Is this a good use of Frequent Flyer miles?
 

West Palm Beach to Christchurch, New Zealand. Connections are good on March 21. Returning isn't as good. Christchurch to Sydney on JetStar, Sydney to LAX, LAX to Dallas, Dallas to Fort Lauderdale returning on April 3. (I wanted April 5)

Qantas in economy across the Pacific. AA award travel on AA to LAX in economy. 75,000 miles, total fees, $54.00.

To purchase the ticket it would be around $1,900.

I don't think it's ever a good use of miles to redeem them for coach seats. You get much better value in business or first. And that's a long set of flights to suffer in coach.

That is true. However, I need 120,000 miles for Business and I only have 95,000. Should I wait another year? Qantas does treat one quite well in coach; free alcohol, good movies, video on demand.

Is it pretty hard to get a Business reward ticket on Qantas with AA for 120,000 miles?

I have a two-week hold on the ticket.

<i>Is it pretty hard to get a Business reward ticket on Qantas with AA for 120,000 miles?</i>

Generally yes, but asking is free.

Head over to www.flyertalk.com and check out the forums on &quot;mileage runs&quot; and the trip reports (especially those by a dude with the moniker seat2a). You might find ways to get the extra 25k miles inexpensively and have fun doing it. BTW. you can check award availability on Qantas by signing up for their frequent flyer program and using their online search tool (you don't need to have earned any of their miles to do this).

Look at it another way.

If you need to go to NZ and you either spend the miles or pay the big money, then spending the miles make sense.

Can you use miles to upgrade that itinerary? If you bought tickets you'd earn up to 22,000 miles so that you would be close to the business class award level.

Funny that flyertalk was mentioned. In the MR forum was a thread about $1480 refundable business class tix to New Zealand from LAX/SFO. I got five but have refunded two. The fare is gone now, tho.

<i>In the MR forum was a thread about $1480 refundable business class tix to New Zealand from LAX/SFO. I got five but have refunded two. The fare is gone now, tho.</i>

Must remember to check the MR forum more often :((

Thanks for your comments. (Just got back into town). I have another ten days to decide. I think I will call back and see if I can get a more direct flight back. If I can, I will do it.

&quot;In the MR forum was a thread about $1480 refundable business class tix to New Zealand from LAX/SFO&quot;

Not only refundable - but UPGRADEABLE!! My wife and I will be in AKL, flying F all the way for 2900$ all-in R/T.
:-D

Best, Dave

Wally,
I think someotherguy was suggesting you pay for a coach ticket and upgrade to business.