Flying cheap / in higher classes - sounds like too much work.

[NZflygirl]

Most people I talk to have the reaction you got from your colleague.
There is the odd one or two who wants to learn but by and large it's a waste of time telling most people.
There has recently been a plethora of courses aimed at those who are time poor to enable them to learn the ropes quickly. The online paid for content here and I also know someone who runs face to face courses on everything airline and hotel related.

Can I please be directed to the face to face course?? I feel like I could do with some direction and discussion.

 

[ajd]

I happen to have a attraction towards trying to figure out how complicated systems work and how to exploit the rules. Reading about the complexities of airline ticketing policy fits right in to this category. (It's probably not coincidental that my day job is software development.)

Many people don't naturally tend to think this way.

 

[Duffa]

This concept has been discussed before, on another thread. I don't mean that rudely - it's just that all of us have come across friends and colleagues with whom we've tried to share our secrets, only for them to light up with initial interest and then glaze over when we tell them we spend 5-6 hours a week on this and other sites.
I have two friends, same industry and (probably more) income than me. Told them over and over again. They have never flown J let alone F.
And they got together last year to cough about how Mrs D and I are always up the front.
I think from now on I'll just lie.......... I'll say that comfort is important to me and that I pay full price.
Stupidity tax - yep!

 

[joyvee]

I am fascinated by the concept of accruing sufficient points or status runs to use for upgrades. I have been reading most posts about the possibilities of playing the game to get upgrades.
I am retired so have time to learn and devote myself to learning something new, I also have a limited income which I believe may inhibit my ability to take advantage of the system others praise.

My feeling is that it may be easier to buy points from a specific airline and use them on flights to US or North American. I prefer to travel to Europe and Asia.
It seems that many posters have accrued QF points via business flights. This was not an option whilst I was working. I do not wish to be limited to QF.

So far I have flown in J by watching for specials and utilising them. Whirlpool and OzBargain are good sources for comparison. I have flown F with Garuda thanks to AFF tip on cheap international airfares when the price to AMS was cheaper than J with other carriers.

If anyone thinks my assumptions are false, please PM me and point me in the correct direction. (Can anyone explain the reference to fuel dumps?)

I really appreciate the info on this site and the collegiate support provided by members to me and others. Such a valuable resource. Thanks to all.
I

 

[TomVexille]

[/LIST]

Well hold on there, Joe...

Just kidding - this is actually a limitation, the best sign up bonuses do generally have a high income requirement, which has held back some people I know (though I do know of fresh grads on low 50s managing to convince the big 4 to give them black CCs). Lower income = lower ability to game WWR and Flybuys, less flexible income to bring forward spend on cards, etc. Of course though there are ways (for example, ANZ's staggered bonuses at the moment with their QF CCs) to get into the game at a smaller scale, and everyone needs to start somewhere.

You are not wrong there. Some of us have to be very careful with cc sign ups and overall spend.

 

[cove]

Mrscove doesn't like me talking about getting rebates/gift cards to save up to 25% off retail prices. She thinks if someone does not get going after 5 minutes then don't bother.
Same thing on flying and I would be a lot of cash poorer if I bought all those airline seats.
It is just a game and the plane still goes to the same spot whether you are in first class, business class or baggage class.
I have noticed more interest from retired and semi retired folks in traveling more comfortably and getting deals on purchases.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I don't see the issue. People value many things differently. Naturally, on this forum, most people scoff at those who wouldn't "waste" money on an expensive meal, but off forum, many people are politely curious (and yes, likely scoff at us), but just not obsessed like some on here. I agree totally with JohnK's comment that what we do is not normal. Also remember that many people are excited by the thought of holiday's, but hold an anxiety about the flying and the thought of actually planning holidays around the flight is somewhat of a foreign concept.

The other thing is that some people don't want to believe they're missing/missed out and this is evident even here on AFF. Take the scripting thread and dare I say it ... the unwritten benefit thread. Some will argue black and blue that something doesn't or shouldn't exist if they think they've missed out and at times become quite ridiculous (not to mention rude) with their arguments in order to mitigate their own disappointment.

Horses for courses and we should be thrilled that not everyone are interested!

 

[Genji88]

Fair enough, I can see the validity in the "Expensive Meal" argument, but if there's a close mate, significant other or similar person you'd like to share your pointy end adventures with, It's the difference one little letter can make when things get pear shaped or worse.

Having to be on hold for a few minutes or even having a personal phone number for J & F pax & any emails responded to in short order & other benefits vs wait times of 20 mins or more & being down the bottom of the email priority pile are reasons enough to avoid flying in Y.

