Close to 1 million QFF points - how best to use em?

[11sjw]

I think that's spelt "Rorting" while its a win for the OP its a loss for everyone else

Well everyone else could've, in theory, done the same thing. Super work by decryption. Me thinking about his/her work >>> :mrgreen:

 

[JohnK]

Quite a few AFFers scored greater than 1 million points. A couple of AFFers even scored well over 2 million points.

And we are not likely to ever see promotions like these ever again.

Almost the same thing has happened with Everyday Rewards as well.

Is there a saying 'One man's gain is another's loss'?....

 

[vetrade]

"And we are not likely to ever see promotions like these ever again.

Almost the same thing has happened with Everyday Rewards as well.

Is there a saying 'One man's gain is another's loss'?..."


Really, these promos all have limited lifespans anyway because they have to be changed to keep creating new interest. I don't think it's fair to suggest that some people gain at other's expense by capitalising during the window of opportunity, or that doing so causes the promos to be shut down prematurely. Truth be known I think the "losers" are really just the majority who aren't smart or astute enough to recognise the opportunity themselves and use it.

All FF schemes have seen diminishing benefits in real terms from when they originated - and both the banks and the airlines have changed their T&Cs to accomplish this. I don't think this is in response to laterally thinking individuals exploiting the system - rather it's because FF schemes are so now immense and widespread that the companies look at their total liability under them and their bean counters think "cough, we'd better rein that in".

 

[JohnK]

Really, these promos all have limited lifespans anyway because they have to be changed to keep creating new interest. I don't think it's fair to suggest that some people gain at other's expense by capitalising during the window of opportunity, or that doing so causes the promos to be shut down prematurely. Truth be known I think the "losers" are really just the majority who aren't smart or astute enough to recognise the opportunity themselves and use it.

That is one way of looking at it.

I did nothing wrong in that Amex promotion but because a few were rorting it the promotion was cut short and it took me a long long time to get the points I was owed.

But we are allowed to look at things differently. You may think that people exploiting loopholes are smart, and perhaps they are, but more often than not they spoil it for others in their quest for greed.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I did nothing wrong in that Amex promotion but because a few were rorting it the promotion was cut short

Correction. The Amex Everyday Promo ran it's full term. Amex did however, stop accepting people from enrolling in it which it did not invite.If you were legitimately regisitered you will have had the full period to earn points over.

Out of interest where you sent an invitation for the promo, or were you one of the many that gained entry to it by learning of the promo code online?

 

[JohnK]

Out of interest where you sent an invitation for the promo, or were you one of the many that gained entry to it by learning of the promo code online?

I did get an invitation but do not remember which one I received now. I did get paid under the 10,000 bonus points for 10 transactions.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I told NAB in advance that I will be doing many small transactions in order to get the most out of this promo. The guy in card security said "sure, good luck" and disabled the alerts for small transactions during the promo period.

Well that is funny, and quite stunning!!!

A bit like turning up at bank branch and asking the security guard to hold your jacket while you rob the bank

 

[lovetravellingoz]

You may think that people exploiting loopholes are smart, and perhaps they are, but more often than not they spoil it for others in their quest for greed.

The companies set their T&C.

Some individuals then seek to maximise the advantage to themselves. Many don't

What is the difference between Status runs, Mattress Runs......or Point runs? If you follow the T&C then nil.

Some people fly in discount Y and "work" the system to become WP for the lerks and perks. Are they "rorters". IMO no.

As to the OP....it would seem that he did not actually exploit any loophole as it would appear that the promo had basically no T&C , and so hence no loopholes to exploit. He just maximised it in a way that the bank did not envisage, and then their own staff helped him to do it by removing their own monitoring system!!!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I did get an invitation but do not remember which one I received now. I did get paid under the 10,000 bonus points for 10 transactions.

Amex did adjust many after they registered at higher rates than their invitation. 1000 per tx was the max rate.

 

[JohnM]

The companies set their T&C.

Some individuals then seek to maximise the advantage to themselves. Many don't

What is the difference between Status runs, Mattress Runs......or Point runs? If you follow the T&C then nil.

Some people fly in discount Y and "work" the system to become WP for the lerks and perks. Are they "rorters". IMO no.

