Excess Points

[p--and--t]

How does it earn them money now ?
@Seat0B similar to us

QF sells points to woolworths coles myers all the banks and dozens of other companies for cash so these companies can in turn give you points
with your purchases

Allegedly QF make a profit at both ends (in selling the points and the conversion rate for members to obtain rewards).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How does it earn them money now ?

They're still selling millions (billions?) of points, probably at around 1c each, to banks and other companies who award them every time we shop.

While frequent flyers will see the benefits in holding points for premium cabin awards, many of the 10 million members may not... redeeming for other awards. The airline sells them at 1c, and people redeem them at .07 of a cent, or even less than that. Giving a pretty heft profit margin.

 

[tomlee1986]

How does it earn them money now ?
@Seat0B similar to us

The points by credit card sales, woolworths everyday rewards amongst others on the ground

 

[Lynda2475]

Im saving the majority of my QF points, my balance is the highest it has every been due to cancelled J CLassic rewards this year.

But I did just use 20k QFF points to book a classic reward intra-state domestic flight for first week of Jan (for office shut down), as I know I can cancel up to the 24 hours before and not lose any $. At the moment Qantas only offering free changes up til end of Nov, but I wanted to make sure I had a seat (and a fully refundable hotel booking too), as the idea of having to spend 2 weeks at home over xmas and new years after having already been stuck working form my dining room table since mid March was too much to bear.

If the domestic borders open up come December and I can find a better place to be in another state for a good deal, I will cancel the classic reward and refundable hotel at no loss.

So using classic rewards are insurance for changing border scenarios can be a safe bet right now.

 

[mrsterryn]

Has anyone booked international travel for next year on points ?

 

[Susan Marks]

My excess Points is relevant to Qantas but I suspect many have other points that are languishing there
Has anyone thought of spending on non flights ?
Having had some flights cancelled and our usual (flights excluded ) points I am wondering what to do especially with no end in sight of borders opening

 

[John in Melbourne]

I'm hanging onto my QF points for when we're flying again, which I'm sure we will be. Buying stuff using points is just not good value, usually. I still remember the thrill of saving enough points to travel F MEL to LHR in the days when QF9/10 was in an A380.

 

[John in Melbourne]

Has anyone booked international travel for next year on points ?

Given the state of coronavirus throughout the world, I'm reluctant to book international flights just yet.

 

[Susan Marks]

As none of us will be travelling o/s any time soon and if you don’t wish to travel locally, why not wait until the Qantas Shop has a reduction on points for some items you may want. I recently purchased a magnificent Breville food processor/blender when points were reduced by 20% and delivery only took four days. Couldn’t be happier. Or just your points sit there. They’ll still be there when we can all travel safely again.

 

[Assassin]

I feel like i have too many points, especially after having 2 F award seats cancelled in April (SYD-HND-LHR, CDG-DXB-SYD). I have been using points to buy wine from the Qantas wine web-site which can give you ok value particularly where they have sales or bonus points offers. I also save 10% (on cash or points) with points club plus and so this has worked for me.

 

[mrsterryn]

I feel like i have too many points, especially after having 2 F award seats cancelled in April (SYD-HND-LHR, CDG-DXB-SYD). I have been using points to buy wine from the Qantas wine web-site which can give you ok value particularly where they have sales or bonus points offers. I also save 10% (on cash or points) with points club plus and so this has worked for me.

My son has requested more wine lol. We bumped up out points buying him wine lol

 

[Assassin]

My son has requested more wine lol. We bumped up out points buying him wine lol

That's one of the things about the buying wine from Qantas - you still earn points for buying even if you use points to pay so the net points cost is lower than the "headline"

 

[Spacetravel]

I had 600k of velocity points I burnt when the airline was collapsing. I got myself a mac book pro (only had a desktop before, it has actually become very helpful during covid) and a bunch of JB gift cards. Sadly I only have about 40k velocity points left now.

After my burnathon I switched to Qantas as regardless of the outcome of VA I knew the new airline wouldn't suit my needs. I now have 250k Qantas points and growing which will be ready and waiting to spend when travel resumes.

As soon as the pandemic started I gave up on all extra points earning activities. I only earn points I get from day to day anyway. I don't budge for any "good deals" bonus points these days such as spend extra at woolworths or sign up offers etc.

