Glad to be here

[robolb]

Hi Everyone,

Just looking briefly at this site I can see I have a lot to learn!

I travel mainly in Australia, with one or two overseas trips each year. I've been a Qantas frequent flyer for 20 years, but I have obviously not been using that membership to best effect! I'm stuck at Gold status at the moment as my travel has dropped off in the last few years. ONly just managing to maintain it. I made it to Platinum once. That was cool and very handy.

I used to use my points for overseas holidays a lot. I generally have plenty of points. But in recent years the 'value' of the points seemed to have dropped considerably, to the extent that whereas in the past we would use points to fly up to Bangkok each year, it's almost cheaper these days to just buy a Thai airways ticket. (We pay over $700 in taxes for 2 x economy returns on Qantas)

I look forward to lots of time on this Forum learning where I have been going wrong all these years

 

[JohnK]

Belated welcome to AFF robolb!

The days where points were worth something are over. They're giving them away now.

 

[robolb]

Thanks for the welcome JohnK.

Hopefully I can find out here if there is any value in these loyalty programs any more ?

Though lounge access and extra luggage allowance is always handy.

 

[prozac]

Welcome to AFF robolb.

 

[Buzzard]

Welcome to AFF robolb. Gold is not such a bad place to be stuck. Happy travels.

 

[Steady]

Welcome aboard robolb

 

[robolb]

Thanks for the welcomes guys.

Hey Steady. I notice on your profile Flights Recorded, Miles Flown etc. Is that something you record yourself, or from an app,or something else?

Nice record to have but not sure I want to comb through 20 years of diaries to work it out.

Afternote: OK I found the AFF Flight Tracker. Nice feature. Not sure I want to spend a week of my life uploading all previous flights though ...

 

[Steady]

You found your answer - yes, it took me a long time to load previous flights but you can start off just buy entering new ones as they happen. I kept all of my BP's since joining QFF, while they have the month and day printed on them they don't have the year so it was still a challenge

 

[Dr Ralph]

Welcome to AFF robolb

 

[OATEK]

Welcome from me as well Robolb. Re: AFF tracker, unlike Steady I had many holes in my flight records, so probably have only entered about half of my past flights. Hard now to dredge up the flights that started in in 1954! But if you can find boarding passes and diary entries and do it bit by bit when nothing else is happening you soon have quite a few entries.

 

[robolb]

Welcome from me as well Robolb. Re: AFF tracker, unlike Steady I had many holes in my flight records, so probably have only entered about half of my past flights. Hard now to dredge up the flights that started in in 1954! But if you can find boarding passes and diary entries and do it bit by bit when nothing else is happening you soon have quite a few entries.

sadly there is no such time as 'when nothing else is happening'. I presume there is no actual benefit in doing it, other than curiosity...

 

[JohnK]

Hopefully I can find out here if there is any value in these loyalty programs any more ?

Though lounge access and extra luggage allowance is always handy.

There is always value in the loyalty programs if you can get the miles/points cheaply.

And if you can get status then even better.

 

[robolb]

There is always value in the loyalty programs if you can get the miles/points cheaply.

And if you can get status then even better.

Maybe I'm being dumb, but I'm struggling to see where the value I these days.

I've given up using points for flights (at least on Qantas) because the 'taxes' are so high. So now I just keep them for upgrades.
So that and the lounge access is still worthwhile I guess.

I've been reading stuff off and on all day here to get my head around the whole status thing.

I get it now, that I can boost my status with JASA flights.

Now the question in my mind is:

1. Do I use my points on upgrades as the main benefit or,
2. Do I use some points on JASA flights to boost my status, but for what purpose? On the off chance I might get an upgrade or a better seat?

Lots more reading required I think

 

[Steady]

Maybe I'm being dumb, but I'm struggling to see where the value I these days.

I've given up using points for flights (at least on Qantas) because the 'taxes' are so high. So now I just keep them for upgrades.
So that and the lounge access is still worthwhile I guess.

I've been reading stuff off and on all day here to get my head around the whole status thing.

I get it now, that I can boost my status with JASA flights.

Now the question in my mind is:

1. Do I use my points on upgrades as the main benefit or,
2. Do I use some points on JASA flights to boost my status, but for what purpose? On the off chance I might get an upgrade or a better seat?

Lots more reading required I think

The JASA flights you have read about are sadly no more :-|

 

[JohnK]

Maybe I'm being dumb, but I'm struggling to see where the value I these days.

There has to be some value if those points are costing next to nothing to earn. e.g. sign on bonuses from credit cards, 10 x bonus points from purchasing Qantas vouchers around Christmas, Everyday rewards etc.

Classic example is shopping at Woolworths. Since its inception around 5 years with my parents shopping we have accumulated ~60,000 points on my account, ~35,000 points on my brothers account, ~30,000 on dads account, ~25,000 on mums account and ~10,000 on my wifes account. This haul of points is not great but is more than enough for a RTW award in economy where taxes cost ~AUD1,200. Not bad for just going shopping.

 

[robolb]

There has to be some value if those points are costing next to nothing to earn. e.g. sign on bonuses from credit cards, 10 x bonus points from purchasing Qantas vouchers around Christmas, Everyday rewards etc.

