My Credit Card Portfolio - Comments

[Jack_OC]

Your post on this is quite valid moving to Krisflyer is much better - singapore airasia and also asiana airlines. But it becomes a cost issue now with annual fees and maintaining my NAB Card.

Any cards you recommend for Krisflyer with low annual fees - this is subjective.

Well looking at the cards you mentioned at the start:

1. NAB Platinum Amex (will not use visa as poor return on 0.5QFF/$) - I work at nab so no fees. 1.5QFF/$

Clearly you're stuck with either QF or VA direct earn cards if you want to take advantage of the free NAB card. IMHO though, you shouldn't feel like you have to use one of the NAB cards, just because it's free. I have free cards that I never use.

2. David Jones Amex - 2.25QFF/$ for supermarkets and petrol

You can get the same card but sign up to Amex Membership Rewards (MR) instead. That allows transfer to 8 different FF programs, including SQ. The MR earn rate is also higher (1 reward point = 1 MR point = 1 KrisFlyer point, compared to 1 reward point = 0.75 QF points). Another option (which I use) is the Amex platinum edge. $195 per year, but you get a free VA domestic flight each year (easily worth more than the annual fee), and it earns 3 pts per $ in supermarkets and 2 pts per $ in petrol stations.

3. Citibank Signature Qantas (conditionally approved) will get bonus of 80k, waive annual then close or try to switch over the free fee for life.

Again, you can choose to earn Citibank Reward points instead of QF, and they transfer to KF points (or Velocity) at a rate of 1.5:1.

The other great one for KF and other programs is Westpac Altitude Black. This is more expensive ($395 per year), but worth it if you're going to spend a fair bit.

 

[Jack_OC]

Be careful with Kris miles as the redemption fees don't make flying on SQ worthwhile in economy. Those miles are brilliant for Business class runs on Saver points.

Very true. I'm assuming he's looking at J to Asia based on the example of 180k QF points for MEL-Korea, but if not you're correct, for Y awards it's probably not worth bothering.

 

[mike91]

Very true. I'm assuming he's looking at J to Asia based on the example of 180k QF points for MEL-Korea, but if not you're correct, for Y awards it's probably not worth bothering.

Goodness i'm new to Krisflyer. Care to explain difference b/w J & Y Flights?

 

[jlien]

You can get the same card but sign up to Amex Membership Rewards (MR) instead. That allows transfer to 8 different FF programs, including SQ. The MR earn rate is also higher (1 reward point = 1 MR point = 1 KrisFlyer point, compared to 1 reward point = 0.75 QF points). Another option (which I use) is the Amex platinum edge. $195 per year, but you get a free VA domestic flight each year (easily worth more than the annual fee), and it earns 3 pts per $ in supermarkets and 2 pts per $ in petrol stations.

The MR program that the DJ amex enrolls into is not the same as the ascent program. The 'david jones' MR program, has worse off transfer rates to airline partners, at 0.5 KFF per DJ MR point. The DJ's card is good for QFF redemption and SPG redemptions only. The platinum edge, (or the new vanilla platinum rewards) would be better for KFF earn.

Best combination for KF would be Citi Signature (or select if you wash enough funds through it) + westpac altitude black + plat edge.

 

[Jack_OC]

Goodness i'm new to Krisflyer. Care to explain difference b/w J & Y Flights?

Sorry!

Y = economy class
J = business class
F = first class

Earlier you mentioned that MEL to Korea would cost 180,000 QF points. I assume that's for business class?

 

[Jack_OC]

The MR program that the DJ amex enrolls into is not the same as the ascent program. The 'david jones' MR program, has worse off transfer rates to airline partners, at 0.5 KFF per DJ MR point. The DJ's card is good for QFF redemption and SPG redemptions only. The platinum edge, (or the new vanilla platinum rewards) would be better for KFF earn.

I didn't know that, thanks for clarifying. Amex Plat Edge is definitely the way to go then. As I said I use it, and I get a true 3 FF points per $ on supermarket spend - I think it's literally the best card there is for supermarket shopping, and the free flight each year more than makes up for the annual fee.

 

[mike91]

Guys,

I can opt from moving my NAB qantas card into the NAB Velocity Card.

Does velocity miles work in conjunction with KFF?

 

[cove]

Better to have Kris miles if you want premium cabin flights overseas.

 

[Jack_OC]

Guys,

I can opt from moving my NAB qantas card into the NAB Velocity Card.

Does velocity miles work in conjunction with KFF?

Sort of. Velocity points can be redeemed for award flights with Singapore Airlines, but the points cost for an award flight is different - ie it would cost you more (a lot more) VA points for an SQ award flight than it would cost if you were using KrisFlyer miles. Also, the availability is likely to be different, especially in premium cabins - ie there might be an award seat available for KrisFlyer miles on a certain flight, but no availability using Velocity points.

Also, you mentioned Asiana earlier - KrisFlyer miles can be used for award seats with Asiana (or any other airline that is a Star Alliance member), but Velocity points can't be used with Asiana (or most other Star Alliance members - exception being Air NZ). On the other hand, Velocity points are useful domestically and they can also be used with Etihad - good if you want to go to Europe. So it all depends what you're looking for.

 

[mike91]

Better to have Kris miles if you want premium cabin flights overseas.

