How much do you tell your family and friends about travel deals/FF sweetspot etc?

[Awesom Andy]

Re: How much do you tell your family and friends about travel deals/FF sweetspot ...

I think I really pushed someone's button today when, after I said that I'm flying on MH in J with a connection, told me that I don't consider the safety and culture of the airline I'm flying on, and I'm just blinded by miles and status. It was a good time to give up the conversation.

 

[SNW1406]

Hello farawaymum,
As a member of AFF I would be interested in learning how you can weave this magic. I am not really able to do status runs as I am in NW Qld, and so only have 1or 2 flights in and out to BNE daily.
I am flexible with flight times and destinations as we are shift workers so can usually make our own times to suit.

Thanks
SNW

 

[cove]

Our closest friends and colleagues have all used US Air, AA, Kris miles, Qantas points or Velocity points to get out there. The ones who do not get it sometimes wish they did but don't ever get started. It doesn't really matter because we all get to the same destination but it does mean you are up for travelling a lot more with faster, shorter trips being possible.
Some got started straight away and others took years. Others are thinking Flybuys is what you are talking about.
In our front office my partners now all travel in business and first/suites and their wives are enjoying their flights.
Next month a family of five are heading for Disneyland and business class would have cost them a lot. They worked on US Air miles and I think the fares came out at $12,500 instead of the retail pricing. I love it when they really get it. By saving a bunch they have booked a couple of the nicer hotels in California.

 

[Pvcmenace]

Most of my family don't believe that I use points for flights and upgrades. They think I tell them that so they don't judge me on the amount I spend on flying. Only my parents get it, and have started accumulating status and points with VA. Though VA was really tight for awarding for flights, that although they should have made Gold only Silver was achieved. So they've decided to go QFF and burn all the Velocity points.

Some friends think it's great and want to do some runs with me, but it's again as mentioned previously they're not prepared to be flexible to do it. No loss our gain I guess.

 

[zainman]

Most of my family don't believe that I use points for flights and upgrades. They think I tell them that so they don't judge me on the amount I spend on flying. Only my parents get it, and have started accumulating status and points with VA. Though VA was really tight for awarding for flights, that although they should have made Gold only Silver was achieved. So they've decided to go QFF and burn all the Velocity points.

Some friends think it's great and want to do some runs with me, but it's again as mentioned previously they're not prepared to be flexible to do it. No loss our gain I guess.

they won't be happy with QF fuel fines on awards and mediocre award availability.

 

[amp-qld]

We certainly get the "oh, you're so lucky" and "you must be rich".

Slightly off-topic, is anyone else getting irritated by Krisflyer still not allowing family transfers of points and rigid expiry dates on points, regardless of activity. My wife often has a small/medium number of points in SQ and I can't transfer points to her account from my account or my AMEX card. Sure, I can get her a ticket but that doesn't use her points.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Re: How much do you tell your family and friends about travel deals/FF sweetspot ...

I have been a lurker on this forum for a few years now. I have managed to go from red to platinum with Velocity with some of the advice from this forum. I do enjoy the Y to J upgrades domestically but have just paid to do an international trip in J with Etihad. Some of my friends ask how I can afford it but then when I try to explain they seem to lose interest.

Just bat back. Keep it to ones self...

 

[samh004]

I share some deal with my dad, who never fails to send through a BP or photo onboard when he's upgraded to First. Haven't really broached American systems of buying miles though.

 

[cove]

Sam get your dad onto the US Citibank Executive card for his next present so that you can fly in First class with him.

 

[harvyk]

I share some deal with my dad, who never fails to send through a BP or photo onboard when he's upgraded to First. Haven't really broached American systems of buying miles though.

Yeah, I'm somewhat the same. I'll talk to my dad and granddad about travel, and they are somewhat interested. I don't think they actually do anything towards it, but then again their eye's don't glaze over since they both love travel (it's my Granddad's fault I now love flying as much as I do...)

 

[samh004]

Sam get your dad onto the US Citibank Executive card for his next present so that you can fly in First class with him.

Is that a US-based card? He lives in HKG for the most part, but will be doing a stint in the US this year so in thinking he'll have lots of opportunities to bank miles.

 

[mannej]

My parents are looking to use points for their milestone next year some time (dates not set). Problem is Dad's QFF balance isn't that great and won't entail much premium cabin flying (doesn't help being based in PER).