 

[JohnK]

However, it is $3k. You can pick up a return Y fare for half that price, even less. Someone needs to "get used" to paying that much for a fare which they know is a good deal but still is more money than they would otherwise spend. Yes, you can sell the comfort, the lounges, the experience (and some may not have any personal experience or at best your recounted experience to go by), but money is money and let's not kid ourselves in thinking that $1500 or so is nothing as far as a price difference goes - that's still a decent amount of money to many people.

Interesting point. A very good friend used to travel to Greece once a year from the 90's until his death in 2012. He would look for the cheapest fare to travel around July/August high season and would spend <$2000 on airfare. He was not interested in relative comfort for 24 hours when he would spend 6-7 weeks at destination. He just wanted to spend the least amount as possible within reason.

 

[Matt_01]

I do not actually think it is that much like hard work once you work out what you are doing. I treat points collecting as an odd hobby and actually resent paying by cash or any other method that will not in some way contribute to my tally. All points collected (out side of flying) is just the use of the correct cards for my business and the odd sign up bonus to coincide with larger costs that would any way, e.g. vehicle rego, rate insurance etc.

I collect points to get my Partner and Daughter overseas J or F at least a couple of times a year. They have no interest in status or points other they me collecting them. Getting 2 reward seats in J has not been that difficult, yes I need to plan ahead and that is easy as we only can travel in school holidays. I am happy to pay for 1 sale J ticket and get the SC and points. If you do the math as 3 travellers we tend to be better off or at least break even with paying for 3 upgradeable Y fares then requesting upgrades in the QF lotto.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I treat points collecting as an odd hobby and actually resent paying by cash

I was having lunch with a travel agent friend of mine the other day and I showed her my "cheat sheet", which is a laminated card the size of a CC that I keep in my wallet and reminds me of which card to use to maximise the points (idea courtesy of an AFFer, but I apologise as I cannot remember who it was), and her comment was "you're nothing short of insane" .... she and her + 1 have recently returned from Italy, in -Y, whereas we have enough points for return SQ suites, plus probably a few return J flights ...

 

[hm520]

By no means am I an expert on achieving all the premium benefits, but I certainly have been fortunate in recent times to fly in the pointy end on international trips - all thanks to this forum, reading and from credit card sign on bonuses. My friends often show some interest initially after I tell them of my holidays, but it's usually greed and they expect the upgrade/flight availability to be a given.

As someone with a more obsessive streak and love of flying in premium cabins (for less $$) I'd certainly like to be more knowledgeable - I'm not one to attend face to face courses and would rather read the information and digest at my own speed. What is the best source for further information?

 

[Denali]

....I showed her my "cheat sheet", . ...

Because I handle all of hubbys points and status, Ive given him a cheat sheet with ID & passwords and put one in the safe as well with the "In case I die" instructions on how to secure all the points.

 

[LadyC]

Because I handle all of hubbys points and status, Ive given him a cheat sheet with ID & passwords and put one in the safe as well with the "In case I die" instructions on how to secure all the points.

Not a bad idea there. The gentleman lets me manage all travel and payment related issues so it might be helpful to leave some instructions!

 

[craven morehead]

Because I handle all of hubbys points and status, Ive given him a cheat sheet with ID & passwords and put one in the safe as well with the "In case I die" instructions on how to secure all the points.

Outstanding!!!

 

[Basalt]

Flying Economy is too much hard work as well.

Amen to that!

My SWMBO used to think I was a little mad until upgrades to J on all legs MEL-LHR return last year....

Now when I say things like 'just popping down to Dan Murphy's' and she'll tell me to check if there's any bonus points specials on epiQure first!

 

[Dr Ralph]

Amen to that!

My SWMBO used to think I was a little mad until upgrades to J on all legs MEL-LHR return last year....

Now when I say things like 'just popping down to Dan Murphy's' and she'll tell me to check if there's any bonus points specials on epiQure first!

Congratulations. It's hard to find a partner like that

 

[andye]

I had some interest from a couple of the rugby dads recently. Unfortunately I chose an example of using Alaska points (to buy 5x CX J flights) via Diners then SPG. Probably not the easiest example for a novice

 

[burmans]

Now when I say things like 'just popping down to Dan Murphy's' and she'll tell me to check if there's any bonus points specials on epiQure first!

Echo Dr Ralph's thoughts though of course if you were really maximising value at Dan's you would be using CashRewards using Gift Cards so by the time you say 'just popping down to Dan Murphy's' it would have been too later to tell you to check epiQure! Is epiQure really ever any cheaper than Dan's anyway? Even accounting for points, it always seems to me they are very expensive points every time I have looked.

 

[sinophile888]

If you do the math as 3 travellers we tend to be better off or at least break even with paying for 3 upgradeable Y fares then requesting upgrades in the QF lotto.

I have just made that discovery for flights on 1/1/17 and 5/1/17. Both Flex fares and both successful upgrade requests.
Sweet!