Qantas vs Virgin Australia: which is best for frequent flyer award seats?

It’s easy enough to earn frequent flyer points with Qantas and Virgin Australia – but when it’s time to trade those points in on a free flight, which airline comes out in front?

We’ve crunched the numbers for these frequent flyer ‘reward’ seats (set aside on each flight for a fixed number of points) based on the most popular routes flown by both airlines within Australia and overseas.

The winner? Virgin Australia, for the most part.

Not only do you need fewer points to snare a seat on many Virgin Australia flights, but the associated taxes, fees and surcharges – the contentious add-on cost to what people think of as a ‘free’ seat – are also substantially lower than on the Flying Kangaroo.

Qantas vs Virgin Australia: Australian domestic flights

Whether you’re making a quick hop along the east coast or are crossing the continent, Virgin Australia’s Velocity scheme requires fewer points in business class or economy (and a slightly lower cash co-payment, too).

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Earning Qantas frequent flyer points on flights to China

Through Qantas’ web of codeshare and Oneworld airline partners, it’s incredibly easy for Aussie travellers to earn frequent flyer points when travelling to China, along with status credits in many cases.

Whether you’re visiting Shanghai on business, taking a holiday in Beijing or admiring the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, here’s how you can earn Qantas frequent flyer points along the way.

Non-stop flights to China

1. Qantas: Sydney to Shanghai direct

Qantas flies daily from Sydney to Shanghai with an Airbus A330: offering both economy and business class, with the latter featuring angled lie-flat beds in a 2-2-2 configuration…

… or the airline’s newer Business Suites on refurbished aircraft:

On the return journey, Qantas Frequent Flyer members would net at least 15,600 Qantas Points and 240 status credits in business class and 5,200 Qantas Points and 60 status credits in economy.

Business travellers could also earn their employer Qantas Aquire points on the same flights – atop their own personal frequent flyer haul – bringing in at least 1,560 Aquire Points in economy and at least 6,240 Aquire Points in business class.

 

2. China Eastern: Australia to Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing

Also with business class and economy aboard its A330s is China Eastern, offering non-stop flights to Shanghai from both Melbourne and Sydney and a Sydney-Nanjing-Beijing service for travellers headed to either city.

China Eastern flights with an MU flight number earn Qantas Points but not status credits, with a round-trip Melbourne-Shanghai trek delivering at least 4,982 Qantas Points in economy and 12,456 Qantas Points in business class.

Qantas also codeshares with China Eastern on its Melbourne-Shanghai, Sydney-Nanjing-Beijing and Shanghai-Nanjing services, on which frequent flyers can earn both points and status credits as though they were travelling on an actual Qantas aircraft.

3. China Southern: Australia to Guangzhou

As another partner of Qantas, frequent flyers can earn points and status credits on China Southern flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Guangzhou when booked on a QF flight number, with onward connections to Xiamen, Kunming, Fuzhou and Ürümqi also available by codeshare.

The airline’s A330s offer economy, fully-flat beds in business class – similar to what you’ll find in Air China’s business class cabin…

… and a single row of first class at the very front of the aircraft (excludes Brisbane flights), where the well-heeled would earn 20,800 Qantas Points and 360 status credits on a return journey from Sydney:

In business class and economy, it’s the same as Qantas’ own Sydney-Shanghai flights, being at least 15,600 points and 240 status credits in business class and 5,200 points and 60 status credits down the back in economy, although Aquire Points aren’t earned on China Southern flights.

 

4. Jetstar: Gold Coast (Coolangatta) to Wuhan

Qantas’ low-cost offshoot begins direct Boeing 787 flights to China from later this year with the launch of non-stop services between the Gold Coast and Wuhan – central China’s most populous city.

But not every Jetstar ticket earns frequent flyer points: you’ll need to opt for a Starter Plus, Starter Max or Business Max fare, which are all pricier than the most basic seats in economy and business class, respectively, which earn nothing at all.

