How much harder to get an AA mile versus a QF point? (for an Oz resident)

[amaroo]

It appears that an American Airlines mile is worth quite a bit more than a Qantas frequent flyer point.
Based on the latest redemptions how much more is this value. It seems to be at least 50% more valuable.

Depends how easy you can earn them. For me - AA is a poor choice based on the CC earn.

Different outcome if I could access a CC from the LOTFAP.

 

[straitman]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

Depends how easy you can earn them. For me - AA is a poor choice based on the CC earn.

Different outcome if I could access a CC from the LOTFAP.

Have you looked at it from the perspective of purchasing AA miles?

 

[amaroo]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

Have you looked at it from the perspective of purchasing AA miles?

Yes.... http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../maybe-ill-give-up-qff-60995.html#post1068154

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For people who harvest their points by purchasing AA miles the difference between AA and QFF is interesting - if I've done the math right.

Earn 384,000 QFFP via CC with no surcharge (ignoring CC annual fee) + co-pay of $1,550 and you've got yourself F SYD-LHR-SYD for AUD $1,550

Buy 120,000 AA points when they're running bonus specials, say 30% + co-pay of $5 and you've got yourself F SYD-LHR-SYD for for USD $3,300

If you're earning all of your QFF via ATO with Visa/M'card @ 0.42% (assuming 1P/$) that F SYD-LHR-SYD will set you back AUD $3,163

If you're earning all of your QFF points via the ATO with AMEX @ 1.45% that F SYD-LHR-SYD will set you back AUD $5,263

I intend moving over to BA, however I haven't worked out how I'm going to replicate my QFF point harvesting with the CC. Looks like I'm going to have to split the harvest and I'm not sure that is a good idea!

The other option is to forget about status completely (lucky I'm QF LTG) and bundle all those points into SQ and start gorging on lobster with a Krug throw down

 

[ketsuzei]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

Yes....

Nice analysis, and I envy your less-than-typical ability to manufacture points via the ATO, but I think it's worth separately considering (1) ability to earn points and (2) the value of those points once earned.

This thread could be very useful for (2).

 

[straitman]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

Buy 120,000 AA points when they're running bonus specials, say 30% + co-pay of $5 and you've got yourself F SYD-LHR-SYD for for USD $3,300

SYD-LHR-SYD in F on AA miles is 160,000 miles.

 

[amaroo]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

SYD-LHR-SYD in F on AA miles is 160,000 miles.

"Buy 120,000 AA points when they're running bonus specials, say 30% + co-pay of $5 and you've got yourself F SYD-LHR-SYD for for USD $3,300"

If you purchase during the AA bonus points @ 30% you only need to purchase around the 120,000 mark. IIRC - you can only purchase 80,000 AA miles per year.

I.E. buy 60,000 + 30% bonus = 78,000 x 2 = close enough to 160,000 AA miles

Don't forget the easy QFFP CC sign on bonuses.....SWMBO & I earned 200,000 QFFP last week with ANZ 50,000 x 2 + Investec 100,000

 

[JohnK]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

2:1 sounds like a reasonable average.

LOL. Wouldn't that depend entirely on how one earns the points?

A SYD-BNE flight booked in E class earns 800 QFF points or 0 AA miles.

So 0 AA miles are twice as valuable as 800 QFF points?

 

[ketsuzei]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

LOL. Wouldn't that depend entirely on how one earns the points?

Not even slightly, unless you think dirt is worth more than gold because you can just dig it up anywhere.

 

[JohnK]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

I can cherry pick too john.

Not cherry picking at all drron. Actually quite serious and a perfect example I raised but interesting to see people laugh off any suggestion I may have on this topic.

What you are describing is where all things are equal is it better to credit to AA. And the answer is more than likely yes.

A SYD-BNE flight in booking class E costs $89 and the first eligible booking class to credit to AA costs $145. Yep I'll go and spend ~$60 more to earn a few piddly AA miles.

QFF is certainly not perfect but it is laughable to suggest a blanket statement that AA miles are twice as valuable as QFF points. Especially when it costs very little or nothing for some people to earn those QFF points. Credit card sign on bonuses, Everyday Rewards, Epiqure just to name a few.

 

[serfty]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

...
QFF is certainly not perfect but it is laughable to suggest a blanket statement that AA miles are twice as valuable as QFF points. Especially when it costs very little or nothing for some people to earn those QFF points. Credit card sign on bonuses, Everyday Rewards, Epiqure just to name a few.

Earn/Burn is an interesting thing.

