Sometimes it’s better to pay for flights to a major airline hub and then use Qantas points to get into first class for the long haul. One of my favourite starting hubs is Hong Kong.
While we all accept there are airport taxes that must be passed on, some airlines (think Qantas and BA) add a charge on top of the taxes. Even after Qantas have reduced their ad-ons, they still seem higher than other airlines (as per the table below).
By putting in some dates for next year from Sydney to Milan, you can see how the points and taxes vary!
| Frequent Flyer Program | Points | Taxes | Flying With |
| Singapore KrisFlyer | 115,000 | $102 | Singapore |
| United MileagePlus | 90,000 | $128 | ANA/Air China |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 152,000 | $365 | Qantas/Cathay |
Clearly it makes sense to see if there are other options.
The Hong Kong Hack
One of my preferred hacks is to fly out of Hong Kong. Not many people realise the Government of Hong Kong (or China) have banned additional charges on redemptions. This means that Qantas and other airlines can only pass on the airport taxes.
This makes Hong Kong a great starting point for a points adventure.
There are lots of awesome airlines and destinations you can get to from Hong Kong. Milton’s post on Wikipedia is a great way to start your planning. You can pick up Cathay and Emirates first class flights, plus a range of others.
Emirates is my favourite because its first class product is just so good: showers on board, wonderful crew, great amenity kits, bottomless Dom…the list goes on. Did I mention the caviar and vodka?
Emirates also has five flights leaving Hong Kong, which means you can find a lot of availability online. Use the multi city search to find the best connecting flights from Hong Kong
How to book the Hong Kong Points Redemption
I recommend with this hack that you lock in the redemption first by using your points. You then pay cash (with a card or Amex voucher) for the return flights to Hong Kong, collecting points and status credits. Consider using the Qantas flight alerts feature to track flights and prices (business class return can be as low as AUD3k).
With the combination of civil unrest and airline competition (Virgin flying to Hong Kong), prices to Hong Kong are very reasonable.
Both Qantas and Virgin only provide overnight flights back to Australia. If you are travelling economy, then Cathay is a great choice, providing day time flights back to Sydney.
Summary: Sometimes it is better to use cash to get to your starting destination and then use points for the long haul.
