Positive changes to Ascent

[thomastse]

That might be a risky strategy. It takes a little time to transfer points from MR to an airline (QF is incredibly quick though) so you might be planning to book that award but find that by the time the points have clearedthe availability might have gone - just a warning

True. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[beardoc]

I agree that the QFF program may not be good value but I am a firm believer in crediting flights and maintaining status in the airline you fly the most.

I have accumulated well over 210,000 QFF points in just over 1 year. I have also spent 298,000 QFF points on award tickets. I have been a member of QFF for less than 5 years and have accumulated just over 500,000 QFF points whilst I have been in Amex MR for a little over 6 years and have accumulated just over 100,000 MR points with the majority of that spend in the last couple of years.

If you're amassing 210,000 QFF points just from QANTAS you would have had to been doing some serious flying. Most QANTAS domestic fares should credit to AA and earn you Q points, and you only need 50,000 of them - or just 60 eligible flights (and if you're earning 210,000 QFF points in a year, you might just be doing that too!

Are you sure you wouldn't make Gold in AA? I don't know your individual circumstances, but if you're flying that often, I could imagine you'd do it easily.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

As always....which program is best depends on individual circumstances.

However the current changes have increased choice for all...

I had been mainly stockpiling points in QFF as I only fly say 6/8 domestic flights per year, but earn a large combined point earn through cc (and the generous bonuses of the last year or so allowed my wife and I to accumaluate a quite amazing to us 370,000 points!!!), some flights, some hotels and some random earns....plus I get very cheap tax deductable QC access which makes flying domestically and internationally so much nicer (For example I am just back froma redemption to Noumea and the QC got me into the Air Calidin lounge to sip on genuine French Champagne!!!)

I had however started stockpiling points in MR as I had the option of transferring to GF or VA which was attractive, but limited.

The new changes now opens up possible AA or SQ(&*A) redemption.


For the moment my tack will be:

*Normal Amex spend on my Maximiser (for later use on AA, SQ (*A) or VA)
*when Amex is not accepted...using my Citibank VISA where I am stockpiling points...which will most likely go to QFFF eventually
*grabbing any free or cheap points to QFF that are going. The last 18 months have been fantastic...lets hope it continues...
*keeping an eye on BMI. It's recent freebies have already qualified my wife and I for free flights at no cost.


With my domestic QF flights I will now have to think long and hard about awarding them to AA or not. Most likely I will stick with QFF as I will be earning some points to QFF anyway, and particularly if the freebies continue.


Redemption wise

MR will probably be used either for longhaul RTW or Europe, though Tahiti looks to be very very cheap. I have heard that there are "specials" for transferring points to VS a well.

QFFF will be used for either RTW Oneworld or to asia.

FF Gods.. I will be praying to them that Amex has another 10 bonus point this Xmas...if so I will be looking to take even more advantage of it than the almost 100,000 points I got last time. If so then about $15,000 spend could gain you a RTW Business Class redemption



Clear message for me is to not move points till you have to, though as noted by another don't try and transfer points at the last minute either.

 

[simongr]

If you're amassing 210,000 QFF points just from QANTAS you would have had to been doing some serious flying. Most QANTAS domestic fares should credit to AA and earn you Q points, and you only need 50,000 of them - or just 60 eligible flights (and if you're earning 210,000 QFF points in a year, you might just be doing that too!

Are you sure you wouldn't make Gold in AA? I don't know your individual circumstances, but if you're flying that often, I could imagine you'd do it easily.

I think you are fighting a losing battle. JohnK has a very clear and thought ou tapproach to his earning of points that though I disagree with in principal works perfectly for his flight, spending and redemption patterns.

 

[oz_mark]

You can transfer the points to other members, or out to a frequent flyer program, or even a voucher.

Also, Point Breaks will be changing in the next few days, as the current ones have just expired.

WHile the two hotels listed for Oceania say valid to April 2008, they also seem to have rooms throughout May as well.

 

[JohnK]

If you're amassing 210,000 QFF points just from QANTAS you would have had to been doing some serious flying.

I do not do serious flying. I have amassed over 210,000 QFF points in just over a year from various sources. Some is flying + the 100% bonus for Platinum, hotel stays at Best Westerns, car hire, duty free, Earth credit card spend which is minimal anyway, Qantas Amex Premium card which is used to purchase QF airfares and the bonus point as well.

The Queensland Mining Towns Tour earned close to 15,000 QFF points. Also consider that QF offers bonus points on Qantaslink flights and I had trips to Narrabri, Armidale/Tamworth and Wagga Wagga/Albury which earned just over 12,000 QFF points. Yesterdays return trip to ABX earned 6,000 QFF points for $140 and another coming up to PQQ in a few weeks. Also Qantas Holidays bonus back in September of 10,000 QFF points x 2. You would be surprised how quickly the points add up with a mixture of flights and bonus partners.

