Points Count [How many do you have?]

[33kft]

I've had 1.1 million QFF points for quite a few years but cannot use them as the fuel surcharges are ridiculous.

No experience with IHG personally, and I also haven't personally had issues with my QFF points attracting high fuel surcharges mainly due to the fact I use them for upgrades and not outright redemptions, but I am 100% sure if I had a 1.1m balance and Classic Reward redemptions had huge fuel surcharges, I'd use them for P+P instead.

I know that P+P values the points somewhere around the .06-7cpp range which isn't great, but I am not sure I see an end to the current surcharge regime and I do certainly attach additional value to the points and SCs earned of P+P flights. To me it feels strange to be championing P+P redemptions given I consider them very ordinary value, but I can't imagine being in a stalemate which causes me to never use my points, either.

 

[JohnK]

I know that P+P values the points somewhere around the .06-7cpp range which isn't great, but I am not sure I see an end to the current surcharge regime and I do certainly attach additional value to the points and SCs earned of P+P flights. To me it feels strange to be championing P+P redemptions given I consider them very ordinary value, but I can't imagine being in a stalemate which causes me to never use my points, either.

Points + pay can be good value during sales. I just haven't been ready to book in recent times.

Also classic award redemptions with 50% discount can be good value but have not seen one for a while. I'd be happy to spend 56,000 points + ~$700 for wife and daughter to go to Thailand while I take advantage of double SCs.

Also my preferred use of points is for One world awards but not ready to travel for another 5-6 years by which time there'll almost certainly be some sort of devaluation.

 

[Hoffsare]

I'm happy to pay approx 1k for surcharges/tax on the business class RTW route I'm planning.

 

[cove]

Our family have been pretty good at using points and miles for flights so I don’t think about the concept that they are a liability.
Just think of it as a game and you cannot go wrong.
The plane goes to the same place regardless of whether you are in first, business or economy.

 

[VeniVidiVici]

I have used 600,000 in the last two years for family holidays (4pax) with a current balance of 1.4m. The points keep accruing through business spend and time for holidays is limited at the moment but hopefully that changes in the next couple of years and we can start to eat into them a bit more.

 

[Saltywings]

Definitely trying to burn more this year with around 600k burned for 3x J return this year to Japan. Trying to also burn as much of my VFF balance as possible with Dom J flights but it'll take awhile.

Agree with others saying that the only points worth anything are the ones you spend. It's like trading on the stock market - any value/profit is on paper only until you've 'realised'/used it!

 

[cove]

My family are really good at using our points and miles so I am not fearful of it being a problem. We have family going SQ Suites next month.

 

[andyhui01]

Just like everything in life. Of all the people I know (at least the ones who understand the potential value of points), the ones who have low point balances or accumulate points slowly are the ones are generally normal employees who actually have the time to travel and have a more flexible schedule to book flights in advance for holidays.

The ones with massive point balances (7 figures+) are friends like myself who run small businesses who rack up massive spend but never get the opportunity to redeem them. I travel to see family once a year at the same time and I've redeemed SQ J for as many years as I can remember but other than that, I can't seem find the correct flexibility of booking far enough in advance to get reward seats and actually knowing when I have time. I did get lucky last week with a Reward J on VA to HKG for the long weekend.

I think I am at 500k in VA, 300k in KF and about 1M+ in CBA rewards waiting for the next transfer bonus (haven't seen one in years. lol). I think I might just have to give up on waiting for CBA.

2.6 million QF, 350,000 TG et al. With such a heavy work schedule these are planned for retirement or when a client only stumps up Y, I can upgrade.

I hope you are not far off retirement. I wouldn't want to be saving my points for retirement if I'm in my 30s/40s. You never know how many enhancement OW or QF makes between now and your retirement.

 

[SOPOOR]

My highest was in the 400k's but I've had many years where I've whittled them down to nothing and built them all back up very quickly to go again. Right now I'm sitting on 20k after spending a whole heap.

I feel I'm going into a phase where I'm going to be earning a lot less though, as I've finally switched to Amex MR as oppose to a direct-earn card.

Unfortunately for me、 my downfall is that im worried that I will get too used and addicted to premium flying that if i have to fly and dont have enough points、 its going to kill me inside、 that i always have enough for a second trip at all times in case I need to decide to fly.

 

[Limewood]

The most annoying thing about spending so much to get thousands of QFF points is lack of J seats availability in and out of OZ, then having to pay huge fees if ever found, it's about time it changed as I and many likewise have had enough of this stingy situation and outrageous charges on top of points.
Due to above we commence our long haul to USA and Europe out of ASIA where J seats are plentiful and so much OneWorld airline choice, and fees are just a few hundred.

 

[DaveB]

Only a liability if it becomes all consuming.
My family realised how many points I was accruing and now feel like a travel agent making the many bookings though can't complain as get to see more of them with both living OS. Typically do over 40 separate bookings each year using points each year always in J/F.

 

[shuuy]

Interesting thread. Recently started with awardwallet as I am shifting from an accumulation phase of my life to a spending phase and I was worried about missing some. I guess they call that retirement . Have earned 80-90% with flying/staying, rest on bonuses+credit cards.

Also hard to redeem as the times I want to fly are the times I can't use points (and I aim for >4c/point in Y and >10c/point in J/F).

