Comparing Amex explorer v Velocity platinum for Qatar flight

[NSE123]

Comparing AMEX Explorer Vs Velocity Platinum Card

Hoping someone in the know can just confirm the answer to this -

As a beginner, I'm looking at applying for the AMEX Explorer as my first ever credit card very soon. On the AMEX website there is a new member offer to receive 110k bonus points which is great considering the last few days I've been researching it was only 100k bonus points.

I'll be visiting the UK from AUS once or twice per year, and would like to know which card would be best to go for in terms of being most efficient with the points earned.

I'm thinking either AMEX explorer or Velocity Platinum as both can be converted/used for Qatar flights.
I guess I’d need to know what’s the most efficient use of points:


1. convert Amex rewards from the explorer to avios then use these (so 110k AR -> 55k avios)
2. collect velocity points using Amex velocity then book the Qatar flight with these through virgin (so will have 120k velocity)
3. convert Amex reward points with explorer to velocity then book the flight (doubt this is a good idea as I will go from 110k AR -> 55k velocity)

E.G What uses less points? Booking flight with MR->Avios or VEL -> booking qatar flight with virgin?

Also if someone recommends something completely different such as not using qatar altogether then please let me know

I’m just trying to see overall where will use less points for the same route

Thanks a lot!

 

[Human]

Great questions, but there's one other factor to consider other than "the most efficient use of points" and "what uses less points"; namely, what strategy gives you the best chance of actually finding available flights to get to the UK.

Currently (and things do change, sometimes quickly), the three best programmes for actually getting reward availability out of Australia to Europe (at least if you're interested in premium cabins) are, in no particular order, Qatar Airways Privilege Club using Avios, Singapore Airlines using KrisFlyer points, and Cathay Pacific using Asia Miles.

AmEx Membership Rewards points can be converted to Qatar Avios and Asia Miles (and Velocity) at a 2:1 rate, or, at a pinch, KrisFlyer at a 3:1 rate. So if I were you my vote would be for the card that earns AmEx Membership Rewards points, simply because you'll have more options open to you that way.

My advice: do a bit of research. Search the relevant airlines' websites and see what's available. If you're happy with the availability using Velocity points, then you could take out a card that earns Velocity points. But if you find (as I think you will) that it's much easier to find available flights using one of the other programmes, then you should take out the card that enables you to do that.

 

[NSE123]

Great questions, but there's one other factor to consider other than "the most efficient use of points" and "what uses less points"; namely, what strategy gives you the best chance of actually finding available flights to get to the UK.

Currently (and things do change, sometimes quickly), the three best programmes for actually getting reward availability out of Australia to Europe (at least if you're interested in premium cabins) are, in no particular order, Qatar Airways Privilege Club using Avios, Singapore Airlines using KrisFlyer points, and Cathay Pacific using Asia Miles.

AmEx Membership Rewards points can be converted to Qatar Avios and Asia Miles (and Velocity) at a 2:1 rate, or, at a pinch, KrisFlyer at a 3:1 rate. So if I were you my vote would be for the card that earns AmEx Membership Rewards points, simply because you'll have more options open to you that way.

My advice: do a bit of research. Search the relevant airlines' websites and see what's available. If you're happy with the availability using Velocity points, then you could take out a card that earns Velocity points. But if you find (as I think you will) that it's much easier to find available flights using one of the other programmes, then you should take out the card that enables you to do that.

Thanks for the advice, totally makes sense. I think I need to learn navigating the sites to compare flights / points for each respective airline a bit more. Then calculate the value of the points in relation to the flights.
Your point about reward availability is very good

 

[Human]

Your point about reward availability is very good

Case in point: it costs 90,000 Avios to fly to Europe one-way in Business Class on Qatar. This is lower than on any other programme that you can easily earn points with in Australia.

But, for the past two years, Qatar has removed all award availability to Europe at that price over the European peak (Summer) period -- June to September.

So if you want to use points to get to Europe at that time of year, better options are Cathay (110,000 Asia Miles) or KrisFlyer (130,000 KrisFlyer miles).

It's a rookie error to assume that the programme which costs the fewest points is always the best programme. Availability is more important than cost.

 

[NSE123]

Case in point: it costs 90,000 Avios to fly to Europe one-way in Business Class on Qatar. This is lower than on any other programme that you can easily earn points with in Australia.

But, for the past two years, Qatar has removed all award availability to Europe at that price over the European peak (Summer) period -- June to September.

So if you want to use points to get to Europe at that time of year, better options are Cathay (110,000 Asia Miles) or KrisFlyer (130,000 KrisFlyer miles).

It's a rookie error to assume that the programme which costs the fewest points is always the best programme. Availability is more important than cost.

Thanks for the example. I think il take your advice about Amex rewards over the others, after doing some more homework.

I remember you mentioned about potentially using the travel credit to offset the cost of the flight back to the uk to meet the minimum spend requirement, which is a great idea.

I’ve found the flights through the Amex portal are at lease a few hundred dollars more expensive than through comparison searches on Skyscanner. In that case I will probably keep the credit for something else unfortunately. Unless there’s any tips on this?

I’ve noticed a few other flights domestically appear to be a bit more expensive through the portal which is kinda disappointing. I see a lot of people mentioning that the travel credit pretty much covers the annual fee however it looks like I can find the flights cheaper as I mentioned through Skyscanner or something. I guess that’s part of the deal though when signing up when your limited to using the credit through the Amex portal.

If I were to book a flight international or domestic through a third party (e.g Flight network through Skyscanner) I take it I can still claim for frequent flyer points?

Thanks again for taking the time

 

[Human]

I’ve found the flights through the Amex portal are at lease a few hundred dollars more expensive than through comparison searches on Skyscanner. In that case I will probably keep the credit for something else unfortunately. Unless there’s any tips on this?

You are absolutely correct in saying that if the flights are more expensive via AmEx, you should not book them via AmEx!

When I've used my travel credits to book flights, I've generally used them for Virgin Australia domestic flights, for which there is no mark-up (in fact via the Platinum card they can actually be a bit cheaper). So you do need to be a little selective and hard-nosed about what you use the travel credit for. Just keep in mind that you can use/receive the credit, then cancel the card even if the bookings are for later (though keep in mind that you might not have easy access to contact AmEx Travel if something goes wrong after you've cancelled).

Hope this helps. I've also DM'd you with my referral code in case it's useful to you.