Is it worth spending $380 for 10,000pts?

[MatF]

I've never done a SC run, but I'm tempted this weekend.

It looks like I'm going to fall 30SCs short of a loyalty bonus on my QFF anniversary on Sunday. Now it's my understanding that my loyalty bonus SC count will revert back to 500SCs required?
I could do a WGA-SYD-WGA run on Saturday morning and get the 30SCs, but it would cost me $380 - for effectively 10,000 FF points.

Why bother? Well, Mrs MatF and I have shelved our plans for a European vacation this Christmas, and are looking towards doing it next year instead - hoping to get the 512,000pts needed for 2 x J return by early next year so we can book. I think it'll be close (currently have 302,000), so points probably have more value than usual to me at the moment.

Hmmm ..... more expensive than top-up points, but I we might need them as well!

How much is $380 worth to me?

 

[markis10]

Not sure how you are getting the 10000 points, its 8000 for every 500 SC.

 

[MatF]

Yep - I'll be 30SCs short of the loyalty bonus on Sunday, when my anniversary occurs - and the loyalty bonus SCs calcs are reset to 500 - well, that's my understanding of what will happen??

"Frequent Flyer members earn a Loyalty bonus of 8,000 points for every 500 Status credits earned within a single membership year - up to a maximum of four Loyalty bonuses per membership year. At the end of your membership year, Status credit balances relating to the calculation of the Loyalty bonus will be reset to zero."
http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/partners/airline-earn#jump4

If I get the 30SCs on Saturday, I'd get the loyalty bonus (8000pts) + 2 x 1000pts for the flights.

 

[TheInsider]

Not sure how you are getting the 10000 points, its 8000 for every 500 SC.

Two flight with the 1000 minimum.

 

[yohy?!]

Will you get back a greater value from the Europe J redemption than 3.8c per point (cost of mileage run)?

 

[markis10]

Two flight with the 1000 minimum.

Got it now, thanks!

 

[MatF]

Will you get back a greater value from the Europe J redemption than 3.8c per point (cost of mileage run)?

Hmmm, that's a good point! That would value the 2 x J return SYD-LHR tickets at A$19,456.

 

[nonpop]

Depends what you value a point as.
If we ever have to actually pay extra for points e.g a surcharge, then the max we will pay is 1cent = 1 point.
As when we redeem we only ever use them for J tix anyseat which usually = 4 to 8 cents per point. Though keep in mind it is still a lotto draw if you can actually spend all those points especially if status is lacking and you want to fly at a premium time, on a premium route, in a premium cabin with more than 1 seat being made available. So the points value can be subjective.

But in a fire sale environment, I work on a golden triangle red e ticket (SYD, Mel, BNE) would only redeem at 1 point = 1 cent in value in Y.
Plus you never want to actually buy the points at full redemption value as that would defeat the purpose of collecting points ... except if you needed a small top up at the end of it all.

So I guess it comes down to each to their own.

 

[equus]

But in a fire sale environment, I work on a golden triangle red e ticket .....

Lowest possible fire sale value can be considered as a $25 Wish Gift card (buys fuel, groceries etc - so nearly as good as cash) for 3,750 points - so 0.66cents per point. Of course, this is terrible value, but is effectively close to a cash equivalent return. Basically, never worth redeeming for flights or the like (points+pay etc), unless getting better than that value.

 

[richie9x]

I could do a WGA-SYD-WGA run on Saturday morning and get the 30SCs, but it would cost me $380 - for effectively 10,000 FF points.

You can buy 10,000 points for A$335.00 see Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Top-up Points
or 11,500 for A$375.00.

If it is purely points you are after then better to buy them.

 

[Alanslegal]

Dont pay $380 for 10K when you can sign up to the the JQ Mastercard, earn up to 30,000 points and no annual fee first year. After you earn the points, cancel card.

Jetstar Cards

Sign up yourself and + 1 = 60,000 points ..... for nothing

 

[Aus ATC]

I had the same dilemma as MatF - missed out on the (former) 450SC = 5,000 points, and missed by 25 SCs on the 8000 points. But it wasn't worth it (in my opinion) even to do a BNE-ROK-MKY return for $140ish for the sake of the 12000 points I would have gained.

 

[JohnK]

I am going to be something like 225 SCs or 235 SCs short and I am going to spend money to get those SCs needed for loyalty bonus.

Personally I think it is worth it and as I value ~12,000 QFF points (8,000 QFF points loyalty + flights) ~$300 then this will offset the cost I spend for the flights. And flying is a hobby anyway so I am not going to leave orphaned 265 SCs....

 

[k_sheep]

You can buy 10,000 points for A$335.00 see Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Top-up Points
or 11,500 for A$375.00.

If it is purely points you are after then better to buy them.

True, but then you also have another 30 SC to count towards lifetime status.

 

[cove]

Amex can now offer points at 2.5 cents each if you check oz_mark's recent Amex post. For some this could be attractive where a flyer is just a tad away from the points required.
That would mean 10k points from Amex should cost $250.

 

[amaroo]

I'll splash cash for SC to secure status tier however, doubt I'll do the same for points.

As others have mentioned the CC option may be the way to go.

 

[MatF]

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated.

You can buy 10,000 points for A$335.00 see Frequent Flyer - Using Points - Top-up Points
or 11,500 for A$375.00.

If it is purely points you are after then better to buy them.

Yep, will probably have to do this (both of us), but I still don't think that'll get us there
Can only do it once per year, and it has to be towards an award - so I guess that means we can only do it once towards these flights? ..... unless we do 2 one-way award bookings I guess ... hmmmm

Is it per calendar year? [EDIT - no, once per 12 months ... hmmm, probably won't work then. Can't make the two redemptions 12 months apart]

Dont pay $380 for 10K when you can sign up to the the JQ Mastercard, earn up to 30,000 points and no annual fee first year. After you earn the points, cancel card.

Jetstar Cards

Sign up yourself and + 1 = 60,000 points ..... for nothing

Applied on the weekend, but it has to be approved by the end of this week to get the bonus points. Here's hoping .... I got the SMS asking for my payslip today, so hopefully this will come through.

Amex can now offer points at 2.5 cents each if you check oz_mark's recent Amex post. For some this could be attractive where a flyer is just a tad away from the points required.
That would mean 10k points from Amex should cost $250.

Will check this out, cheers.

 

[MatF]

Well, I've decided I don't like the new loyalty bonus system

With my QFF anniversary tomorrow, I'm still 30 SCs short of the 500 SCs required for my next bonus .... so there goes 470 SCs that will now contribute nothing towards a loyalty bonus.

I just couldn't bring myself to blow half my Saturday to fly WGA-SYD-WGA to get the 30SCs, particularly given I only arrived home last night, and have to go back to Brisbane for the week on Monday.

Of course, the annoying thing is I'll earn another 40 SCs on Monday, 2 days into my new QFF year

I'm struggling to see how the new loyalty bonus SC reset system reflects loyalty, to be honest.

 

[yo yo ma]

With my QFF anniversary tomorrow, I'm still 30 SCs short of the 500 SCs required for my next bonus

Happy anniversary - my s/c get wiped tomorrow too. I am 90 s/c short of the loyalty bonus but am not too concerned about it because of the increased earn (5k v 8k). It is only the first year so we will have to plan it better next year!

 

[JohnK]

I'm struggling to see how the new loyalty bonus SC reset system reflects loyalty, to be honest.

It still rewards loyalty unless you earn more than 3,000 SCs a year and need extra points.

If you want to chase SCs and points then you need to play the game and occasionally take some flights which to an outsider may seem pointless.