I thought is on par with BA, since both would need 600 status to maintain their gold status, and not sure when compare to AA, since both use two different system. Hardest to maintain would be CX for sure, than JL

If I may dig up this old thread of mine to ask further ignorant, basic questions please.
I am a new to QFF, only a bronze member. I am planning a trip to America later this year and would just like to know:

1> how many points (roughly) I will gain from my flights on QF, flying in economy? At this stage it looks around 16,400, minus the restrictions of the T&Cs.


2>Generally speaking, can QFF points be accured from booking a 'day room' at a hotel airport, or are these stays seen as too short?

3> Are the SCs from these flights worth it, if I may only fly with Qantas on 2 other occasions over the next 2 years?

V-Australia's prices are much more attractive on the dates that I am looking to fly, so I am trying to compare the two carriers.


(I know the FAQ section of the QFF website can answer most of my questions, but I find greater detail in the responses in this forum due to other member's personal experience.)

Thanks.

See the QF website: https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/do/...alPointsEarned
See the website:
http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/partners/hotel
That's up to you to decide. If you want QFF points, fly QFF. If you want Velocity points, fly V. If you're not planning on flying much on either carrier over the next 2 years, then choose the carrier that you want the points on, as gathering status is obviously not going to occur on either.

yes but the QF website does have the answers with some very quick searching.

Sydney to Los Angeles is 7488 miles according to gcmap.com. Many American airlines flights could earn QF miles. Guaranteed to earn if booked on the QF code share as part of the transPAC QF ticket. As will any QF connecting flights within Australia.
Some hotel chains do allow for crediting to various FF programs. Also booking through qantas.com could earn miles. You need to do your research here.
You may not get any direct benefit from the SCs as the round trip will earn in round figures perhaps 100 SC. However the 15-20K points earn will be worth a one way award flight within Australia.

Happy wandering

Fred

Thanks for the replies and patience.

I will look at flying with American Airlines for the majority of my US domestic travel, although I have been warned to research their baggage requirements to see if they match Qantas', otherwise there will be extra luggage fees added on.


Preference would be to fly Qantas one way and V australia the other, although neither airline has a current one-way sale on, so I cannot justify spending $1000AU each way for a oneway ticket.

You are obviously travelling Y so depending on price difference I would lean to QF rather than VA.

Where are you flying on to after arrival in LAX?

Hi Adam1,

You want to sample both airline's product as you can't decide which is the better to take but, unsurprisingly, cannot justify two one-way tickets. Fairly common quandary. Usual outcome: you'll buy a return ticket with one carrier.

But .... be very careful - you're standing closer to the edge than you realize!!!

You also want to maximise your point earning potential - also your chances of increasing your status. In truth, you have almost zero chance of getting increased benefits through QF status given your proposed travel pattern, but having said that, given said pattern you probably don't need the status anyway.

So it all comes back to the points.

I'm not aware of the V Australia earnings but as earn to velocity am guessing that it's a similar set-up. The cheaper the fare, the less points you'll earn. And, although I've a batch of points sitting in velocity I've never looked at redeeming but am guessing that the cheapest burn rate might be similar to QFs earn/burn but then increases similar to Anytime Awards. Of course, you do earn status with DJ based on your points earnings. You could look into the potential for switching your American flights to Virgin America - if that too earns into velocity, and switching your two future planned QF flights to the virgin group. But then that's about it.

With QF, you'll know exactly how much you can expect to earn points-wise based on the destination and class regardless of fare. If you're looking to fly AA then you can - depending on booking class - book into QF. The big plus for QF would also be the potential to earn with far greater partners in Australia when you're not flying - like hotels.

However, if you're starting to think like this, I'm afraid my warning was too late. You're actually over the edge and you've succumbed to the FF curse of choosing your spending not based on the $spent and the service offered, but on the potential points earned ....

... and welcome to the twilight zone!!

BD

If you are going beyond the U.S. West Coast, then have a look at the American Airlines australian web site - there are some specials on at the moment which, depending on when you plan to travel, might be good for you. The deals are not so great for just SYD-LAX (for which you should perhaps also look at United & Delta?)

If you decide to fly either QF or AA then look at accruing your miles to AA's AAdvantage frequent flyer program, which has a much better earn/burn ratio than QF's program.

For instance - a return SYD-JFK trip flying AA will accrue just under 20K AA miles - so almost enough for two 1-way award flights anywhere in Aus/NZ. Do the AA platinum or gold challenge and get even more award miles - plus status!

Contrast with flying QF and accruing to QF which will get you just under 20K QF points - enough for a 1-way flight in Aus or to NZ.

How many AA miles you get for flying QF, or QF points for flying AA, will depend on the booking class.

Just a warning, this site is for Frequent Flyers, many of whom are all about maximising points and status credits, which is admirable.

If you don't fly frequently (as you have indicated) it is extremely important to ask how much points are worth to you. Difficult to answer, but if, for example you're saving saving points for an international award - bearing in mind points don't expire if you some sort of activity in your account every 18 months - you may value them very differently if all you're hoping is a domestic award, given the plethora of low fares and sales domestically these days. Somewhere between 1c and 1.5c per point is realistic for economy awards. Then you can factor this into the whole equation when comparing two fares! (bearing in mind VAustralia discounted fares earn at lower rates than QF fares).

If you are looking a treating yourself to a business class award one day, then you may value points at higher than that.

And the next consideration is your personal cashflow - if you are in debt, paying off credit cards etc it may be well better off to take the savings now than pay an extra $200 or so (or whatever it is) to accrue some points that you may not use for several years.

Then there is, as you point out checked baggage considerations, IIRC you get free checked bagged on AA dom connecting to/from intl flights on same ticket (but still have to pay, I think, for flights not connecting someone please correct me if this is wrong).

Complicated? Yes absolutely, that's why many ignore of this and either a) just go for the cheapest fare or b) go for the points, whatever the cost!!

Thankyou all for the replies.
I appreciate your time, effort and detailed responses.
All have been of assistance to me and will use the info provided for future reference.
Looks like I have a few points to ponder before booking my travel schedule!

cheers.