and europe

 

[zoomaloid2000]

Aha, I'm obviously not at my brightest today - thank you!

 

[althaluss]

I've been a long-time reader of this forum, but never actually posted. I'm a fairly frequent international traveller. 2-3 times a year (does that qualify as "frequent"??), and have held Qantas Gold membership for the past three years. After reading this thread, I feel compelled to write something. This has probably been the most informative (for me, at least) thread that I have read in ages. Thank you to all of you "seasoned" frequent flyer travellers who have shared your knowledge. I can actually say that I have learned from you.

As an aside, and possibly a little off-topic, my annual strategy is to pay for a return Business Class ticket to Melbourne-Warsaw, where I need to be at least once a year (from Melbourne direct, return via Sydney). That one trip gives me enough status credits and 4 QF flights to retain my Gold status for another year. With some judicious forward planning, I then use points to get free (plus taxes) J class flights for my other trips in that year. (Paying every bill of mine and my mother's on judiciously selected credit cards, means I can rack up points fairly easily.)

 

[Alanslegal]

As an aside, and possibly a little off-topic, my annual strategy is to pay for a return Business Class ticket to Melbourne-Warsaw, where I need to be at least once a year (from Melbourne direct, return via Sydney). That one trip gives me enough status credits and 4 QF flights to retain my Gold status for another year. With some judicious forward planning, I then use points to get free (plus taxes) J class flights for my other trips in that year. (Paying every bill of mine and my mother's on judiciously selected credit cards, means I can rack up points fairly easily.)

I have been flying annually to Europe or RTW for the past six years thanks to a combination of points bought and points earnt. I have added a couple of quick trips to Asia annually as well just for kicks. Most of my long hauls have been on J/F now so make the most of it, whilst it lasts I say. I try to alternate flying between points bought and points earnt because I know the earning of points can take a while, so this year I will be going RTW on points earnt. The last few years I have been flying on points bought, and next years big trip will be on points that I have bought.

Unless you require Gold status, maybe your 2016 yearly strategy might change from buying a J ticket to WAW to flying F class on points to WAW (and saving a few thousands bucks too).

 

[coco50]

With Jetstar, you don't earn any points or status credits unless you purchase a plus or max bundle. Interestingly the plus bundle (about $60 on SYD-HNL) earns points at the "economy" rate, as opposed to the slightly lower "discount economy" rate on Qantas sale bookings.

Purchase the JQ business class bundle with QF points and SC. I always do and I'm an age pensioner. If I can afford it, anyone can. BTW, as someone getting on, I can't afford not to fly with a bit of comfort. JQ business class is better SYD - HNL than QF economy IMHO.

 

[Mattg]

Purchase the JQ business class bundle with QF points and SC. I always do and I'm an age pensioner. If I can afford it, anyone can. BTW, as someone getting on, I can't afford not to fly with a bit of comfort. JQ business class is better SYD - HNL than QF economy IMHO.

I would agree, it's pretty good value SCs. I always purchase the bundle (unless on a cheap price beat ticket - in which case you can't)

 

[justin23]

Just some pointers from me. PS status (Silver) doesn't get much love around here, basically because you don't get lounge access. However as a PS for the last 7 or 8 years, I've yet to have an upgrade request refused, I'm often put in the exit row seats for no fee (ie default seat is often already exit row) and with silver you still get some priority and more luggage. Basically on international there is always some exit row seats available for silver and not for bronze or non FF also. Not everyone like exit row seats and if you haven't been to seatguru yet thats another website to explore.

So if you can't get gold status but can get/keep silver status its definitely better than being a NB. Also when booking flights you need to do a lot of searching yourself on one world partners. I booked a leg on my next trip in J, SOF-CMN (Sofia to Casablanca) for $1000. That is on Qatar airways and is in their older 169 degree business seats. But it was cheaper than the Iberia/BA options in discount economy that would have left me at Heathrow overnight from midnight to 7am! Its a longer flying time via DOH but will be far more comfortable, arrives in Casablanca earlier (I have 1 night there so gives me more time to explore the city) and earns me a nice 180 SC, which actually pushes me towards SG, except I'll probably run out of time when I return (~3 weeks) to fly again to get SG......

In theory I could get lifetime gold before i retire without ever reaching gold in a single year As others said its worthwhile reaching those lifetime Status points. Even lifetime silver is better than not having it!

 

[AlexanderWalker]

I would agree, it's pretty good value SCs. I always purchase the bundle (unless on a cheap price beat ticket - in which case you can't)

Is there somewhere that explains purchasing business class bundles on the Jetstar site? I couldn't see anything but just want to be aware of how the Jetstar bundle differs from a regular Jetstar business.

 

[AlexanderWalker]

I've yet to have an upgrade request refused, I'm often put in the exit row seats for no fee

That's really good to hear but when do you ask for the upgrade? For example my flight is unable to be upgraded yet through the Q site. Did you wait til checking in to ask?

