Redemption Flight to NZ - Is Cathay (Former Asia Miles) Now Actually The Best Points Redemption Option to Fly to NZ?

tunzafun001 on 02/10/2024 - 20:34

Original plan was to fly to NZ booking a Codeshare flight via Singapore Airlines / Krisflyer.

Pre Covid - 13k points economy/ 25k points business… bugger all taxes …plenty of seats! No brainer.

Post Covid - Singapore Airlines still haven't resumed the partnership with AirNZ (for redemptions), and there is basically nothing.

…except a intermittent buggy availability with Virgin (availability appears, then disappears for 30 minutes, then comes back…but only if you clear the cache in the app first. Called the call centre…they can't see a single flight…. but then did…but went to book..and it would fail at the end..basically Krisflyer is a disaster and a total waste of time for this leg. At any rate, the Virgin Codeshare is 19500 points for economy and $180 in taxes each way (if it did work).

So looked on Gyoza and saw a heap of seats on QFF metal. I can't see them when I log into QFF (as I'm pleb status). But 5+ seats are available for AA Advantage - 15000 eco / 25000 busines + $130 taxes.

Apparently you can book flights available for AA Advantage on Cathay? If so the 25000 pts +$130 in business is the best I can see. I think Amex transfer to Cathay at 2.5:1. (be awesome if Citi do as well).

QFF have very slim availability - 18000 points economy/ 41500 business + $182 taxes each way. BUT …Most availability is around 37500 points just for economy + the taxes. Need 3 seats, so no chance of business, and at $364 in taxes, might as well just pay for the flight.

Basically the same for Virgin (except no availability and even higher taxes).

So wondering if anyone can confirm the Cathay option works?

Travel New Zealand Oceania

Comments

  • bitesized on 02/10/2024 - 21:05

    Which are your departure and arrival ports? And which month are you looking at?

    • tunzafun001 on 02/10/2024 - 21:10

      Ideally ADL - ZQN (this week). I'll go Friday if I could.

      Happy to make our own way and fly from MEL ,SYD or BNE as well. Also would be happy with CHC or AKL.

      I have been following on Gyoza. Nothing pops up until the last minute with this redemption. So seats are just becoming available.

      Quite a few singles, but hard to get 2 adults + child.

      AA Advantage has plenty of 5+ seat offerings… but I only have QFF, Velocity and KF..so far

      • sumyungguy on 02/10/2024 - 22:45

        I'm seeing ADL/SYD/AKL for 45,100pts+$235 per seat via QFF Economy Classic Plus (5-Oct). Or 35,100pts+$217 if you can leave tomorow at 14:00. Too much?

  • tunzafun001 on 02/10/2024 - 21:14
    • Just saw that Virgin Atlantic (not Virgin Velocity) have the best offering for Business flights - 15k points from anywhere in Oz (but reality is they will only release them out of SYD/ MEL). Seems that Amex MR points can be converted to Virgin Atlantic
    • bitesized on 02/10/2024 - 21:24

      I've just checked on Cathay. Nothing available before Friday. Melbourne has 3 seats avail on biz on Sunday QF177. 33k Cathay points per person, 99k total. HKD 3123 taxes for 3, which is about $583 total.

      Sydney has 2 biz seats avail on Saturday QF123.

      Those are all the redemption options in the next week. Amex MR can be converted to Cathay.

      • tunzafun001 on 02/10/2024 - 22:17

        Awesome, thanks so much for checking. Was there any economy seats?

        Also, don't suppose you know how long it takes Amex MR points to land in the Cathay account?

        Cheers again.

        • bitesized on 03/10/2024 - 11:49
          +1

          Sorry there were no economy seats avail. Not sure how long MR takes to go to Cathay, probably 24 hours.

  • maybe a bot on 02/10/2024 - 21:42
    +1

    You can transfer Hawaiian miles (available through Amex MR) 1:1 to Alaska MileagePlan, what's availability like there?

    They tend to have really good Qantas availability and a very attractive price chart

    • askbargain on 02/10/2024 - 21:45
      +1

      5 seats this Sunday (from MEL)

      • tunzafun001 on 03/10/2024 - 01:12

        @askbargain

        Yeah saw that. Would be perfect. Cheers

        Any idea how long it takes to get the points in from Amex —> Hawaiian. —>Alaskan?

    • tunzafun001 on 03/10/2024 - 01:10

      @maybe a bot Great find! Looks like Amex MR: Hawaiian 2:1, then to Alaskan at 1:1.

      Any idea how long it will take from Amex to Alaskan?

      • maybe a bot on 03/10/2024 - 01:50

        i've never tried it myself, only got switched on recently. amex says 24h to HA, but that's usually instant. dunno how long to alaskan, but they quote 72h.

        • tunzafun001 on 03/10/2024 - 17:23

          Reviews suggest instant. Will move all my MR points across I think (looks great).

          I'm seeing some mixed eco/ business availability.

          How do you think this would go?

          1. Book myself and partner in Business, 4yr old in Eco…
            But on take off/ landing, she can sit with Mum in Business. I'll move up there during flight for meals and a drink (she can sit on my lap etc). Then I'll go back to eco for landing. Do you think the hosties will have. a problem with it? ie. Do you think they will force a 4yr old to go sit back by herself? She is very quiet/ mature. No bratty kid issues upsetting other business props.

          2. How would you book 2 different classes on the one booking (call up)? Could do 2 bookings, but risky if there is no availability between bookings.

  • cuethebush on 02/10/2024 - 21:43
    +1

    It's school holidays for most (all?) of Australia right now so that is impacting reward flight availability. I'd guess that if you search for mid next week availability will be better. I've been looking for reward seats to get from Perth to Melbourne but nothing until next Wednesday (although Virgin do seem to release one or two J reward seats each morning for flights that day that haven't been fully sold but I can't get everything sorted that quickly). And my Amex Velocity Platinum card free return flight has blacklisted dates until then as well.

    Cash prices, at least on my route, are through the roof this week too, easing off next week.

    • tunzafun001 on 02/10/2024 - 22:19

      Funny enough, all the redemption availability is only this week and the next. Absolutely nothing in the 3 weeks following the school holidays…go figure!

      As for Velocity domestic availability..HUGE changes there. I used to (2018) get dropped at the airport, and make a booking when I got there. There was always availability for 1 seat. But hardly a seat at the moment. Guessing people have deserted Qantas in droves!

      • cuethebush on 02/10/2024 - 22:50

        Guessing people have deserted Qantas in droves!

        I'd imagine so. However I have about 90k QFF points that I seem unable to use as Qantas availability from Perth to the east coast sucks. And throw in the ghost flights they advertise in the results, you click and suddenly are not available I don't think they will be used anytime soon.

        Maybe I will use them if I go back to the USA sometime. I think 90K is just enough for a PE one way flight to USA West Coast from Australia East Coast. Qantas certainly had plenty of availability when I last looked (and booked) that route but again that was two or so years ago so things may have changed for the worse! And the risk of being bumped or downgraded at the gate doesn't appeal to me either. I don't understand how an airline can get some much wrong when it comes to customer service. I mean, that's the whole reason they exist, right? To provide a great customer experience requires great customer service. Don't get me started on the whole "the customer is always right" saying that has been shown the plank.

        Sorry for the rant!

        • tunzafun001 on 02/10/2024 - 23:14

          Fully understand mate.. never understood why Qantas points were valued higher than Velocity. But now Velocity flights are hard to find. As US with QF, we had no issue finding a booking from LA back home. I'll send you a PM.

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