lovetravellingoz
Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2006
- Posts
- 12,704
Well... a little bit of time has passed...and I am still watching the AA scheme (with envy) but have not swapped from QFF as yet.
However since I have joined this site at round about the time I started this string...I have used this site to my advantage in:
*was alerted to get a free for life Citibank Card VISA Card to improve my VISA earn rate from 0.5 to 1.0. (I get free Westpac Cards and so theer is no fee saving for me)
This is worth say $40000 by 0.5 in extra points per year = 20,000 points
*Joined my wife and I both up for QANTAS Premium AMEX's to gain combined 35000 QFF points
*Obtained free Wizard Card so that my daughter was able to gain fee free transactions from ATM's to gain access to cash that I had avaialble to here by keeping the card in credit. As there was no fee she was able to only take out small amounts as required. Saved me save $50....and when we go to Bali this March will save us more $
*Alerted me to the $200 upgrade to Starclass Promo..which I used to upgradea family of 5 to Bali this March...which is good value as the $200 each scores more comfort, free food and drinks and movies...and we now earn points at business class earn.
So this site is working for me very well.
I have not yet moved to AA....as :
My next overseas trip has now become a trip to Bali for 5 as I gained some cheap tickets in the Jettar launch sale...5 seats return for $2000 (now $3000 as have upgraded going over to StarClass). I have always been an opportunistic leisure traveller making the most of deals when offered.
So no chance for a Challenge yet...but yes will consider AA if and when I plan a major overseas trip, that can make us of it...though the new Challenge rules may make this more difficult.
In the meantime with QFF:
*I gain cheap Corporate QFF Membership via my wife...which is also of benefit for some Jetsar Travel. effectively after tax this cost say $200 a year which even though we do not flya great deal is worth it for the extra comfort, drinks etc....and when we holiday...allows us to also take our 3 daughters in.
*Extra QFF points are gained for some corporate hotel stays that my wife and I do for work...but this is only say 14 nights per year...say 6000 points (staying at hotels which would not be able to get points ata worthwhile rate to AA...I think)
*Points for say 8 work domestic flights for me..and say 4 for my wife per year...booked discounted and so with AA may not earn at all......and then say 10 (2 return by family of 5) holiday domestic flights.
All the points from the family accounts can be pooled and used for long haul redemption flights. With AA I would have little opportunity to gain points in their accounts.
ie My current point burn strategy is to burn the points for an international holiday ( last 2 trips have been to Tahiland and to Cairo both times for a family of 5).
Now I could start saving my AMEX points now for eventual AA conversion, but at only say (if I convert to a Maximiser Card) $40000 = for 24450 AApoints (with little other ways for me to currently aquire AApoints) vs 60000 QFF AMEX points (when I eventaully swap to the Maximiser...though the current Q card does earn 2.25 on occassion) it would take a while to earn a redemption fora party of 5.
Whereas with wholly QF the 50/60000 adds to my 40000 Citibank VISA points with the extra flight and hotel points adding to the earn rate....not to mention extra ways of gaining QFF points..CC joining bonus, car hire etc.. and so would qualify in less than 3 years for a trip to say Thailand for a party of 5 (yes I know...slow compared to many of the Plats on this site....).Yes AA offersa good value redemption to NZ....but in the near tem I am not planning a holiday there.
In say the same "less than 3 year" period I could alternatively gain say 80 or 90000 AA points (with yes also some QFF points still being earned as well).
With the Qantas Club discounted corporate membership...my low status redemption gains us access to the Lounges....which for redemptions isa real boon..as invariably I find at least one leg has to go MEL- Syd before going overseas...and invariably it is a many houred wait in SYD...so the showers, food and drinks are most appreciated.
However since I have joined this site at round about the time I started this string...I have used this site to my advantage in:
*was alerted to get a free for life Citibank Card VISA Card to improve my VISA earn rate from 0.5 to 1.0. (I get free Westpac Cards and so theer is no fee saving for me)
This is worth say $40000 by 0.5 in extra points per year = 20,000 points
*Joined my wife and I both up for QANTAS Premium AMEX's to gain combined 35000 QFF points
*Obtained free Wizard Card so that my daughter was able to gain fee free transactions from ATM's to gain access to cash that I had avaialble to here by keeping the card in credit. As there was no fee she was able to only take out small amounts as required. Saved me save $50....and when we go to Bali this March will save us more $
*Alerted me to the $200 upgrade to Starclass Promo..which I used to upgradea family of 5 to Bali this March...which is good value as the $200 each scores more comfort, free food and drinks and movies...and we now earn points at business class earn.
So this site is working for me very well.
I have not yet moved to AA....as :
My next overseas trip has now become a trip to Bali for 5 as I gained some cheap tickets in the Jettar launch sale...5 seats return for $2000 (now $3000 as have upgraded going over to StarClass). I have always been an opportunistic leisure traveller making the most of deals when offered.
So no chance for a Challenge yet...but yes will consider AA if and when I plan a major overseas trip, that can make us of it...though the new Challenge rules may make this more difficult.
In the meantime with QFF:
*I gain cheap Corporate QFF Membership via my wife...which is also of benefit for some Jetsar Travel. effectively after tax this cost say $200 a year which even though we do not flya great deal is worth it for the extra comfort, drinks etc....and when we holiday...allows us to also take our 3 daughters in.
*Extra QFF points are gained for some corporate hotel stays that my wife and I do for work...but this is only say 14 nights per year...say 6000 points (staying at hotels which would not be able to get points ata worthwhile rate to AA...I think)
*Points for say 8 work domestic flights for me..and say 4 for my wife per year...booked discounted and so with AA may not earn at all......and then say 10 (2 return by family of 5) holiday domestic flights.
All the points from the family accounts can be pooled and used for long haul redemption flights. With AA I would have little opportunity to gain points in their accounts.
ie My current point burn strategy is to burn the points for an international holiday ( last 2 trips have been to Tahiland and to Cairo both times for a family of 5).
Now I could start saving my AMEX points now for eventual AA conversion, but at only say (if I convert to a Maximiser Card) $40000 = for 24450 AApoints (with little other ways for me to currently aquire AApoints) vs 60000 QFF AMEX points (when I eventaully swap to the Maximiser...though the current Q card does earn 2.25 on occassion) it would take a while to earn a redemption fora party of 5.
Whereas with wholly QF the 50/60000 adds to my 40000 Citibank VISA points with the extra flight and hotel points adding to the earn rate....not to mention extra ways of gaining QFF points..CC joining bonus, car hire etc.. and so would qualify in less than 3 years for a trip to say Thailand for a party of 5 (yes I know...slow compared to many of the Plats on this site....).Yes AA offersa good value redemption to NZ....but in the near tem I am not planning a holiday there.
In say the same "less than 3 year" period I could alternatively gain say 80 or 90000 AA points (with yes also some QFF points still being earned as well).
With the Qantas Club discounted corporate membership...my low status redemption gains us access to the Lounges....which for redemptions isa real boon..as invariably I find at least one leg has to go MEL- Syd before going overseas...and invariably it is a many houred wait in SYD...so the showers, food and drinks are most appreciated.