Maybe I'll give up the QFF points game altogether

[Anna]

Thinking over some experiences with QFF in the last 12-18 months, I'm really wondering whether collecting QFF points is worth it. Stuff like -

- paying $1500 in taxes on a one way FASA from LHR to SYD - as much as a Y seat would have cost :shock:
- having several points upgrades declined despite many empty seats in the premium cabins (I suspect completely empty in one case)
- not being able to combine my preferred classic award one way flight with a paid QF return sector at a return fare price and instead being forced into 2 one way tickets just because my preferred classic award happens to be a partner award not a QF classic award. Plus, the taxes on the classic award are 50% of the actual paid fare :shock:

I'm beginning to think the taxes are out of control and the inflexibility of the program makes it too difficult to use the points like I want to use them. It must be even worse for people who aren't WP and can't even find availability. And this is before I start thinking about the changes that will start on 1 July, for example making points upgrades more expensive on many int fares.

I'm not sure switching to another program is the answer either. They all have their little quirks - AA might enforce the 4 sectors rule, Velocity would require me to fly VA :shock:, BA don't want riffraff colonials in their program etc etc.

I'll still fly QF, at least domestically. I might just forget about the points and give up the credit cards with the high annual fees.

 

[Hvr]

Definitely worth considering with the imminent end of MASAs. Since we both have LTG we currently have a back up until it is enhanced.

 

[serfty]

It is those fees that are making QFF points less and less valuable.

These days it is costing perhaps 1¢ per point to simply redeem them on Qantas flights.

With the imminent demise of mASA's the only real value left for the true frequent flyer may be upgrades and even those are a lottery internationally.

 

[clazman]

I am feeling the same way, trying to book a rewards flight Perth - New York (or something in the general area) for April next year.

You can just book a paid ticket now, but there is no points only tickets in business class except for Cathay Pacific option.

I am happy to fly that but means my second ticket is purchased through Cathay Pacific.

Surely Qantas want us on their aircraft and as there is no available rewards, Qantas loses a 10K ticket.

 

[zainman]

fees/fuel fines/surcharges are the very reason I swapped all my CC's to VA and AMEX. Able to redeem 4 J tickets using Velocity on EY in December/January period to Europe with less ~ $100 in taxes/fees. No problems with availability considering I only booked in the last month or so!

Another example, redeemed 2 J SYD-LAX-PHX using VA and flying DL on the domestic tag for 215,000 points for two and NO fees! It's hard to find 2 seats with QFF to the USA and you can forget about the taxes/fuel fines!

 

[JohnK]

I tend to agree.

If I wasn't commuting I don't think I would bother.

And Velocity isn't the answer either which is sad if the majority of your travel is domestic.

 

[dajop]

The other way to think about it is that points are just a mechanism to get free petrol or groceries, and anything else is a bonus.

Certainly these days on many international routes, economy classic awards are worth less (on a cents per point basis) than gift cards. In fact in economy points plus pay is usually better value than classic awards. Of course the points are worth more than gift cards in business and first class, but then there's the availability issues ......

 

[amaroo]

Thinking over some experiences with QFF in the last 12-18 months, I'm really wondering whether collecting QFF points is worth it. Stuff like -

- paying $1500 in taxes on a one way FASA from LHR to SYD - as much as a Y seat would have cost :shock:
- having several points upgrades declined despite many empty seats in the premium cabins (I suspect completely empty in one case)
- not being able to combine my preferred classic award one way flight with a paid QF return sector at a return fare price and instead being forced into 2 one way tickets just because my preferred classic award happens to be a partner award not a QF classic award. Plus, the taxes on the classic award are 50% of the actual paid fare :shock:

I'm beginning to think the taxes are out of control and the inflexibility of the program makes it too difficult to use the points like I want to use them. It must be even worse for people who aren't WP and can't even find availability. And this is before I start thinking about the changes that will start on 1 July, for example making points upgrades more expensive on many int fares.

I'm not sure switching to another program is the answer either. They all have their little quirks - AA might enforce the 4 sectors rule, Velocity would require me to fly VA :shock:, BA don't want riffraff colonials in their program etc etc.

I'll still fly QF, at least domestically. I might just forget about the points and give up the credit cards with the high annual fees.

FWIW - for classic that co-pay LHR-SYD F award drops to £535.51 and SYD-LHR it's $577.18.....so around AUD $1,550 return.

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For people who harvest their points by purchasing AA miles the difference between AA and QFF is interesting - if I've done the math right.

Earn 384,000 QFFP via CC with no surcharge (ignoring CC annual fee) + co-pay of $1,550 and you've got yourself F SYD-LHR-SYD for AUD $1,550

Buy 120,000 AA points when they're running bonus specials, say 30% + co-pay of $5 and you've got yourself F SYD-LHR-SYD for for USD $3,300

If you're earning all of you QFF via ATO with Visa/M'card @ 0.42% (assuming 1P/$) that F SYD-LHR-SYD will set you back AUD $3,163

If you're earning all of your QFF points via the ATO with AMEX @ 1.45% that F SYD-LHR-SYD will set you back AUD $5,263

I intend moving over to BA, however I haven't worked out how I'm going to replicate my QFF point harvesting with the CC. Looks like I'm going to have to split the harvest and I'm not sure that is a good idea!

The other option is to forget about status completely (lucky I'm QF LTG) and bundle all those points into SQ and start gorging on lobster with a Krug throw down

 

[JohnK]

I intend moving over to BA, however I haven't worked out how I'm going to replicate my QFF point harvesting with the CC. Looks like I'm going to have to split the harvest and I'm not sure that is a good idea!

AA from SPG? Would this be possible outside of Amex MR?

