Does it make sense to buy Qantas points?

[mrsterryn]

Not everyone drinks wine!

Have to say we don't....yes sacrilegious I know , however son and daughter in law do lol. So they quite happily look and work out what wines they want, we pay and we get the points lol

 

[NM]

Have to say we don't....yes sacrilegious I know , however son and daughter in law do lol. So they quite happily look and work out what wines they want, we pay and we get the points lol

win-win!!

 

[bussyboy]

Not everyone drinks wine!

Or red wine which has a better Cost/Points payout

 

[CaptJCool]

so i did a quick calc for all things Sydney - Melbourne based on buying points (as this is the point of this thread)
Obviously if points are earnt through CC churns, wine etc the all up points cost could be "next to zero" but gaining those points still requires some weeks to spend on the CC or a taste for the QF wines which have the healthy dose of bonus points, and purchase (and delivery)

so

EARN
TOP-UP POINTS 150,000 $3,999 37.5 points per $

JUST ANNOUNCED 50% BONUS POINTS 225,000 $3,999 56.25 points per $

this apparently would qualify people for Points Club (need to earn 150,000 points)


BURN
$149 AIRFARE currently cheapest Red-E deal Sydney Melbourne Status credits earnt = 10, Points earn = 800

usually 24,834 points = 16.5% of 150,000 = $662
if bought with 50% bonus = 11% of 225,000 = $440

30% off Points & Pay
discounted to17,384 points = 11.6% of 150,000 = $463
if bought with 50% bonus = 7.7% of 225,000 = $308

Marginal points earn (800 points) on above fares reduces the $ cost by a small amount of about $15-20.


Y Classic Rewards (no points earn and Points Club membership provides some Status Credits 7 instead of 10)
usually 8,000 points = 5.3% of 150,000 = $213 + $41 = $254
if bought with 50% bonus = 3.55% of 225,000 = $142 + $41 = $183

for purposes of scenario
if classic rewards was 30% off
discounted to 5,600 points = 3.7% of 150,000 = $149 + $41 = $190
if bought with 50% bonus = 2.8% of 225,000 = $99 + $41 = $140

Remember this is buying up the $149 airfare - obviously, if the equivalent cash fare is $199, $259, $359, $411 etc, the classic rewards route is pretty good

and this is the case for the J Rewards (the cheapest fare is $763 but normally at least $981)


J Classic Rewards (no points earn and Points Club membership provides some Status Credits 18 instead of 40)
usually 18,400 points = 12.2% of 150,000 = $490 + $41 = $531 (this is comparable to the lowest J Sales fares I've seen in recent times)

if bought with 50% bonus = 8.17% of 225,000 = $327 + $41 = $368 v $981
(this is lower than the public lowest J Sales fares but I don't know if Business Rewards does a better offer and its likely some corporate accounts may be competitive to this pricing)

and what with the 50% more classic rewards seats being in the market til Christmas from memory, it may be worth a consideration

 

[sudoer]

this apparently would qualify people for Points Club (need to earn 150,000 points)

Depends how the points are credited - there is a cap of 125k points per transaction for Points Club qualification purposes.

 

[SYD]

Depends how the points are credited - there is a cap of 125k points per transaction for Points Club qualification purposes.

As discussed up thread, I believe there’s no cap on points purchases.

 

[oz_mark]

As discussed up thread, I believe there’s no cap on points purchases.

Correct

 

[Hampton Mike]

In 2025 my son will fly in economy class to the UK to visit his wife's family (with his wife). They are both QFF Bronze, so neither have lounge access entitlements.

In 2024 when there is a 50% bonus points offer I will buy 225,000 points (150,000 x 150%) for $3,999 for his account. He will family transfer to me 227,500 points (the purchased points plus 2,500 PC Milestone Bonus points), and I will have earnt 8,998 points on my AMEX. So near enough I will have 236,500 points from the transaction, which is 74% of the 318,000 points needed for a Classic Flight Reward RTW in business class. (edited to add in the extra 1 point/$ for QANTAS spend on AMEX).

Together with his rats and mice points accumulation, he will have reached PC+, giving him complimentary QANTAS Club so he and his wife can visit the various international lounges on their trip - something he would never have achieved on his own.

Win-win there too.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

This bonus points promotion is appealing, not the least of which because buying 75,000 base points would put me at the points club level with the bonus points earned since this would mean that I would earn status credits on award tickets booked with QF which also lines up nicely with the 300 odd status credits I need to earn attain Platinum status. What I do wonder though (and maybe this is answered elsewhere) is whether award tickets for QF operated flights redeemed from another partner program (i.e. BA Avios) would still earn status credits credits? I am inclined to say yes since in the past I've seen these BA issued, QF operated awards show up as 0 status credit transactions on my statement.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Hampton Mike]

This bonus points promotion is appealing, not the least of which because buying 75,000 base points would put me at the points club level with the bonus points earned since this would mean that I would earn status credits on award tickets booked with QF which also lines up nicely with the 300 odd status credits I need to earn attain Platinum status. What I do wonder though (and maybe this is answered elsewhere) is whether award tickets for QF operated flights redeemed from another partner program (i.e. BA Avios) would still earn status credits credits? I am inclined to say yes since in the past I've seen these BA issued, QF operated awards show up as 0 status credit transactions on my statement.

