QFF Free membership?

[gaz1]

Hi,

I'm trying to help out my Mum. She had QFF membership some time back, but it lapsed due to inactivity & it seems that joining again would cost $82.50. She has now had a Altitude card for a while & would like to convert the points to QFF for a small trip.

Just wondered if anyone had any suggestions on a cheap (or free) way of getting Frequent Flyer membership?

I know that Qantas Club membership gives free QFF membership, but of course this is more expensive still.

Any ideas would be really appreciated.

Cheers,

Gary.

 

[oz_mark]

Hi,

I'm trying to help out my Mum. She had QFF membership some time back, but it lapsed due to inactivity & it seems that joining again would cost $82.50. She has now had a Altitude card for a while & would like to convert the points to QFF for a small trip.

Just wondered if anyone had any suggestions on a cheap (or free) way of getting Frequent Flyer membership?

I know that Qantas Club membership gives free QFF membership, but of course this is more expensive still.

Did it lapse, or did the points just expire? I wasn't aware they actually cancelled the account due to non-activity? Are you sure it doesn't exist anymore?

 

[medhead]

I also don't think the FF account would expire.

A friend recently had work buy them QC membership. QF matched up the QC membership with their long forgot FF membership from 7 or 8 years ago.

 

[bazzam]

You get free QFF membership if you get an Earth credit card from Westpac. Earth Credit Card from Westpac. Only downside is that you have to pay the annual credit card fee at least for the first year. The regular card has a fee of $75 which is only marginally cheaper that QFF membership itself.

according to the T&Cs though membership is only terminated if you commit a breach of the T&Cs or die...

"8. Suspension or Termination of Membership

8.1 If a Member has committed a material breach of any of the Terms and Conditions or has failed to pay any money due under Qantas Frequent Flyer or The Qantas Club by the due date, whether intentionally or otherwise, then Qantas may do any one or more of the following:
(a) suspend or terminate the Member's Membership and/or the right of the Member to use the Card;
(b) reverse or cancel the Member's Points or any part thereof; or
(c) cancel or refuse to honour any Awards (including ticketed Award Flights), Benefits or both, that have been redeemed by or provided to the Member.

8.2 If Qantas intends to take action under clause 8.1, it will notify the Member of its intention and the reason for that action. The Member will then have 21 days to respond to this notice by rectifying the breach (where possible) and providing any reason why Qantas should not take action (provided that Qantas may suspend the Member's account until any review is completed). Qantas will review the response and advise the Member of its position.

8.3 Membership will terminate automatically on the death of a Member. Points earned but not yet redeemed or transferred prior to the death of the Member will be cancelled. Qantas will close the Member's account on notification of the Member's death. Qantas will not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered by any person as a result of such cancellation."

 

[serfty]

It was 2004, but my B-I-L was able to reactivate his 5 year dormant (all points expired) QFF account at checkin in MEL.

 

[Travel Guru]

If you know someone overseas, go onto the QF website based there, use their address and you can join for free, it's only AU/NZ residents who get charged the joining fee.

TG

 

[gaz1]

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Mum called QFF Service centre but they don't have any record of her membership. I don't actually think she ever had membership - I think she is getting confused with being a member of Altitude & being able to convert to QFF points (if you are a member).

OK - so I guess we are back to the original question. Does anypone know of any ways of getting QFF membership for her?

"Travel Guru" - this is an interesting idea. Do they send anything to the overseas address? How easy is it to change the address back & has anyone had any experience with this? I would really prefer to do it in some other "normal" way if possible to avoid any hassles for her.

Thanks,

Gary.

 

[v8Statesman]

I know "someone" who used the address of a random hotel to sign up. Then logged into the acount and put in the correct australia address. They have been using the account now for 2 + years. No problems at all. Only down side is you do not get a card issued to you at all until you hit silver.

 

[Hvr]

I know "someone" who used the address of a random hotel to sign up. Then logged into the acount and put in the correct australia address. They have been using the account now for 2 + years. No problems at all. Only down side is you do not get a card issued to you at all until you hit silver.

So how long do you have to be an overseas member before you can transfer to an Australian address?