This thread is more about the Burn - i.e. If you have 200K QFF point and 200K AAdvantage points which have the best value redemptions?

Although interesting, and since you are generally using E class when you book on you domestic Qantas, E class earning is important. However, E class has nothing to do with Burn and hence little to do with this thread. (On the same Off Topic vein, with my own situation these days I rarely travel on QF for domestic journies as VA is generally cheaper. Being WP in both I have a choice and I do value a Velocity point more than a Qantas point [maybe at 150% - but that's still off topic].)

 

[NM]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

A SYD-BNE flight in booking class E costs $89 and the first eligible booking class to credit to AA costs $145. Yep I'll go and spend ~$60 more to earn a few piddly AA miles.

I'd be crediting an $89 E class QF booking to QFF. I would not be paying an extra $56 just to earn some AA miles. In fact I would not be paying an extra $10 to get AA miles instead of QFF point. If a flight I have booked that can earn AA miles, I generally credit to AA. But if not, and it will earn QFF then I'll happily take the QFF points. I won't pay a higher fare just to earn AA miles over QFF points.

I collect both AA miles and QFF points. I use QFF points for QF Y->J flight upgrades (normally on work trips) and I use AA miles for leisure/family redemption travel. So both are useful to me and have value to me.

And with credit cards, whatever I can buy via major supermarkets (including 5% discounted Wish Cards or other gift cards), goes on my Amex for 3 MR points per $ converting to AA miles via SPG. Everything else in Australia goes on WOW EDR Master Card for 1QFF point per $. And anything that would be foreign currency transaction goes on 28 Degrees MC and earns no points or miles.

 

[JohnK]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

But I book through QF with my Aadvantage number in the booking so no cost difference domestically in Australia.

Book to where? You can't be booking E class specials.

 

[drron]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

Book to where? You can't be booking E class specials.

But E is not always the only cheap fare.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

So to maximize value (as opposed to chasing status in one program), you would credit to QFF:

- QF E fares and any other fare which doesn't earn on AA (like CX discounted economy or non-OW codeshares)
- any other QF fares which earn more on QFF than AA
- Things unique to QFF like EDR
- hotels which don't credit to AA
- CC sign-on bonuses (like the 50,000 ANZ promo)

Everything else goes to AA?

 

[NM]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

So to maximize value (as opposed to chasing status in one program), you would credit to QFF:

- QF E fares and any other fare which doesn't earn on AA (like CX discounted economy or non-OW codeshares)
- any other QF fares which earn more on QFF than AA
- Things unique to QFF like EDR
- hotels which don't credit to AA
- CC sign-on bonuses (like the 50,000 ANZ promo)

Everything else goes to AA?

For me, I do not travel enough to earn/retain status in multiple FF programs. But I hold Lifetime Gold in QFF. So since there is no way I will fly enough to make it back to QFF Platinum in the foreseeable future, I credit whatever I can to AAdvantage in order to retain status there. I managed Exec Platinum for several years and have have retained AA Platinum for the last few years. But this year I may not retain Platinum and will fall back to my AAdvantage Lifetime Gold, which will be a shame since AAdvantage Platinum earns 100% status bonus with many partner airlines.

So whatever will earn towards status renewal I put to AAdvantage, and whatever will not earn on AA goes to QFF.

 

[knasty]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

Reminder laundering to AA via Spg even better at the moment 30000 AA for 20000 Spg.

 

[NM]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

Reminder laundering to AA via Spg even better at the moment 30000 AA for 20000 Spg.

Indeed I have already benefited once. Not sure I will have enough Amex MR points to transfer before the end of the promo, but may be pre-purchasing considerable Wish Cards soon

 

[Foreigner]

How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

Reminder laundering to AA via Spg even better at the moment 30000 AA for 20000 Spg.

Another twist for my case:

40000 Amex points = 20000 SPG points = 30000 AA miles

When does the promo end?

Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

 

[NM]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

Another twist for my case:

40000 Amex points = 20000 SPG points = 30000 AA miles

When does the promo end?

Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

See here for details: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rt-your-starpoints-into-aadvantage-61440.html. Expires end of July, so likely too late now.

 

[knasty]

Re: How much more valuable is an AA mile versus a QF point?

I buy and earn AA from longhaul oneworld flying. Warehouse Amex MR for VA and SQ. Get QF from EDR and credit card signon bonus. For my award use being J & F longhaul, and considering points burn, copay and award availability my rough ratio is AA 2.5, SQ 1.75, VA 1.5, QF 1. THis thread is th definition of YMMV.