European Family Xmas Holiday 2024 - Card Churn

participant123xyz on 22/02/2023 - 15:06
Last edited 22/02/2023 - 15:12 by 1 other user

Sooooo, looking for advice from the brains trust. Looking at doing the once in a lifetime European Christmas trip next year. Obviously, I want flights as cheap as possible by churning through those card deals.

I'm a bit apprehensive about going for points as although they are the best value, I'm a bit concerned that when I go to book, there won't be four seats available for when I want, rendering all of my diligent churning useless (perhaps I'm overthinking it).

The other option, while not as valuable on a $ per point basis is to churn through the cards and redeem for Flight Centre gift vouchers and book through them.

Which option would be best - if the consensus is to go for points, which program would be best to sign up for?

Cheers

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  Drakesy on 22/02/2023 - 15:09

  +1

  Ozbargain > Deals > Financial

  Choose ya poison

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  JCrown9 on 22/02/2023 - 15:11

  before you start, why not check availability first between airlines to see what's available.

  you'd probably get economy seats x4. but any other class is highly unlikely especially if you dont have above average status with an airline.

  good luck.

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  Seraphin7 on 22/02/2023 - 15:15

  +3

  I'm a bit apprehensive about going for points as although they are the best value, I'm a bit concerned that when I go to book, there won't be four seats available for when I want, rendering all of my diligent churning useless (perhaps I'm overthinking it).

  This is actually going to be the primary issue. Frequent flyer seats at anything like peak times are notoriously difficult to come by … not impossible, but you need (1) to be right on your game and book ASAP when the flights are releases, and (2) have a dose of luck.

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    participant123xyz on 22/02/2023 - 15:24

    Fair enough - the stress of it all may be too much, lady luck is rarely on my side.

    Vouchers may be the way to go.

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      Seraphin7 on 22/02/2023 - 15:26

      It's the classic game of you may get a benefit, but you need to expect you'll be paying the going rate.

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  sumyungguy on 22/02/2023 - 16:24

  More info please: will you have 529,600 Qantas points by Feb 2024?

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  Stewardo on 22/02/2023 - 18:14

  Also figure out what airline and how much it will cost in fees and charges on top of the points, is it worth all the effort for economy?

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    Some Guy on 23/02/2023 - 20:29

    Based on a one way redemption I've made for easter, it's possible to get 4 pax to Europe and back on UA using around 560k VA points with about $1,200 taxes/fees.

    In theory it could be done using 132k QFF points per pax via a Oneworld RWT type ticket with similar/maybe less taxes per pax. Availability for the AUS segments would be the hardest.

    4 pax in a premium cabin would be highly unlikely at Christmas time.

    I'm guessing that a rtn ticket in economy would be around $2k per pax. So the equation is approx: $8k v $1.2k + 500k points.

    Depends if points come easy or not. Even if they if they do, there might still be a bunch of work to do to secure tickets for that time of year, especially if you need to get creative.

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  ddhar on 22/02/2023 - 18:49

  Availability-wise, I find Velocity has far better availability and airport surcharges.

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  dtc on 22/02/2023 - 22:54

  Even if you cant get the seats, you can either try for an upgrade with points (pretty much every airline offers it as an 'auction' leading up to the flight) or just use the points at the FF shop (terrible use of the points but if you arent going to use them for anything else then you get something 'for free'). I'm not following FF use too closely at the moment, but upgrades used to be the best use of the points anyway.

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  daft009 on 23/02/2023 - 07:53

  How many in your family?
  4 pax or more then would you be happy flying separately 24hrs apart perhaps?

  Xmas is the busiest time

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    participant123xyz on 23/02/2023 - 10:14

    Ha! I'll go a day earlier, wife can take the two kids the next day.

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      daft009 on 23/02/2023 - 11:20

      haha… good luck with that! ;)

      I can book pretty easy for 3 pax in business on points (i've even done 5pax in J together). but xmas I highly doubt it

      if trying for business you would get usually 2 seats per flight, hence splitting up might work if you want to fly pointy end.