Feeling very uninspired by Flybuys these days

[GSP]

Suppose I’ve been lucky to be getting decent offers through both flybuys and wwr. I’ve got ~400k flybuys points in the primary account and it pains me not to be converting them to velocity points with the current promo which waives the transfer limit but I’m still not too confident in velocity. I’m hoping Virgin picks up and I can then convert them and use them for a partner airline like SG or EY like I used to. Absolutely worse case I’ll use them to pay for flights or accomodation directly through flybuys travel. I just hope flybuys travel don’t go the way of other travel agencies and shut shop otherwise there will be no way to use points for travel!

How long has it taken you to earn 400k points? Given you can only convert 138k per VFF per year, it would take 3 years to transfer them all out (or longer if using bonus offer of 15/20%), so wonder why they haven't been transferred out as you earn or when the bonuses come up. And if using them for cash, why not transfer for $100 or whatever denomination for discounts on shops rather than putting dollars in Coles pockets earlier. i.e You can't earn anything on stashed FB points.

 

[Nathant123]

How long has it taken you to earn 400k points? Given you can only convert 138k per VFF per year, it would take 3 years to transfer them all out (or longer if using bonus offer of 15/20%), so wonder why they haven't been transferred out as you earn or when the bonuses come up. And if using them for cash, why not transfer for $100 or whatever denomination for discounts on shops rather than putting dollars in Coles pockets earlier. i.e You can't earn anything on stashed FB points.

Its taken me around 2 years I'd say. I've got a Coles platinum Mastercard and have put through a fair bit on that plus we typically spend at least ~$1500 a month at Coles. For whatever reason I was always hesitant to transfer to velocity and always waited for a better deal. Ironically the best I've seen comes now with the largest bonus and uncapped transfer amount. I've also got the platinum amex which earns the bulk of my velocity points and I seemed to earn them quicker than I could spend them hence no real rush to transfer. I will wait to see what comes of velocity, or if flybuys pick up another airline. Either way its not too important at the moment given the current pandemic has thrown out my travel plans. Absolute worse case I'll use them to get an iPhone. I suppose flybuys points should be a little safer than an airline programme as Covid hasn't exactly stopped people spending in the supermarket..

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Can tell that VFF is getting quite desperate.
Haven't done any FB to VFF points transfers since VA (the airline) went into VA (voluntary administration)...
Have had many emails from the team, robo sent out of course,,, to the VFF members in my family.
Keep encouraging me to transfer FB points to VFF.
SC from Coles shopping does go through, so I am still getting VFF SC that way, pity that we have to wait till at the least Aug to see what happens to VA and VFF.
Feel a bit bad for not providing FB/VFF a source of $ to be earnt, still not sure who pays who/m if I transfer FB points to VFF.

 

[samh004]

I've bought two Qantas flights with Flybuys before, didn't see the need to transfer the points to VA.

 

[Major]

Not receiving much from Coles at all. Only offers of a few hundred points to buy dead stock, or overpriced items
I will not be transferring to Velocity until I see what VA2 have to offer

 

[jakeseven7]

So whats the alternative, nothing? Flybuys points are free to earn, as are Woolworths. the smart person flips between the two and you get more offers once they figure out you stopped spending.

Actually it’s not nothing it’s supporting local smaller businesses where your dollar has a far greater multiplier effect than spending with the two big Supermarket/pokie giants or their foreign owned competitors (Aldi/Costco).

I take immense pleasure in not caring whatsoever about EDR or Flybuys points chasing. Sure I scan my card if I’m in their stores and that’s the limit of my care factor for either of them

Unsubscribing from their daily spam allows you more time to focus on things perhaps more important to you...

 

[auspal]

So whats the alternative, nothing? Flybuys points are free to earn, as are Woolworths. the smart person flips between the two and you get more offers once they figure out you stopped spending.

I use two Woolworths Reward cards, one is in my partner's name. I flip between the two for the best offer. Is it better to activate an offer and not use it, or ignore it ? By ignoring the offer is this how they figure out you have stopped spending, or is it if you dont fulfil the requirements of the offer ?

 

[GSP]

I use two Woolworths Reward cards, one is in my partner's name. I flip between the two for the best offer. Is it better to activate an offer and not use it, or ignore it ? By ignoring the offer is this how they figure out you have stopped spending, or is it if you dont fulfil the requirements of the offer ?

6 is better.

 

[aussiejohn]

Suppose I’ve been lucky to be getting decent offers through both flybuys and wwr. I’ve got ~400k flybuys points in the primary account and it pains me not to be converting them to velocity points with the current promo which waives the transfer limit but I’m still not too confident in velocity. I’m hoping Virgin picks up and I can then convert them and use them for a partner airline like SG or EY like I used to. Absolutely worse case I’ll use them to pay for flights or accomodation directly through flybuys travel. I just hope flybuys travel don’t go the way of other travel agencies and shut shop otherwise there will be no way to use points for travel!

