Article: I Have Zero Qantas Points and It Feels Liberating

[AFF Editor]

I Have Zero Qantas Points and It Feels Liberating is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

I Have Zero Qantas Points and It Feels Liberating

After 14 years of earning and burning Qantas Points, I've finally spent every last one and have zero left in my frequent flyer account. It feels great!

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[JackMiles]

Coincidentally, I too recently spent my points balance down to (very nearly) zero, and also on a first class classic reward, and for similar reasons. Chiefly (for me), the opportunity to fly F in EK for the first & maybe only time, and the coming devaluation. In fact, I was excited to find the CR seat I got at all given the obvious 2nd order effect of the deval; ie, everyone else thinking like me and trying to make bookings before said deval kicks in...

 

[serfty]

I have done similar several times over the decades.

I may be a bit OCD, but when doing so I have done the transfers/redemptions to get a net balance of 1 point.

Why? Dunno ... just a game ...

Other than that, sometimes you need points in your account. I planning to shortly request a classic upgrade award to First on QF1 (all the way) for late this year; To do that my QFF account needs a minimum balance of 65,400 to make the request and then a week before travel (when hopefully successful). I can do what I want with my points balance in the interim.

 

[Chesty]

If I was a Platinum and could have seats released to support the use of my points on Classic Rewards, I would have zero points also. Fact is, sitting currently with 1.6m points and it’s near on impossible for premium cabins.

Seats on many routes 12 months out literally have zero availability. The whole program is cooked, with Classic Rewards now only really open to those with Platinum status that can have seats released.

Pretty much stuck using them on Economy seats otherwise, as not going anywhere near Classic Plus Rewards seats.

 

[Doctore1003]

not going anywhere near Classic Plus Rewards seats.

The price difference between Classic reward seats and Classic Plus will be quite small in many instances (eg cash when fares are on sale) after August

We’ve got 5 million points and I think we’re just gonna burn them on CR+ where it makes sense

We are also going to focus more on earning Amex Membership Rewards moving forward

 

[JackMiles]

If I was a Platinum and could have seats released to support the use of my points on Classic Rewards, I would have zero points also. Fact is, sitting currently with 1.6m points and it’s near on impossible for premium cabins.

Seats on many routes 12 months out literally have zero availability. The whole program is cooked, with Classic Rewards now only really open to those with Platinum status that can have seats released.

Pretty much stuck using them on Economy seats otherwise, as not going anywhere near Classic Plus Rewards seats.

FWIW, Chesty, I feel your pain. The tactic I used, which comes up often on these fora, is - assuming you're starting from somewhere in Australia - to position from somewhere in SEA (eg, BKK, KUL, CGK...). Which is in itself a PITA, and I readily concede, would not be required if QFF were any good, but we must play the hand we're dealt.

 

[Human]

Great article, Matt, and I agree that it’s well and truly possible to make Qantas points work for you if you know how — though it helps if you’re Platinum or above!

The only other caveat I’d add to what you wrote is that it really helps if you’re flying solo, particularly for First Class redemptions where airlines often only release one reward seat. In fairness, this applies to just about every other airline FF programme too.

 

[offshore171]

The only good point is a spent point.

 

[elanshin]

If I was a Platinum and could have seats released to support the use of my points on Classic Rewards, I would have zero points also. Fact is, sitting currently with 1.6m points and it’s near on impossible for premium cabins.

Seats on many routes 12 months out literally have zero availability. The whole program is cooked, with Classic Rewards now only really open to those with Platinum status that can have seats released.

Pretty much stuck using them on Economy seats otherwise, as not going anywhere near Classic Plus Rewards seats.

Look into partner airlines and alternative routes out of Australia. Plenty still release to QFF exactly on the dot. For Europe, you're going to be doing a one stop regardless so why not taiwan, hong kong, Tokyo or Malaysia instead of Qantas' default Singapore or Dubai.

Learning about the strengths of QFF programs can also mean you actually avoid the weak part of it too. That is looking to redeem and fly QF (the weak part).

Learn to use the multi - city tool and also 3rd party tools searching via connecting cities and you'll often find plenty of options for QFF if you're just looking for 2 people or less.

 

[elanshin]

Also I think this would be at odds with pointhack websites but points redemption are mainly suitable for a relatively narrow niche of people.

If you're trying to fly a family of 4 around on points, you need to be very good at the game and you're often not flying as all 4 on the same flight. (2 x2 more likely).

 

[flightsonpoints]

Same here, down to zero, in the last couple of weeks redeemed 4 return Classic J tickets on Cathay Melbourne to Bangkok

 

[clifford]

This is very wise, ahead of the Qantas enhancements that will soon make all status based on $$$$$ spend. Glad I have my lifetime *G status with UA.

 

[SYD]

This is very wise, ahead of the Qantas enhancements that will soon make all status based on $$$$$ spend. Glad I have my lifetime *G status with UA.

Fortunately, QF hasn’t gone to (or at least yet to announce) a $$$$$ spend for status - unlike VA.

But QF LTG provides a similar parachute for many of us!

Meanwhile, I’ve been burning through 100s of K points on premium QF rewards (they do exist without having to show the WP card), but the new points in is keeping me well off a zero balance! TBH, I’m happy to maintain a decent float for opportunistic bookings.

 

[justinbrett]

I cleared out my VA balance going to LAS for New Years.

Good thing I did as VA came back for more points! I switched my Flybuys transfers off in case they still want to debit me.

I only earnt points flying HA and through Flybuys - now HA will be with QF I'll just take the shopping discounts and forget about VA.

 

[TAK]

Well done Matt, as you have the knowledge- so you have the power. The consequence of endless promotion of point acuring cards is givng airlines the power to manipulate " their " customer base, eg hardly ever 2 lie flat seats any further out than a month out , etc I looked at the MEL -SYD- LHD the other day,, it used to be 8000 a sector - OMG!
As I have too many points in a few programs, I guess I have just talked myself out of the 2.19% on Sniip for the current asset purchace, that and the fact that it can only be a matter of time before Amex to QF goes 3:1 like SQ, what say you (pl)?

 

[jase05]

Was going to use the last of my QF points on some internal AA flights but revenue J fares are so cheap it didn’t warrant it.
Ended up using them on some MH J flights ADL-KUL for a quick trip to Bali later in the year. Down to under 1600 points remaining and with no status with QF these days that’s pretty much game over for now