Hi All...

[Cerulean]

Hi all,

I'm new to AFF and hope to participate actively moving forward.
I have been stuck in Silver Status for years as although frequently travel domestically, its only ever travelling along the East Coast of Australia, but I've decided to actively pursue Gold so I'm interested in learning more about Status Runs based out of BNE and obviously fattening the QFF balance for the next O/seas holiday.

Just came back from a holiday with the family to Japan for the last few weeks over Xmas and loved it, but next goal is J class x 4 return to JFK in 2018....so need to pull my finger out.

Recently took advantage of the bonuses with:

1. ANZ Black (75k)
2. Westpac Black (50k only to avoid the annual fee on sign up)
3. NAB Black (75k)
4. Woolworths (40k)

and am contemplating the AMEX Qantas Ultimate (My wife has been pretty cool with my reasons up until now...but shes raised an eyebrow with the $450 annual fee on AMEX...(its a work in progress))

Anyways, look forward to chatting with you all over time.

Cheers.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Welcome to AFF.

Have you considered The Amex explorer?

 

[Steady]

Welcome aboard Cerulean, the Amex Ultimate is a good deal IMO.

I think the $450 fee is off set by the flight and all of the statement credits that pop up for Woolys or Dan Murphy - where you can save 20% on groceries and or fuel. There are many others on top of those that can easily return the $450 fee over less then 12 months


be sure to use a referral if signing up to an Amex card as you will get extra points and help an AFFer out with some to boot

 

[mmchow]

Welcome Cerulean.
Looks like you are already got the ball rolling with those bonuses

 

[Cerulean]

Welcome to AFF.

Have you considered The Amex explorer?

Hi Dr Ralph. Yes. Looked at Explorer also. As I'm sorta invested with Qantas until 2018 ill keep with that theme as my work has Qantas as preferred carrier so makes sense to to get my points from there at the moment.
Once the trip to JFK is finished in 2018 I'll be empty of QFF points and will investigate non-qantas carriers.

I recently learnt that the Westpac Black is transferable between Qff pointd and Altitidue points (redeemable for other airlines.)..so thats pretty cool. Explorer would also be handy in the wallet around then Im thinking.
Cheers.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Hi Dr Ralph. Yes. Looked at Explorer also. As I'm sorta invested with Qantas until 2018 ill keep with that theme as my work has Qantas as preferred carrier so makes sense to to get my points from there at the moment.


Cheers.

I understand and have been of the same view. Not sure if you realise though that the points with the AMEX Explorer can be used for a lot more than just flight miles.

To me it was attractive given you get the $400 fee back in travel credits to use on things like hotels or car hire.

 

[Cerulean]

Whoa..no I didn't realise the travel credits where there, to be honest I didn't look past the fact that the offer wasn't QFF related. Its a better looking card to IMO but apparently I can only apply for one or the other..So Ultimate suits better atm.
BTW, are the sign up offers from AMEX usually this strong..For some of the members that have been here for a long time....historically do AMEX come up with such offers through out the year...or is this as strong as its been? ( I understand the variables are different i.e. the QFF program changes the amounts needed for redemption so you may need twice as many points vs 2009 for example for the same leg of a trip....but generally is this offer considered insanely good...or err...above average perhaps..?

 

[Dr Ralph]

Whoa..no I didn't realise the travel credits where there, to be honest I didn't look past the fact that the offer wasn't QFF related. Its a better looking card to IMO but apparently I can only apply for one or the other..So Ultimate suits better atm.
BTW, are the sign up offers from AMEX usually this strong..For some of the members that have been here for a long time....historically do AMEX come up with such offers through out the year...or is this as strong as its been? ( I understand the variables are different i.e. the QFF program changes the amounts needed for redemption so you may need twice as many points vs 2009 for example for the same leg of a trip....but generally is this offer considered insanely good...or err...above average perhaps..?

These are very good offers for amex at the moment.

You may not be aware that you can actually hold multiple amex cards. One qantas points based and one amex points based is fine.

Whatever you do dont forget a referral link to score yourself some extra points.

 

[Steady]

You can hold 2 direct American Express cards at the same time and in addition to this on American Express Charge card. If you have not had any direct cards you would get the sign up bonus for both the Ultimate and Explorer. If meeting the spend for both at the same time would be difficult, stagger the applications.

 

[Cerulean]

Oh I see...Thanks again Steady!!

 

[Cerulean]

Thanks again Dr Ralph, wasn't aware you could hold both. Really appreciate it.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Thanks again Dr Ralph, wasn't aware you could hold both. Really appreciate it.

The more you read the more you learn

I only found out that fact within the last 3 months and have definitely taken advantage of it.

 

[snabbu]

Welcome aboard Cerulean. I see in the limited time you have been around you've already picked up a few good tips, this is the great thing about AFF - there's always something else to learn.

 

[TomVexille]

Welcome aboard!

Don't be afraid to pop on down to a local social event.

 

[BettyB]

Welcome

 

[JohnK]

Welcome to AFF Cerulean!