Qantas rolls out Classic Plus Flight Rewards

[KSC]

Perhaps I am missing something - but QFF SUBs are decreasing, exclusion periods are getting longer, earn rates from card spend are falling or having monthly/annual caps introduced, annual fee increases are outpacing inflation, and card surcharges are becoming more commonplace.

From my perspective, it's getting both harder and more expensive to accumulate significant amounts of QFF points compared with any point in the last 10 years - although it is still worthwhile pursuing.

Would love to hear what makes you think it is becoming easier?

I have moved onto cash, seems allot more stable and redeemable.

 

[SYD]

I have moved onto cash, seems allot more stable and redeemable.

But just consistently poor value when it comes to long haul J ex Oz…..

 

[KSC]

But just consistently poor value when it comes to long haul J ex Oz…..

Yes very true, you can thank old mate Catherine King for that, with the underhand deals within the private yet not so private meeting room inside the Chairman’s Lounge.

 

[SYD]

Yes very true, you can thank old mate Catherine King for that, with the underhand deals within the private yet not so private meeting room inside the Chairman’s Lounge.

Plus China economy has tanked, Ukraine/Russia, the ME and other factors…

But that doesn’t add up to why I can buy CGK-Europe return on QR J for $3.5k but QR (or the usuals) are charging $10k to $13k ex SYD….

I’m surprised more airlines (who have existing rights) aren’t ramping up services to/from Oz?

 

[markis10]

Asia to Europe or the ME has been cheap forever and a day from cities that have a lot of VFR traffic, the volume is there in Y not J.

 

[levelnine]

Perhaps I am missing something - but QFF SUBs are decreasing, exclusion periods are getting longer, earn rates from card spend are falling or having monthly/annual caps introduced, annual fee increases are outpacing inflation, and card surcharges are becoming more commonplace.

From my perspective, it's getting both harder and more expensive to accumulate significant amounts of QFF points compared with any point in the last 10 years - although it is still worthwhile pursuing.

Would love to hear what makes you think it is becoming easier?

100% agree.

It is interesting that the number of Qantas points in circulation each year continues to go up, and by quite large amounts. Now that figure is going to be skewed by points whales, but still interesting.

A decent number of people must be moving down the value chain and pursuing more expensive points options.

All the options 33kft lists are more expensive ways of purchasing points than via credit card churning (eg buying gift cards via Qantas is terrible value for money because you are forgoing alternative ways to buy those same gift cards that give you bigger cash discounts — they are earning 5.25 points per dollar on Uber, but losing 1 point per dollar & 12+% cash back).

 

[opusman]

I spend a bit more on that than I did card fees, but I get wine from it and I use my PCP 10% off and $50 wine vouchers so I am quite comfortable with the price to value ratio.

You're lucky you like the wine that has bonus points attached. All the big heavy shiraz gets a bit much after a while!

 

[SYD]

You're lucky you like the wine that has bonus points attached. All the big heavy shiraz gets a bit much after a while!

But life’s too short to drink Pinot…!

 

[KSC]

Plus China economy has tanked, Ukraine/Russia, the ME and other factors…

But that doesn’t add up to why I can buy CGK-Europe return on QR J for $3.5k but QR (or the usuals) are charging $10k to $13k ex SYD….

I’m surprised more airlines (who have existing rights) aren’t ramping up services to/from Oz?

It’s a perfect storm for increased pricing in Australia. There must be some demand still holding these prices up.
Hopefully we get more supply and competition in the future..

 

[SYD]

It’s a perfect storm for increased pricing in Australia. There must be some demand still holding these prices up.
Hopefully we get more supply and competition in the future..

TransPac is the same. Super high J fares across all carriers (they’re all making hay while the sun shines - it’s been a bloody long post Covid summer!) and CRs are as rare as rocking horse poo beyond a week out.

 

[I love to travel]

Anyone think that QF might do a classic rewards mass release anytime soon. Been quite some time since they have done one and would be a nice Xmas present!!

 

[Catweazle]

Would love to hear what makes you think it is becoming easier?

Well, we got married this year so that could be it. I doubt we'll be spending quite so much next year!

I've also noticed the additional cost of taxes and fees. A few weeks ago, MEL - ASP was showing $45 I'm pretty sure. Now that same rewards flight is $65...

 

[Rich]

Over the past 2 years, QF wine has probably contributed 300-400K of points annually for me and I've stopped card churning because of it. This is pretty much entirely thanks to Flightformula doing all the hard work for me.

I spend a bit more on that than I did card fees, but I get wine from it and I use my PCP 10% off and $50 wine vouchers so I am quite comfortable with the price to value ratio.

The rest of mine comes from QFF AMEX Ultimate which has started capping out the 1.25ppd rate to 1.00ppd at 100K points earned, but 1ppd matches many other cards and no limit applies after there. The last decent earner is everyday rewards, esp from the gift card promos.

One other area that I have found easier of late is the Qantas Marketplace 3ppd on gift cards. Not super exciting as a headline, but for stuff like WISH gift cards, Doordash, Uber etc I have now conditioned myself to always buy via GCs via the marketplace prior to shopping, because not only do I get 3ppd on groceries from the gift card, I earn 2.25 ppd on QF marketplace spend on the AMEX even after you hit the 100K cap on that as well so instead of getting 1 ppd for Woolworths spend I'm getting 5.25, plus earning EDR points which then convert back to QFF.

I am actually finding it easier than ever, but do agree with the points above that some avenues have reduced.

Thanks for this. I had never really thought about getting gift cards from Qantas before. The extra 4 (or 4.25) ppd has to be weighed up against other offers (eg 4% off WW gift cards purchased through my mobile plan) of course, but when there is a no other offer, this is a no brainer. I wish I got on to this earlier for my usual Amazon December spend.

 

[Berlin]

Gift cards I’ve always considered but never done because it seems to hassly. But probably worth doing, agreed.

Qantas wine on the other hand has been a goldmine for us and it’s not only for (mostly nice) Aussie wines: Champagne for example is a good one, would be silly to forgo those points. Or the other day I ordered a bottle of Single Malt, was better value than Duty Free and scored me over 1000 points during a triple points deal (which means 9 points per $ as a Points Club Plus member- the most useful benefit of this besides the status credit rollovers imho).