Another AAdvantage versus QFF thread

[sikeveo]

This may be a really stupid question, but why do people choose to be member of AAdvantage rather than QFF?

[serfty]

Generally awards are cheaper ... less points/miles ... less ...

Other than that, see post #1 of this thread.

[sikeveo]

Generally awards are cheaper ... less points/miles ... less ...

Other than that, see post #1 of this thread.

Toying around with the QFF point calculator. 1 way to SIN is 30 000 points, with AA its 40 000?

[serfty]

Toying around with the QFF point calculator. 1 way to SIN is 30 000 points, with AA its 40 000?

AAdvantage do not have one-way flights - that's 40,000 return. Also, for the return booking (and 60,000 points with Qantas), will be about AUD380; with AA perhaps $50.

[sikeveo]

AAdvantage do not have one-way flights - that's 40,000 return. Also, with Qantas will be about AUD380; with AA perhaps $50.

Thank you, I found the AAdvantage table a little hard to read. Well that seals the deal then. I can understand why AA is better for FFlyers. Only problem is getting points into the system via alternate methods other than flying !

Is it possible to use QFF points to upgrade a flight redeemed via points on the AAdvantage system?

[NM]

This may be a really stupid question, but why do people choose to be member of AAdvantage rather than QFF?

Last weekend I booked an award trip, so here is a real life example. I wanted to travel in style (First Class and Business Class when F is not available) to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. I used QFF web site and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles web site to find flight availability and compared the "cost" of redeeming the same flights with both QF and AA programs. The flights are as follows:

BNE-MEL (QF Business Class)
MEL-HKG (CX First Class)
HKG-KUL (CX Business Class)
KUL-HKG (CX Business Class)
HKG-BKK (CX First Class)
BKK-SYD (BA First Class)
SYD-BNE (QF Business Class)

With AA, this itinerary for two people cost a total of 360,000 miles plus US$243.

With QF, this itinerary would have cost 725,000 points plus around A$1800.

Considering I have earned the AA miles at a higher rate than QF points (earnings from actual flying) and the award cost me half the number of miles than QF and a fraction of the cash co-payment amount, I think its clear that for my situation AA is a much better program.

Similarly last time I made an award redemption (3 x business class seats to Auckland), QF wanted 3 times the points and 5 times the cash as AA cost for the exact same flights.

[Dave Noble]

Thank you, I found the AAdvantage table a little hard to read. Well that seals the deal then. I can understand why AA is better for FFlyers. Only problem is getting points into the system via alternate methods other than flying !

Is it possible to use QFF points to upgrade a flight redeemed via points on the AAdvantage system?

The points difference becomes even more marked with business/1st class travel.

If it is 30k one way to SIN using QF points, a return trip in premium economy will be 90,000 points , business will be 120,000 and In 1st class it would be 180,000 points. All will have fuel fines to add

With AA , a return trip would be 70,000 points plus taxes in business or 90,000 plus taxes in 1st.

With AA the redemption cost for 1st is the same as premium economy from QF

Dave

[simongr]

Thank you, I found the AAdvantage table a little hard to read. Well that seals the deal then. I can understand why AA is better for FFlyers. Only problem is getting points into the system via alternate methods other than flying !

There are two issues I have with the AA system - the ability to get points into the system from other sources for maximum return and the fact that status earning is based more around the number of trips than premium miles flown.

In relation to mileages from other sources though it is not that simple to critique AA. Using Daves example of the SYD-SIN trip. I did the exact flights - booked a return for me using QFF points and one way for mrssimongr in F using AAdvantage miles. To fund the two using Amex I would have had to have points as follows:

SIN-SYD using QFF:

AMex MR points 90K -> QFF points 90K + $250(ish)

If that had been a return it would have been:

Amex MR 180K -> QFF 180K + $500(ish)

SIN-SYD-SIN on AAdvantage:

Amex MR 227K -> SPG 75K -> AAdvantage 90K + $100ish

So an extra 40K miles but $400 less in cash - quite even really...

Factor into that if you are Plat on AA (equiv of QF SG) you get 100% status bonus rather than 50% - then the maths gets really complex

Is it possible to use QFF points to upgrade a flight redeemed via points on the AAdvantage system?

No, but if you reach top tier on AA you get 8 free upgrades and if you reach mid tiers you get 500 mile upgrade vouchers for every 10K miles flown.

Remember if you have no status with QF then you are unlikely to have that upgrade come through anyway. And for the price of the upgrade on QFF you can often get an award seat guaranteed in the cabin of choice for the same points...

[drron]

However you cant upgrade an AA award flight even with an AA EVIP.

[simongr]

Thats the same for QF though.