Even with the changes affecting Amex cards in April 2019, the American Express Qantas Ultimate card still remains to be one of the highest-earning Qantas Points cards in the market.
In addition to our 7 ‘Ultimate’ ways to use Qantas Points, we wanted to hear from you, so we put a shout out asking our readers to share real-life stories of how they had chosen to use Qantas Points for a trip that was new, different, or otherwise one that they wouldn’t have taken in the same way. For us, that’s what points are all about. Here are a few of those stories…
Our take on the ‘Ultimate’ uses of Qantas Points is here – it looks like readers agree!
This article was produced in partnership with American Express.
Win 1: Chris & Erin fly to Auckland in First Class for their ten-year wedding anniversary
Qantas Points used: 216,000 points (jumps to 248,800 from 18 September 2019) + $399 in taxes
Route: Melbourne – Auckland – Melbourne
Airline: Emirates
Cabin: First Class
Neither of us had ever flown international First or Business Class before, so we were both very much looking forward to seeing how things were ‘at the pointy end’ or more appropriately ‘upstairs at the pointy end’ in Emirates A380 First Class Suites.
Our departing flight left Melbourne at 8am, which coincided nicely with the 6am opening time of the Qantas First Class Lounge (which Point Hacks has reviewed here). Erin and I were the first customers for the day and this gave us the opportunity to test out the à la carte breakfast menu.
We tested the famed Dom Perignon 2006, which was fantastic, and took a walk through the Business Class cabin to order a drink at the onboard bar. After a few glasses of Dom, it was time to test the quality of the lie-flat bed – I can confirm that it was indeed extremely comfortable.
The flight itself was a fantastic experience with wonderful service and friendly staff who were only too keen to help. We were treated to our own excellent quality pyjamas and amenity kits which we were told were ‘available upon request’ on the short trans-Tasman flight.
We really could have done with another few hours on board but, all in all, it was a wonderful experience.
I’d thoroughly recommend testing out the Emirates A380 First Class Suite, even if only one way for the paltry sum of 54,000 Qantas points each way plus minimal taxes flying from (now only) Sydney to Christchurch. We felt like royalty for a few hours and it certainly set the scene for a wonderful ten-year wedding anniversary celebration.
Win 2: Marcus flies oneworld Business Class to Europe to experience his first (snowy) European winter
Qantas Points used: 280,000 points (jumps to 318,000 from 18 September 2019) + $1,200 in taxes
Route: Sydney – Kuala Lumpur – Frankfurt – Helsinki – Copenhagen – made his own way to Stockholm and Prague – Dublin – London – Kuala Lumpur – Sydney
Airline: Malaysia Airlines, Finnair and British Airways
Cabin: Business Class
In the northern winter of December 2015-January 2015, I was able to utilise my Qantas Points for a oneworld Business Class redemption, taking me to places I had only ever dreamed of spending a snowy European winter.
To be able to get the following amazing schedule, I had to book my trip the ten months in advance.
First, I positioned myself in Frankfurt, flying Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur, making my way to Helsinki as my first city to visit.
I was then able to visit Copenhagen, Stockholm, Prague and Dublin, before spending seven nights in London as the last leg of my trip before heading home to Sydney via Kuala Lumpur again.
Win 3: Adele heads from Auckland to Sydney in First Class after introducing her 3 month old to his grandparents
Qantas Points used: 54,000 points (jumps to 62,200 from 18 September 2019)
Route: Auckland – Sydney
Airline: Emirates
Cabin: First Class Suite
Another A380 First Class redemption!
Emirates A380 first class is arguably one of the most ostentatious airline experiences out there, and I’ve always been keen to try it.
Recently, I got my chance. My family and I spent Christmas in New Zealand introducing our infant son to his grandparents.
I was booked to fly home on an economy redeye with Qantas. As luck would have it, a seat on Emirates flight from Auckland to Sydney opened up a few days before we were due to fly home, and I jumped at the opportunity to redeem just 54,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer points for the 3 hour 20 minute trip. I was able to book my three month old son an infant ticket for no extra charge.
The flight was incredible!
Upon boarding, I was shown to my spacious suite and welcomed with a glass of Dom Perignon vintage 2006 champagne.
Glass of Dom Perignon vintage 2006
Around 30 minutes following take off, a three course meal was served, and I enjoyed a seafood trio starter, beef fillet main course, and a decadent cheese plate to finish. I capped my meal off with a nip of Hennessy Paradis – one of the most expensive cognacs in the world.
Hennessy Paradis Extra Rare Cognac, which retails for almost $1000 AUD per bottle
All in all, it was a flight to remember, and I was grateful for the opportunity to use my points to travel in comfort with my young son.
My own personal win – from a few years ago, a trip to Malaysia to spend time with my sister
Qantas Points used: 90,000 Qantas Points (jumps to 102,600 from 18 September 2019)
Route: Melbourne – Singapore
Airline: Qantas
Cabin: First Class
I had to include one of my own too. This was around 4 years ago now, but the trip as a whole really meant a lot – it was the first time I’d been able to spend some significant time with my sister in some time, and we managed to meet halfway (kind of) between Australia (me) and the UK (her), in Malaysia.
