How to earn 5k points in Aus

[knasty]

Hi all - consistent lurker, thought it was time to take the plunge...

Have some friends wanting to go to Europe J class, but are seriously short on QF points to go QF J award.

The AA 40,000 + 15,000 bonus deal looks attractive for ~AUD1,150 with the possibility of a one way J fare to Europe for 60,000. 2 questions:

What is the best way to earn the extra 5k points without flying? Can a benevolent friend share the 5k (am I right to think the 40k cap is for points purchase and gift, not share?) Any other ways?

Also, is the routing to Europe ex Syd on QF/BA only, or are CX,JL,AY awards possible? i know the QF/BA rewards at that time of year are scarce.

Thanks in advance.

 

[tuppaware]

Firstly welcome to AFF knasty.

The bonus deal is good, I guess you just buy another 5000 points after the bonus points get credited (ah edit - cap 40000 doh).
Or
get a friend to gift you points.

 

[Dave Noble]

For using the points to Europe, any AA partner airlines can be used which includes all One World airlines.

The main restriction is that you have to connect in Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo or Hong Kong . You cannot do any flights within Asia.

You can do connections in Australia and connections in Europe, but the transit in Asia has to be directly onwards to Europe

If you wish to fly

QF MEL-SYD connect JL SYD-NRT connect BA NRT-LHR connect IB to MAD for example, then this would be perectly acceptable

 

[auriga]

The main restriction is that you have to connect in Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo or Hong Kong . You cannot do any flights within Asia.

No flights within Asia at all?
Does that apply for AUS-USA? Eg, SYD-HKG-NRT-USA- would that be allowed?

 

[Dave Noble]

No flights within Asia at all?
Does that apply for AUS-USA? Eg, SYD-HKG-NRT-USA- would that be allowed?

If using a partner award , generally you must travel directly from origin area to target area. SWP-EUR has an exception allowed that states that a connection between Europe and SWP is permitted at any one of SIN,BKK,TYO,HKG . NO flights permitted within Asia, nor can any other connecting point be used. It must be one of the 4 listed

For travel SWP-NA , no connection in a 3rd region is permitted, so no transit in Asia allowed at all. Must be Australia-North America or NZ-North America

Subject to routing rules, connections are permitted in the origin region and the destination region, so can , for example, connect from London on to Paris

If using the OW mileage based awards, the rules ( and points requirements) are different

Dave

 

[knasty]

Thanks for the advice guys.

So, apart from flying, or me donating some of my points, is there any way to earn the 5k points in Australia? I'm not aware of a credit card which allows points transfer to AA?

 

[Smithy789]

Diners Club allows you to transfer Diners Club points to AA - and if you do so indirectly, via Starwood, then you get a modest uplift in the points that you accrue.

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks for the advice guys.

So, apart from flying, or me donating some of my points, is there any way to earn the 5k points in Australia? I'm not aware of a credit card which allows points transfer to AA?

AMEX Membership Rewards can be transferred to Starwood and then on to AMEX. Need 15200 approx MR points to get 5k

 

[markis10]

Priority Club credits to AA and you can also redeem points for miles - 10000 points = 2000 miles. So you would need 25000 points for 5000 AA miles - thats not too hard to do with PC.

Or you could buy the PC Points, around $350 AUD max, there is a way to do it cheaper but I think its unethical.

 

[tuppaware]

Or you could buy the PC Points, around $350 AUD max, there is a way to do it cheaper but I think its unethical.

How unethical ?

 

[markis10]

its not designed as a way to get points for your account but to spend points in a certain way, when you cancel those bookings you get points back rather than a cash refund.

 

[tuppaware]

its not designed as a way to get points for your account but to spend points in a certain way, when you cancel those bookings you get points back rather than a cash refund.

Haha thats an even more ambiguous answer ! Good stuff.