Qantas has some catching to do...

[TheFergus]

I'm more a frequent spender than flyer but as a result, Amex give me enough points for two First Class seats to Europe or anywhere I guess, every eighteen months.

Now, just so we are clear, that's about thirty five thousand dollars of free stuff every eighteen months. Once, I won a chook at the pub but that's a distant second so you can imagine how much I appreciate these points.

The issue, as all Qantas FF's know well, is spending the bloody things and in the past, to go anywhere worthwhile at the front of the plane meant a twelve month lead time - which was fine once or twice but the last few, I just haven't been able to plan that far ahead and had to cancel a few weeks out. A marriage can only handle an event like that once or twice.

Happily, Amex now offer parity on the Singapore Airlines program and so, on a Wednesday night, my wife and I went seat shopping and found what we were after - booked that night and departed on the Saturday to Europe for twelve days first class.

That in itself is amazing if you have ever spent anytime on the Qantas site. Apparently, it's par for the course at Singapore Airlines.

The points cost was about two thirds the same trip on Qantas (Classic) - I think 220k points versus 370k. We paid a premium for a 777 sector and if you get the chance - that plane is a very different first class experience to the 747 and worth the additional.

So, big thumbs up KrisFlyer for doing what apparently, Qantas are incapable of doing.

[Danger UXB]

Fergus
did you pay a premium in points for the aus to sin sector? I have been reasearching what to do come end march next year with the cc points and i thought when i checked out the sinapore website it said that a saver award was not available for mel to sin. can u give us a break down of the fare you got
cheers

[Evan]

Saver is not available on A380 or 77W so with a lot of services now A380 you may be out of luck with the discount ones... but i am not sure if that applies also to whY or only J/F
E

[QF009]

Only Standard and Full awards on A380 and 77W F and C in theory. However in practise it is not impossible to find Saver C on these a/c. Just extremely difficult.

A380 R isn't available for any form of redemption.

And it's speculated over on SQTalk that MEL is a strong contender for the A380. Great, only the crappy regional 773 available for F and C *A awards and KF Savers if the 744 gets upgauged.

[MAX_1]

Last year , I contacted Singapore Airlines and booked 3 fares to Europe. I told them that it would be paid for with points to be transferred from Amex to my Krysflier Account. The operator told me that the fares would be held for 2 weeks and that I required x points. I transferred the appropriate no. of points from my Amex Account into my Krysflier Account and sent my daughter and family to Athens,Greece. From memory this booking required not many extra points than Qantas, but the service was sensational. I have learned that Thai Airlines also offer this service. Does this beat Qantas? Hands down. Qantas needs to get back its customer focus.

[TheFergus]

Max - I agree. They do the simple stuff well, don't they.

Danger -

No, Mel-Sin was a 747 and so saver fare was achieved. Only A380 & 777-200 (or maybe -300 who can remember these things?) don't have the saver fares which is really starting to limit our options out of Australia.

But I'd suggest be persistent and a little patient - a lot less so than you wold need to on the Qantas site! I think there is a daily 747 out of Mel or for the points price of Saver First, you can have full Business on the A380 from Sydney and that would be worth experiencing.

As another post reiterated, the service is faultless and I'm sure you will have a memorable journey.

[Danger UXB]

Thanks for the clarification folks. Going thru the dilema of what to do with the cc memberships next year
1. direct sweep with qantas
2.forget qantas and go to velocity but great uncertainty over business/first seats to europe and the numbers available
3.forget qantas and go to krisflyer
like you Fergus I get approx 250000 to 300000 points/year and I need 3 business seats every 3 years or so. Qantas rarely give more than 2 bus seats MEL to SIN. SIN to LHR is no problem as BA would probably let you book the whole plane if you tried. Virgin Atlantic only 2 bus seats out of SYD. From another thread Emirates may not even release redemption seats to velocity and I have no knowledge of Malaysian. Singapore Airlines I think only allow standard award to LHR from SIN (for some reason SQ319 does not allow saver rewards and the rest are A380's) so that means a total of 330000 rtn in business which is more than QF
What do I do???? I would much appreciate advice and guidance
Cheers Danger UXB

[straitman]

Thanks for the clarification folks. Going thru the dilema of what to do with the cc memberships next year
1. direct sweep with qantas
2.forget qantas and go to velocity but great uncertainty over business/first seats to europe and the numbers available
3.forget qantas and go to krisflyer
like you Fergus I get approx 250000 to 300000 points/year and I need 3 business seats every 3 years or so. Qantas rarely give more than 2 bus seats MEL to SIN. SIN to LHR is no problem as BA would probably let you book the whole plane if you tried. Virgin Atlantic only 2 bus seats out of SYD. From another thread Emirates may not even release redemption seats to velocity and I have no knowledge of Malaysian. Singapore Airlines I think only allow standard award to LHR from SIN (for some reason SQ319 does not allow saver rewards and the rest are A380's) so that means a total of 330000 rtn in business which is more than QF
What do I do???? I would much appreciate advice and guidance
Cheers Danger UXB

Danger UXB,

I think there are a lot of people around who "would much appreciate advice and guidance" .. me included.

[TheFergus]

Danger,

I'd forget Qantas for everything except domestic travel and cash. They simpy don't release enough seats for redemption and it puzzles me why they take off a plane with empty seats when points paying freeloaders like and me would gladly give up some points for a seat on short notice.. but that's another thread.

I'm surprised you can't find a First saver fare out of London - are you sure? A mixed class fare might be the way to go - it's surprisingly reasonable but it's gotta be booked by voice so you don't get the 15% online discount. That is to say, a single mixed class fare is cheaper than the sum of two single sector fares (online doesn't allow mixed class journey) Call em for a quote. The first cabin on the 777 is worth the premium.

The other option which I am about to trial is the new Emirates Citi Card - I'm a cycnic so called Emirates and asked - in my cockiest Peter Berner voice - just when the next available two first class seats to London would be available - err, tomorrow she replied. OK, OK, what about February? 'Which day would you like - there's plenty'! So, look into that - it's got a cap of 150k pts per annum, but just get two cards @ 1.5pts/dollar - so I'm binning my bank qantas visa card with it's ****e cap - 36k from memory and grabbing that.

Good luck.

[TheFergus]

Danger,

Try Feb 20, London-Singapore SQ319 - seats available in first saver.

I was only able to seek 2 seats as I only have 1 other registered party to my account.

Good luck.

F.