Otherwise have a look at SQ.

 

[amaroo]

AA from SPG? Would this be possible outside of Amex MR?

ATO spend is extremely poor at 0.5/1 @ 1.45%

have a look at SQ.

From a distance - it looks like the one If you've got a decent CC earn

 

[Lonely Flyer]

Whist Bronze I spent my points for myself and wife on BA J MXP-LHR BA F LHR-BOS and QF J LAX-BNE when we did around the world. Did SQ paid Y to get to LHR.

Then upgraded Y+ to J both ways for both of us BNE-LAX-BNE on another trip.

Last November did QF Y+ SYD-HKG return and on the Saturday before our flight home the next day snagged an upgrade to J HKG-SYD on the A380 for us both

Last year when VA offering 15% on transfer and 15% discount on awards I secured a J return this August BNE-LAX-BNE for 177,000 points and no cash. Secured a paid J for wife for $5595.00.

We do not fly much but do collect points from other partners. Only got knock back on one Y to J request when wife was going to LAX for work. J was 100% full so no cigar.

Was successful when Bronze and then at Silver and now 5 points short of Gold. I have noticed very little by way of award lately on QF so am wondering whether I should be pushing more points to VA.

 

[JohnK]

Certainly these days on many international routes, economy classic awards are worth less (on a cents per point basis) than gift cards. In fact in economy points plus pay is usually better value than classic awards. Of course the points are worth more than gift cards in business and first class, but then there's the availability issues ......

There are still some good short haul international routes which I only just rediscovered. HKG-BKK for 12,000 QFF points + HKD363 on Emirates and 14,000 QFF points + HKD363 on CX. Double the points for business.

 

[wandering_fred]

There are still some good short haul international routes which I only just rediscovered. HKG-BKK for 12,000 QFF points + HKD363 on Emirates and 14,000 QFF points + HKD363 on CX. Double the points for business.

SE Asia is where I expect to be spending my QFF points...

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[codash1099]

I've stopped chasing points due to the difficulty of doing much with them in my style of flying. SC's are the important factor for me and that's getting really hard too.

 

[casanovawa]

Everyone's situation is different but for me spending my own dime on all personal travel and mostly earning QFP through CC and no Virgin flying and also nearly all travel international rarely domestic, to me it makes no sense to show lots of loyalty to any one program and so I pick and chose between about 2-3 as each have their good and bad points....

Yes I accumulate QFP through CC and paying my rent and the odd deals like insurance or Bankwest card, averaged all out they are under 1 cent a point and may get down towards 0.5 cent maybe??? No QF into Perth internationally so flying Emirates tends to be the only option and so the best value i tended to find was flying EK back into Perth from overseas where the fuel fines seemed lower than leaving OZ, now that EK have for some silly reason agreed to put fuel fines on their redemptions to match QF this has become more marginal but I still tend to think for me J fares one way back to Oz or betweens points overseas are the best, possibly from the US where you can max out the 128,000 J redemption or maybe do another 140k OW award...

Lifemiles is a great little program (with some annoying niggles of course), i tend to find with them one ways out of Australia or Asia work best or one or two other options (then marry up to the QF one way back to Oz) Looking to try and see if I can score a one way SIN-FRA on SQ A380 J with them in earlyish 2015 for around $500, cheap Scoot/J* flight up to PER-SIN first etc...

USDM is in a bit of flux at the moment amalgamating with AA so have to be a bit careful of having too many (and they only offer return redemptions although you can still fly one way but you just pay the same amount of miles and good point that they don't have fuel fines excapt with BA and IB), but J return within south east asia for 30,000 miles plus a bit of a booking fee and airport taxes??? Might do India sometimes soon, cheap Scoot up to Sin and then $400-$450 return to fly CX maybe or MH to India sounds half decent... Same deal flying Perth J to NZ or the east coast sounds all right???

Will eventually start using AA as well...

So to me it works much better to mix and match my loyalty and I haven't been able to make it add up madly chasing status with QF... But everyone is different....

 

[markis10]

There are still some good short haul international routes which I only just rediscovered. HKG-BKK for 12,000 QFF points + HKD363 on Emirates .

A revenue fare on the route in J is $480 one way .

 

[casanovawa]

Is that A$480 or HK$480???

 

[JohnK]

Is that A$480 or HK$480???

Emirates is AUD480. RJ, UL and CX can be a little less.

 

[Paddy55]

I am feeling the same way, trying to book a rewards flight Perth - New York (or something in the general area) for April next year.

You can just book a paid ticket now, but there is no points only tickets in business class except for Cathay Pacific option.

I am happy to fly that but means my second ticket is purchased through Cathay Pacific.

Surely Qantas want us on their aircraft and as there is no available rewards, Qantas loses a 10K ticket.

From PER I'd take CX in a heartbeat in J

 

[missafternoondelight]

Interesting points made here, everyone. I think a lot of us can appreciate your sentiments, Anna. Red Roo has been pretty scarce these days, don't you think? I feel sorry for whoever the PR people are behind that account - it must be a tough call to watch customer satisfaction hit an all time low, and FFs jumping ship in droves.

It has been about six months since I've booked an award, and availability really seems to have gone down the coughper (maybe because I got demoted from WP to SG). Now I'm trying to get a single Classic Award seat to or from FRA, CDG, AMS or MXP in August (from SIN, CGK or HKG so quite flexible) and there is about two days in the whole month showing as available either way. Can't seem to get partner awards flights (eg. CX) coming up for all routes, either. It's really quite frustrating. Just as frustrating as the ridiculous fees. It really is extremely poor value; I'd probably be better off spending the points on gift vouchers and using the money saved on groceries to book a flight. It's just too inflexible and expensive.