Novice on Using Qantas Points for Business Class

Unacceptable on 10/01/2023 - 17:05

G’day all. Need your expert advice on using Qantas points on business class trip.
Our family of 3 are planning to fly to Seoul during September school holidays. I have over 800k points (creditcards churning) and can find only Jetstar business class on offer with 123,000 plus $348 return/person. (eg. 27/9 - 6/10)

Is it worth using it for Jetstar?
I’ve never used points on trip and thought I could use for Qantas business class when the route to Seoul re-opened last month.
I’m open to stop over to other cities for a couple of days sleep if we are to use major airlines.
Any advice is welcome.

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Comments

  • jv on 10/01/2023 - 17:19
    -5

    Is it worth using it for Jetstar?

    No. It is likely they will cancel the flight.

  • Hellfire on 10/01/2023 - 17:34
    +1

    There are some business class seats available with Cathay Pacific. Not your exact dates but it will work if you are flexible.

    Edit. I didn't check to see if there are 3. That will be a tough ask to book 3 this close to departure and during a peak time.

  • Drakesy on 10/01/2023 - 18:59
    +4

    Unfortunately, international business for Qantas FF is notoriously difficult to book <12 months out. They tend to restrict availability to Gold/Platinum FF's first with only a few allocated to bronze.

    Jetstar business personally isn't worth it. Yes maybe if you buy it and its on special, but i wouldn't burn FF's on it.

    Can you book with alternative airlines?

    • Murdrum on 11/01/2023 - 08:04

      Just booking economy classic rewards seems difficult!

    • Bargainitis on 11/01/2023 - 11:30

      this is indeed truth. Status matters alot with upgrades using points. If you are bronze / Silver, it is very difficult.

  • MELso on 11/01/2023 - 08:16
    +2

    Get the Jetstar 'business' rewards (but think more premium economy) if they're available.

    The likelihood of finding Qantas Classic Rewards in long haul international business in school holidays for three people is practically zero…

    • tanksinatra on 11/01/2023 - 09:29

      +1 to this.

      Even at the best of times the school holiday Business rewards are usually blacked out. I wouldn't expect to find one seat, let alone three.
      Availability right now with the post-covid travel surge seems to be close to zero.

  • cauilfield on 11/01/2023 - 09:29

    Jetstar business is not really a business class. It is something definitely better than premium economy on the other non-low cost airlines, but still is far away from your flatbed experience with QANTAS or Cathay or Emirates.

  • sockpuppy on 11/01/2023 - 10:00

    If you value your points at 1cent each at least, that means you are flying premium economy in a 2nd tier unreliable airline for an economy value of $1230+348=$1578 each. Which isn't too bad, the good thing about family travel in standard economy is you can normally have a row of 3 , so it's just more comfortable annoying each other for toilet breaks and personals space. Unfortunately, unless you are Platinum (plus) getting school holiday business is going to be tough. However, I can see business seat availability Mel-Incheon(Seoul) from early Nov and I am bronze. Personally, I think for Mel->Seoul, Mel-Tokyo 9-10 hours without worry about jet lag, premium economy is a good enough, spend the extra $ on experiences on the ground. Jetstar 80% of the time will get you there around the right day, its not that you have business appointments that depend on arrival times.

    • MELso on 11/01/2023 - 12:50

      As Jetstar offers 2-3-2 in premium economy - erm, I mean 'business' - the OP can also grab a row of 3 that way too.

      Having said that, I just looked up the economy points required and it's only 25,600 points pp (+$148) each way (and there aren't 3 Classic Reward seats coming back anyway). The 35.5k+$40 pp differential seems a lot for a slightly wider seat, a leg rest, a meal and IFE but each to their own I guess… If seats in row 10 on the Jetstar 787 are available, they'd be a good alternative.

  • Unacceptable on 11/01/2023 - 13:07

    Ok. I’m on Qantas bronze and not a fan of Jetstar for long haul. In saying that it’s be difficult to book major airlines for the family in future.
    So now what do you think is better value for the points I have.
    1. Sell at 1 cent per point
    2. Buy goods in Qantas store when on sale
    3. Book with Jetstar business class
    4. Keep accumulate

    • sockpuppy on 11/01/2023 - 13:38
      +1

      1. Selling caries risk of course so YMMV, 800k points is a lot of sell and max is 600k out per year from one account. Still 0.9 to 1cent point that is $5.5~6k cash. After the treatment handed out to some of my family by our flagship carrier, I wouldn't feel any moral tension about "but I'm breaking the rules" in selling. The biggest risk is with the buyer who pays hard $ for what she hopes will be a clean transaction.

      2. Qantas mall, poor value, Qantas values its points , lets say when buying apple, at about 0.5 cents a point.

      3. Jetstar: yes, it is going to be an average flying experience at best, but it does get you there at minimum cost. As others mentioned I am inclinded to just book Economy in seat line of three you will just be bumping and rubbing up to each other not strangers. Spend the saving on samgyetang and soju here: https://bemariekorea.com/the-best-samgyetang-in-seoul-ginsen…

      4. Accumulate: Yes makes sense, yet still you should make use of points, imagine 2024 Qantas decided that a point only gets you 1/2 the amount today in a mass devaluation, back to jetstar. If you can plan 290 or more days in advance and avoid school holidays a lot more is open, tip is to use the multi-city search, put in just one leg for 1 person and choose the flag flexible with dates, this you can start building up a plan. I picked up a 1st class JAL from europe in Nov with this method.

      • MELso on 11/01/2023 - 13:54

        Agree with all of your points here sockpuppy.

        Selling is risky and breaches the T&Cs.

        Goods are a waste (although gift cards are somewhat better value).

        Personally, as there do not appear to be any QF SYD-ICN flights on the preferred dates, I'd suck up Jetstar economy which would burn off 153K points, paying for row 10 seats if available. This will give the best bang for the buck (okay, technically you get more value per point on the Jetstar 'business' but this still requires burning off over 200k more points for not a lot more experience). And look for other flights.

        Accumulation is also sound. Demand is off the chart at the moment, but should cool as interest rate rises bite and demand for international travel eases. There may be more availability in the future (but as noted, there's also a risk of devaluations).

    • Murdrum on 11/01/2023 - 16:10

      Fly Qantas economy classic rewards if it's available.

      If you don't already have lounge access, get some passes from credit card sign ups.

    • zoombie on 11/01/2023 - 17:03

      I managed to fly to Europe on business class via Japan before Covid. There were a lot of seats available to Japan and from Japan to Europe before Covid. I flew with Emirates and Japan Airlines. Part of the problem is that the airlines themselves aren't back to full capacity as yet. Plus there's a lot of demands for travel this year due to Covid. If you keep accumulating, you might get seats next year.

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