 

[Seat0B]

Has anyone booked international travel for next year on points ?

I have award flights on Qantas to Japan on Jan/Feb 2021 that were booked in early March 2020 before things looked so bad. At that time, by feeling was that we would be travelling again by then. Looks like I got that one wrong! I'm just waiting for these flights to (inevitably) be cancelled. I'm now feeling like I would be willing to book again for the same dates in 2022, when they become available, but probably not too sure about anything earlier. Although I might look for a trip to Dubai towards the end of 2021, using the same strategy as @Lynda2475.

 

[RAM]

Given the increasingly parlous state that Qantas is in with now close to zero net assets (according to the Annual Report released in late August) despite getting close to $1.4bn thrown in the tin by the capital raising on June 26, 2020 - perhaps at least a bet each way is sensible.

The latest article on Q dragging its feet paying out customers is of concern - suggesting that they have more than $4bn in international refunds outstanding.

Dec 31 deadline approaches for Qantas Covid credit bookings

While you can also request a full refund, Qantas is offering double points for bookings made with ‘Covid credit’.

www.executivetraveller.com

After all back in March, Q cut redemptions from QFF before VA.

Qantas limits number of items Frequent Flyers can redeem at online rewards store

Qantas announced today that it would be limiting the number of products Frequent Flyer members can buy on its online store to 2 items per day.

mozo.com.au

The evidence within AFF seems to corroborate the article about the delays.

How long did Qantas take to process your refund for cancelled flights?

As I’ve mentioned before I waited over 12 weeks for taxes to be refunded for a cancelled award flight. Several phone calls and messages, Qantas said they’d paid. Amex said they hadn’t received it, suggested a charge back. Sent all the documentation to amex and received the amount owing.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Now in this post administration VA world of uncertainty, it is worth keeping in mind the sting in the tail with QFF flight redemptions.

Qantas faces scrutiny over frequent flyer bookings

YOU’VE spent years building up your frequent flyer points, using carefully selected purchases to boost your balance.

www.news.com.au

 

[PineappleSkip]

I am still accumulating points because that's what I do. They come with the status credit offers. Probably will continue to do so as I am sitting on numerous flight vouchers to burn first and have done 0/4 paid flights to retain status, which naturally I have to retain. If QF ever goes belly up I will print and frame my last points statement, and hang it right next to my last AN points statement.

I am a points lemming. Look what AFF has done to me.

cheers skip

 

[p--and--t]

I am still accumulating points because that's what I do. They come with the status credit offers. Probably will continue to do so as I am sitting on numerous flight vouchers to burn and have done 0/4 flights to retain status, which naturally I have to retain. If QF ever goes belly up I will print and frame my last points statement, and hang it right next to my last AN points statement.

I am a points lemming. Look what AFF has done to me.

cheers skip

My points are still going up from the Assure app and my Black ANZ Visa and various miscellany even though I have redirected all my supermarket program points back to cash back. [I am still a lowly nobody Bronze tho]

I was so crestfallen with AN that I disposed of 99% of the AN stuff I had. So so so many points down the drain and my diamond status and other trinkets like leather diaries etc. I didn't manage to find all of it at the time and I think there is still a luggage tag somewhere at the bottom of the drawer and a couple of matching J glass salt and pepper shakers in the kitchen.

 

[Flashback]

I rate very highly awardwallet.com, I'm tracking in excess of 40 accounts in there I'd say. The automatic balance check and notification of increase/decrease/upcoming expiry is very handy. Helps to make you aware of anything coming up for expiry so you can either get some activity going to extend them or burn baby burn!

Has anyone booked international travel for next year on points ?

Cash is king right now, all our international travel is paid for at an absolute steal!

 

[Toula92122]

Cash is king right now, all our international travel is paid for at an absolute steal!

I booked a domestic trip this week and as you say prices are a steal vs redeeming points. I did redeem points for the hotel but paid for flights.

 

[Seat0B]

Cash is king right now, all our international travel is paid for at an absolute steal!

I booked a domestic trip this week and as you say prices are a steal vs redeeming points. I did redeem points for the hotel but paid for flights.

Are you guys talking about flights in/from Australia? or somewhere else? I just put some fake dates into the QF web site and the costs are more than double what they used to be. Or are you using other airlines? Looking for some opportunities just in case they let us travel sometime in the second half of next year.