Best way to redeem QFF Points - I want out?

[littletee]

Hi guys,

I've currently got around 260k QFF and I've decided to quit the program as I just don't see value in it anymore when considering the Annual Card Fee paid + interest just to try and accumulate points for a Flight that is then very hard to book to start with and you get stung with exhorbitant taxes as well making it really not worth it.

Therefore I'm looking for some suggestions on the best way I can "cash in" my 260k points to try and get a return - any ideas folks?

The best I can see if maybe getting a $1000 JB or Harvey Norman Gift Card for 140k points and then maybe trying to on-sell it on eBay or something at a discount so then I can get at least try and get some money back or something like that.

Any thoughts would be highly appreciated. Thanks

 

[harvyk]

I'll be the first to say "noooooooo!!!!"...

Purchasing products with points is extremely bad value... Have a read around here (although I can see you've been a member here longer than me) and I'm sure you can find some suggestions to put that many points to really good use....

Even if you want out of the program, there are some really good ways to burn points for J and F class travel which give much better value than any purchase products / vouchers from the QF store...

 

[Mwenenzi]

I've currently got around 260k QFF and I've decided to quit the program as I just don't see value in it anymore when considering the Annual Card Fee paid + interest..

There is no annual fee or interest charges in having a QF freq flyer account.
QF taxes on awards are exactly the same as all other airlines, to the last cent. QF imposed fees on awards can be different to other airlines.

Or are you confusing frequent spending with frequent flying?

And to all those idiots who pay 20% plus interest & high annual fees on credit cards, please keep doing so.
As a bank shareholder the money is better in my super fund than in your pocket!! I do spend it wisely

 

[littletee]

Thanks guys, I mean the Annual CC Fee which is currently $75 + whatever interest I pay on the card when I haven't paid the full amount off.

Back in 09 I used 252k points to fly my wife and I Economy to Europe for our Honeymoon and we only paid $220 Taxes each which was great value. However if one tries and does it now, it's very hard to find to find decent flights for one and secondly the Taxes are anywhere b/w $660-$1000 each which is hardly worth it as you can get a good Earlybird flight with a top Airline for around $1500 these days all in.

With 2 very young children, our time of flying around the world is behind us unfortunately for a long time to come so that is why I thought I'd cash in now and at least put the money back on the Credit Card before I lose everything if Qantas goes bust or they keep trashing the program even further etc.

 

[Isochronous]

You're 20k off a 280k J ONEx award!

 

[nlagalle]

Thanks guys, I mean the Annual CC Fee which is currently $75 + whatever interest I pay on the card when I haven't paid the full amount off.

Rather than ditch the program, swap credit cards.. you could even use the Qantas Cash card to earn some additional points, it's free to use.. just a thought..

 

[harvyk]

Mistake one is trying to use points for economy flights, as you say extremely bad value when sometimes the "taxes" can make up a very large percentage of the fare. There have even been cases where the sale fares have been cheaper than the taxes component of points plus "taxes".

Where value comes into it is using the points either for upgrades (although you typically need to purchase higher class fares, and there is no guarantee) or straight up award flights.

Until recently mASA's was considered one of the best use of points around here, since you could get some really excellent deals eg I spent 50K points + $300 to fly CBR-SYD-HKG one way last year in business class, that same flight cost around the $3000 mark to be on (I checked just out of interest).

That said if you are willing to spend a little time searching the QF site, playing around with dates / times and routings you could easily turn 260K points into a worthwhile trip for your family, do it right and you'll be flying business to do it in. (just remember that "taxes" doesn't change between economy and business)

 

[markis10]

If you are not planning on doing flying and want to break the golden handcuffs, cashing in points for a Wish card is not a bad option versus the risk that points will devalue (or be made fairer and simpler). With a wish card at least you can use it on everyday expenses like petrol, lego )) etc. Worst case, sell it to Card Limbo for 30% less than face value in cash.

 

[dajop]

One thing, it is very much an individual choice. Business class is sure nice, and is a treat, just because you might be able to get a $7000 business class fare for your points, doesn't mean the points are really worth $7000 if you wouldn't pay that in the first place to get from A to B. If you are not paying off credit cards each month, and you have a decent grocery bill the best option may well be to put into Woolworths branded cards that you can use at supermarkets, you will get around $1700 worth of these which may be worthwhile. We all have different phases in our lives and value things differently, so only you know what is best for you, and it sounds like you already do.

 

[zainman]

You're 20k off a 280k J ONEx award!

That is what I would be trying to do with them!

