Why am I only getting 0.67c when I’m using my points to upgrade?

shertiger on 18/07/2018 - 09:52

I vaguely recall seeing other posts claiming that you can get 3 to 4 cents per point when upgrading but I’m not seeing that in reality when booking through the Qantas website. If I select an economy flight it asks me if I want to upgrade to premium economy for $1542 or 230149 points. Selecting a flight later in the year gives an upgrade cost of $1072 or 160000 points which is still 0.67c.

I’m I doing something wrong here? Do I actually need to book first and then upgrade later to get a better deal for my points?

Thanks in advance.

Travel

Comments

  • Randxyz123 on 18/07/2018 - 10:11
    -1

    Google Qantas upgrade calculator.

    If you book first the upgrade cost from economy to business is 90K

    No way it’s that much.

  • Baghern on 18/07/2018 - 10:14

    TLDR; Qantas points to buy prices are heavily inflated/retail prices

    Its you can get 'up to'… 3-4c not standard

    But you have to select fares like business class and upgrades

    What is often ignored and not spoken about clearly though is the amount of taxes you pay on top of it all. Qantas are dodgy as hell with taxes a fees

    Another fact is that its only really worth that much if you were already going/intend to fly with Qantas

    ie Fly Qantas spend 100,000 points for a $4,000(full retail price) flight that's seen as a value of 4c per per point, it ignores you have to pay say $1,500 in taxes and fees. So really you're paying 100,000 for a $2,500. 2.5c per points

    The thing is though you could of bought a sale or promotional flight for $1,500 tax and fees included. So really its worth 1.5c per point.

    Or flown another airline for $1,000

    A lot of people have been moving to The Asian airlines for points, or even paying more for alliance partner flights like Cathay, even though it costs more in points you pay substantially less taxes and fees

    • trotsky on 18/07/2018 - 10:38
      -1

      Cathay is oneworld, not Star Alliance.

      Also, promo tickets have conditions attached. Airlines are not in the business of cannibalizing their full fare paying customers. QANTAS are going to make you redeem for more liberal ticket allowances unless you use points plus pay (which is not good value on a points valuation basis).

      You can't really compare apples and oranges (highly restrictive discount fares to standard fares). Perhaps 80% of the time you'd notice little difference, it's the time that you get punted off the plane because some irregular operation caused a cancellation or delay or if your plans are forced to change that you may end up having to buy a whole new fare. As someone who's had to do that for a discount ticket in the past, paying on the spot rates for another airline to get back, I realise what the actual cost of a discount ticket can be if something goes tits up.

      • Baghern on 18/07/2018 - 13:20
        -1

        Yes you can compare, when you have the option available.

        The point was its only worth the so called 3-4c under certain conditions… if you have other options available they're not worth much

        • trotsky on 18/07/2018 - 13:24

          The value is not in the comparison to another fare class from another airline, it's in comparison to retail prices. It is what you did not have to pay for that QANTAS ticket.

      • Stewardo on 18/07/2018 - 13:28
        +1

        I’m pretty sure he was talking about “The One World Alliance” of which Cathay is a member.

        • trotsky on 18/07/2018 - 13:43

          Yeah, you're right, my bad.

          Still not valuing QFF points at under 0.70c because I could get an AirAsia fare for cheaper. Others are welcome to do so if that fits their model but c'mon

  • mskeggs on 18/07/2018 - 10:39
    +1

    I think the short answer is you were looking at the cost as a 'points plus pay' award.
    The high value redemptions are when you book an economy ticket with cash and get a classic award upgrade on points.
    This is easiest for business travellers who buy flexible economy tickets.

    • mbck on 18/07/2018 - 11:08

      so buy economy, then upgrade?

      But you'll have to buy the more expensive economy tix to be able to upgrade?

      • iforgotmysocks on 18/07/2018 - 11:18
        +2

        Internationally, yes, you will need to buy a higher tier economy ticket. The discount economy "sale" fares cannot be upgraded, the standard economy fares can.

        Domestically you are able to upgrade the discount economy "red-e-deal" fares.

      • mskeggs on 18/07/2018 - 11:20
        +2

        I'm not a FF expert, but yes, I think this is the case. They don't allow points upgrades on the cheapest tickets (though there are different classes of discount economy, so maybe some do).

        I use my points on the rare occasion I can get an award that works out better value than a cash ticket, and will probably use them for a OneWorld RTW ticket in a couple of years.
        I find, almost always, that there are better value options elsewhere.

        • mbck on 18/07/2018 - 12:52

          But how would you know if there are any upgrade spaces left over? You'd have to buy an economy ticket far into the future, and hope that there is still some space left?

          ooo I've just taken a look at that, very interesting. Thanks!

          and thanks to iforgotmysocks too!

      • Baghern on 18/07/2018 - 13:21
        +2

        No guarantee of getting the upgrade though.. so you're gambling on paying high economy

  • Blue Suby on 18/07/2018 - 11:48
    +1

    The other thing you can do is get extra points through 'family transfers' Qantas allow these (and I have a brother who has squillions of points from all his continual work related flights) so I snaffled a first class return to Europe in a few weeks time! 380K points required from memory. The fees and taxes to pay came to about the same as a discount economy flight.

  • starburstyellow on 18/07/2018 - 11:57
    +1

    Book as a classic award flight, rather than a points plus pay. On the booking page, scroll all the way down. There you will see your 3-4cents value.

    • shertiger on 18/07/2018 - 15:00

      Ok that's more like it. Not many days though that these are available.

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