How Best to Use AmEx Membership Rewards Points for Qantas / Oneworld Redemptions...or maybe Velocity?

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  The Champagne Mile on 12/12/2016 - 18:26

  +1

  Hi
  So it sounds as though you almost have enough points to fly from Adelaide to Rome one way on Emirates business via a Qantas redemption (you need 112,000 Qantas points), I'm assuming you're wondering how to leverage your MR points to book the return flight?

  As you know, you can't convert AMEX MR points to Qantas, but there are a few less complicated options:

  Option 1, you get yourself in comfort to an international airport and find a cheap flight from there into / out of Europe. You could transfer those 50,000 points to AsiaMiles, which is a Oneworld partner. You could then redeem Adelaide to Hong Kong in Business in Cathay's decent hard product one way for 45,000 points plus minimal taxes.Or, transfer those points to Krisflyer and fly to either Singapore or Hong Kong in business (46,500 points) and again try to find a cheap fare from one of those airports into / back from Europe. The advantage with AsiaMiles (Cathay) is that it has a consistent, good hard product in business, and the taxes are really low. Singapore Airlines flies the crappy a330 produce from Adelaide, but if you are willing to start your SQ journey from Melbourne or Sydney, you could fly on the A380 or the new 777-300ER business seat. Singapore taxes are also pretty high (you're looking at aprox $350 to get from Adelaide to Singapore / Hong Kong, vs $75 on Cathay business).

  Your second option would be to use some of your points to top up your Velocity account - as you will then have enough for a Singapore Airlines one way business fare to Europe (139,000 points, plus minimal taxes).

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    tunzafun001 on 12/12/2016 - 18:55

    Cheers, some great info here.

    Anyway to utilise / convert the QFF points to Cathay /Asia Miles to get a return euro flight? ie perhaps they code share with BA?

    or maybe similar with Singapore Air (assume starting from Melbourne)?

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    tunzafun001 on 13/12/2016 - 12:48

    Any ideas about using Qatar, they fly direct from ADL?

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      The Champagne Mile on 13/12/2016 - 14:06

      To redeem Qatar from Adelaide to Europe, you'll need 139,000 miles one way. EK ADL-FCO or ADL-ATH are the sweetspots, at only 112,000 miles. You can search all of these partners through the online Qantas booking engine.

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        tunzafun001 on 13/12/2016 - 14:26

        Ok, i'll have a look around on Qantas, Asia Miles, Kris Flyer, Velocity (I'm guessing they are the major players)?

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  djkelly69 on 12/12/2016 - 19:46

  I would just book a Qantas reward flight one way, and a Velocity/Singapore reward flight the other way. Makes it a bit easier in terms of finding availability as well.

  If you convert your MR points to Velocity you should have enough for both legs.

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    tunzafun001 on 12/12/2016 - 22:53

    I thought returns weren't much more than one ways?

    • 

      djkelly69 on 12/12/2016 - 23:14

      In cash fares yes, but most reward flights are just twice as many points for a return flight as for a one way. There are some exceptions however (CX I believe gives a 20% discount maybe?).

      Eg: Taking the example from above of Adelaide to Rome on EK using Qantas points, it is 112k points one way on the direct (ie. one stop) flight, and 224k points return.

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        tunzafun001 on 12/12/2016 - 23:23

        Oh ok. I thought I read on point hacks it was around 90k one way and 130k return. But if it's within 20%, sounds fine. Or maybe a paid economy out, business home etc.

        If points are around the same, are taxes effected one way vs return? And any ideas which euro departure has the least taxes?

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        djkelly69 on 12/12/2016 - 23:52

        @tunzafun001: I am not certain on the percentage for CX, but would trust whatever Pointhacks says. The problem is you have no real way of getting enough Asia Miles to get even a one way ticket to Europe.

        Taxes one way were about $660. Unfortunately I don't have enough points to confirm taxes return, but I think they are usually a bit cheaper than double. Avoid Heathrow is the main tip for less taxes.

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        Love a bargain on 13/12/2016 - 12:13

        @djkelly69:
        Taxes depends on what the airports charge. Usually just double for return.

      • 

        Love a bargain on 13/12/2016 - 12:14

        @tunzafun001:

        paying for a one-way ticket is not cost effective

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        tunzafun001 on 13/12/2016 - 12:47

        @djkelly69:

        So just to clarify,

        I haven't transferred my 75000 ANZ QFF points out to anywhere yet, and just signed up to the BankSA/ StGeorge 30k QFF points card. Plus my AMEX MR points need a home. So I can:

        Transfer points to Asia Miles for the least taxes option, with the most likely success of getting a seat. But I will need to go via HK, and I'm not entirely sure how I go from HK to Europe?

        Or, if I go Singapore Airlines (from Melbourne for a good seat) should I transfer QFF/ Mr points direct to Kris Flyer, or use Velocity as an intermediate (as there is a slight this way)? (probably should have used the 15% velocity bonus).

        I also heard that Singapore give a 20% bonus for online bookings (assuming points, not taxes)?

        Or, lastly look at Emirates or even Qatar (no idea about there affiliations/ taxes?) as they have newer planes out of ADL.

        Sorry, so many questions.

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        The Champagne Mile on 13/12/2016 - 22:00

        @tunzafun001: I've addressed some of your questions below:

        1) Go to kayak, Adioso or Iwantthatflight or another flight aggregator website and investigate cheap HKG to Europe flight options
        2) You can't transfer QF points to any other carrier (and Singapore Airlines is not a Qantas partner). You could, however, transfer your Virgin points to Krisflyer at a rate of 1.35 to 1.
        3) Singapore gives you a 15% reduction for any award flights redeemed online
        4) Both Emirates and Qatar are Qantas partners and are bookable via the Qantas online booking engine. Qatar is not a 'preferred' partner, where as Emirates is, so redemptions cost a bit more. As an example, Adelaide to LHR is 139,000 Qantas points vs 128,000 with Emirates. As a very rough ballpark, you are looking at around $600 each way in taxes flying business class to Europe with Emirates, and around $450 with Qatar. As mentioned above, don't ever depart from the UK, as they will slug you with a hefty passenger departure tax (over $200 for business tickets).

        Finally, you mention above that you've applied for a StGeorge 30k QFF points card. Have you factored in these 30k points into your 110,000 QF base? If so, bear in mind that bonus points can take quite awhile to credit after you meet the minimum spend (can be over 3 months) - so you might find that you don't have enough points to book your ticket until March / April, which might disadvantage you with availability.