I hope OP isn't giving up on the whole Frequent flyer game, just swap to VA points!

 

[drron]

You don't want to make a quick decision that you may regret later.Having 2 young children obviously long haul OS travel is not going to be a priority or maybe not possible.you could though think of somewhere like Fiji for a family holiday when the kids are a little older.Seems to be fair availability for 4 awards even just a couple of months out.You can keep your QFF points alive just by shopping at Woolworths every 18 months and spending 31 dollars showing your Everyday rewards card.

If you really have made up your mind then Markis has the right suggestion with Wish cards.They after all are a cash equivalent and no mucking around buying and selling.

Most importantly it comes down to what is important to you.All the best whatever you decide.

 

[harvyk]

Having 2 young children obviously long haul OS travel is not going to be a priority or maybe not possible

Depends on the age of the kids... Right now we have 4 who are 6 and under, and travel is a priority for us since in a few years time my eldest will be charged "adults" rates for all things travel.

 

[casanovawa]

If you don't want to book a 280k award for yourself, or say a 'family member' on here who might b willing to recompense u much better than $1700 then u could hang on to them and just keep an eye out for people on here who now and then might be short a few points and willing to pay someone for a few... Perhaps against rules but what two people come to an agreement on via personal messages might stay their business.
.

In such a situation you should be able to get at least a cent a point so closer to $3000 and its a win-win situation... Just a thought anyway...

 

[Sdtravel]

If you want to be rid of them gift them to me!!! Have a trip coming up that they would be handy for. (Wishful thinking, know it won't happen)Buying stuff from the store is a waste I have to agree. My brother wasted his on a juicer and microwave oven. Flight or flight upgrades are really the best use.

 

[sinophile888]

If you live in Perth, you could book 2 J return flights to HKG, for 65000 x 4 = 260000 points. Taxes are very low. Somewhere about HK$1000 per flight. These flights can be booked on the QF website. Full price flights are around A$6000.

 

[markis10]

If you don't want to book a 280k award for yourself, or say a 'family member' on here who might b willing to recompense u much better than $1700 then u could hang on to them and just keep an eye out for people on here who now and then might be short a few points and willing to pay someone for a few... Perhaps against rules but what two people come to an agreement on via personal messages might stay their business.
.

In such a situation you should be able to get at least a cent a point so closer to $3000 and its a win-win situation... Just a thought anyway...

Solicitation or trading publicly is very much against the rules of this forum.

 

[Alanslegal]

Therefore I'm looking for some suggestions on the best way I can "cash in" my 260k points to try and get a return - any ideas folks?

The best I can see if maybe getting a $1000 JB or Harvey Norman Gift Card for 140k points and then maybe trying to on-sell it on eBay or something at a discount so then I can get at least try and get some money back or something like that.

With 2 very young children, our time of flying around the world is behind us unfortunately for a long time to come so that is why I thought I'd cash in now and at least put the money back on the Credit Card before I lose everything if Qantas goes bust or they keep trashing the program even further etc.

Redeeming points for gift cards is normally on the poorer end of value. Some of the better value redemptions are OneWorld award where you can for eg. fly around the world in business class for 280K, with some restrictions.

Anyway how old are your chldren? Are they able minded by the inlaws, family members or trusted friends for a few days? Because if yes, then I would suggest going to Hong Kong for a long weekend with your partner, fly in/out of SYD where you get the A380 planes, and go business class. You'd spend 240K but that's probably the best value, in dollar terms, probably 240K is worth around $6K worth of flights.

 

[littletee]

Thanks so much guys for all the replies, fantastic.

FYI my kids are 8 months and nearly 4 years old. We would like to go on a family holiday to Fiji hopefully next year sometime but even then, when I look at the cost the Taxes are still around 60% of what a flight would cost anyway so again it's not good value anymore in my opinion.

 

[harvyk]

258K points will buy you return SYD-NAN Business class fares for 2 adults, 1 child and 1 infant. It's unfortunately not telling me what the taxes are (not enough points to proceed) however this was on a simple dummy booking searching the QF site for 2 minutes. (This was a dummy booking for March 2015, just select flexible with dates to make it happen)

Consider the "taxes" to be your airfare, consider the points to be your "let's make this flight comfortable". It means you have a guarenteed business class seat (so no upgrade lottery) and you certainly won't spend what you would have otherwise spent without the points...

Edit: If you tell us your location / nearest airport, we can no doubt tailor our advice a little better...

 

[littletee]

Thanks Harvy, you've been extremely helpful no doubt.

I'm in Melbourne. Will look into it for sure. Cheers!