Frequent flyers can pocket 7,800 points and 80 status credits on return Starter Plus fares; 10,400 points and 120 status credits on Starter Max tickets and again 15,600 points and 240 status credits in Jetstar business class when booking a Max fare, mirroring the earn on Qantas’ own flights and its codeshares.

 

One-stop flights to China

1. Cathay Pacific, Dragonair via Hong Kong

Hop aboard Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Cairns – or indeed Qantas’ own services from Australia’s east coast – and then fly onwards to destinations in China with Cathay or its sister airline Dragonair.

Among your one-stop options: Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Wuhan, Xi’an, Xiamen and Zhengzhou, with Qantas Frequent Flyers picking up both points and status credits on eligible Cathay Pacific, Dragonair and Qantas fares.

On a return trip from Brisbane to Chengdu via Hong Kong, business class travellers would collect 12,904 Qantas Points and 240 status credits when booked via Cathay Pacific (CX) or Dragonair (KA), or a higher 17,716 points and 360 status credits when swapping the Brisbane-Hong Kong leg to a Qantas flight.

But watch out down the back: Cathay Pacific and Dragonair only award Qantas Points on the most expensive economy tickets, so if booking your travel on the Cathay Pacific website, keep an eye out for fares that don’t earn Cathay Pacific Asia Miles – those don’t earn Qantas Points, either.

2. Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur

Serving Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin – and alsoBrisbane until August 9 – from its Kuala Lumpur hub, passengers can connect onwards to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen, earning frequent flyer points on the entire journey.

But don’t expect too many points – like Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines only awards Qantas frequent flyer points (and status credits) on the higher-priced economy tickets, and even then, the earning rate is a mere 0.25 points per mile between Australia and Malaysia, while in business class it’s just 0.75 points per mile.

A return Sydney-Beijing journey via Kuala Lumpur nets 13,028 Qantas Points and 320 status credits in business class, while most points-earning economy fares serve up just 3,430 points and 80 status credits on the same.

 

3. Japan Airlines via Tokyo

Last but not least, Japan Airlines flies daily from Sydney to Tokyo’s Narita Airport, with onward connections available to both Beijing and Shanghai after visiting one of JAL’s flagship lounges.

Pointy end passengers can reel in at least 8,412 Qantas Points and 240 status credits round-trip, while in economy it’s at least 3,606 points and 60 status credits for the same.

That’s of course on the least-costly business class and economy fares – buy a more expensive ticket and your points haul will likewise increase.

 

Australian Business Traveller

Australian Government looks to frequent flyer points to slash travel costs

The federal government is looking to rein in the travel costs of around 100,000 government workers by using airline frequent flyer points to book their travel.

Complementing the already-discounted fares available to government departments, the idea could see any frequent flyer points earned by public servants on official travel pooled to a master government account.

The government would then use these points to book flights for its travellers, rather than paying cash for every journey.

It’s estimated that such a measure could slash upwards of $50 million in costs from the federal government’s annual $377 million flight budget by making around 180,000 flights near-free.

Government travel and frequent flyer points

Passengers booked on government-funded flights are currently prohibited from earning frequent flyer points of their own, and also can’t share these with the government if points were to be awarded under the existing system.

Travellers on ‘Whole of Australian Government’ (WoAG) fares may attach their frequent flyer number when they travel, but airlines are required to ensure that points aren’t awarded on these tickets.

When given in error, airlines must also invalidate points given to government travellers: although earning status credits is deemed fair game.

That’s because status credits allow travellers to earn free lounge access by reaching the Gold, Platinum and Platinum One tiers –  keeping those otherwise-expensive lounge memberships off the government’s balance sheet.

However, the nation’s public servants would stand to earn fewer status credits each year by flying on tickets booked using frequent flyer points, rather than cash, making the optimal solution a delicate balancing act.

 

Australian Business Traveller

Qantas extends ‘Bid Now’ upgrades to premium economy

Qantas passengers can now bid for upgrades to premium economy on international flights using a mix of money and frequent flyer points.

