Using Avios to book Qantas domestic flights
Jan 21, 2019, 8:19 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 79
Using Avios to book Qantas domestic flights
Hi, on our upcoming trip to Australia, we just used some Avios points to book our domestic flights. I had read on the blogs that booking on Qantas may be a good use of Avios. So we booked today. For 2 people on 3 one way flights (all domestic and one leg in business), the cash price is US 1,105 and the price using points came to 59,000 Avios plus US 103 in taxes. So the savings were considerable for us.
Out of curiosity - how did we do? Was this a good use of our points?
Out of curiosity - how did we do? Was this a good use of our points?
Jan 21, 2019, 10:09 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: UK, Peak District near MAN
Programs: BA- blue, BD,DL
Posts: 2,027
It’s all relative. If it was good for you, it’s a good use of points. They are there to be used and if you managed to save a lot of money that’s great. There’s no point saving them for that great deal that’s never available at the time you need it.
Jan 21, 2019, 11:02 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: BA, Virgin, Lufthansa
Posts: 183
We did four people in economy from Brisbane to Townsville for 30,000 + £46 taxes back in the summer, think the cash fare for all of us was somewhere around £500 from memory
But as highpeaklad says it's all relative, all my Avios are generally free so I tend to spend them without worry too much about the maximum value I could extract, for example often use a them to reduce fare prices which isn't considered best value use for them but £250 in my pocket or my company's (work for myself) is better than a stack of Avios
But as highpeaklad says it's all relative, all my Avios are generally free so I tend to spend them without worry too much about the maximum value I could extract, for example often use a them to reduce fare prices which isn't considered best value use for them but £250 in my pocket or my company's (work for myself) is better than a stack of Avios
Jan 21, 2019, 11:39 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,992
As above depends on the route and the cost of the flights on QF and other airlines on the route.
You quote US$, so the retail price in $Au, using com.au or selecting location as Au (top right) may have been lower. Point of sale (US) may come into play.
But avios award flights can be very god value, especially for business class.
The "taxes" you refer to will almost certainly be "carrier award surcharge" [=100% airline profit] and some small real taxes.
Note that QF and other Au airlines have been enforcing size & weight limits for carry-on, as your ticket t&c's. What is common practise in USA will not acceptable with Australian airlines.
Enjoy your time in Australia ^
You quote US$, so the retail price in $Au, using com.au or selecting location as Au (top right) may have been lower. Point of sale (US) may come into play.
But avios award flights can be very god value, especially for business class.
The "taxes" you refer to will almost certainly be "carrier award surcharge" [=100% airline profit] and some small real taxes.
Note that QF and other Au airlines have been enforcing size & weight limits for carry-on, as your ticket t&c's. What is common practise in USA will not acceptable with Australian airlines.
Enjoy your time in Australia ^
Jan 22, 2019, 8:11 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 79
Thanks everyone! We saved about US$1,000 for 2 people so for us it was a good saving. I quoted USD because we are based in the US and called the local Executive Club so the taxes and other surcharges were quoted in USD.
BTW, I did go to the Qantas website to price flights before going to Executive Club. When you book domestic flights, it automatically takes you to the Australian website and the charges are shown in AUD. It came to exactly the same when you convert back to USD. We actually found Virgin Australia to be slightly cheaper than Qantas and if we were going to pay cash for the tickets, would have most likely gone with them. But hey, you can't beat free (plus taxes!) 😂
BTW, I did go to the Qantas website to price flights before going to Executive Club. When you book domestic flights, it automatically takes you to the Australian website and the charges are shown in AUD. It came to exactly the same when you convert back to USD. We actually found Virgin Australia to be slightly cheaper than Qantas and if we were going to pay cash for the tickets, would have most likely gone with them. But hey, you can't beat free (plus taxes!) 😂
Jan 22, 2019, 9:23 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,531
As above depends on the route and the cost of the flights on QF and other airlines on the route.
You quote US$, so the retail price in $Au, using com.au or selecting location as Au (top right) may have been lower. Point of sale (US) may come into play.
But avios award flights can be very god value, especially for business class.
The "taxes" you refer to will almost certainly be "carrier award surcharge" and some small real taxes.
Note that QF and other Au airlines have been enforcing size & weight limits for carry-on, as your ticket t&c's. What is common practise in USA will not acceptable with Australian airlines.
Enjoy your time in Australia ^
You quote US$, so the retail price in $Au, using com.au or selecting location as Au (top right) may have been lower. Point of sale (US) may come into play.
But avios award flights can be very god value, especially for business class.
The "taxes" you refer to will almost certainly be "carrier award surcharge" and some small real taxes.
Note that QF and other Au airlines have been enforcing size & weight limits for carry-on, as your ticket t&c's. What is common practise in USA will not acceptable with Australian airlines.
Enjoy your time in Australia ^
Jan 22, 2019, 9:29 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Frozen north
Programs: BAEC Silver, HiltonH
Posts: 49
Thanks!
Thanks everyone! We saved about US$1,000 for 2 people so for us it was a good saving. I quoted USD because we are based in the US and called the local Executive Club so the taxes and other surcharges were quoted in USD.
BTW, I did go to the Qantas website to price flights before going to Executive Club. When you book domestic flights, it automatically takes you to the Australian website and the charges are shown in AUD. It came to exactly the same when you convert back to USD. We actually found Virgin Australia to be slightly cheaper than Qantas and if we were going to pay cash for the tickets, would have most likely gone with them. But hey, you can't beat free (plus taxes!) 😂
BTW, I did go to the Qantas website to price flights before going to Executive Club. When you book domestic flights, it automatically takes you to the Australian website and the charges are shown in AUD. It came to exactly the same when you convert back to USD. We actually found Virgin Australia to be slightly cheaper than Qantas and if we were going to pay cash for the tickets, would have most likely gone with them. But hey, you can't beat free (plus taxes!) 😂
As a result I have just booked our Qantas domestic flights using Avios which saved us a fair amount in cash. Two returns in business class for around 33,000 Avios plus £86 taxes which I was happy to spend instead of around AUD3,000.
Jan 22, 2019, 10:33 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,395
(even as a fan of QF’s domestic J product, I personally would be happier using half the Avios for an exit seat in Y on such quick hops)
Jan 22, 2019, 10:41 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Frozen north
Programs: BAEC Silver, HiltonH
Posts: 49
Based on my own regular use of Australian domestic Avios redemptions, I’m thinking that your quoted spend must have been for the shortest of sectors .... something like MEL-SYD or SYD-BNE .....?
(even as a fan of QF’s domestic J product, I personally would be happier using half the Avios for an exit seat in Y on such quick hops)
