My Velocity points balance has fallen to zero... and I couldn't be happier

[Mattg]

A lot of points collectors seem to think that a sign of success is having a balance in the millions. I don't subscribe to this theory - let me explain why.

I've just spent every last point in my Velocity account. I'm very happy with this result because it means I've been able to spend the points I've earned on great flights and experiences that I value, while saving a lot of money in the process.

For example, some of the reward seats I've booked this year using my Velocity points include:

• YVR-BNE in Air Canada business class
• SYD-AUH in Etihad economy
• SIN-SYD in Singapore Airlines economy
• CBR-SYD-CBR in Virgin Australia economy
• ADL-SIN in Singapore Airlines business class
• BNE-CBR in Virgin Australia business class

I also transferred a bunch of points to KrisFlyer to book a Star Alliance business class award.

I value a frequent flyer program that has reward seats available when I want to travel, and Velocity (in general) has had this. Of course, there aren't seats on every flight - but I've found Velocity availability in general to be more plentiful than QFF.

And now that I've spent all my Velocity points, am I going to switch to a different frequent flyer program? Absolutely not! Quite the opposite - I can see clear value in collecting Velocity points, so I've already started the work to top up my balance again, so that I'll be ready when I want to redeem the next reward!

Points don't increase in value over time, and your points aren't worth anything until you redeem them. That's why earning and burning is, IMHO, the way to go!

 

[AIRwin]

c0ngrats!

 

[RooFlyer]

Agree 100%. I think about 150K points is the max to hold until a target flight is booked, then hold balance of about 15K for an opportunistic domestic flight.

 

[hossein_au]

Hallelujah; you speak the truth my man!

 

[Muppet501st]

I have 997 VFF points in my account. The 80k taken out for the Virgin Voyages cruise, it was a sign, as just had enough !!

 

[SYD]

Agree it’s not a good idea to accumulate too many points - although there are a lot of frustrated peeps doing that - not by choice but not being able to or know how to burn points effectively.

Ideally you’d burn and earn at a comparable rate while maintaining a base quantity of points for opportunistic redemptions (eg upgrades or when you thought you’d pay but then realise an award flight makes more sense).

Realistically, a lot of us have sawtooth patterns, increasing balance, redeem, accumulate (repeat).

As mentioned earlier, having some small quantities across different FF programs is handy. I maintain a stash of UA miles (don’t expire) and they come in handy booking one way *A reward flights when there’s not many alternatives.

I also have a reasonable stash of VA points from VA1.0 days that are on my hit list!

QF PC has been a great thing for QFF’rs. We can now burn and still earn SCs!

 

[Bagpuss]

Points aren't like a bank balance where the aim is to have as much as possible in the bank.
Earning points is about using the points to reap the rewards of their benefit.
So, you've done the correct thing with the correct strategy.

Well done.

 

[NoName]

Agree. I don’t collect points to just being able to say I have a high balance. I will have a trip planned a couple of years out, work out what I need to get there and set out to accumulate enough to be able to book when they are released. More than happy to have a low balance because it inevitably means I’ve just booked a big trip for the family.

 

[tdimdad]

Applause is well warranted for this! Sounds like Matt has been able to redeem really good value from the points and this should serve as a great example for us coming behind.

After joining AFF and getting ideas from here (thanks, everyone!), I initially collected points for 1 * RTW in 2021 (didn't happen for some reason...) but got sucked into it and ended up with 800k+ QFF points. Since then, I've burnt a lot of them in upgrades but will now add some more to be able to get 2 * RTW in PE or J. And leave enough for the opportunistic bookings, e.g. just recently gifted my partner a trip to see her parents overseas and am planning a getaway with my son.

#ffgoals #lowbalance

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

QF is saying sorry, maybe under VH, QF will do better, can do better.
ZL is now starting their FF system.
When I tried, at one time to input my KF # into a VAd flight, after I took the flight the points claim was declined, lifes too short, so I didn't make a fuss.
Other than QF and ZL, there are no other FF systems Aust dom flights wise.
So, while its great that your VFF points is now zil/zero, in the end, would/are you happy to go QF/ZL?
Or will you start building up your VFF balance again.

 

[Mattg]

So, while its great that your VFF points is now zil/zero, in the end, would/are you happy to go QF/ZL?
Or will you start building up your VFF balance again.

I also actively collect and use points with QFF, and various other international programs (BA, SQ, UA, EY etc.). This is also a key part of my points-earning strategy - I don't just actively collect points with one program because spreading the points across multiple programs increases options, allows you to maximise award chart sweet spots (which are different in each program) and spreads the risk.

E.g. Velocity points are generally useful if I want to go to Singapore. But not so useful for travel to South America.

As I said in my first post, I will indeed start building up my Velocity points balance again as well.

 

[levelnine]

Churn and burn is always the name of the game.

With that said, I feel a bit more comfortable accumulating large piles of miles in programs where I know I will always be able to get good use out of them, even if they are inevitably devalued (eg US flexible currency programs & Qantas/Velocity). I'm much more nervous about holding miles in programs with hard expiries like SQ & erratic programs like LifeMiles.

 

[Oubline]

Totally agree about the usefulness of Velocity points! Great explanation of the different ways you can get value out of them. I find the stash of Qantas points much harder to draw down on.

 

[oz_ally]

I'm working on it - still have 27, 577 to collect (according to the Velocity app) to have enough for Bus Class Ret BNE - HNL - well that's if I can wrangle that unicorn. If I do manage to get it I can't be bothered when my points go back to 0 - mission accomplished. Hopefully

 

[levelnine]

Today is proving to be a day where the premise of this article is not always right. People sitting on low QF balances missed out big.

 

[knagelli]

Today is proving to be a day where the premise of this article is not always right. People sitting on low QF balances missed out big.

Probably QF is better at releasing those special reward seat offers once in a while. However people who actively track the game always have their stash in some hidden chest and can easily transfer across to the program of their choice.

 

[levelnine]

Probably QF is better at releasing those special reward seat offers once in a while. However people who actively track the game always have their stash in some hidden chest and can easily transfer across to the program of their choice.

Indeed, that's what I did today. Lucky Amex MR to QF transfers are instant. Those premium routes went like lightening.

 

[Mattg]

Today is proving to be a day where the premise of this article is not always right. People sitting on low QF balances missed out big.

Yes, indeed. There will always be exceptions to the rule

 

[SYD]

Yes, indeed. There will always be exceptions to the rule

That was gist of my comment #6. For those of us that can, maintain a usable stash for short fuze oppprtunities.

Meanwhile over in QFF land, I suspect that there were just a lot people sitting on increasing balances hoping for that aspirational redemption in J to Europe. Combine with northern summer - Bingo!

 

[blackcat20]

Indeed, that's what I did today. Lucky Amex MR to QF transfers are instant. Those premium routes went like lightening.

I pulled mine out of QBR. Just enough for what we wanted to book.