Best Use of Qantas and Velocity Points

I’ve done analysis on multiple categories of items that you can purchase from with Qantas and Velocity points – e.g. flights, upgrades, online store items, hotels, car hire and even charitable donations and figured out the $ (or more like cent) value of each. A summary for each is below.

Don’t want to force anyone to read through it but if you do and can give any feedback it’d be much appreciated!

Qantas: https://laymansterms.com.au/how-much-is-a-qantas-point-worth/

TLDR: Classic Rewards flight bookings are going to be the best option and give you a value of 1c – 8c per point. Steer clear of using points to pay for: car hire, hotels, taxes and 3rd party fees, anything from the Qantas Store and “Points Plus Pay” flight payments. Otherwise, you’ll only get a value of 0.5c – 0.7c per point. If you have Platinum status, use your points for flight upgrades to get between 4c – 12c value per Qantas point.

Velocity: https://laymansterms.com.au/how-much-is-a-velocity-point-worth/

TLDR: “Reward Seat” domestic flight bookings are going to be the best option and give you a value of 1.5c – 3c per point. Avoid using points on hotels, taxes and 3rd party fees, the Virgin Australia Online Store or “Any Seat” flight redemptions. Otherwise, you’ll only get a value of 0.2c – 0.8c per point. If you have Gold or Platinum status, use your points for flight upgrades to get between 5c – 13c in value per Velocity point.

Related Stores

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Comments

  • I'd rather sell them for cash.

  • +1

    For Velocity, have you considered international flight bookings as well including Etihad and Singapore Airlines on premium cabins?

    • This is definitely the best value for money. Long haul business class flights on Virgin are best, followed by business on Singapore, followed by first and business class on Etihad as they charge a higher fee per sector of around $400 for these fare types.

  • +1

    So you created a website to state what has already been common knowledge for a long time?

  • Easy for Qantas, 318k oneworld explorer round the world ticket in Business class. I did at end of 2017 and it was excellent value, with $14,000 worth of flights for only just over $1000 in taxes (would have saved more by not flying out of heathrow).

    • What was your itinerary? What was the highlight? This is the ultimate goal for me when I get the chance to do it.

      • +1

        I did
        leg 1: cbr > mel (QF)> doh (QR)> lhr (QR)
        leg 2: lhr > yvr (BA)
        leg 3: yvr > jfk (CX)
        leg 4: jfk > hkg (CX)
        leg 5: hkg > nrt (CX)
        leg 6: nrt > mel (JL)> cbr (QF)

        Inflight service the a380 Qatar flight was tops, Great 5 course meal, inflight bar was excellent with very nice atmosphere. Japan airlines was also great with its inflight meal.

        All destinations were quite good, although I ran out of time in Hong Kong and should have done more there.

        The big advantage of Business was sleep as you wouldn't feel as groggy going off plane. Cathay probably has the best lounges with good food and drink and a very cosy atmosphere.

        If I were to do it again, i'd almost like to split the trip a bit, do one part, then fly back to Australia and resume later.

        • Interesting, I haven't thought of sprint the trip like that. The toughest thing I need to decide is which destinations are my stopping legs. Obviously OW cities more likely… Thinking Hong Kong, Tokyo, Helsinki, Madrid and then somewhere in North America.

          The other complication is availability…

    • How much was your total spending? Am thinking of saving points for this

  • I for the life of me could never understand it all, and now I finally see why I could never understand it. It’s not all that simple and you explain it well.

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