Article: My 3 Favourite Airline Points in 2024

[Clayton]

As a retired person, new CCs and those incredible sign-up are unattainable (due to ageist prejudices in bank policies) so I stick with:
- AmEx Platinum Edge for Membership Rewards => Velocity or KrisFlyer
- ANZ Travel Rewards Card for transferrable points => Velocity or KrisFlyer
- Avios subscription for 200,000 into BA Esecutive Club, and auto transfer to Qatar Privilege Club when redeeming Qsuites
- Purchase Aeroplan points when good bonus available, such as the current 125% offer until the weekend
- A residual puddle of AAdvantage, Alaska Air and Lifemiles that are handy for cheap domestic Business Classs travel and Intra-Europe
- last, and absolutely least residual QFF points which prove very difficult to use on International Business rewards, so I'm running them down with the occasional puddle-jump to NZ, or aspiring to burn them with China Air business flights via Taipei (if I ever regain confidence that 12 months out Taipei won't become the next Hong Kong)

 

[Clayton]

Alaska Air has a great sweet spot 15K for J ADL-PER, otherwise AAdvantage 20K for QF J anywhere in Australia and New Zealand or Lifemiles 20K for *Alliance anywhere domestic Europe.

 

[Clayton]

I would love to begin to collect Aeroplan points but Air Canada claim to have sent me a confirmation email and will not send me a new one because there is no way to ask for one. Trying to use another email doesn’t work because my name and birth date are already locked up. Very frustrating.

I would call their customer support, they have been well trained when making complex award bookings?

 

[Clayton]

The main sweet spot programs for me are:

- US Amex MR (AUD 2.4c/pt when used towards business class cash airfares — shows how laughably bad Qantas Classic+ is)
- Hyatt (unbelievable value for higher end hotel stays)
- Aeroplan/Velocity (sub-100K J class airfares on UA to the US & good value J class fares on ANA to Japan)
- Avios (12.5K J class airfares between SYD & MEL on QF & 90K Qatar J to Europe)
- Qantas (WP classic award releases)
- AA (for first class on JAL & 80K Qatar J to Europe & sub-100K J class airfares on AA to the US & bargain internal flights within the US — book the cheap itinerary with lots of connections, wait for a schedule change & change to the direct flight for free)
- IHG/Hilton when combined with their 4th/5th night free
- Air France (~55K J class airfares across the Atlantic)
- SQ (for reasonable Europe/Africa J class redemptions with availability for 4+ pax)
- Cathay (extra availability over what's released to partner airlines & 110K J to Europe)
- UA (30K+$500 upgrades to J on cash Y tickets to the US)

Does IHG have 4th/5th night free on awards for us in Oz without US IHG cards?

 

[levelnine]

Does IHG have 4th/5th night free on awards for us in Oz without US IHG cards?

No, you need the Chase card.

 

[sydney slug]

I would call their customer support, they have been well trained when making complex award bookings?

Every time I have called I have to dial a Canadian number and have been given a recorded message that there are too many callers.

 

[wotan]

I brought AA miles before covid when they had a 100,000 bonus when you got 150,000, used it for 2 business flights and an economy, have 200k left, going to use 85k to fly Qatar to Europe next year , not sure which way to travel for the return but will have 115k to use.
Anyone know if there is a new bonus for AA coming up, they use to do it twice a year?
Cheers
Mick

 

[Clayton]

I brought AA miles before covid when they had a 100,000 bonus when you got 150,000, used it for 2 business flights and an economy, have 200k left, going to use 85k to fly Qatar to Europe next year , not sure which way to travel for the return but will have 115k to use.
Anyone know if there is a new bonus for AA coming up, they use to do it twice a year?
Cheers
Mick

OMAAT publishes regular articles about several FF program's bonus releases. Below is his calendar of previous AAdvantage discounts.

Up to a 50% discount on purchased miles	June 27, 2024	June 30, 2024
Up to a 50% discount on purchased miles	November 24, 2023	November 27, 2023
Up to a 35% discount on purchased miles	March 4, 2023	November 23, 2023
Up to a 45% discount on purchased miles	February 17, 2023	March 3, 2023

 

[Clayton]

Every time I have called I have to dial a Canadian number and have been given a recorded message that there are too many callers.

If your phone plan doesn't provide cheap international calls try using Skype or Whatsapp to call the Aeroplan number for no cost

The call center opens daily from 7AM until 12AM ET (Canada Eastern Time, i.e. the time in Quebec, Toronto etc) and calling just dead on when they open gives you the best chance for shorter wait times. The number I have used is +1-800-361-5373 and normally wait less than 20 mins.

 

[doctorstrangelove]

Wow! I figured I was being pretty savvy by concentrating on exactly the three programs that Matt also endorses but from the other comments it seems like a lot of the cool kids are doing the same thing!

I've obtained points on five different programs in the past 18 months. In order of highest number earned first:

1. Velocity - CCs
2. Avios - purchased (subscriber)
3. Aeroplan - HSBC CC, purchased
4. QFF - Woolies, Qantas wine
5. Krisflyer - flights

I've redeemed Velocity and Avios for multiple flights in this time period. I've only had Aeroplan since end last year so just have a sufficient number of points now to book anything with them. QFF almost impossible to use and my only successful redemption is a HEL - SIN in AY J coming up in the next few months. A small amount of Krisflyer miles earned by flying that will never by enough for a redemption in of itself, but could be supplemented by transferring my Velocity points over.

 

[Gold Member]

Wow! I figured I was being pretty savvy by concentrating on exactly the three programs that Matt also endorses but from the other comments it seems like a lot of the cool kids are doing the same thing!

Welcome to the Cool Kid Club, Dr Strange The first rule of Cool Kid club is…

 

[wotan]

OMAAT publishes regular articles about several FF program's bonus releases. Below is his calendar of previous AAdvantage discounts.

Up to a 50% discount on purchased miles	June 27, 2024	June 30, 2024
Up to a 50% discount on purchased miles	November 24, 2023	November 27, 2023
Up to a 35% discount on purchased miles	March 4, 2023	November 23, 2023
Up to a 45% discount on purchased miles	February 17, 2023	March 3, 2023

Thank you Clayton
Appreciate this
Mick

 

[QantasGonza]

I collect in many programs! In descending order in terms of total points I hold:
1. Qantas
2. Krisflyer
3. Velocity
4. Avianca
5. BA/ Qr Avios
6 Aeroplan...just opened and thinking of buying some...

Also have a stash of Marriott Bonvoy
and Amex points which can go to many airline partners

mine are in order
Aeroplan
Velocity
Qantas
NAB
Qantas would have been higher except for a 3 week splash in Bali in September, after a 25 year break, covering flights and 3 resorts. Whilst those resorts were lovely I won't be in a hurry to go back again - Bali was overcrowded - it was mayhem outside the resorts even in Ubud

 

[Tiki]

QR/BA Avios from US Chase cards and Aussie Amex - moving forward will be used for J to Turkiye
Aeroplan from US Chase cards will be used mostly for TK J flights

Velocity from Flybuys - Will be used for short haul Pacific Islands and NZ
Qantas from Woolies, random hotel promos and such - Also short haul Pacific islands. Y is ok for these short routes in the daytime