Is this an "activity" that can extend the 18 months expiry date of QFF points?

[jokes128]

Hi fellow AFFers,

My QFF points are due to expire in Feb 2021(last activity Aug 2019). I am currently overseas and cannot come back to Australia at present with all the inbound restrictions, and no chance of overseas travel/hotel stay during this pandemic.

As I can't see myself earning or using any QFF points before the expiry date of Feb 2021, I am wondering whether I can make use of the free cancellation condition with Qantas redemption tickets in order to create an "activity" and therefore reset my 18 months validity/expiry date.

My question is, if I book a one way redemption domestic flight now on Qantas or Jetstar and cancel it before 30 October 2020:
(i) Does it count as an "activity"(both for booking and cancelling) so that the new expiry date of my QFF points will be extended to 18 months after the cancellation date?
(ii) Is the free cancellation means a full refund(inclusive of taxes/fees) to the credit card used for the booking? Or do they only give you a credit voucher of the payment amount to be used in future?
(iii) and is the cancellation/refund process easy to do it on internet after logging in to my QFF account? Or I need to ring the call centre to organise for the refund(and perhaps even need to pay a fee for the staff assisted cancellation)?

Ta

 

[ksthommo]

Wellbeing app should tick over your activity
https://insurance.qantas.com/wellbeing/qantaswellbeingapp

 

[astrosly]

Qantas Points expiry | Qantas Frequent Flyer

Your Qantas Points won't expire if you earn or use Qantas Points through your account at least once every 18 months (some conditions apply).

www.qantas.com

( i) According to the information, using points counts as activity.
(ii) You get the points back and any payments refunded back to your payment method.
(iii) You can cancel online. If you are charged a cancellation fee, give it a couple of days for an adjustment or call QF to request it be reversed.

 

[muppet]

Hi fellow AFFers,

My QFF points are due to expire in Feb 2021(last activity Aug 2019). I am currently overseas and cannot come back to Australia at present with all the inbound restrictions, and no chance of overseas travel/hotel stay during this pandemic.

As I can't see myself earning or using any QFF points before the expiry date of Feb 2021, I am wondering whether I can make use of the free cancellation condition with Qantas redemption tickets in order to create an "activity" and therefore reset my 18 months validity/expiry date.

My question is, if I book a one way redemption domestic flight now on Qantas or Jetstar and cancel it before 30 October 2020:
(i) Does it count as an "activity"(both for booking and cancelling) so that the new expiry date of my QFF points will be extended to 18 months after the cancellation date?
(ii) Is the free cancellation means a full refund(inclusive of taxes/fees) to the credit card used for the booking? Or do they only give you a credit voucher of the payment amount to be used in future?
(iii) and is the cancellation/refund process easy to do it on internet after logging in to my QFF account? Or I need to ring the call centre to organise for the refund(and perhaps even need to pay a fee for the staff assisted cancellation)?

Ta

Based on the T&Cs, I would say yes:

'Active Member' at a point in time, means a Member who has earned or redeemed Qantas Points or Status Credits (excluding any transfer of Qantas Points to or from an Eligible Family Member and excluding any transfer of Qantas Points from Qantas Business Rewards) on their Membership Account within the previous consecutive 18 whole month period from that point in time;

 

[justinbrett]

Can't you just rent a car?

 

[ChrisMars]

This whole book / cancel seems a bit complicated and uncertain, surely there are ways to get your points extended tht works for you. A few examples, in addition to what was already suggested:
- afterpay gives 500 points for new signups.
- You could do a small redemptions, i.e. a donation to red cross or other charities: 2900 points redemption.
- You could signup to bp and ask a friend or family to use your card next time they do petrol.
- You could wait to see if Qantas announces new partnership with signup bonuses.

 

[Scr77]

No is the answer your original question. Since you would not take the flight, there would not be any points credited to your account.

The suggestions above are good. You could buy some wine (qantas site) and send to someone in AU. Or use qantas shopping/ebay/airbnb/hotels. There are lots of options simpler than chasing Qantas for a flight refund.

 

[VPS]

Buy wine

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Wellbeing app.

Under current T&Cs and with the options available there is no excuse for ever having your points expire. It's really so easy to keep them going

 

[serfty]

No is the answer your original question. Since you would not take the flight, there would not be any points credited to your account.

To be clear, redeeming points for an award booking counts as "activity" on the date the points are debited. It does not matter that such booking gets subsequently cancelled. In fact the redeposit of points for a cancelled award booking counts as "activity" as well . (Also the 6000 point per passenger cancellation fee when charged is "activity".)

 

[Kerrodt]

Enrol in red planet surveys at www.redplanetportal.com.au and you get sent emails to complete surveys and get paid in qantas points. 10 minutes on one survey and you’re done. Free. No hassles. Ensure you say you’re in Australia. Don’t bother messing around with these flight cancellation ideas.

 

[Scr77]

To be clear, redeeming points for an award booking counts as "activity" on the date the points are debited. It does not matter that such booking gets subsequently cancelled. In fact the redeposit of points for a cancelled award booking counts as "activity" as well . (Also the 6000 point per passenger cancellation fee when charged is "activity".)

True. I was thinking of a refundable paid ticket.

 

[Anna]

Buy someone a toaster as a gift

 

[Daver6]

You can earn points with purchases at Kogan. IF you need to buy a gift at some point for someone. Otherwise just buy something for a few dollars and send it somewhere. I think that would be one of the easier ways to earn a couple of points.

 

[get me outta here]

So, getting the Qantas PJ‘s nuts and teabags care package back that would be enough to keep the points alive for $25 delivered? (If they list some more).

 

[p--and--t]

Wellbeing app definitely.

Simplest, easiest, no-cost, configure/set&forget, updating your points balance regularly with no action required by you accept to get 6 hours sleep at night in one go at least once a month.

 

[Mattg]

If you don’t want to download the Qantas Wellbeing app, you could also join HOYTS Rewards for free and link your Qantas account. You get 100 points.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Wellbeing app definitely.

Simplest, easiest, no-cost, configure/set&forget, updating your points balance regularly with no action required by you accept to get 6 hours sleep at night in one go at least once a month.

Although I find the more I order and consume from QF Wine the fewer times per month I get my required hours of sleep for the Wellbeing app

 

[jokes128]

Thanks to everyone who contributed the various methods to keep QFF points alive. I know some of the methods(like Wellbeing app but I am not sure if it works outside Australia, or the recently announced AfterPay signup). It was a pity I missed out on those $25 QF J class amenities on Friday and I would jump into it in the unlikely event that QF offers these again.

I am not a wine person so I have no idea which wine is good(and economical) to get, and renting a car(when I don't need it) seems to be an expensive way to extend the points. The HOYTS reward is interesting as I am not aware of it before. And I have not heard about Red Planet so I might have a look into it too.

Thank you once again for all your input.

 

[ABC]

My QFF points are due to expire in Feb 2021(last activity Aug 2019). I am currently overseas and cannot come back to Australia at present with all the inbound restrictions, and no chance of overseas travel/hotel stay during this pandemic.

Or use qantas shopping/ebay/airbnb/hotels. There are lots of options simpler than chasing Qantas for a flight refund.

As someone based outside Australia, I find using ebay through Qantas shopping useful for keeping my account active. You only need to buy something at a dollar to earn a point, and of course ebay is worldwide so it doesn't matter that you are not currently in Australia.

It does normally take around three months for the points to credit to your Qantas account, but as your expiry isn't until Feb 2021 if you buy something now, it should credit in plenty of time.