Most QANTAS domestic fares should credit to AA and earn you Q points, and you only need 50,000 of them - or just 60 eligible flights (and if you're earning 210,000 QFF points in a year, you might just be doing that too!

Are you sure you wouldn't make Gold in AA? I don't know your individual circumstances, but if you're flying that often, I could imagine you'd do it easily.

And what would I do with AA Gold?

I spend ~$8,000/year on airfares and I can get QF Platinum easily. There is no way with my travel pattern to achieve AA Executive Platinum. Also I am nowhere near 60 flights per year and do not have enough mileage for 50,000 EQPs a year to achieve AA Platinum. Apart from recent BA WT+ flights I find most of my international flights are in booking classes that would only earn 0.5 EQPs and most domestic flights vary between N/O classes. The only way I would achieve AA Platinum would be through a challenge every 2 years but why would I settle for AA Platinum when I can have QF Platinum?

My original statement still holds true. While AA might have better burn rates it certainly does not have better earn rates. Well not for me anyway. I can also do what serfty did in November and earn QF Platinum status in 8 days by flying to the US and doing some YUP/QUP/KUP status runs and spend ~A$3,000 to get QF Platinum status.

People who earn most points through credit card spending will find AA more attractive now with Amex improving the laundering ratio of MR points through SPG.

 

[futaris]

And doing the numbers with AAdvantage:

OneWorld RTW 16 segments with up to 35,000 miles in Business Class is 190,000 AA miles = $168,889 spend on Amex.

And don't forget 1 million AA = Lifetime Gold. 2 million AA = Lifetime Platinum.

Assuming 1.5 MR/$, 0.6SPG/MR:
2 Million AA = 1.6 Million SPG = $1,777,777.78 spend on Amex (if you didn't exceed the 100k/yr cap)

Or if they have the 11.5 pts/$ promo again:
2 Million AA = 1.6 Million SPG = $231,884.06 spend on d1ck Smith Vouchers (or the like).

Halve the numbers for Lifetime Gold.

Plus you can earn through Live Search Club, etc. I'm up around 8k (posted miles into my AA) just from that.

 

[kamchatsky]

And don't forget 1 million AA = Lifetime Gold. 2 million AA = Lifetime Platinum.

Assuming 1.5 MR/$, 0.6SPG/MR:
2 Million AA = 1.6 Million SPG = $1,777,777.78 spend on Amex (if you didn't exceed the 100k/yr cap)

Or if they have the 11.5 pts/$ promo again:
2 Million AA = 1.6 Million SPG = $231,884.06 spend on d1ck Smith Vouchers (or the like).

Halve the numbers for Lifetime Gold.

Plus you can earn through Live Search Club, etc. I'm up around 8k (posted miles into my AA) just from that.

Gee that's not a bad idea ....... Free AA points from Live Search Club. I have to have a look at this ..... Is it easy and fast to earn the miles?

 

[futaris]

Yes. See the flyertalk thread.

 

[davem]

Also Australia to Pacific Islands (Tahiti, Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji etc) return with free stopover at Auckland on AirNZ is 25K on Y, 35K on J, 45K on F ..... Which is so much better than Qantas.

Can you give me some more information on this?

I have 4 accounts with 30k points and would love to get to tahiti with the family

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Can you give me some more information on this?

I have 4 accounts with 30k points and would love to get to tahiti with the family

Yes my eyes lit up at that too..which is why I posted the Tahiti suggestion.

From the Krisflyer website.

Award Charts
Singapore Airlines


and then the Star alliannce award Chart

http://www.singaporeairlines.com/saa/en_UK/docs/krisflyer/Redeem_Miles/Awards_Charts/StarAlliance_Roundtrip_14Nov.pdf


Complimentary Stopovers

You have a choice of twelve award types, each requiring different redemption mileage. Please refer to the table below for the validity and number of complimentary stopovers available with each award ticket type for Online Redemption Booking. Please note that a stopover is not a transit. A stopover means you will be in the stopover city for 24 hours or longer before your next flight.


Complimentary Stopovers
Economy Saver, Business Saver, First Saver
Economy Class, Business Class, First Class
One-way
No stopover
</B>One stopover
</B>Round-trip
One Stopover
</B>Two stopovers
</B>Validity of award tickets
Six months
</B>Twelve months
</B>
http://www.singaporeairlines.com/saa/en_UK/Account/travelPlannerIntro.jsp

 

[JohnK]

Assuming 1.5 MR/$, 0.6SPG/MR:
2 Million AA = 1.6 Million SPG = $1,777,777.78 spend on Amex (if you didn't exceed the 100k/yr cap)

Is there an emoticon for "I have buckleys chance of spending that much on Amex in a lifetime"?

Plus you can earn through Live Search Club, etc. I'm up around 8k (posted miles into my AA) just from that.