The flight costs in both directions were massively offset by using points, which I covered in this review of Qantas’ A380 flight between Melbourne and Singapore at the time here.
The flight itself was not remarkable – well, of course First Class is always good, but it didn’t totally blow me away. That said, without those points I wouldn’t have been able to take such a memorable trip, so for that, I’m very grateful.
Summing up
Qantas Points are, for good reason, some of the most popular for travellers in our region. Qantas Frequent Flyer has it’s downsides too – but there’s no escaping how prevalent the program is in Australia, and how many people manage to use them to travel more, further or better than they would have otherwise.
If you need more ideas on how to use Qantas Points, check out our guide to the ultimate uses of Qantas Points for some inspiration.
Hopefully this gives you some ideas how you might be able to use your own Qantas Points balance in future.
Looking for more inspiration for how to spend your hard-earned frequent flyer points?
Here is a comprehensive list of all of our Best Uses of Points guides. There may be some overlap but each guide has its own twist.
Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Best uses of Qantas Points
- ‘Ultimate’ uses of Qantas Points
- Best uses of 60,000 Qantas Points
- Best uses of 75,000 Qantas Points
- Best uses of 100,000 Qantas Points
- Best uses of 150,000 Qantas Points
- When it makes sense to use your Qantas Points for domestic travel in Economy (and when it doesn’t)
- Best uses of Qantas Points from the East Coast
- Best uses of Qantas Points from Perth
- Reader responses: what is the best use of Qantas Points?
- Seven of the cheapest Qantas Points redemptions for luxurious Emirates flights
- The cheapest ways to fly Cathay Pacific First Class with Qantas Points
Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Best uses of Velocity Points
- Best uses of 40,000 Velocity Points
- Best uses of 80,000 Velocity Points
- Best uses of 100,000 Velocity Points
- Five flight redemptions that maximise your Velocity points balance
American Express Membership Rewards
Cathay
KrisFlyer
Etihad Guest
- Best uses of Etihad Guest miles
- Etihad Guest vs Velocity for Virgin Australia flights comparison guide
thanks ..!
Ps: tried to look for points and pay any seat award, the cost is ridiculously high.
Sydney > Beijing > San Francisco > Cancun > Casablanca > Cape Town > Sydney
280,000 pts + $1,100 in taxes.
Brisbane > El Calafate > New York > London > Hong Kong > Tokyo > Brisbane
280,000 pts + 1,050 in taxes.
Honestly an EK redemption for the 3 hour return flight to Auckland is poor value when almost the same number of points will take you to five continents in Economy.
Also, If going to Europe via HKG the HKG-FRA sector comes just under a mileage band!
Trying to use QF points otherwise incurs ridiculous charges!
So I have flown, for example:
FRA-HKG (CX First) for 114,000 QF pts and about $150
EXAMPLE – EUROPE
Just booked MXP-HKG (CX First ) for 134,000 QF pts and $50
The whole itinerary (which obviously uses Avios and SQ as well as QF so probably doesn’t count under the heading of this article):
CNS-SYD QF Business (20,000 AA pts plus $30)
SYD-SIN-LHR First (112,625 SQ pts plus $492)
LHR-VCE BA Business / Club Europe (15,000 Avios plus $50)
MXP-HKG CX First (134,000 QF pts plus $50)
HKG-CNS CX Business (60,000 Avios plus $80)
(Incidentally, the above itinerary could be done for significantly less points if Alaska Mileage Plan was used for the CX legs home (saving about 90,000 pts) or the itinerary was re-rpoutied to come home on SQ on DQ First).
The above saves about $1,000 in charges compared with an equivalent QF itinerary routed via DXB.
The above trip also features savings of about $15,000 on accommodation:
1 night Singapore InterContinental (IHG points) save $450
7 nights London InterContinental (IHG points) save $6,000
5 nights Gritti Palace Venice (SPG points) save $7,500
2 nights Hong Kong InterContinental (IHG points) save $1,000
Grand savings on airfares plus accommodation about $32,000…now when the Lake Como Hilton starts reservations I may be able to add another 5 rewards nights to achieve savings on flights and hotels in excess of $35,000 for one trip to Europe.
EXAMPLE – USA
Also just booked up a MEL-LAX-MEL in QF first for 140,00o Alaska points and about $150 (Alaska doesn’t charge the excessive charges on QF flights) – about half the points that QF would charge and a cash saving of about $800.
EXAMPLE – AUSTRALIA in the Old Days of Marginal Awards
QF used to award status credits on marginal awards booked on points. So, flew CNS-BNE-PER-BME-PER-BNE-CNS for 72,000 QF pts in total and scored 800 status credits with a two-day Christmas break in Broome!
Will also use the trip to get some cheap VA status credits on DL, and will return on VA J from LAX to BNE in the new year.
Hong Kong, London and Dallas USA.
Fantastic Trip. About 500,000 points