Qantas points - best use of 500k points

sydsm on 20/09/2017 - 15:45

Hi,

Any avid QFF buffs? How or what is the best method of utilising QFF points - specifically interested in RTW or trips to europe or south america with minimal taxes (aware that if I fly to the USA for example using AA, taxes are much cheaper then actually flying on qantas). I have approx 500k points to play with and looking around July next year or later. This is for one person only as my flying partner also has 500k points.

I should point out that keen to use only Business class and first class (ideally want to experience emirates on one of the legs).

Looking forward to sniffing out all the tips out there.

Tx

Travel

Comments

  • donbot on 20/09/2017 - 16:27
    +7

    One World RTW Classic Award. 280k points for a RTW business class fare, 420k for a RTW first class fare for 1 person. Just pay your taxes.

    Only catch? Can't use emirates as a partner airline, despite being able to book it using QFF points - must be a oneworld member and not just a partner of Qantas.

    • Hellfire on 20/09/2017 - 19:00

      +1 RTW in business or first is the best use of QFF.

      • sydsm on 26/09/2017 - 13:48

        How do i do this…their website takes me to the oneworld site and it spits out a total fare not RTW classic points option?

        • Hellfire on 26/09/2017 - 13:55

          Use the multi city booking tool. If your flights conform to the Oneworld rtw rules then it will display 280k qff points required (for business).

          Or just give them a call and they will do all the hard work for a small fee.

  • citygal on 20/09/2017 - 22:34

    Rewards flight

  • stevie67 on 20/09/2017 - 23:01
    +6

    RTW Reward in business for 280k is the best way to go. Ensure they are all oneworld members (no QF partner airlines allowed) and be careful to make sure that QF do not slip in a connecting flight that is in economy instead of business as this is easy to miss. Example is they show BNE-SYD-LAX as available in business class. A closer looks shows that only the flight from BNE to SYD is in business and the long sector to LAX is actually in economy.

    Minimise taxes out of Australia by booking on Cathay, American or JAL (need to call Qantas for availability - not available online) and never on Qantas. American also fly out of Auckland to LAX and is only around $50 in fees compared to around $450 on Qantas out of SYD. Avoid BA at all costs and do not fly out of the UK on a long haul sector as taxes/fees are significant. Fly out of Amsterdam, Dublin or Helsinki. If you must fly out of the UK Inverness does not charge passenger duty even if you connect straight through Heathrow to a long haul destination.

    • sydsm on 26/09/2017 - 13:50
      +1

      Brilliant - learnt some new tips. I do know about the UK + Aussie passenger charges but didnt know about JAL as they never show up. Share any others you have up your sleeve.

      • stevie67 on 26/09/2017 - 19:37
        +1

        To check JAL availability on Qantas you will need to sign up to British Airways Exec Club. Free to join but you will need a non Australian address. Pick a random but genuine UK address or use a friend if you have one over over there. Log in and search for a flight using Avios and this should show the same JAL availability that is open to Qantas. When you find what you want call Qantas with the flight details to book - they should not charge a phone booking fee as it is not actually possible to book it online. JAL generally release more seats to their own JAL frequent flyers than to Oneworld partners so if you search directly on the JAL website it may show lots of seats and dates that Qantas frequent flyers can't access.

        Have a look Finnair as they have a good business product on the A350 (not suffering the same A350 cabin quality issues that Cathay are working through). Helsinki also has some good connections to Asia and the US.

        • anna10 on 15/10/2017 - 08:24

          Great info stevie67. Re the AY to HEL, where best to search for that? I love HEL in the summer. :)

        • stevie67 on 17/10/2017 - 09:19
          +1

          @anna10: Finnair flights to and from Helsinki show up on the Qantas website and can be booked online.

  • josh676 on 21/09/2017 - 13:52

    Around the world in business is the best usage!

    If you need to trim off any excess points let me know, I am a little ways off getting my 280k points each for my partner and I!

    You'll need to start looking about 10 months in advance, know your route and partners, and hit them AS SOON as the rewards flights are released.

