Hi All.
I'm looking to go to Shinjuku,Tokyo,Japan next year sometime.
I have ~400k in FF points but have never used them before.
To fly Business, it looks like it'll cost 260k for two people + $1000
I'm trying to understand the best way to use them.
Booking Qantas Reward Flights
Schema on 22/08/2018 - 19:53
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Sorry but terrible advice from your work mates. You’ll only get the upgrade if you buy a pricier economy ticket (ie not heavy discounted sale fares). The upgrade is also no guaranteed until just before the flight and you could be at the back of the line. You’re best best is a business class classic reward flight. It’s guaranteed in business class from the day you book and will work out much better value in the points to dollars equation.
As for going to Europe, if you don’t have enough points or there isn’t availability on any flights from aus to dxb, sin, KUL or HKG. Consider taking a cheap economy sale fare to Hong Kong (huge discounts at the moment due to virgin entering the airspace) and book a business class classic rewards flight from Hong Kong to Europe. It will be less points that travelling from aus and the rewards availability is generally much higher. Taxes out of Hong king are also dirt cheap because the government bans fuel surcharges. Also more Oneworld members fly to HongKong so more options for destination.
Consider taking a cheap economy sale fare to Hong Kong (huge discounts at the moment due to virgin entering the airspace) and book a business class classic rewards flight from Hong Kong to Europe.
I'd say this is ok, but the issue you have here is that no matter who you book on from Hong Kong, you'll be paying a points "surcharge" for booking on a "non-preferred" Qantas partner.
As an example, SYD-HKG costs 28k Economy one-way on Qantas, but 35k on Cathay. Double the figures for Business Class.
Is it worth the extra points? I wouldn't necessarily say it's bad value, but it's just something you should be aware of.
We booked Emirates first class from Hong Kong to Europe for 126k points and $75 taxes, I would say that’s great value.
@chillybags: Ah, that's definitely cool.
However, suggesting someone should go HKG and redeem from there (I think) implied that HKG was your one and only stop, in which case you'd be looking at redeeming on probably CX/BA/AY, which would incur the "penalty".
The "disclaimer", I guess, in this case is that you're needing to an additional stop HKG-DXB before DXB-Europe. For someone who wants to stop in HKG anyway, great!
However, yes, you do not get "penalised" for redeeming on Emirates and $75 taxes is great.
I get 288k points plus just over $1k in taxes for random dates in June 2019, SYD-NRT on Qantas. Looks like taxes are a bit cheaper on JAL, but more points required. Not sure who's business class is better.
What is the question? Are you asking if there is a cheaper way to get there in business class using points?
Personally I would (in fact I am) save the points for a OneWorld Classic Award (around the world ticket) for 280k per person in business class, which IMO represents much better value.
I'm in a similar boat looking to go to Europe next year using my QFF points. For getting the most bang for buck, the consistent advice I have received from workmates who've done this many times before is to purchase a classic reward flight and upgrade it to business class using your points.
From my understanding not all flights are labelled as a classic reward flight, meaning you may not be able to get the exact flight you want. Also, being able to upgrade (if others are trying to do the same on your chosen flight) depends on your current QFF status.