If anything happens to Flybuys/Velocity partnership, you can still convert your points to money off vouchers. Then just transfer the equivalent amount of cash to your travel account. The cash equivalent of the points can still be used to buy travel - maybe not the same value as points currency, but at least you aren't losing out if they become worthless for Virgin.

 

[Stealthflyer]

So whats the alternative, nothing? Flybuys points are free to earn, as are Woolworths. the smart person flips between the two and you get more offers once they figure out you stopped spending.

The alternative is shopping at independent grocers. The toilet paper might not be as cheap, but the fruit and veggies at my local grocers are cheaper and fresher than the two big chains. I tend to buy my non-perishables at the big chains and my fresh food at independents.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I use two Woolworths Reward cards, one is in my partner's name. I flip between the two for the best offer. Is it better to activate an offer and not use it, or ignore it ? By ignoring the offer is this how they figure out you have stopped spending, or is it if you dont fulfil the requirements of the offer ?

Activate and ignore.
That is what I do for both/either.
And then you will get the 800 points for $90 buy x 2, from WWR, ((granted that is the VFF branch)).
Got another plea to transfer FB to VFF just this afternoon, 15% bonus.
But as is our mutterings on here, what happens if VA goes kaput.
Does VFF go into oblivion, or go into FB or into another tangent, ie, independent/ce.
I think also today, I got a Coles one, 1000/1500 FB points for $100 spend.
But for a family of 8 relos, its quite easy to spend $100 per week on food, esp with kids (not mine, relos).

 

[fantasy86dj]

I cancelled my flybuys platinum card on Wednesday. The consultant didn't offer any retention offers, no questions asked just a straight out "I have processed that for you and you will receive your confirmation letter next week". Looking through my statements for the last 18 months I spent close to 40k and about 10k of that was spent overseas. Not that I expected any retention offers but I was amazed how smooth the process was.

I hold the AMEX Platinum charge so will start using that more and I have got CBA Essentials with $400 limit only to be used where AMEX cannot be used (only about 10% of the time I cannot use the AMEX). I did activate and am on week 3 of my 4 week challenge for this month's offer, that was only activated because it was a low $50 for me.

I am feeling very uninspired as well to earn flybuys points but generally overall as well as I am currently in lockdown in Northern Melbourne.

 

[QF WP]

Actually, I am feeling the love from FlyBuys at the moment - they are tempting me with weekly 2K bonus points for an increase of $10 each week (started at $120, this week $140). I've achieved each week, but there will come a time that I will give up on the price point. A couple of the offers I've been able to utilise as well, so getting between 3k and 4K each shop.

 

[Revenge]

Actually, I am feeling the love from FlyBuys at the moment - they are tempting me with weekly 2K bonus points for an increase of $10 each week (started at $120, this week $140). I've achieved each week, but there will come a time that I will give up on the price point. A couple of the offers I've been able to utilise as well, so getting between 3k and 4K each shop.

What are you going to do with your points?

 

[QF WP]

At this stage, building them up slowly, waiting until I can start travelling again and maybe there will be another 20-25% bonus offer in the future (not enough points there at the moment to worry about).

 

[rainbowgirl]

I'm not really excited about collecting any supermarket points at the moment and it's upsetting. I love collecting points but I rarely have the chance at the moment. My husband took over doing the shopping once we went into lockdown in March. He just buys what he can given the supply issues and wants the checkout process to be as quick as possible. He doesn't like swiping loyalty cards and shopping for a specific amount of money at the relevant store. I occasionally go shopping for chocolate, soft drink, chips and vitamins, plus any items we've run out of and usually pick up bonus points at the same time except when there weren't any bonus offers. The 4 week offers are no good to me because I never know when I'm going shopping again. With all the new virus cases in Victoria I'm afraid to go out most of the time.

 

[Revenge]

He doesn't like swiping loyalty cards

My wife would be in big trouble if she didn't scan the card at check out!

 

[Captain Halliday]

He doesn't like swiping loyalty cards and shopping for a specific amount of money at the relevant store.

Mrs H used to be like that.

But I found that a gentle reminder of the benefits can help.

In fact, all it took was a glass of J champagne to convince Mrs H.

Obviously I had to persuade the flight attended to take it back to her...

 

[QF WP]

I've always had control of the loyalty cards and do most of the grocery shopping, as my wife is ambivalent about the benefits - it's been too long since she has been in J or F, so she's forgetting the value...

At least FlyBuys are giving me weekly bonus offers - whereas Woolworths give me nothing.

 

[fantasy86dj]

I feel the same way... I cancelled my FB card about 3 months ago. My points are literally sitting there. Another airline is needed given the current environment (would love SQ). Hey ho, lets see what happens in the future.