 

[Mattg]

Is there somewhere that explains purchasing business class bundles on the Jetstar site? I couldn't see anything but just want to be aware of how the Jetstar bundle differs from a regular Jetstar business.

See the Business Max column:

http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/planning-and-booking/fares/fare-types

Basically, the benefits of Business Max over regular business are lounge access and business class points and status credits. The bundle usually costs about $100 extra.

 

[justin23]

That's really good to hear but when do you ask for the upgrade? For example my flight is unable to be upgraded yet through the Q site. Did you wait til checking in to ask?

Aaah so thats the catch. If you book a sale or red edeal fare then you won't get the chance to upgrade via a standard upgrade award. As you noticed on your booking you could do the domestic leg. However every now and then they offer upgrades for sale fares. So in your case if there is no option to upgrade, the best chance is waiting to see if they'll send you a bid now upgrade. Asking for an upgrade at the airport and getting one is a thing of the past.

I think sale fares also allow you to upgrade on trans tasman legs which are long enough that business class is worthwhile. I also got an upgrade to Frankfurt a few years ago.

Best chance to upgrade to business class is to buy an upgradeable economy fare (usually a flexi saver or flexible fare) or premium economy.

 

[Mattg]

Best chance to upgrade to business class is to buy an upgradeable economy fare (usually a flexi saver or flexible fare) or premium economy.

Just to clarify, all paid Qantas domestic fares, and all paid international fares except Sale are eligible for upgrading.

 

[lastrow]

Just a couple of things

I flew HNL-SYD last year in JQ business and had an excellent trip. The flight was 10 hours but all daylight, it was full service and the seats had good pitch and comfort. Highly recommend.

Re Qantas upgrades
As I remember JQ policy a year or two ago, you could apply for an upgrade Y to J using points plus pay providing you had purchased a full price fare in Y. The catch was that you didn't know whether your upgrade was sucessful until a short time before departure date. If you missed out you were stuck with your full price Y booking at a cost considerably more than the discount fare you could have bought. Is this still the case?

AA rewards.
Does AA have points as well as miles?
How do you buy AA miles and what is the cost?
Can AA miles be combined wih QF point to achieve a reward booking ?
Can you purchase a QF rewards seat using AA miles only?
Will AA miles be acceptable for a QF or other OW carrier SYD-LHR ?

I have found this thread extremely interesting, the knowledge some of you guys is ausome.

 

[Mattg]

Just a couple of things

I flew HNL-SYD last year in JQ business and had an excellent trip. The flight was 10 hours but all daylight, it was full service and the seats had good pitch and comfort. Highly recommend.

Re Qantas upgrades
As I remember JQ policy a year or two ago, you could apply for an upgrade Y to J using points plus pay providing you had purchased a full price fare in Y. The catch was that you didn't know whether your upgrade was sucessful until a short time before departure date. If you missed out you were stuck with your full price Y booking at a cost considerably more than the discount fare you could have bought. Is this still the case?

Qantas fares in any class other than "Sale" are now eligible for upgrading, however the points required will be higher for a "Saver" fare than for a more expensive "flexible" fare.

AA rewards.
Does AA have points as well as miles?

They are the same thing, basically.

How do you buy AA miles and what is the cost?

You can buy AA miles on the AA website, provided you've already been an AAdvantage member for more than 30 days. (So join now, it's free!) The cost from memory is USD$29.50 per 1000 miles, plus a $30 flat fee. However they run bonus mile promotions every few months which are worth waiting for. In a recent promotion, there were up to 60% bonus miles up for grabs.

Can AA miles be combined wih QF point to achieve a reward booking ?
Can you purchase a QF rewards seat using AA miles only?
Will AA miles be acceptable for a QF or other OW carrier SYD-LHR ?

AA miles and QF points are entirely separate things. However, QF points can be used to book an AA or other oneworld airline's flight and vice versa. So yes, you can purchase a QF reward seat using AA miles. It will be subject to availability and whatever AA charges for the seat. QF don't really have anything to do with it in this case, other than being the operating airline. For any flight within Australia & NZ, AA charge 10K miles for an economy seat or 17.5K for business, plus taxes (but crucially, no fuel surcharge).

Yes, you should also be able to use AA miles for any oneworld airline between SYD and LHR, for example, however there are two key things to be aware of. Firstly, award seats are subject to limited availability so you really need to plan ahead. You may also not be able to find any seats on certain days. Flexibility is key. Secondly, many AA partner airlines don't show when you search on AA.com. You'll need to call AAdvantage to get access to these seats.

I would highly recommend you have a look at the Knowledge Centre, and in particular this section on buying AAdvantage miles: Login Required — The Australian Frequent Flyer Knowledge Centre

 

[AlexanderWalker]

Just to clarify, all paid Qantas domestic fares, and all paid international fares except Sale are eligible for upgrading.[

So your saying there's no chance I can get a upgrade opportunity because it's a sale fare?