Pointless accumulating points?

[Nathant123]

Was recently having a conversation with a mate who lives overseas. Both of us chase points and status. Travel is becoming a lot easier for him now that Covid is being dealt with but it’s still a slow process for us over here. Got me thinking if anyone has thrown in the towel or considering it in terms of accumulating points and keeping up with the latest offers. Do people here feel that their large stash of QF points could be severely devalued or wiped altogether due to the struggling industry? I wouldn’t commit the ultimate sin of converting to gift cards or appliances but I’m sure many have due to all the uncertainty. Do people here feel their points balances are pretty safe due to the current situation? If I had to guess I’d say the safest program at the moment would be flybuys. No shortage of customers even at the worst of times.

 

[_flyer]

I recently decided to buy an iPhone with my Flybuys points instead of transferring them to Velocity. I have also recently changed my redemptions from Woolworths to money off my shop rather than Qantas. There are literally no incentives to keep earning Qantas points at the moment, other than Points Club/Plus to earn status on reward flights. I'm actually surprised Qantas hasn't been more active on promoting status earn on the ground e.g. similar to the Flybuys/velocity status offer, even if it is temporary. It is going to be impossible for people to retain status, so why bother.

 

[aikman]

If Velocity points can survive pretty much unscathed despite what has happened to Virgin then I'd say that Qantas points are safe as well.

It is inevitable however that points will devalue over time, pandemic or not. We can only speculate when the next devaluation will occur.

 

[RooFlyer]

A bigger issue I see is that the huge accumulation of points by people, and little opportunity to use them for O/S redemptions means that when O/s travel becomes possible, the ability to get seats will be more difficult than ever. And likely fewer premium award seats made available as the Airlines will be maximising revenue.

 

[oznflfan]

I chase points but don't care about status. Where I live QFF are invaluable given massive cost to exit anywhere domestic. I know this is not the case in Syd/Melb/Bris.

I can happily spend QFF domestic only if restricted, expecting some very reasonable fares internationally next year. Just saw Singapore Airlines $1,250 Darwin to Copenhagen return in May next year. Can't get much better than that.

 

[Happy Dude]

Points are just like cash. Folks be spending their travel cash on other things for the time being, and points normally spent on redemptions are being spent elsewhere too. How the redemptions land lays on the other side of the travel restrictions will be interesting and although I'm still accumulating points, I'm also leaning towards @RooFlyer view.

 

[VPS]

I'm not going out of my way to accumulate more points so will just keep them earning them and live in hope that I'll use them internationally one day

 

[samh004]

I wouldn’t commit the ultimate sin of converting to gift cards or appliances but I’m sure many have due to all the uncertainty.

I don't consider it the ultimate sin if it's a good value redemption, and the recent EOFY promotions tied in with Points Club made a new Nespresso machine in my new house good value. Helps that I am very much points rich right now as well. I've also spent a fair amount of points on J domestic flights (haven't flown Y for over a year now)!

My points earning philosophy hasn't changed therefore, but I am accumulating slightly more than spending currently. I'm sure they'll all disappear in some way or another as travel ramps back up... whenever that happens.

 

[Matt_01]

I still accumulate points through regular spending and that is about it.

 

[serfty]

I used to go after points generally when the cost was in the ball park of 1½¢ each or less.

For the last 12 months if there is zero cost method of payment whether it earns point or not, I have used that.

I am still earning points with normal spend but (for example) have not paid a single ATO bill in a points earning manner sins a B2Bpay promo 13 months ago.

 

[auriga]

My interest in things points-related has taken a very steep dive.

 

[Bell21]

I haven't really changed my points collecting philosophy all that much, although I am very less inclined to 'pay' for points through the online payment platforms, unless it's helpful cash-flow wise. I still focus on taking advantage of any easy to generate / low cost points accumulation techniques (eg, QF-BP promotion, no cost credit card churn), as I figure that points will still have some value post-pandemic, even if the landscape changes. Also, collecting points just reminds me of how much I love to travel, so it keeps me connected to that hobby during these not so fun times...

 

[Nathant123]

I suppose as others have mentioned, huge points balance won’t matter if availability is scarce. I want to go back to Israel next year and did find availability for June 2022 at 143k one way business. I guess I could book and take the points refund if the flight doesn’t eventuate. Thankfully QF points don’t expire. I’m starting to wonder what’ll happen to my KF balance..

 

[Bell21]

I suppose as others have mentioned, huge points balance won’t matter if availability is scarce. I want to go back to Israel next year and did find availability for June 2022 at 143k one way business. I guess I could book and take the points refund if the flight doesn’t eventuate. Thankfully QF points don’t expire. I’m starting to wonder what’ll happen to my KF balance..

Given Israel's vaccination rates, it's not a 'bad bet', given points cancellation flexibility - btw, what route would you take?

Re KF points - yes, that's my main nervousness as well - I have 500,000 KF points expiring end of next year, but given you can make a booking a year ahead, I'm hoping that I'll get a chance to use them

 

[Nathant123]

Given Israel's vaccination rates, it's not a 'bad bet', given points cancellation flexibility - btw, what route would you take?

I found availability for SYD - BKK and then onwards to TLV. Second leg is with ELAL which I’ve flown with a number of times. Had some good and not so good experiences with them.

 

[Bell21]

So would that be on Thai Airlines using KF points? Lol, yes, that's generally ELAL's rep.

 

[Nathant123]

So would that be on Thai Airlines using KF points? Lol, yes, that's generally ELAL's rep.

nah priced it all up with QF points. QF to Bangkok and then ELAL to Israel. Last trip to Israel was in 2019 via the US. I booked a couple of tickets for the back of the plane as it seems almost empty. You could imagine my shock when a huge group of 12 year olds boarded and had the whole back end where I was. Anyway I apologise for straying from the original topic.

 

[Bell21]

Yes, sorry I've taken us off track, but lol, could be one of those school trips...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I in the camp that doesn't spend money to accrue points, or use services which are more expensive simply because they earn points (for example insurance or phone plans though one of the airlines). But if the points are almost free I'm continuing to get them, for example Woolies.

The only purchase I have made is through Aeroplan - their last 100% bonus sale was too good to pass up!

 

[NoName]

Still happy to accumulate points wherever possible. Happy to use the domestically and I’ve continued to make speculative OS bookings as they come up. I still enjoy the game (which is really why I do it) so will keep going.