Anyone transferring/withdrawing qantas points?

[jakeseven7]

It's been quite some time where I've lost interest in frequent flyer programs. I enjoy status benefits but find trying to redeem points too difficult so the availability on dates I want travel is more important.

The stupid mistake I made was not using points for domestic flights as there was quite a saving to be had there. Ah for hindsight.

Don’t beat yourself up JohnK, VA went downhill very quickly - even on AFF, members were only given insight about 3-4 weeks ago about the real possibility they might go into VA.

 

[Pom-DownUnder]

It's been quite some time where I've lost interest in frequent flyer programs. I enjoy status benefits but find trying to redeem points too difficult so the availability on dates I want travel is more important.

The stupid mistake I made was not using points for domestic flights as there was quite a saving to be had there. Ah for hindsight.

Yea I try not to stick my oar in too much as I know i'm not 'typical' for this forum i'm certainly not a frequent flier, I basically want to twist things so the yearly / once every two years trip back to UK I make (basically the only travel I do, single income household blah blah) can be done entirely or partially in business so i'll screw with my dates and kiss the ring to make it happen at 6'1 130kg lol.

the idea of burning precious points on domestic would send shivers up my spine!

 

[Rich]

the idea of burning precious points on domestic would send shivers up my spine!

I wish I could say the same. Any international travel I do is with family and in peak time and it is impossible to find J flights for us and can rarely economy either. So I find domestic economy the best use of points. 8000 QF points plus about $30 to travel between Sydney and Melbourne (for example) beats paying $120 or flying a low cost airline for a little less.

 

[sigmasausage]

Hi all,

Similar to the thread over in Virgin - is anyone pre-emptively withdrawing or redeeming points, transferring to partner airlines?

While Qantas isn't shouting about administration like Virgin surely there may be a risk of futur echanges should flight not return for some time, or even a downgrade in the quality of the frequent flyer progam?

if others read my posts in other threads I haven't been particularly thrilled with the service we got in amending our one world itinerary (which now costs more points to redeem). Combined with the normal difficulty of even getting award seats - probably worse now that everyone has pent up points to use on travel once it reopens - the appeal of the points and QFF program appear to be diminishing. If Virgin goes under I assume competition lessens and even less reason for availability to be provided.

Presumably no rush on Qantas now which is why I am pre-emptively wondering if anyone is planning ahead and reducing their points balances?

I spent all mine last week, delivery tracking to arrive Thursday. Wish I had done Virgin earlier - looks like I have lost a tonne of points because they are only honouring up to 12 April

 

[MikeG]

I have over a million QFF points being refunded from a cancelled global trip - not sure when I'll actually get the points, as the flights were cancelled weeks ago. Qantas still has over $6k in taxes they are yet to refund me too.

 

[jakeseven7]

Wish I had done Virgin earlier - looks like I have lost a tonne of points because they are only honouring up to 12 April

I wouldn't be worrying about QF, but if it makes you sleep better at night then you did the right thing for you.

And don't lose sleep over VA - its not over till the fat billionare leaves the building

 

[Pom-DownUnder]

I have over a million QFF points being refunded from a cancelled global trip - not sure when I'll actually get the points, as the flights were cancelled weeks ago. Qantas still has over $6k in taxes they are yet to refund me too.

wow!

 

[Pushka]

I spent all mine last week, delivery tracking to arrive Thursday. Wish I had done Virgin earlier - looks like I have lost a tonne of points because they are only honouring up to 12 April

What did you get? I must admit I did check out the site.

 

[Matt_01]

the idea of burning precious points on domestic would send shivers up my spine!

I am currently contemplating how I will use my QF points and as much as I hate to admit it I am actually thinking about about using points for my regular domestic trips. Based on my current balance I could use these for approximately 250 trips in Y (I book flexible fares) and save approximately $100K or 110 trips in J and save approximately $73K in real money.

I am sure that the $100K saving could be easily reused for paid international J or F travel with any carrier and not searching for international rewards seats.

 

[jakeseven7]

I will only use my QF points for domestic flying if the international flying is shut down past mid 2021 is my strategy.

 

[Rich]

What did you get? I must admit I did check out the site.

I am contemplating a Sonos Playbase. A shocking use of 170000 points ($900 item) but it is still $900 I don't have to spend now and I won't be flying anywhere for a while.

 

[MikeG]

Just booked return J fares to cairns for the winter. Plenty of availability!!! 230,000 points for a party of four CBR-BNE then a road trip to cairns and then flights back to CBR. 3 weeks of warmth!!!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Nope not touching my QFF balance just now. Will be keeping an eye on things as they unfold. Much like I did with VA before shifting my VFF points to SQ.

 

[RichardMEL]

There seems little reason to spend QFF points - even more so with VA in its current situation. Regardless of what happens with VFF (which is not done and dusted in any way) if anything QFF is probably safer than it was.

However absolutely have no issue or would talk anyone out of doing what feels right for them. Everyone is in different situations and specially at this time when the future is uncertain, and some people may have lost income and security, than using points as a currency makes quite a deal off sense.

Luckily I am not in this situation myself (for now anyway!) so I am sticking fat with QFF but absolutely understand the variety of views and strategies expressed

 

[tomlee1986]

There seems little reason to spend QFF points - even more so with VA in its current situation. Regardless of what happens with VFF (which is not done and dusted in any way) if anything QFF is probably safer than it was.

However absolutely have no issue or would talk anyone out of doing what feels right for them. Everyone is in different situations and specially at this time when the future is uncertain, and some people may have lost income and security, than using points as a currency makes quite a deal off sense.

Luckily I am not in this situation myself (for now anyway!) so I am sticking fat with QFF but absolutely understand the variety of views and strategies expressed

I must agree with you there.. as I stated before, Qantas earns more in the frequent flyer program than all of its flying division for the last few years. I see not too much of a need to redeem points in QF at this time

 

[Lomandriel]

With the loss of virgin do people not think that award flights and redemption rates may go down on qantas as they have one less competitor and reason to stay competitive? it also leaves all the frequent flyers targetting qantas now and mums and dads with only qantas (if velocity doesn't survive) which means even more points building in qantas and targeting of limited award seats. I presume they will decrease the appeal /value of a point from thereon? Anyone else thinking it'll be the opposite?

 

[RichardMEL]

good question re deval. I think we all expect one to come post CV.. but I think QF would want to be very careful to do it too soon (whatever shape VA is in or emerges from the current situation). As/when things ramp up they will want to a) get pax b) reduce liability c) keep customers coming back ... so pissing them off with devaluations and the like is probably not going to be top of the list while trying to get themselves back on track.

but after that yeah.. can see it coming specially yes if a new VA does not offer a lot of competition.

 

[p--and--t]

good question re deval. I think we all expect one to come post CV.. but I think QF would want to be very careful to do it too soon (whatever shape VA is in or emerges from the current situation). As/when things ramp up they will want to a) get pax b) reduce liability c) keep customers coming back ... so pissing them off with devaluations and the like is probably not going to be top of the list while trying to get themselves back on track.

but after that yeah.. can see it coming specially yes if a new VA does not offer a lot of competition.

Agree; given even QF is not a 100% guaranteed to come out of this in good shape and no idea how improved VA will be after the restructure I assume they will be “keeping their powder dry” until they feel confident of their market power again.

 

[JohnK]

the idea of burning precious points on domestic would send shivers up my spine!

I don't believe in putting an imaginary value on points.

Although I have spent between $160-$270 for quite a few BNE-SYD flights the past couple of years which almost gives a real return of 2c/point.

 

[Happy Trails]

Holding on to mine until the Qantas Store starts selling PPE and antiviral drugs.