Airlines
OneWorld
* AA 825k
* BA 250k
* QF 2,000k

Star Alliance
* A3 60k
* AC 50k
* SQ 625k

Other
* VA 400k

Credit Card / Shopping
* Chase 215k
* Air Miles 3k
* FlyBuys/Woolworths 0

Hotel
* Hilton 470k
* Hyatt 225k
* Marriott 850k

Car Rental
* Hertz 20k

 

[jase05]

The most annoying thing about spending so much to get thousands of QFF points is lack of J seats availability in and out of OZ, then having to pay huge fees if ever found, it's about time it changed as I and many likewise have had enough of this stingy situation and outrageous charges on top of points.
Due to above we commence our long haul to USA and Europe out of ASIA where J seats are plentiful and so much OneWorld airline choice, and fees are just a few hundred.

Spot on. Just so much easier from Asian ports. We have usually commenced from SIN, KUL or HKG but on recent searches I’ve seen some good availability out of DPS and CGK so might look at heading there next time. Even NZ had better availability on EK for the same points. So if you prefer a slightly longer F or J experience it might be worth a cheap jump across the ditch

 

[cove]

Mrscove prefers Qantas but availability is too difficult.

 

[SOPOOR]

Interesting thread. Recently started with awardwallet as I am shifting from an accumulation phase of my life to a spending phase and I was worried about missing some. I guess they call that retirement . Have earned 80-90% with flying/staying, rest on bonuses+credit cards.

Also hard to redeem as the times I want to fly are the times I can't use points (and I aim for >4c/point in Y and >10c/point in J/F).

Airlines
OneWorld
* AA 825k
* BA 250k
* QF 2,000k

Star Alliance
* A3 60k
* AC 50k
* SQ 625k

Other
* VA 400k

Credit Card / Shopping
* Chase 215k
* Air Miles 3k
* FlyBuys/Woolworths 0

Hotel
* Hilton 470k
* Hyatt 225k
* Marriott 850k

Car Rental
* Hertz 20k

geez some highly ppints loaded people out there! even using terms like accumulation phase

until this amex deval thing came along, I was hoping to have my travel for the next say5-10 years sorted , so thats been a huge dent,
(thats on the assumption I stop earning, but this wont happen but never say never)

 

[siri]

I had few millions QF points and also around 1.2 Million Amex points which I can transfer via ascend program. My advise is do not use FF points to buy stuff or any other since its a terrible waste of points value. Use points to buy full tickets or RWT from qantas or one world since I already have, 2 bus class bookings via Syd-Shanghai-london-NY-HK-tokyo-syd starting in June. I use this every yrs or every 2 yrs.
I also have around half million Hyatt points since Hyatt points are life time..
If you want to fly via star alliance, my suggestion is use United since they have region based points and much less points buy in than the singair.. I think from next month singair amex transfer points drop from 1-1 to 1-0.6 and this is not a good value.
Keeping Amex points or any partner points in reserve is a good idea since qantas point transfer program give extra bonus points for transfer and at that transfer amex/other points to qantas points with extra bonus points.
Cathay FF got 2 tier system and should be avoided since its garbage.. I always find there are so many BA, bus class tickets available using points so keep looking on BA.

 

[QF WP]

I remember the days of accumulating and it was all about the number in your account(s) but like Ryan Bingham at the end of "Up in the Air", I finally had my epiphany and now try and keep my balances low. That came from the numerous program devaluations.

I could chase sign up bonuses and investigate which card to use on each transaction, but that's time I don't have (or care to use) in order to achieve. I have 30K QF and 60K VA points and these are used for flight upgrades. I also have 180K AA points (ready for our next overseas trip). Hilton points will get me stays when rates are too high but award rooms are available, but prefer to use them for personal stay wherever possible. Each to their own..

 

[Limewood]

Yes DPS I saw that, also out of AKL to Doha on one of our fav. airlines Qatar, and hopefully one day in those J - Q seats.

 

[Drakecula]

I recently cashed in 480k KF points for a RTW J redemption for me and MrD. This was always my goal, and I don't think I fly/earn enough points to make it a regular thing, but by having a goal in mind, I knew what we had to work towards with credit card bonuses and such. So I think my KF balance is under 1,000 now. Very satisfying.

I also have about 80k VA points which I'm not sure what I'll do with, but there's not so many there to worry about yet.

 

[Renato1]

My problem with points is that,
a. I have no interest in wasting them on high value usage like flying Business or First class, since I'm happy in Economy, and
b. I don't like using them when there are good sale deals on - which is often when we travel to avoid crowds - and if I were to use points I'd be effectively redeeming them at less than a cent a point relative to the sale price.

I'm happy to redeem them at a cent a point, but the opportunity for that doesn't come up often for us - unless there is say a wedding in another State.

Since my Virgin Velocity points balance has about 350,000 points, which I never seem to use - I decided to use my Amex MR points to pay for hotel rooms, last year in Bangkok and this year in Tunis and Lisbon, at a cent per point - where the prices for the rooms were about the same as at Bookings.com.

I know some people will tell me that they'd never waste points at a cents a point, but I just don't value what the higher value usage buys.

One other issue with points which I haven't seen addressed anywhere, is does anyone routinely have a plan - in case of sudden death of one spouse - so that the other spouse or family member can log in and transfer the points to their account - before they disappear?
A simple Notepad file labelled "In Case Of Death" on the Desktop display with link to the points sites, and login details would probably suffice.
Regards,
Renato