Expanding on the initial ‘Bid Now’ scheme launched in February for business class upgrades, it works in much the same way – if your booking is eligible, you’ll receive an email from Qantas roughly seven days before departure, inviting you to submit a bid.

Qantas passengers who don’t receive this email and are travelling within the next seven days can also use the Qantas Bid Now website to check their eligibility, as the ability to lodge a bid varies from booking to booking at Qantas’ discretion.

Premium economy bids start at just 5,000 Qantas frequent flyer points, which are then paired with a cash component – such as 5,000 Qantas Points plus $1,000.

However, bids for premium economy can only be submitted in conjunction with a business class upgrade bid on the same flight, making it more of a ‘backup plan’ should your business class upgrade be unsuccessful.

Upgrades via the ‘Bid Now’ system are processed between 12 and 24 hours before departure and only after regular frequent flyer upgrade requests have been considered, but may trump a frequent flyer whose initial request was unsuccessful and had also filed for an ‘upgrade at the gate’.

Qantas offers premium economy on flights to Dubai, London, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas/Fort Worth, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Santiago, Johannesburg, and from December, San Francisco.

 

 

 Australian Business Traveller 

LATAM cut Qantas Frequent Flyer points on economy flights

Qantas Frequent Flyer members stuck in economy on Oneworld airlines LAN and TAM will soon earn fewer points on most economy tickets, with travellers reeling in as little as a quarter of what they do today.

It’s most noticeable on the cheapest fares, which drop from earning one frequent flyer point per mile flown to just 0.25 points on June 6 with LAN and October 1 with TAM.

Midrange economy fares also see their earning rates halved – lowering from one point per mile to 0.5 points per mile flown on the same dates with both airlines, as below:

Under the current 1:1 earning rates, economy passengers would today pick up 14,126 Qantas frequent flyer points on a return journey from Sydney to Santiago with LAN, plummeting to just 3,530 points in the cheap seats or 7,062 points on a more expensive ticket.

The highest-priced economy fares will continue to earn one point per mile after the changes, while premium economy and business class tickets also remain unchanged.

LAN Airlines has been approached for comment.

However, in a win for travellers flying domestically on LAN and TAM (as applicable) within Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and in Chile – including passengers connecting onwards from Qantas’ and LAN’s Sydney-Santiago flights – points will soon be awarded to economy travellers on the cheapest tickets, which currently earn nothing under the Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme.

Passengers flying with LAN but travelling on a Qantas QF flight number (codeshare) are unaffected, and will continue to earn frequent flyer points and status credits as though they were aboard a Qantas-painted aircraft.

These codeshare passengers can now also use their Qantas frequent flyer points to upgrade from economy to business class on LAN’s Sydney-Santiago flights.

 

Australian Business Traveller

Qantas continues rejig of how you’ll earn frequent flyer points

 

Qantas is readying a change of rules on how many frequent flyer points you’ll earn when travelling on airlines such as Emirates, British Airways and Cathay Pacific – although the process itself is proving harder than expected.

A revamp of the points-earning chart for partner airlines was first flagged in mid-2014 as part of a dramatic overhaul of the Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme.

This included slashing the number of status credits earned when flying on partner airlines, making it harder to get that prized gold or platinum Qantas card unless you fly with Qantas.

An adjustment to how many points that same trip would earn was due to follow as the final piece of a ‘Fairer Flying’ overhaul of Qantas’ loyalty program, which in the July-December 2014 period tipped a record $160 million of pretax profit into the Flying Kangaroo’s pouch.

Qantas predicted the changes would be rolled out by September 2014 – but that never happened, leaving frequent flyers still earning the same relatively generous servings of points as they’ve done for years.

Change on the way…

But the revamp remains on the table, a Qantas spokeswoman confirmed to Australian Business Traveller.

