Keeping all my CC points with Qantas, is it worth it? [other Options?]

[kirstyoz]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

Would we be better moving to the Amex credit card at $195 annual fee, Amex points at 3 per $1 for most things and points can be used with 8 airlines (Virgin plus Singapore, Malaysia, Thai etc. but not Qantas though).
From Adelaide get a return trip with Virgin each year to same destinations. I think you keep you points in Amex bank until needed and can then use with Amex travel or move 1 for 1 to say Krisflyer or one of the other schemes.
Col D

This is a timely conversation for me...

My husband and I just reviewed all our points / cards etc and have decided to leave Qantas because of the difficulties in getting a J seat. We have just applied for the AMEX mentioned by WWTFC where we intend to keep the points with AMEX until we have plans and then take advantage of the best option... we also applied for the Citibank Krisflyer platinum card which has a decent return direct to the airline and the benefits of an AMEX and Visa.

We'll still use our EDR card to collect QF points but they are no longer a priority. Over time I just think the curtomer service has been bad to worse and the changes to the points program are the final straw. Very sad but bottom line, they aren't giving us bang for our buck anymore.

 

[cove]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

We have points with QF,VA,AA and SQ plus we have Westpac Altitude Black and Citi Select points warehouses to allow the utmost flexibility to go and go and go.

 

[balsot]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

I have a Amex Rewards Advantage card that I use whenever possible.
When my green Amex charge card changed the rules and you could no longer transfer to Qantas they rang me and said because I had been with Amex for 21 years they offered this card so I can now transfer to all the airlines offered including Qantas, not sure if everyone can get it but myself and my wife use it where ever Amex is accepted and can transfer points within 3 days to many airlines.The fee is about $195.00 a year for both cards and I have used the points for around 5 flights all over the world with no problems in the last 3 years, hope this helps, this is still a charge card NOT !! a credit card.

 

[balsot]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

Agree !! lost over 2 million points through Diners and Ansett, loved the airline, hated the card when they they did nothing for us !!!

 

[bobw]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

We accumulate Qantas FF points in much the same way. But we also fly O/S business class several times a year. Our strategy is to shop for the best deals when we are paying and to book classic awards as far ahead as possible when we want to use points. We seem to get return business class fares for around $6k to $7k with Qantas or Oneworld associates and as FF (or QC) Gold accumulate bonus points as well. I know we could fly cheaper, but we are a bit selective.

I've got to agree with the comments about devaluing points. I remember a few years back, we were about to book return business class Syd -Perth -Broome for 70000 points, and overnight it jumped to 210000.

 

[greenfrog86]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

This is a timely conversation for me...

My husband and I just reviewed all our points / cards etc and have decided to leave Qantas because of the difficulties in getting a J seat. We have just applied for the AMEX mentioned by WWTFC where we intend to keep the points with AMEX until we have plans and then take advantage of the best option... we also applied for the Citibank Krisflyer platinum card which has a decent return direct to the airline and the benefits of an AMEX and Visa.

We'll still use our EDR card to collect QF points but they are no longer a priority. Over time I just think the curtomer service has been bad to worse and the changes to the points program are the final straw. Very sad but bottom line, they aren't giving us bang for our buck anymore.

Not sure which card you are referring to... Citibank doesn't have a card that transfers direct to Krisflyer, and if you're referring to the Platinum card they have you will be sorely disappointed as it does not earn 1 KF per $1 spent...

 

[Nizar]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

I've got to agree with the comments about devaluing points. I remember a few years back, we were about to book return business class Syd -Perth -Broome for 70000 points, and overnight it jumped to 210000.

Wow fair jump :shock:

 

[amp-qld]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

My two cards (Amex Gold and CBA Mastercard Platinum) both allow me to retain points on them and transfer to a variety of loyalty schemes. As Qantas had badly let me down in two potentially life threatening situations, I was happy to reject the concept of all my points going to them. Krisflyer used to be really good value but now SIA's surcharges are so high that points only seem to cover about half the ticket costs. In addition, you can't share them amongst family members. They also expire, so keeping them on the Amex card is definitely the way to go. The Mastercard doesn't allow transfers to Krisflyer so I use those points on Velocity which is more flexible than Krisflyer.

 

[thehound]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

we also applied for the Citibank Krisflyer platinum card which has a decent return direct to the airline and the benefits of an AMEX and Visa.

CitiBank don't have a card with direct sweep to Krisflyer - are you talking about the Westpac Krisflyer card? Beware with the Citibank cards that the conversion rate to KF has recently changed for all but the Select and Signature (and now defunct Citibusiness Gold) to be 2:1. And remember that with a direct earn card (like the Westpac Krisflyer card), Krisflyer points have a hard expiry of 3 years, unlike many other FF programs where your points stay active as long as some activity on the account occurs.

 

[amp-qld]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

I'm happy to be corrected but as far as I know, and I know a bit being a member of both QF and KF for some years now, SQ has better value redemptions for QF on all possible routes EXCEPT if you fly mainly to the US only. For the US I would stay with QF only because its so much quicker. Going by SQ/CX would not make sense. That said SQ is still cheaper. 119k one way in F versus 144k. Only 25k difference but quickly adds up if you are booking say for two people return.