As to the OP....it would seem that he did not actually expolit any loophole as it would appear that the promo had basically no T&C , and so hence no loopholes to exploit. He just maximised it in a way that the bank did not envisage, and their own staff helped him to do it by removing their own monitoring system!!!

Agree; I think in this case the most accurate and fair thing is to call the OP enterprising.

 

[Kangol]

Is there a saying 'One man's gain is another's loss'?....

Did Lance Armstrong say that?

To be philosophical, one could play devil's advocate and apply that to several instances in life... applying for jobs, buying shares, studying hard to get into your University course, networking to build business contacts, etc.

On the flip side if you were the OP and had such an idea that legitimately maximised an opportunity, would you have the same opinion?

Not saying there is a right or wrong answer; it doesn't appear that what the OP did was in any way fraudulent, deceptive or illegal.

 

[JohnK]

On the flip side if you were the OP and had such an idea that legitimately maximised an opportunity, would you have the same opinion?

Let's just say I may not have gone to the well as often.

 

[JohnM]

Let's just say I may not have gone to the well as often.

With respect, I'm not so sure that a matter of scale is a morality defence.

Most of us would not have had the imagination, or the technical prowess, of the OP to implement the 'operation' in the way that he did (and no doubt the NAB card security person could not reasonably expect "multiple small transactions" to be thousands of one cent transactions). However, in the final analysis, the only conclusion that I can reach is that NAB left themselves wide open to such action by not setting limits on the number or perhaps the minimum size of transactions.

It may be the law of unintended consequences in action but one has to suggest that it could have been foreseen or pre-emptive limits set in place.

I still prefer 'enterprising' to describe the OP.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Let's just say I may not have gone to the well as often.

The lesson I learnt, and have since acted upon quite a number of times, from The Pudding Guy is that opportunities or "wells" regularly occur.....but that you need to act, and that to make the most of the opportunity you often need to be creative and think laterally.

Some are small, and some can be massive. Some can last a while, and some are only fleeting. But the "well's are there....and will be there in the future.

Some are not available to all, such as this promo.....or for example the ATO pay tax by CC which is a boon to those running their own business that have large tax flows.....but opportunities will arise and often can be made bigger by being "enterprising".

The OP obviously checked the T&C (have not seen them myself, but there appears to have been less that the Amex Everyday Promo which initially had little (though was toughened up part way through), but was also under the more extensive T&C of the Amex MR Program) and abided by them, and as I have certainly learnt as well T&C can be your very good friend if you understand them for a particular promo, follow them and are entrepreneurial with them.

I am an unashamed Points Runner. Always on on the hunt for opportunity.


I know in my dealing with banks that they have no compunction about enforcing T&C's in their favour. ie late payment fees, over limit fees and the like all of which are way offer the top.... and what justification is there for the very high interest payment charges on credit cards? Some may call such interest charges as one of the biggest rorts in Australia. But if you do not pay by the due date the bank will enforce the T&C and charge you interest.

 

[whatmeworry]

Nice work to the OP. So that was about 700,000 points for $70!

With that amount of points I would wait till you started another anniversary year (ie your status credits went down to zero.) and do a few domestic JASA's to get to either gold or platinum. This will help you in flight redemptions, get you perks on Y travel on OW plus points bonus for your status.

 

[amaroo]

Wonderful work!

Can't see why anyone would have a problem with this The IT guys in NAB must be LTFAO.

 

[whatmeworry]

Wonderful work!

Can't see why anyone would have a problem with this The IT guys in NAB must be LTFAO.

The guys in marketing must be worried about their jobs!

 

[scaredeycat]

Congratulations decryption- a true legend. If the truth be known, I'd estimate that at least 90% of those who read this forum are looking for strategies that optimise both their points earn and burn. Airlines and other businesses devote enormous resources towards optimising the profits they make from their customers (ie us), so when one of our own is able to outsmart the "big guns" we should all bow down in admiration. Well done!

 

[decryption]

how did you get the offer? was it in the mail or email???

Was in the mail. Again, I'd post a link, but I need 10 posts!

 

[JohnK]

With respect, I'm not so sure that a matter of scale is a morality defence.

I don't think I said morals apply in these cases.

And you are probably right that the majority of people would not think about maximising in such a way.