“As flagged when we announced changes to Frequent Flyer earn rates in 2014, there will be changes made to the earn rates on Qantas’ partner airlines.”

“Changing those earn rates requires working with each partner individually and that’s a process that takes time given the number of partners.”

The spokesperson added that “like any change to the program we will provide appropriate notice ahead of any change taking place.”

What to watch for

The airline has previously suggested that the revised partner points-earning formula would take its cue from Qantas’ own system, which as of July 2014 has seen travellers earning Qantas Points based on the type and cost of their ticket rather than the outright distance of the flight.

That means passengers will likely earn more points for flying with partner airlines in business class and even more expensive economy tickets than the cheapest sale fares.

Flights could also fall into a number of geographical zones – such as Australia’s East Coast to Asia – rather than have their points calculated based on the overall distance flown.

Harder than it looks

Complicating the process for Qantas is that the number of frequent flyer points earned on partner airlines varies widely and wildly according to which airline you fly and which cabin you’re sitting in.

For example, flying in economy on Alaska Airlines, Fiji Airways, Iberia and LAN/TAM currently rakes in one Qantas Point per mile, with a 25% bonus in business class.

But in British Airways economy class the ratio drops to 0.25 Qantas Points for every mile flown – the same amount as applies to far more expensive fares on Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways.

 

Australian Business Traveller

Earn Qantas points at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, M&S, Saba

Qantas is adding over a dozen retailers to its Online Mall this month, with frequent flyers able to earn up to five points per dollar at new partners including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, Marks & Spencer, Samsung, Kogan, SportsCraft, SABA and J.Crew.

They’ll join current Qantas chums such as Apple, eBay, David Jones, The Iconic, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus and Selfridges in an ever-growing roster.

Saks Fifth Avenue, Marks & Spencer and Bonds will earn 5 Qantas Points per dollar spent through the Qantas Mall; SABA, SportsCraft and Bloomingdales will bring in 4 points per dollar.

Samsung, The Outnet, J.Crew and Seafolly rake in 3 points per dollar, with Kogan, Seed and Appliances Online at 2 Qantas points for every dollar spent.

Of course, using a Qantas-partnered credit card or Qantas Cash debit card to fill your online shopping cart provides an easy way to double dip on earnings.

Just be make sure you sign into the Online Mall with your Qantas Frequent Flyer number before you click through to start shopping at any partner in order for your transaction to earn the promised points.

“The Online Mall is proving popular partly because many members are earning Qantas Points for purchases they were going to make anyway, plus they’re saving time by not having to go in store” said Lesley Grant, CEO of Qantas Loyalty.

“We’ve also got a unique offering – thanks to overseas brands including America’s J Crew and Macy’s, and the UK’s Selfridges – because these are brands that don’t have a physical retail presence in Australia.”

 

Source : Australian Business Traveller

Should Qantas open an exclusive first class lounge in Sydney?

TALKING POINT | Qantas has arguably the world’s best first class lounge at Sydney Airport’s T1 international terminal. But should it go one better and add an exclusive lounge available only to those flying first class?

The question was raised in tangent by AusBT reader petrhsr when commenting on our story about Cathay Pacific’s new The Pier First Class lounge at Hong Kong.

 

Petrhsr suggested that Cathay Pacific should open a lounge with access restricted to the airline’s first class passengers.

No top-tier frequent flyers from the Marco Polo Club or their equivalents on Oneworld partner airlines. Not even first class travellers on other Oneworld members such as British Airways. “Just CX F, and only CX F” he stated.

“I see no reason why airlines shouldn’t have facilities that are for the exclusive use of the customers who spend the most for their tickets.”

It’s not an unheard-of concept. British Airways has its BA First-only Concorde Room at London Heathrow’s T5. Singapore Airlines has the SQ First-only haven in The Private Room at its Changi T3 hub.

Lufthansa goes a step further with an entire First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport.