Nowadays, the number of points is only half the story. I've recently found that SQ points reduced the cost in economy (compared to buying tickets) by less than half due to very high surcharges. Brisbane to Delhi return was $1250 to buy and using Krisflyer points only reduced that to $650. I'm now looking mostly at using Krisflyer points with other Star Alliance airlines which don't have high surcharges.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

Have kept our points in Amex and Citi since losing 200k in the Ansett crash where we used Diners with direct sweep to Ansett!

I cut my loyalty with Qantas the day they forced points to automatically transfer to them.

Very true! The Ansett bankruptcy and Qantas "Forced Earn" followed by constant "enhancements" made me realise that credit card spend is way too valuable to allow any points to be swept directly into an airline program.

I warehouse points in Membership Rewards and Diners Club Rewards, and effectively in Starwood Preferred Guest as well - which allows 1:1 transfers to over 26 different airline programs with a 25% bonus for transfers of 20,000 - Starwood Preferred Guest - Hotel Offers and Loyalty Program spg.com

 

[lmere12]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

I'm now looking mostly at using Krisflyer points with other Star Alliance airlines which don't have high surcharges.

Sounds an idea, do you know which ones they are yet ?

 

[Nizar]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

Nowadays, the number of points is only half the story. I've recently found that SQ points reduced the cost in economy (compared to buying tickets) by less than half due to very high surcharges. Brisbane to Delhi return was $1250 to buy and using Krisflyer points only reduced that to $650. I'm now looking mostly at using Krisflyer points with other Star Alliance airlines which don't have high surcharges.

Yeh true but the other half of the story isn't that great for QF either.
Lol SQs surcharges aren't probably any more expensive than QFs.

 

[amp-qld]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

Sounds an idea, do you know which ones they are yet ?

Only found Air New Zealand so far - One way Papeete to Brisbane Business class total fees, taxes and surcharges $68!

 

[Darkavid99]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

I had enormous trouble trying to find redemption award flights with Qantas for J and F even with the gold status which gets priority so I switched over most of my flying to Virgin when SQ came in two years ago.
What I have found now just the other day is that it is almost impossible to get J or F redemption flights with SQ through Velocity. Velocity claim they are available but admit they are very hard to get. We tried mock bookings for almost a 12 month period and couldn't get one J or F seat. Despite being Platinum with Velocity which doesn't appear to yield any more benefit than not.

I am still gold with Qantas so I then tried some mock bookings with Qantas and found I could get J or F with not only Qantas metal, but Cathay, Emirates and even BA on a huge amount of days over a huge period. The only downside with Qantas was that the taxes are higher than Velocity but I would rather pay taxes and fly when I want than not.

This now leads me to think was it a mistake to put so much business with Velocity as I cant effectively burn with SQ (the main reason for switching, I am out of Adelaide and don't want to fly through Melb, Syd to Europe which is the Etihad option) where I have options galore direct from Adelaide almost any time of year with Qantas.

 

[trjohn90]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

Sounds an idea, do you know which ones they are yet ?

I recently used my KF points for domestic US flights on United. Did SAN-HNL for 15,000 points and 2 dollars. Availability was pretty good on united. Considered it a reasonable return on points. Also did JAC-LAX.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

I think Qantas points are valuable but that may depend on what you want awards you want to redeem. For me Oneworld awards are great value.

In saying that though I do not have a direct sweep credit card preferring instead to stay with Amex Membership rewards and the aim is to use those points for VS Upper class awards SYD-HKG and vv.

 

[humanuscomotose]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

Having seen first hand, albeit through the experience of family members all of whom are life SG Qantas FFs, Qantas's decline of service to it's higher-tier FFs and the fact that it invents new and creative ways to devalue their points I have personally decided to keep all my rewards points on credit cards and not with Qantas.

Another option I have played with is to book flights on WebJet and pay using AMEX points. Yes you have to pay WebJet fees but the burn rate is 1 AMEX point = $0.01. Compare this with the major frequent flyer programs where the burn rate for Qantas and Virgin are $0.0071 and $0.0081 respectively. It turned out to be better value on my last trip to Queensland that transferring my points to Qantas/Virgin and paying for an award flight. Plus I got to earn points and SCs without worrying.

 

[kirstyoz]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

Another option I have played with is to book flights on WebJet and pay using AMEX points. Yes you have to pay WebJet fees but the burn rate is 1 AMEX point = $0.01. Compare this with the major frequent flyer programs where the burn rate for Qantas and Virgin are $0.0071 and $0.0081 respectively. It turned out to be better value on my last trip to Queensland that transferring my points to Qantas/Virgin and paying for an award flight. Plus I got to earn points and SCs without worrying.

Great idea, thanks for that

 

[Chriskal]

Re: Keeping all my FF points with Qantas, is it worth it?

You have to remember Citi Select gives 2 Award Points per dollar spent thus when you transfer you achieve 1.33 for SQ.

This is what the Citi table shows:

Transfer points to any one of our leading airline partner and travel reward programs:

Velocity Frequent Flyer, the frequent flyer program of Virgin Australia
1.5 Citibank reward points = 1 Velocity point, redemptions must be in multiples of 15,000 Citibank reward points

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program
1.5 Citibank reward points = 1 KrisFlyer mile, redemptions must be in multiples of 15,000 Citibank reward points

Asia Miles™, Asia's leading travel reward program
2 Citibank reward points = 1 Asia Mile, redemptions must be in multiples of 5,000 Citibank reward points