Optimum points earn strategy

[andye]

Still available at 5% discount but no advantage over Wish. I'm not aware of any other way of obtaining both the discount and Edge points

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

Another to way look at this is optimising how much you spend to collect the points.

IF QFF is not your cup of tea, and with their inflated burn rates why would it, I think the best bang for buck combo is

AMEX Edge to get the higher earn rate for supermarkets and petrol and converting some gift card spend into higher points earn as well.

CB Signature fee free for life that gives 1 to 1 points earn for VA and SQ.

VA is great for J rewards to LAX and SQ offers a lot better J and F reward availability to Asia and beyond - SQ F to JFK is nearly half what QFF requires.

Throw in a free domestic flight and 2 PP lounge passes a year for the princely sum of $195 is not a bad way to accumulate points for the average joe who doesn't have six figure ATO bills.

The money you save from reduced feees and easier flight availability can be used for the odd AA / LM / UA miles purchases as well, then again being able to go on holiday easier might negate that benefit

Then you can think about partaking in the odd free CC promotion with bonus points - scored 50K QF and 40K VA miles doing this last year at a cost of $150

 

[burmans]

But BigW wouldn't be considered supermarket spend...?

It is when you buy from Entertainment Book which then directs you to the WW giftcards site! 3 pts consistently for me.

 

[burmans]

Another to way look at this is optimising how much you spend to collect the points.

IF QFF is not your cup of tea, and with their inflated burn rates why would it, I think the best bang for buck combo is

AMEX Edge to get the higher earn rate for supermarkets and petrol and converting some gift card spend into higher points earn as well.

CB Signature fee free for life that gives 1 to 1 points earn for VA and SQ.

VA is great for J rewards to LAX and SQ offers a lot better J and F reward availability to Asia and beyond - SQ F to JFK is nearly half what QFF requires.

Throw in a free domestic flight and 2 PP lounge passes a year for the princely sum of $195 is not a bad way to accumulate points for the average joe who doesn't have six figure ATO bills.

The money you save from reduced feees and easier flight availability can be used for the odd AA / LM / UA miles purchases as well, then again being able to go on holiday easier might negate that benefit

Then you can think about partaking in the odd free CC promotion with bonus points - scored 50K QF and 40K VA miles doing this last year at a cost of $150

This is pretty much exactly my strategy. I do get QF points by signon bonuses but after I meet minimum spend usually stop using them. QF points are easy to get but not worth anything near as much as SQ points.

 

[quokka77]

I'm using citi prestige, westpac altitude black and amex edge. The westpac card is not going to be renewed. With the addition of Avios to citi prestige it is worth reconsidering the value proposition of your charge card, Isochronous. IMO the citi prestige card is clearly now the Australian leader in terms of both earn and transfer partners. Just status match to Air Berlin and finally cut the umbilical cord to QFF. You know you want to.

 

[DaveB]

I'm using citi prestige, westpac altitude black and amex edge. The westpac card is not going to be renewed. With the addition of Avios to citi prestige it is worth reconsidering the value proposition of your charge card, Isochronous. IMO the citi prestige card is clearly now the Australian leader in terms of both earn and transfer partners. Just status match to Air Berlin and finally cut the umbilical cord to QFF. You know you want to.

Pretty much what I do.
I also ditched the Black though picked up the Westpac Altitude Business card for 12 months fee free enabling my points pool to be rolled over without incurring any fees.
ATO spend was always a high fee side issue generating only 15% of my annual points total. No longer chase the latest card just maxing out the EDR card and NAB Amex (free with loan package) up to May when it also expires.

 

[Isochronous]

Other options:

Amex Business Accelerator: 2 points per $ on everything except govt/utilities/insurances but capped at 100K MR points (i.e 50K extra above a 1 point/$ Amex).

Diners: effectively (via SPG) 1.78 AA/Alaska miles per $ where accepted (and double points at IHG) but you do have to put up with DC service

Does Diners pay points on insurance/utilities/government fees/ATO?

 

[andye]

Does Diners pay points on insurance/utilities/government fees/ATO?

DC does pay out for insurance but acceptance patchy. None of my utilities accept DC. PayPal with DC seems to convert to USD first so also not worth it. the associated MC does work for both at normal rates.

For Canberra DC impossible as the site doesn't accept. The T&Cs seem to exclude also but there have been sporadic reports of success with the associated MC.

 

[Isochronous]

I'm using citi prestige, westpac altitude black and amex edge. The westpac card is not going to be renewed. With the addition of Avios to citi prestige it is worth reconsidering the value proposition of your charge card, Isochronous. IMO the citi prestige card is clearly now the Australian leader in terms of both earn and transfer partners. Just status match to Air Berlin and finally cut the umbilical cord to QFF. You know you want to.

Why is it that I can't see Avios mentioned on the Citi Prestige website? Slow to update?

Am I right that if Signature is 1:1 for VA/SQ, that Prestige earn for VA/SQ/BA is even better than 1:1?

Westpac Black still seems worth getting for:

1) 60k sign up bonus
2) 2.5 points per $1 on Qantas spend
3) 1.5 points per $1 for insurance/utilities etc - unless Prestige earn beats that?

Also, the Prestige/Signature seems like the go to card for BPay spend as well.