Classic example is shopping at Woolworths. Since its inception around 5 years with my parents shopping we have accumulated ~60,000 points on my account, ~35,000 points on my brothers account, ~30,000 on dads account, ~25,000 on mums account and ~10,000 on my wifes account. This haul of points is not great but is more than enough for a RTW award in economy where taxes cost ~AUD1,200. Not bad for just going shopping.

Fair point !

 

[Mattg]

Welcome!

If you are put off by the high taxes on Qantas redemptions, then upgrades are probably the next best thing. But as a longer term strategy, you may want to consider using the American Airlines AAdvantage program. AA does not charge any fuel surcharges on Qantas flight redemptions, so the miles are considerably more valuable. If you have, or can get a credit card that earns American miles (or SPG points which can be converted to AA miles) then you may want to consider that. However, the trade off would be status - unless you plan to travel to the USA each year, it would be difficult to maintain status with the AA program.

If you do stick with Qantas (admittedly the easier option), there is a point to chasing status. Benefits of Platinum status include better priority in the upgrade queue, Business and First lounge access, etc. Unfortunately JASAs no longer exist in any form that makes them valuable. But, there are a few things you can do to maximise your status credits. As a general rule, why fly direct when you could connect? - as you'll get more status credits for often the same price by flying indirect where possible. If you're just a little bit off Platinum, you may also want to check this thread for some status run ideas: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....gram/best-status-run-options-quick-35258.html

 

[robolb]

Welcome!

If you are put off by the high taxes on Qantas redemptions, then upgrades are probably the next best thing. But as a longer term strategy, you may want to consider using the American Airlines AAdvantage program. AA does not charge any fuel surcharges on Qantas flight redemptions, so the miles are considerably more valuable. If you have, or can get a credit card that earns American miles (or SPG points which can be converted to AA miles) then you may want to consider that. However, the trade off would be status - unless you plan to travel to the USA each year, it would be difficult to maintain status with the AA program.

If you do stick with Qantas (admittedly the easier option), there is a point to chasing status. Benefits of Platinum status include better priority in the upgrade queue, Business and First lounge access, etc. Unfortunately JASAs no longer exist in any form that makes them valuable. But, there are a few things you can do to maximise your status credits. As a general rule, why fly direct when you could connect? - as you'll get more status credits for often the same price by flying indirect where possible. If you're just a little bit off Platinum, you may also want to check this thread for some status run ideas: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....gram/best-status-run-options-quick-35258.html

Thanks Mattg. I'll check out that thread.


So basically, there is no longer a way to book a fare using points + pay and still get SCs?

If you want SCs, you need to pay cash for the fare, at an appropriate class of ticket that gives SCs?

 

[Mattg]

Thanks Mattg. I'll check out that thread.


So basically, there is no longer a way to book a fare using points + pay and still get SCs?

If you want SCs, you need to pay cash for the fare, at an appropriate class of ticket that gives SCs?

There is still Points + Pay, but the value is barely worthwhile. You do earn status credits on Points + Pay bookings, but how it works is basically that the cash/revenue fare is converted to points at a very poor rate of around 0.7 points per dollar. This is still better value than spending points on toasters, but there is much better value to be had redeeming those points on classic awards and upgrades. Very few people on here will recommend using Points + Pay for this reason.

Occasionally QF will have limited time promotions where SCs can be earned on classic awards, as well as occasional 50% bonus SC offers. But don't count on them.

 

[Steady]

Occasionally QF will have limited time promotions where SCs can be earned on classic awards

robolb, I just received one of the promotion emails that Mattg mentioned above offering status credits for classic award (points) bookings so you may be lucky also (I believe they are targeted)

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[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Dear Steady,
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[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Now is the best time to book your next Qantas Classic Flight Reward[SUP]~[/SUP] for your next Australian adventure or international getaway! For one week only you'll earn Status Credits on eligible flights[SUP]*^[/SUP].

To take advantage of this offer, simply:
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[TD="width: 100%, bgcolor: transparent"]Register and make a new a new booking on eligible[SUP]^[/SUP] Qantas Classic Reward flights with a QF flight number between 12.01am 30 September 2015 and 11.59pm and 6 October 2015
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[TD="width: 100%, bgcolor: transparent"]Travel between 30 September 2015 and 17 September 2016
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You'll earn Status Credits at the following earn rates for every eligible[SUP]^[/SUP] Qantas Classic Flight Reward you take.

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[TD]Eligible Classic Flight Reward travel
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[TD]Status Credit Earn Rate
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[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Domestic Economy Classic Flight Rewards[SUP]^[/SUP]
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[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Discount Economy earn rate
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[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Domestic Business Classic Flight Rewards[SUP]^[/SUP]
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[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Flexible Economy earn rate
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[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]International Economy Classic Flight Rewards[SUP]^[/SUP]
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[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Economy Earn rate
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​

Remember to include your Qantas Frequent Flyer number in your booking. All passengers in the booking must register separately to earn bonus points.

Classic Flight Reward seats are limited, so it's best to book early! [/TD]
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robolb - PM sent