  • Dont Care on 17/10/2017 - 15:03

    why not look for cheapest flight then use your qantas points on hotels?

    • Cheapskate Paul on 20/10/2017 - 22:22

      Because that is a really bad use of Qantas points in terms of value.

      • Dont Care on 21/10/2017 - 11:12

        No it's not. Know your hotel prices and use points instead of cash. I would never use points for qantas flights as there are heaps of other airlines which provide better value.

  • sydsm on 19/10/2017 - 15:21

    Ending up booking a trip - Business with Emirates to Amman, Amman to Bangkok Business, then First Class back to Sydney on Emirates. Next trip will be to secure RTW business for 280k points

  • bargainhunterrr17 on 19/10/2017 - 15:36

    Hi Sydsm,

    would you be kind enough to transfer 100K balance to my qantas points? haha trying my luck here!! My partner and I are going to the States in December to visit my family and would LOVE to have the opportunity to be on business class.. haha

    if you got no where else to use them… :)

    kindly asking..

    thank you!!

  • sydsm on 19/10/2017 - 15:43
    +1

    Ill tell you why I won't transfer you points - its so effing hard to get a rewards seat on qantas - need to book SOOOOOO far in advance. We booked for Sept next year! When im noshing in first class, I will think of you suffering in economy :)

    • bargainhunterrr17 on 19/10/2017 - 15:48

      haha thanks though! just tried my luck :) What i was told by a Qantas member is as long as your tickets are booked you can upgrade anytime.. i think it's different story if you are looking into buying tickets using the points.

      But yeah, would be nice to be in business tho :(

      • sydsm on 19/10/2017 - 15:50

        If your a true TA and get a heavily discounted ticket or even a price matched ticket (ie flightcentre), you cannot apply for an upgrade. just an FYI

        • bargainhunterrr17 on 19/10/2017 - 16:13

          Thanks for the heads up!

          Unfortunately we did not get ANY discount at all for our tickets had to pay 2.2k for each of us because of travel dates. Hence why I asked for 100k points haha

  • Foxtail on 23/10/2017 - 13:52

    We usually commence long haul OW QF award flights out of HKG on CX, virtually no fees and so much choice.

    • sydsm on 24/10/2017 - 13:58

      Interesting - although flying with CX costs more points then flying on actual QF metal…i found their product crap. Flew Business to Europe in A330 (which was garbage - literally my seat was falling apart, though much better in the 777. The first class and business lounges in HK were excellent, though so was the Qantas one also…Premium Eco (paid in cash) on one leg was good, and economy was terrible. Overall, service on all legs was lackustre at best. I dont see the attraction to CX at all. Last trip with Qantas from Dallas to Sydney which was 17hrs in economy was much much better overall both in product and service (though the lounge in DFW is dire).

  • Foxtail on 25/10/2017 - 12:28

    We use QFF points to fly on CX, not had a bad J flight after years and their lounges are excellent.

    • sydsm on 25/10/2017 - 16:02

      Their lounges are sublime! Hats off to them..but truly, my seat was falling apart and the carpet fell off and rested on my legs for 9hrs. Hostess asked if I could place a sticker to hold it all together. Not a memorable experience.

  • Foxtail on 25/10/2017 - 16:13

    Ive never seen that up pointed end in J so that might be why and long haul to USA or Europe out of HKG mostly been 777.

  • Komorebi123 on 28/10/2017 - 15:51

    would you kindly sale some points to me? I need about 25k for domestic flight. please pm me . thanks :)

    • anna10 on 01/04/2018 - 09:19

      Don’t waste points on domestic flights, the taxes are very high. Just wait for a sale price and earn points instead.

  • branners on 03/04/2018 - 14:49
    +1

    The best value I have had from FF points is booking and paying for a long-haul flight and using the points for upgrades.
    Much better result than booking the flights on points.
    Best value trip we ever had was MEL-JFK return, used 4 years worth of points earned from paying all the household bills on credit cards, and it was J Class all the way for under $5000, for 4 of us. The fares would have cost about $30K if we paid.
    Might not get the same deal now but the antennae are always up for a repeat.

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