(Admittedly it’s also open to HON Circle card-holders in the airline’s Miles & More frequent flyer scheme, but the need to clock up 600,000 miles in two years flying only business or first class on Lufthansa airlines makes this a very hard card to earn).

Should Qantas join that exclusive club?

There’s no doubt that Sydney’s flagship Qantas First Lounge gets very busy during peak periods of each day (geared around the airline’s morning and afternoon departures), and doubly so during school holidays.

The lounge’s award-winning restaurant is a significant drawcard, and there’s often a waiting list just to get a table.

But that list can include a traveller paying $7,000 to fly first class to London, as much as a Platinum-grade frequent flyer with Qantas (or any Oneworld) airline holding a $240 ticket to Auckland.

For that matter, even a cheeky $79 fare on one of the Jetstar Boeing 787s which fly from Sydney to Melbourne using each airport’s international terminals is enough to get a Platinum card-holder into the Qantas First Lounge.

Is this a reflection of a relatively egalitarian approach, or should Qantas make special allowances for those high-revenue passengers sitting at the pointy end?

This wouldn’t need to be a separate space outside of the confines of the Qantas First Lounge.

Perhaps the ‘lounge within a lounge’ concept would work best, with part of the current lounge being walled off (but with very classy walls, of course) to become a first-only haven with its own restaurant tables, its own seating, a top-shelf bar and a doorman to keep the ‘riff-raff’ out. (I’m joking about the ‘riff-raff’).

Nor would this arrangement be in breach of the Oneworld alliance rules.

British Airways’ Concorde Room, the arrivals lounges at BA and Cathay Pacific’s home ports on Heathrow and Hong Kong, and Qatar Airways Premium Lounge at  London Heathrow T4 are all restricted to passengers booked into their parent airline’s first class and business class cabins.

The first-only room within the Qantas First Lounge (should it be called The James Strong Room? The Hudson Fysh Room? Or ‘The Red Room’, after The Red Roo?) would be no different.

I fly extensively with Qantas and its Oneworld partners, both as a Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum card-holder booked into business class and sometimes using my points to sit in first class. So sometimes I’d be sitting in that exclusive first-only room, but most of the time I’d be on the other side of the frosted door.

 

 

Source : Australian Business Traveller

Qantas lowers fuel surcharges on frequent flyer award tickets

Fuel surcharges imposed on Qantas Frequent Flyer award tickets will fall by up to $130 from tomorrow as the airline rolls the cost of fuel into the base fares on international flights.

As a result, travellers trading their frequent flyer points on an overseas ticket won’t need to pay as much in additional fees.

However, unlike Virgin Australia’s surcharge shift last week, Qantas says there won’t be a reduction in the price of standard fully-paid tickets “as prices advertised to customers already include taxes and charges.”

For frequent flyers, the savings will cut up to $110 from the cost of selected return economy award bookings and up to $130 in premium economy.

However, the separate fuel surcharges currently remain in place for flights on the joint Qantas/Emirates network to the UK and Europe.

Last week saw Virgin Australia roll its $680 fuel surcharge into its base fares on flights from Brisbane and Sydney to Los Angeles, although notably hadn’t been imposing the surcharge on travellers redeeming their Velocity Frequent Flyer points.

“In a highly competitive environment where customers are already paying less than they were several years ago, lower oil prices can help put the industry on a more sustainable footing” said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce in announcing the changes.

“It means airlines are in a better position to invest in the new aircraft, new lounges and new routes that ultimately benefit customers.”

The airline also notes that “while global fuel prices have fallen in recent months, international air fares are extremely competitive and are significantly lower than when surcharges were first introduced 10 years ago.”

Using Qantas Frequent Flyer points for international economy travel has long been poor value, with a round trip from Sydney to London currently setting travellers back 128,000 points and $954 in government taxes and carrier surcharges.

To compare, economy sale fares on the same Qantas flights can frequently be found for around $1,600 – giving a mere half a cent of value per point redeemed.