Can i transfer points from VA to KFF?

 

[Jack_OC]

Can i transfer points from VA to KFF?

No. In fact I'm not aware of any airline FF program that allows points transfers to another airline FF program (other than indirectly - sometimes you can transfer from an airline FF program to a hotel loyalty program, and then from that hotel loyalty program to another airline FF program - but you usually lose points by doing that).

So all you can do is use Velocity points to book award flights with Virgin or their partners (see: Redeem Points with Airline Partners | Velocity Frequent Flyer). My last post above explains some of the pitfalls with that though.

The bottom line is, if you want to book SQ awards, you should try to focus on earning KrisFlyer miles.

 

[jlien]

Can i transfer points from VA to KFF?

No. Generally you can not transfer points between FF programs on different airlines.

The aforementioned cards are good for warehousing points as FF points do have an expiry, whilst citirewards/altitude/MR points do not.
All 3 of those reward programs can transfer to both KF and Velocity.

 

[mike91]

I opened my Amex QFF Platinum just recently. I have received the card but have not used it. This card give 50k QFF bonus. Should I use it and get the bonus (thats 3 return trips to sydney + 1 free one from the card). Then 3 months later cancel it once points are banked then open up the amex plat edge?
Or should I try get a change now?

 

[cove]

There is no one correct answer in frequent flyer land and many would work out the cost versus the points into a cents per point. If it exceeds a cent per point I would say don't bother unless it is the final points to get you that business or first class ticket.

 

[mike91]

There is no one correct answer in frequent flyer land and many would work out the cost versus the points into a cents per point. If it exceeds a cent per point I would say don't bother unless it is the final points to get you that business or first class ticket.

do u think i should convert my nab qantas to velocity?

 

[zainman]

do u think i should convert my nab qantas to velocity?

If I was in your position I would..

 

[cove]

For domestic points flights I have not had issues with either Qantas or Virgin. For international Kris Flyer has worked the best so in the last several years more than 90% of our international flights have been with Kris Flyer miles.
So for domestic flights take your own pick.

 

[mike91]

For domestic points flights I have not had issues with either Qantas or Virgin. For international Kris Flyer has worked the best so in the last several years more than 90% of our international flights have been with Kris Flyer miles.
So for domestic flights take your own pick.

Can you help me understand the following:

QFF:
how much to redeem flight from MEL to SYD via both qantas and jetstar.

VIRGIN:
how much to redeem flight from MEL to SYD via virgin.

Which one has best/more availability?

My plan was to swap to velocity and transfer all my membership points from amex and citibank into velocity points. then fly from MEL to KOREA via singapore airline partners. ANy ideas on how many points it is? I think this may be a waste of points if it is greater than 75k points.

 

[Jack_OC]

Can you help me understand the following:

QFF:
how much to redeem flight from MEL to SYD via both qantas and jetstar.

VIRGIN:
how much to redeem flight from MEL to SYD via virgin.

Which one has best/more availability?

A Qantas Classic Award from MEL-SYD rtn in economy will cost 16,000 points plus about $70 in charges. Or you can book with points only to remove the $70 cash component, not sure exactly how much that would come to but i think it would be about 22,000. I think it's the same whether with Qantas or Jetstar. Availability is generally good as long as you book in advance.

With Virgin, an award from MEL-SYD rtn in economy will cost 13,800 points plus about $20 in charges or 16,800 using points only. Again, availability is good.

My plan was to swap to velocity and transfer all my membership points from amex and citibank into velocity points. then fly from MEL to KOREA via singapore airline partners. ANy ideas on how many points it is? I think this may be a waste of points if it is greater than 75k points.

Sorry to harp on about travel class, but are you looking for business or economy? If business, you would be better transferring your Amex and Citibank points to Krisflyer for this flight. But as Cove pointed out, if economy, a KrisFlyer award is probably not worthwhile. The cost for Saver awards (booked online) from MEL-SIN-ICN return would be:
- Economy: 63,750 KrisFlyer miles plus approx $750
- Business: 131,750 KrisFlyer miles plus approx $850

The latter is great value, as those flights would cost $5,000+ if booked by cash, so you're saving $4,000+ for 131,750 points. However, you could book the economy fare for ~$1,300, so in that case you're only saving $550 for 63,750 points. In other words, you get at least 4 times as much value from the points by using them for the business fare. In practice, this allows a lot of us to travel in luxury that we would not otherwise be able to afford!

I don't know what the cost would be to book these flights with Velocity points, but you can work it out on their website.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

I'm like most on here and now hedge my reward travel bets.

ANZ QFF Platinum - hoping to get for just $55 a again next month otherwise probably let it go. Very tempted to take up the NAB platinum card for $150 with bonus 20K miles. Think this is the only card where the insurance is valid for supplementary card holder when they pay for their travel on their card. Can be worth a bit in extra savings.

Woolworth QFF - was able to get fee free for this year.

Amex Platinum edge - have parents and brother on this too to help rack up the points. Hoping they keep billing me at the $150 rate.

Citibank Signature Fee free for life. - wish it had similar range of airlines like Amex but at least SQ and VA. VA is certainly good for flights to USA - less fees than QF for a J class seat and seems to have much better availability compared to QF.