Now that sounds like a great idea. I used Live Search Club for an hour or so just before going on holidays last month but thought that you can only transfer to AA once. I will see if I can build on the 2,250 AA miles in my account already. I would like to have enough AA miles for a return to LAX by May 2009 so I can do some YUPs to maintain QF Platinum for another year.

 

[futaris]

I put a 2,300 point redemption from MR to SPG today (to test), and only got 759 points, which is the old 1000:330 rate.

I will try contacting American Express to see if there was some problem. NB, I used the "Starwood" option and not "Starwood Preferred Guest", as I hadn't registered that option (yet).

 

[pauly7]

I am not inclined towards the Platinum Credit Card - I am not sure why - I think I like the concept of the limitless credit limit on the charge card. I am also trying to get Corporate Charge cards aboloished in my business (we have a lot of Amex cards) so I would then get a tax break on my Amex platinum as my business expenses would flow through it

Apart from the no limit on the plat charge, what is actually the benefit of having that over a plat credit card? I don't really get the attractiveness of them... (just got offered plat for 295, free flight and 10K points)

 

[simongr]

For personal issues I avoid credit cards.

 

[oz_mark]

Apart from the no limit on the plat charge, what is actually the benefit of having that over a plat credit card? I don't really get the attractiveness of them... (just got offered plat for 295, free flight and 10K points)

I get regular offers from Amex for the Plat Charge card, and certainly cannot see any benefit in having it over and above my pat credit card. The extra $500 I would be up for does not seem to get anything of value to me.

 

[davem]

Yes my eyes lit up at that too..which is why I posted the Tahiti suggestion.

From the Krisflyer website.

Award Charts
Singapore Airlines


and then the Star alliannce award Chart

http://www.singaporeairlines.com/saa/en_UK/docs/krisflyer/Redeem_Miles/Awards_Charts/StarAlliance_Roundtrip_14Nov.pdf


Complimentary Stopovers

You have a choice of twelve award types, each requiring different redemption mileage. Please refer to the table below for the validity and number of complimentary stopovers available with each award ticket type for Online Redemption Booking. Please note that a stopover is not a transit. A stopover means you will be in the stopover city for 24 hours or longer before your next flight.


Complimentary Stopovers
Economy Saver, Business Saver, First Saver
Economy Class, Business Class, First Class
One-way
No stopover
</B>One stopover
</B>Round-trip
One Stopover
</B>Two stopovers
</B>Validity of award tickets
Six months
</B>Twelve months
</B>

Have you actually used this?

I was told you need to use 1 25k award to NZ then another award from there.

If not this is the best news ever

 

[kamchatsky]

Have you actually used this?

I was told you need to use 1 25k award to NZ then another award from there.

If not this is the best news ever

Nope. If via AKL only then no problems. It is when you try to go via CHC/WLG then they will insist on two awards. Since everything via AKL is the shortest possible/most direct route.

It would be good if someone can also confirm this.

So SYD-AKL (transit or stopover) -PPT/NAN/RAR/etc is OK
but SYD-CHC/WLG-AKL-PPT/NAN/RAR/etc is NOT OK (need two awards).

Have to say that for SYD- AKL - Vanuatu/New Calendonia, there seemed to have problems with Backtracking rules from Krisflyer. That is the only experience I have had. Even now I have no idea why they would not let me book that except they said that the system would not allow it.

Also please note that there is no open jaw for *A awards.

So if you want to travel to Tahiti/South Pacific AND southern NZ then buy a domestic return from AKL and AKL as stopover ......

Oh and the best thing, is that SQ actually hold your seats for a while before ticketing. Whereas QF always insist me on ticketing on the spot. I have done this on a number of tickets already.

 

[pksw]

I can scan the relevant parts of the new brochure if anyone has a request to do so.

The great news is the 1:1 for SQ. Previously I've used the advice on this forum to dump all my Amex points into Virgin Atlantic when they had the 20% bonus, and then redeem on their partner airlines. The taxes have been minimal. I've redeemed 2 business and 2 economy return flights MEL-SIN, with the taxes around $66 per ticket. This year I've redeemed 4 return economy flights MEL-HKG with QF, the taxes being around $220 per ticket.

I prefer flying SQ, as I've got no chance in getting an upgrade on QF, having no status credits, as all my points are earnt on credit cards.

With the new ratio for SQ, I'm either going to put my points thru them (or Virgin Atlantic) when I need them, as they have 3 year point expiry.

 

[JohnK]

I put a 2,300 point redemption from MR to SPG today (to test), and only got 759 points, which is the old 1000:330 rate.

I will try contacting American Express to see if there was some problem. NB, I used the "Starwood" option and not "Starwood Preferred Guest", as I hadn't registered that option (yet).

Looking at the Amex Membership Rewards webpage today and it still has the transfer rate to Starwood at 1000:330.

Could this be a delay in updating the webpage or more likely the rumoured 1000:600 transfer rate to Starwood was a misprint?