 

Source : Australian Business Traveller

This week’s wrap for frequent flyers

Jetting to Los Angeles or Abu Dhabi in Virgin Australia business class? Under a triple points promotion, Velocity Platinum members would earn enough points on the round-trip for another trek there in premium economy!

Or if you’re working your way up the frequent flyer ladder, we’ll guide you through the ins and outs of Velocity Platinum status, with nifty benefits such as free business class upgrades and elite hotel status with Hilton or IHG.

Also in this week’s wrap, Qantas Gold and Platinum Frequent Flyer members just picked up new perks when travelling across the Oneworld alliance, while all Qantas members can now join the Qantas Golf Club to earn points on the green.

To wind things up, we’ll show you how to save big on Virgin Australia business class by buying Starpoints and then converting them into Velocity points, and how to pocket double points on credit card spend with the Commonwealth Bank.

New Oneworld benefits for Qantas Gold, Platinum frequent flyers

Qantas Gold and Platinum frequent flyers travelling across the Oneworld airline alliance now enjoy priority baggage delivery and a boosted baggage allowance, regardless of which member airline they choose to travel with.

In the same light, Oneworld Emerald and Oneworld Sapphire members now enjoy similar perks when jetting about with Qantas, or any other Oneworld airline.

That roster also includes top-tier travellers with American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways and more.

See what’s new for you: New Oneworld benefits for Qantas Gold, Platinum frequent flyers

Earn triple Virgin Australia frequent flyer points in the air

Virgin Australia is doling out triple Velocity points on business class, premium economy and economy flights for a short time, which means reaching that next free journey or business class upgrade even sooner.

It’s an even sweeter deal for Velocity Platinum members, who can book a single return trip to Los Angeles or Abu Dhabi in business class and earn back enough points to fly there again in premium economy.

But be quick – you’ll need to register for the deal and book your flights by this Sunday, December 7.

Don’t miss out: Earn triple Virgin Australia frequent flyer points in the air

Qantas Golf Club tees off – earn frequent flyer points when you putt

Qantas has launched its latest online community in the shape of the aptly-named Qantas Golf Club, aimed at frequent flyers who are also frequent golfers.

Members will be able to book tee times online at participating golf courses around Australia, earn Qantas Points for each round and, according to the airline, enjoy “access to exclusive golf events and tournaments.”

Read more: Earn frequent flyer points when you putt

Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum: the unofficial guide

This week we drill down into Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program to see what its top-tier Platinum members can enjoy when on the road or in the air.

Among the list of perks, you’ll get four free upgrades from economy to business class each year, access to first class lounges in Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi even when booked on the cheapest economy ticket, and double points on eligible flights.

Read more: Our unofficial guide to Velocity Platinum

Buying Starpoints for cheap Virgin Australia business class upgrades

Fancy not one, but three business class upgrades with Virgin Australia for just over $600?

Under a new Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) promotion, its own points are currently for sale at discounts of up to 25% and can then be converted to Velocity points on a 1:1 basis, with a 5,000-point bonus to boot.

All up, you’ll save thousands of dollars when flying at the pointy end by buying a Flexi fare and then using your stash of points to confirm an upgrade to business class.

Here’s how it’s done: Buying Starpoints for cheap Virgin Australia business class upgrades

Earn double Qantas, Velocity points on Commonwealth Bank Awards credit cards

By whipping out your Commonwealth Bank Awards MasterCard over the coming months you could earn double Qantas or Virgin Australia Velocity frequent flyer points on your everyday spend.

Just use the card between December 1 2014 and February 1 2015 and give CBA’s new ‘Lock, Block and Limit’ banking tools a whirl to earn double points on every MasterCard transaction.

With double points, Diamond Awards cardholders will earn 1.25 Qantas or Velocity frequent flyer points per dollar spent on their Diamond MasterCard, which, albeit temporarily, rivals some of the best non-AMEX cards in the Australian market.

Read more: Earn double Qantas, Velocity points with CBA

 

Source : Australian Business Traveller