When the times and routes become clearer, I will indeed be using the tricks on here to present a case as to what they can fly and for what price. I am actually looking forward to assisting them in their planning.

 

[Jack_OC]

I told two different friends (both self-employed) about some of the tricks, especially the joys of credit card ATO payments. I don't normally tell people about the games we play, as I know from experience they just don't get it. However, I told one of these friends because my wife specifically asked me to, as she heard from his wife that they couldn't afford to travel to the UK to visit her family. The other one I told because he's my accountant.

I could tell at the time that both of them thought I was mental, and they didn't really understand how this is worth doing. One of them made a comment along the lines of "but frequent flyer points are useless anyway". I tried to explain, but to no avail. Recently, the guy whose wife wanted to visit the UK was telling me that they have now booked flights, but he was complaining that it cost him over $10k for his family of 4 to fly in Y. I asked him if he had not thought about using the FF points tricks I told him about, and he just said "yeah but I worked out it would be a waste of time". I held myself back from reminding him that myself and my family of 4 are about to fly in J to Europe on award flights!

 

[smit0847]

I could tell at the time that both of them thought I was mental, and they didn't really understand how this is worth doing. One of them made a comment along the lines of "but frequent flyer points are useless anyway". I tried to explain, but to no avail. Recently, the guy whose wife wanted to visit the UK was telling me that they have now booked flights, but he was complaining that it cost him over $10k for his family of 4 to fly in Y. I asked him if he had not thought about using the FF points tricks I told him about, and he just said "yeah but I worked out it would be a waste of time". I held myself back from reminding him that myself and my family of 4 are about to fly in J to Europe on award flights!

The only people who think FF points are useless are those people who dont understand how to use them properly.

 

[anat0l]

The only people who think FF points are useless are those people who dont understand how to use them properly.

At times like these, it's tempting to slip in something like, "I flew my family of four in Business for $10k". But that can burn bridges, especially if friends.

If they ask how much I paid, well I'm not afraid to tell them.

We live in an age where people are hardened and not very opportunistic. It doesn't help that for every good scheme, there is likely one or two bad ones (not talking about FF here, just in general). Remember how you've been told so many times, "If it's too good to be true, it probably is"?

Unlike scams, with these there's nothing to hide. People can fully find out for themselves. But the basic cynicism manifests itself as the prime resistance and resentment. It also explains why some people think we are mad.

 

[prozac]

The only people who think FF points are useless are those people who dont understand how to use them properly.

I'm still trying to work out how to use them efficiently.

 

[browski]

(Most) people who rarely fly are generally both excited by the experience and just happy to be on the plane in Y.
Generally there is an unspoken fear (conservatism) to move very far from what they feel to be the norm, (such as fly anything other than Qantas, or perhaps using unusual booking methods). So they are not quite ready to make the leap into what they would consider as exotic or risky alternatives; even if there is very good upside.

However once you fly longhaul in Y a number of times in quick succession, most people become VERY interested in these issues and their attitudes change.

To be honest, whilst I do occasionally use points, in my experience, most of the best value J fares are completely non-point related.

 

[Pinkmoose]

I'm still trying to work out how to use them efficiently.

I think we all are. That's why we are on the forum.

 

[harvyk]

I'm still trying to work out how to use them efficiently.

I have to say, no sooner than I think I've come across a good way to use them, someone else comes on here with an even better way...

Personally I go with use them in a way which brings maximum personal happiness... If that means that you blow them on a J upgrade, but as a result have an excellent flight then so be it... If you save them for the JASA (or FASA) of a lifetime, then so be it as well... There is no real right or wrong way to use FF points, it's all about extracting the maximum personal value from them.

 

[JohnM]

At times like these, it's tempting to slip in something like, "I flew my family of four in Business for $10k". But that can burn bridges, especially if friends.

If they ask how much I paid, well I'm not afraid to tell them.

We live in an age where people are hardened and not very opportunistic. It doesn't help that for every good scheme, there is likely one or two bad ones (not talking about FF here, just in general). Remember how you've been told so many times, "If it's too good to be true, it probably is"?

Unlike scams, with these there's nothing to hide. People can fully find out for themselves. But the basic cynicism manifests itself as the prime resistance and resentment. It also explains why some people think we are mad.

The other factor that you left out is the inherent laziness of most people.