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310k QFF points for weekend getaway for 2 in Business / First - suggestions

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dracothraxus

dracothraxus

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dracothraxus

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 29 Mar 2018

Total posts 4

Hi,


Long time lurker (via always arriving here from Google searches), first time poster.

Want to treat wife (no status) and myself (QFF Gold, ~310k points) to a no jet lag (as in Asia or NZ) long luxury weekend away somewhere nice - Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Auckland etc. all options. Flying out of Brisbane.

Looks like that many points can either get business return for both, or business one way and First the other way.

Having spent some time on Qantas site looks like limited classic rewards availability (annoying searching to avoid Jetstar flights) - am I best off looking through partner airlines as well? And I know most become available ~350ish days out - but I remember reading that availability can open up at the last minute too?

Priority is a nice pampered business class experience with significant flight time (wife has never flown in business or above) for her, the actual destination, as long as it's got something nice to do, isn't so important. I guess that would mean prioritizing destinations and airlines that are known to have newer / nicer business class products.

Thanks for any suggestions,

M





Stuart Jackson

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Stuart Jackson

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Member since 15 Mar 2015

Total posts 84

You could look at BKK. Return first and business on EK is 300k points first return is 360K you could top up your points 50K for $1200

Andrew Barkery

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Andrew Barkery

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Member since 21 Mar 2011

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As EK does not fly from BNE - AKL anymore, I would say Asia would be the place to go, and SIN would be good with EK J, which still flies.

You get access to the EK lounge and the QF lounge at BNEi airport, which is quite good.
You can still go to NZ, but have to contend with flying the narrow 737 with QF, or go to CHC via SYD, that one you can still fly the wide bodied 380 in J, inflight bar has a wow factor, and you can get access to the SYDi J lounge.
If you are happy to fly the 737 from BNE - AKL, hotel could also be covered by that amount of points to burn.

daniesut

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daniesut

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Member since 15 Sep 2016

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Head to SIN for a long weekend - so many things to do, great short stay hotels @ Sentosa or Orchard..... - QF380's from Syd, your points might get you to first from a Y seat, which are next to nothing if you book ahead

you will get the first lounge on the way out, would be a nice touch for the misses......


dracothraxus

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dracothraxus

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 29 Mar 2018

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Thanks everyone for the helpful tips:


"your points might get you to first from a Y seat" - ignoring the uncertainty of upgrades and only being a Gold in terms of priority, is there any significant point/cost benefit from upgrading from Y (or J) to first, or if I can get it am I better off booking classic rewards first class straight out if available?

Powerledger

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Powerledger

Member since 01 Mar 2018

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Did Hong Kong Business Class using points late last year and flying on CA and I must say CA Business Class is steps above QF J Class. Give it a go

daniesut

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daniesut

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Member since 15 Sep 2016

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Thanks everyone for the helpful tips:

"your points might get you to first from a Y seat" - ignoring the uncertainty of upgrades and only being a Gold in terms of priority, is there any significant point/cost benefit from upgrading from Y (or J) to first, or if I can get it am I better off booking classic rewards first class straight out if available?


- depends when your going, if your flexible with dates, etc - then yes reward seats are the best bet......however if you book a Y or J seat, online, it will advise you what an update to first would cost you in points\extra $$, so you can calculate it yourself - with the huge capacity war to sing from all carrier, especially QF, business return to sing you can get for as low as $3K cash, and the bump to First would cost you a moderate allocation of your points

mviy

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mviy

Member since 05 May 2016

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Upgrades to First are still a lottery though. As a Gold you’d be behind Platinum and Platinum One and as a couple you’d be behind solo travellers in the queue.


You can only upgrade to First from a revenue Business seat.

Last editedby mviy at Mar 30, 2018, 07:42 PM.
Covvers

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Covvers

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Member since 19 Jan 2018

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It is still an awful amount of flying for the sake of a weekend. You’ll be spending a third or more of your time in the air or in transit to go to Asia. As good as modern J products are they are still just a means of travel (albeit a more comfortable one) and nowhere approach the comfort of being on the ground.


Despite the reviews you may read, the food is not restaurant standard even on the best carriers. Anyone who seriously suggests otherwise is either not very discerning or doesn’t eat out very much. The same can be said about the wine.

As for the lie flat beds on offer, again, you’re going to be a lot more comfortable in any normal bed, even a twin bed in a cheap motel.

I suppose what I am saying is as enjoyable as J class can be as a mode of travel, it’s just that, a mode of travel. If a luxury experience is what you’re after, you’d be better advised to go somewhere closer to home and stay in a nice hotel.


If you’ve only got a weekend to spare, try NZ. The points (or money) you save can be spent on a nice hotel and on the fabulous dining scene.

Last editedby Covvers at Mar 31, 2018, 12:12 AM.
dracothraxus

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dracothraxus

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Member since 29 Mar 2018

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Thanks Covvers... All very sound advice.


I've flown J in a few airlines and F (a380) in EK so have an appreciation for what it's actually like: but my wife has never ever been in anything but economy so in this particular case the flights are a meaningful part of the experience. The 8 hour flight means she gets the full experience - food,sleeping, service. Normally we have two kids with us and are in economy...

Those other suggestions are good and things we already do on occasion.


Red Cee

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Red Cee

Member since 15 Feb 2018

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If you are only going for the weekend, I would look at an NZ port, due to the length of time spent sitting in the planes, airports etc.

dracothraxus

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dracothraxus

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Member since 29 Mar 2018

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If you book a first class flight EK412 from SYD-CHC (Sydney Christchurch) through Qantas (but flight is operated by Emirates) using points, do you know if you get access to the first lounge in Sydney before your flight?

wanderingvan

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wanderingvan

Member since 01 Feb 2018

Total posts 24

I note Cathay often have J availability at last minutes, 1-2 weeks out. Hong Kong is a great place to stay for a weekend, or a short hop to Macau and provided you get the right timing, a Luxury stay in one of the casino resort can be quite cheap.

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