Another noob.....

[qiktune]

Hi guys, recently joined and first post.

Firstly - what an awesome resource this is for idiots like myself!!! Thanks for keeping it alive and sharing all the tips and knowledge.

About me. Up until Christmas last year, when I began to do some reading, I never realized the value of FF points and have now become almost obsessive about them (much to the amusement of my wife!). I now have an "Everyday Rewards" card which has a paltry 4500 points on it. These points go directly to my Qantas FF membership. I've also begun transferring funds to my Qantas Cash card and use it instead of my regular debit card. How am I going......??

A trip to Tokyo a couple of weeks ago to see Paul McCartney was on Vietnam Airlines and all points went onto a Golden Lotus membership I recently signed up to. I have a trip to Paris coming up in August, also with VN and hoping that'll bag me a couple more of those precious points!

I'm here mostly to learn how you guys accumulate and spend points, also to learn about economic routing, etc. I'm a keen amateur aviation photographer so time spent in airports I've never visited before is always a bonus.

Thanks guys,

Brett

 

[TomVexille]

Welcome aboard!

Would love to see some of your photos.

 

[qiktune]

Hi Tom, thanks for the welcome.

Using my phone at the moment so unsure how to post photos and/or avatar. You're quite welcome to visit my Instagram profile if you wish. "Qwiktyoon" is the user name.

 

[Mattg]

Welcome Brett! AFF certainly is a great resource.

My only advice for your upcoming trips on VN would be to work out how many points you'll earn in total from all the flights, and where those VN miles might get you. If you have a particular goal, and those miles will be enough to get you there, then fantastic! However you may find that you're better off transferring to another SkyTeam program if the miles will be put to better use there. Though I'm not an expert on SkyTeam. Just another thing to think about.

 

[qiktune]

.....an oldie but a favourite.

 

[qiktune]

It worked!☺

 

[qiktune]

Excellent, thanks for the advice Matt!
I was unsure which Skyteam airline to use that would reap me greater rewards hence the last minute decision to go with Golden Lotus. My original thought was Air France/KLM but read that after 2 years or so of no flights with either of those airlines the points are forfeited.

 

[TomVexille]

Love it!

 

[Mattg]

Excellent, thanks for the advice Matt!
I was unsure which Skyteam airline to use that would reap me greater rewards hence the last minute decision to go with Golden Lotus. My original thought was Air France/KLM but read that after 2 years or so of no flights with either of those airlines the points are forfeited.

A bit of research probably wouldn't go astray. I did about 6 VN flights several years ago (before I knew what I was doing) and credited them to Golden Lotus. They ended up just expiring after about 3 years from memory - I didn't go back to Vietnam during that time and just never got around to using them.

Some relatives recently flew J return to Europe on Korean Air. They credited to Korean and weren't sure what to do with the miles. Turns out they can be used to fly Emirates.

I don't personally know enough about SkyTeam airlines to advise you where to credit - but just make sure you do it with a goal in mind or you might find that you can't use the points and they end up going to waste.

 

[wooley]

Welcom! I followed your Instagram.. Good stuff

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF qiktune!

 

[Hvr]

And another welcome aboard qiktune, look forward to seeing more of your photos here on AFF.

 

[Steady]

Nice photo qiktune, welcome aboard

 

[qiktune]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone, you guys are awesome!

Geez, there's some reading and research to be done here!!!

I should qualify myself to make it easier for anyone wanting to advise. I'm not loaded with money, regular 9-5 job, if I want to fly I have to save and buy discount airfares (hello Skyscanner), I've only ever travelled in economy (Y), I stay in the cheapest hotels wherever I go (I only need a bed and shower), and at 44 years old I've never had a credit card.....and don't really want to get one now. My only way of accumulating points are via shopping (EDR and Qantas Cash card) and actually flying, so you can see why I really want to get bang for my buck when it comes to putting points into the most beneficial awards program.

As far as travel goes, just back from Tokyo, in August I'll be heading to Paris for 3 weeks (perhaps loiter around the Riviera and northern Italy for part of that) and next year one of the trips I'd like to make is to Rishikesh (I'm a Beatles nut!).

I hope all of that will help with any advice you'd like to share.

 

[KScott]

awesome photo!

 

[Renato1]

I've also begun transferring funds to my Qantas Cash card and use it instead of my regular debit card. How am I going......??
Brett

You're doing what I started doing, and Qantas Cash is good for where they don't take American Express, or where there is a surcharge for using it.

With Qantas Cash you earn one point for every $2 spent. But the Qantas American Express Discovery card without any fees, (which is often advertised in the banner here) gets one a point for every dollar spent. I usually avoid American Express because some places have a surcharge on it or don't accept it - but it can be used for grocery shopping at Coles and Woolworths, which will deliver twice the points of Qantas Cash. (though I'm sure others can suggest even better cards)

Oh - and don't bother with Qantas Cash for overseas - in my opinion, it is way too expensive.
Regards,
Renato

 

[clazman]

welcome aboard