Just as an example, ADL -> MEL is 14k velocity points in economy (one way) while Qantas is 8k QFF points + $40 (or ~16k+ points with points + pay).
If I'm just wanting domestic travel, aren't I better off collecting velocity points? Or is there something I'm missing with Qantas classic rewards redemptions? I'm really looking to just travel on the cheap. Spending $80 + points for a return trip isn't really worth it when I can fly economy return for around $100.
Selling points involves some risk though, whether not getting paid or having your account cancelled by the carrier. Unless there's a less risky way than using classifieds?
there is
Care to share?
I've found the opposite, never any suitable rewards flights available for overseas, but often available interstate at a decent discount to buying to flights. Might be a Perth thing since domestic flights are likely longer than overseas, and best option Perth to Singapore being scoot that don't do reward flights. No interest in business class.
Points also had much better refund options during covid (actual refund instead of credit) which hopefully is no longer a factor.
Qantas has more international destinations should you wish to use your points for international travel in the future.
Plus you're not comparing apples with apples. Virgin is 7800 Velocity points plus $36.77 so basically the same as Qantas
That's true, but points to points comparison is 14k to ~18k. If that's just the cost then that's the cost.
Using points to pay for the tax component is a poor use of points.
You're making this out to be more complicated than it should be. Just pick whichever airline you like more and join their frequent flyer program, or join both.
I have enough QFF points for the "most efficient" use (2x business RTW) so I'm now collecting surplus points that I want to use in some way.
Surely replacing domestic flights with points is a valid option? In which case Velocity points seem like the way to go. If not, I'd love to know next most efficient use of them.
@Autonomic: No, because as you've pointed out
Spending $80 + points for a return trip isn't really worth it when I can fly economy return for around $100.
Just keep collecting QFF and make it 3x Business RTW if that's the only program you're in.
@kerfuffle: If I could continuously be on holiday I'd do it, but I unfortunately have a 9-5. What's the point of collecting points if I'm never going to actually use them, just in the pursuit of efficiency?
….but I unfortunately have a 9-5. What's the point of collecting points if I'm never going to actually use them, just in the pursuit of efficiency?
Lots of people have 9-5. You don't just start collecting points one day and fly out the next. If often takes a while for someone to collect enough points to be able to use them for a flight. If you wait until you want to fly somewhere to start collecting points, you're unlikely to be able to get enough in time.
@bobbified: I have enough points for 2x RTW already and international travel is still limited. By the time I can organise a 3rd I'll have easily collected enough for a 3rd RTW. How many points should I have before I consider using them less efficiently?
How many points should I have before I consider using them less efficiently?
Let me start by saying that there's no wrong or right way to use the points. The value is often just maximised by using them for flights.
How many points you should save up really depends on stackload of variable factors around your own circumstances like how often you travel, whether you travel alone or with a partner/family, if it's something you enjoy doing, if the points have an expiry date, etc.
You've got enough for two RTW tickets now that might sound like a lot, but it can be used up pretty quickly. What if you decided to use it for a partner/family member or something? Or you've suddenly grown an appreciation for business class travel? Those points won't last long.
I've got lots of friends who like to travel and have saved up many hundreds of thousands (some, millions) of points from work travel and are saving it for later. Then I've got friends who travel once in a blue moon who will redeem 10,000 points on a pair of earphones or something because they don't think they'll ever get enough points so might as well use them. It depends on where you sit within those two extremes.
Personally, I have a '9-5' job myself and still used to be able to do enough random trips on Cathay to get up to gold level FF level each year. There was no such thing as 'enough points' for me because I knew I'd use it as soon as I could 😁
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@bobbified: Thanks, I agree with everything you're saying. But even just using them for travel to Cathay is not efficient (compared to RTW), right? I'm not opposed to business class travelling on shorter trips, are there other high value trips worth considering?
But even just using them for travel to Cathay is not efficient (compared to RTW), right?
I'm not sure if I'm reading your question correctly, but I'll try to answer - I used to collect Cathay points to fly on Cathay. I was taking short trips between here and asia, using HK as a hub for a week or so at a time. A RTW trip was not something I could really consider due to my limited blocks of free time. You're right in that a RTW would probably be more value, but my personal circumstances didn't allow me to take such a long trip in one go.
I'm not opposed to business class travelling on shorter trips
Most people would do it the other way around and only do business class on longer trips. Unless you have to for some reason, it's a bit of a waste to use business class on short trips because most people find it easily bearable for a few hours in an economy seat.
The best use of the points from a value perspective (for me, anyway) was to purchase an international upgradeable economy seat and then use those points to upgrade to business class.
Using points for domestic travel is great when you have to make last minute trips. Not so great if your happy to fly Jetstar sale fares and book months in advance.
I've used mine for ill relatives, funerals and Xmas time trips where the cost of a cash ticket was way higher than the points value and you really have to travel on those dates.
Availability is the important part - have a sufficient stash of both to ensure you can get flights/times you need. Domestic flights arent massively expensive if award flights, so keep a small stash of an alternate as no value in having a huge balance with one, if the other has availability you need:
Eg. We recently booked short notice MEL-CNS return flights for 3 of us - used QFF on the way up and VFF on the way back as no VFF available on the way up, and QFF had terrible flight times for the way home.
Paid a total of $218 in taxes for 3 pax + approx 100k in points total, but to get the flight times we were after would have cost us over $1700 total booking the flights using cash. Using 50k VFF and 50k QFF to knock off nearly $1500 in flight costs was well worth it, and this way they are fully cancellable with minimal penalty - unlike super cheap sale fares that are heavily restrictive.
Yes, I could have sold the points - but I'm not getting 1.5c/pt for both QFF and VFF, or the flexibility award seats give if I needed to cancel.
Personally I find the best value are economy flights over peak periods along with regional flights. Regional flights are rarely discounted to the same degree as the busy routes making them good value when redeeming with points.
A mix of both is the best because one can have availability while the other doesn't.
Velocity should have more availability because you are competing with less people.
Velocity should have more availability because you are competing with less people.
I avoid Qantas for this very reason. Too many FIFO workers on Qantas who have millions of points to compete with.
Never worth it to spend points on domestic economy fares if you're of the mindset that you can fly economy return for $X. Just fly on sale fares. It might be worth it to spend on domestic economy if you're flying peak periods where fares are $300+ and classic rewards are still 8k QFF points + ~$40 taxes.
If your mindset is travelling for cheap, best option is to sell your points for cash and buy sale economy fares. Points are for business / first cabin rewards for long haul international flights.