buying points tp upgrade?

[drivatruk]

I'm 4000 points short for an upgrade to business on a qf domestic flight. i rang the service centre to buy the points but the lady said she dint think it was allowed so wouldn't do it.

has anyone been allowed to do this as i can't see anywhere in terms saying its not permissible.

thanks

 

[spentan]

I'm 4000 points short for an upgrade to business on a qf domestic flight. i rang the service centre to buy the points but the lady said she dint think it was allowed so wouldn't do it.

has anyone been allowed to do this as i can't see anywhere in terms saying its not permissible.

thanks

Its very expensive to do it this way,

Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Top-up Points

Its much cheaper to Paypal a friend a gift of $5000 from a QFF earning credit card, get the 5000 points and you get charged 2.4%, (As long as your friend gives you the money back of course)

But that also may mean you need to wait to get your next autotransfer from your CC

 

[simongr]

Hmm - assuming that that wasnt banned by the FF scheme rules - in theory you could churn points through your card at 2.4%. In order to get enough points for say a J rtn to LHR from SYD you would need to churn $10,000 25.2 times - at a cost of $6,048 - would that be worth it?

 

[Shelf]

Tried points+pay?

 

[mannej]

Tried points+pay?

For an upgrade?

 

[spentan]

Hmm - assuming that that wasnt banned by the FF scheme rules - in theory you could churn points through your card at 2.4%. In order to get enough points for say a J rtn to LHR from SYD you would need to churn $10,000 25.2 times - at a cost of $6,048 - would that be worth it?

well, it really depends how many points per $ you get with your card, and which bank. As long as you preload your card with the cash (don't use credit) its not against paypal rules because you're not technically cash advancing (which is against the T&Cs).

Paypal is getting their hefty 2.4%, paying Visa their rate, Visa is then paying your bank, who is then paying QFF for the points. I doubt very much that anyone along the way is losing money. Another thing is any transfer over 10k gets flagged by AusTrac, which is just opening yourself up to possible investigation. Its not illegal, though it can look suss to someone that doesn't know how it works.

Whether it is worth it or not, is another thing. Earning 3.25pts per $ on my Citibusiness Gold, I would say that its pretty good

 

[SeatBackForward]

Given how long it can take for points from partners to appear on your statement, if the additional 4000 points are required urgently, it might be a tough ask. The quickest means of getting additional points is either flying with QF or having someone transfer their points onto your account.

There is also the option that someone who has enough points for the upgrade uses the "UPGRADE A FAMILY MEMBER" option too.

 

[spentan]

Given how long it can take for points from partners to appear on your statement, if the additional 4000 points are required urgently, it might be a tough ask. The quickest means of getting additional points is either flying with QF or having someone transfer their points onto your account.

There is also the option that someone who has enough points for the upgrade uses the "UPGRADE A FAMILY MEMBER" option too.

Yeah, its only if you have a Citibusiness Gold, you could do the transfer on demand. Otherwise its a long wait.

The Top Up points with QF may not work because they have to be in relation to an award I think.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Yeah, its only if you have a Citibusiness Gold, you could do the transfer on demand. Otherwise its a long wait.

The Top Up points with QF may not work because they have to be in relation to an award I think.

Well you can either do a "Family Transfer" of points to get that extra 4000, or ask the family member to fork out the total points required for the upgrade using the "Upgrade a family member" option.

But the OP hasn't indicated if thats a possiblity yet.

 

[simongr]

Whether it is worth it or not, is another thing. Earning 3.25pts per $ on my Citibusiness Gold, I would say that its pretty good

Hmm - I didnt factor that into my calc - I am getting 1.5pts per $ on my Amex (though not sure if I can use Paypal with Amex) - which in theory would require only $4,032 actual outlay - not bad for J to LHR...

 

[drivatruk]

The Top Up points with QF may not work because they have to be in relation to an award I think.[/QUOTE]

i well purchased a econ ticket and have upgraded the 1st sector with points. i wanna do the last sector but I'm 4000 points short. they only cost about $160. when i click on upgraded next to the booking number is says insufficient points. then lists buying points as a way off getting the few missing points. When i callqf though they say no.

 

[SeatBackForward]

i well purchased a econ ticket and have upgraded the 1st sector with points. i wanna do the last sector but I'm 4000 points short. they only cost about $160. when i click on upgraded next to the booking number is says insufficient points. then lists buying points as a way off getting the few missing points. When i callqf though they say no.

So your FF account hasn't got enough points to complete the upgrade for the 2nd sector. Where did you see that the extra 4000 points will cost $160 ?

 

[Shelf]

For an upgrade?

Oops - I glossed over the OP

 

[SeatBackForward]

This is from QF Terms and Conditions about Flight Upgrades:

19. Top-up Points

19.1 If Members do not have sufficient Points to redeem a particular Award Flight, they may purchase additional Points towards that Award Flight at the rates specified by Qantas, subject to the following:
(a) the purchased Points may only be credited to that Member's account;
(b) the Points may be purchased only to redeem a specific Award Flight;
(c) each purchase must be for a minimum of 500 Points and a maximum of 20,000 Points, and in such blocks of Points as Qantas may specify;
(d) the number of Points purchased must not exceed 15% of the number of Points required for that Award Flight, rounded up to the closest multiple of 500 points;
(e) each Member may purchase additional Points only once in each twelve consecutive month period; and
(f) once Points have been purchased, they cannot be refunded.

19.2 The purchase of additional Points does not guarantee the availability of an Award Flight.

19.3 Points do not have a monetary value and cannot be converted to money. They cannot be sold, transferred or exchanged other than in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. The prices for additional Points do not represent a monetary value for Points.

You can only "buy" points when redeeming an award flight, not for upgrades, it seems.

 

[significance]

Another option, if you have enough time, would be to sign on for something else (a new credit card or epiQure, for instance) that offers bonus points for sign-on. I did that a while ago as a cheaper way of getting the extra points I needed to request an upgrade. Unfortunately, the upgrade didn't come through anyway -- presumably not enough upgrade seats available. So that's something else to take into account.

 

[drivatruk]

So your FF account hasn't got enough points to complete the upgrade for the 2nd sector. Where did you see that the extra 4000 points will cost $160 ?

its on the qantas website hard to find though. search for buy points. 4000 points costs 165.00

 

[drivatruk]

Now i spoke with qantas again. Amazing how another operator can achieve a different result. Its fine to purchase points for an upgrade as long as your points needed for the upgrade is less than 15% of the award you requesting.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Yet further evidence that QF policies are only as good as the person you deal with, at least they're consistent with that fact, on the phone, at the airport, at the gate, on the plane....

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