-RooFlyer88

I don't think the BA program flights will earn SCs as they are earnt for the purposes of PC on "QANTAS marketed" "Classic Flight Rewards"

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I don't think the BA program flights will earn SCs as they are earnt for the purposes of PC on "QANTAS marketed" "Classic Flight Rewards"

To clarify I am saying QF marketed and operated flights booked using BA Avios points.

 

[aikman]

To clarify I am saying QF marketed and operated flights booked using BA Avios points.

Yes it will. I know some people don't like making these things well known so I'll leave it at that.

 

[Hampton Mike]

So much I have to learn obviously!!

 

[CaptJCool]

Y Classic Rewards (no points earn and Points Club membership provides some Status Credits 7 instead of 10)
usually 8,000 points = 5.3% of 150,000 = $213 + $41 = $254
if bought with 50% bonus = 3.55% of 225,000 = $142 + $41 = $183

for purposes of scenario
if classic rewards was 30% off
discounted to 5,600 points = 3.7% of 150,000 = $149 + $41 = $190
if bought with 50% bonus = 2.8% of 225,000 = $99 + $41 = $140

Remember this is buying up the $149 airfare - obviously, if the equivalent cash fare is $199, $259, $359, $411 etc, the classic rewards route is pretty good

so i did a smaller fare
BURN
$129 AIRFARE currently cheapest Red-E deal Adelaide Melbourne Status credits earnt = 10, Points earn = 800

usually 21,500 points = 14.3% of 150,000 = $572
if bought with 50% bonus = 9.5% of 225,000 = $380

30% off Points & Pay
discounted to 15,050 points = 10% of 150,000 = $400
if bought with 50% bonus = 6.7% of 225,000 = $267

Marginal points earn (800 points) on above fares reduces the $ cost by a small amount of about $15-20.

the cash fare is $129 so the points plus pay is twice the price even on classic rewards!

 

[Hampton Mike]

If you work at the margins it’s probably dubious value. But once you start looking at premium cabins for long haul flights it gets to be a pretty reasonable proposition (IMO).

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Yes it will. I know some people don't like making these things well known so I'll leave it at that.

Thanks for clarifying. I only ask since I see I can earn 112 status credits by burning 66K Avios on a J t-con (and 11K Avios to earn 18 SCs for flying across the ditch to NZ).

 

[CaptJCool]

and this is the case for the J Rewards (the cheapest fare is $763 but normally at least $981)

J Classic Rewards (no points earn and Points Club membership provides some Status Credits 18 instead of 40)
usually 18,400 points = 12.2% of 150,000 = $490 + $41 = $531 (this is comparable to the lowest J Sales fares I've seen in recent times)

if bought with 50% bonus = 8.17% of 225,000 = $327 + $41 = $368 v $981
(this is lower than the public lowest J Sales fares but I don't know if Business Rewards does a better offer and its likely some corporate accounts may be competitive to this pricing)

and what with the 50% more classic rewards seats being in the market til Christmas from memory, it may be worth a consideration

If you work at the margins it’s probably dubious value. But once you start looking at premium cabins for long haul flights it gets to be a pretty reasonable proposition (IMO).

so I DID a calc for a longer trip
J Sydney to Perth

the fares in the immediate future retail from $2,711 to just shy of $3,500 one way
and here's where it gets entertaining!
there are many ways to do this travel

Classic Rewards points 41,500
direct +$45
via Melb +$73
via CBR +$125
via ADL +$82
(even via Bris but that involves spending 57,000 points)

what about the points club status credits ?
direct usually 80SC; Points club = 38
via Melb usually 120SC; Points club = 56
via CBR as per Melb (but noting suggests 140 on the pricey cash tic)
via ADL usually 100 SC; Points club = 46

Direct
usually 41,500 points = 27.6% of 150,000 = $1,106 + $45 = $1,151
If bought with 50% bonus = 18.4% of 225,000 = $737 + $45 = $782
v J Cash fare Now & late October from $2,711 (noting fare in 10 days is $3,972)

via Melb $1,179 v J Cash fare $3,469 & late Oct $2,482
via CBR $1,231 v J Cash fare $3,212 & late Oct $4.217
via ADL $1,188 v J cash fare $3,213 & late Oct $1,911

with the 50% bonus
via Melb $810 ((Flex Y MELB to Perth itself is $915)
via CBR $862 (Flex Y CBR to Perth itself is $956!)
via ADL $819 (Flex Y ADL to Perth itself is $844) late 2022 there were some J fares Adl-Perth for under $1,000 currently $1,082

and I don't think I've seen J fares that low over that longer distance ever

Trouble of course is often Rewards seats are GONE

 

[CaptJCool]

so i did a smaller fare
BURN
$129 AIRFARE currently cheapest Red-E deal Adelaide Melbourne Status credits earnt = 10, Points earn = 800

usually 21,500 points = 14.3% of 150,000 = $572
if bought with 50% bonus = 9.5% of 225,000 = $380

30% off Points & Pay
discounted to 15,050 points = 10% of 150,000 = $400
if bought with 50% bonus = 6.7% of 225,000 = $267

Marginal points earn (800 points) on above fares reduces the $ cost by a small amount of about $15-20.

the cash fare is $129 so the points plus pay is twice the price even on classic rewards!

i note the Sydney - Melbourne Red-E deal fare is now $129 after the July school holidays...

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/flight-deals/flights-from-sydney-to-melbourne.html/syd/mel/economy