 

[v8Statesman]

So how long do you have to be an overseas member before you can transfer to an Australian address?

Seconds...

 

[SFSC]

Hi,

<SNIP> Do they send anything to the overseas address? How easy is it to change the address back & has anyone had any experience with this? I would really prefer to do it in some other "normal" way if possible to avoid any hassles for her.

Thanks,

Gary.

It's easy and can be done from here. I did it in 2005 for our (then) future Son-In Law using his parents address in the UK. Nothing came in the mail and you get to print out a paper membership card when joining.

Do you have any relatives overseas whose address you can use? If so, probably best that you manage the joining on line for your Mum. Changing the address back is just a matter of adjusting her profile at a convenient future time.

 

[JohnK]

Just be careful when joining QFF with an overseas address and then changing the overseas address to an Australian address.

A few years ago I did this for a close friend and a few weeks later changed the address to my address in Sydney. I received an invoice from QF for the joining fee. I called Qantas and explained that this person was only going to be in Australia for a few months and we wanted any mail to arrive at my address while they were here and the person on the phone waived the fee. No idea if the checking process that initiated the invoice is automated or manual.

 

[albatross710]

Remember that Altitude points can also be used to acquire points with other airlines....don't get hung up on the QFF membership if the end result is the flight which could be achieved through one of the 'card-friendly' flyer schemes.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Remember that Altitude points can also be used to acquire points with other airlines....don't get hung up on the QFF membership if the end result is the flight which could be achieved through one of the 'card-friendly' flyer schemes.

Indeed...can go to SQ for example.

So I guess one question is how many points does she have?

Is it just enough for a small domestic trip?

Or perhaps enough for a small International trip (New Caledonia 36 K with QFF)?

 

[gaz1]

Hi Albatross & LovetravellingOz,

Yes - this is a good point (especially considering the problem that JohnK mentioned)!!

I actually posted more details on the flights that Mum would like to organise (Perth to Auckland) in the Westpac Altitude forum. I thought this was more appropriate for a discussion of the options & would really appreciate any ideas or suggestions!

Thanks,

Gary.

 

[WTL]

Be aware that using a foreign postal address if you're an Australian resident also avoids the GST component, and is therefore tax avoidance. Your conscience might let you get away with it though depending on how much tax you otherwise pay Mr Swan, but it will be a T&C violation as you'll see when/if you try to do it.

For $75 I'd just play it above board, my self.

 

[v8Statesman]

It is not tax avoidence. As apart from AU/NZ it is free to join. 10% GST on $0 is $0

 

[WTL]

It is not tax avoidence. As apart from AU/NZ it is free to join. 10% GST on $0 is $0

If you are an Australian resident, and claim not to be for this purpose, you are not charged a fee that you should be and the tax that it includes.

It's minor, but it is tax avoidance.

I was in this position my self (legitimately living in London), and Qantas spells this out clearly to you if you claim not to be an Australian resident. They also state that records of the transaction may be made available to the ATO (in an audit I guess).

 

[Dave Noble]

Be aware that using a foreign postal address if you're an Australian resident also avoids the GST component, and is therefore tax avoidance.

there are flaws in this

(1) Tax avoidance is not illegal and is something that most people do. Avoiding paying more tax than they are required to do. Quite different to tax evasion

(2) As pointed out, the GST on zero is zero and so no tax avoidance

(3) If you make a purchase overseas then there cannot be GST since the AU government cannot charge its taxes in other countries. Same as a UK resident buying goods in Australia will not have to pay 17.5% VAT that might be charged in the UK.

There is one issue in that if QF was to look at a membership , see that it had been instantly moved to AU would believe that it was just to avoid the membership fee and that could be in breach of the membership T&Cs, but that is completely different.

Dave

 

[WTL]

If you are an Australian resident, and claim not to be for this purpose, you are not charged a fee that you should be and the tax that it includes.

It's minor, but it is tax avoidance.

I was in this position my self (legitimately living in London), and Qantas spells this out clearly to you if you claim not to be an Australian resident. They also state that records of the transaction may be made available to the ATO (in an audit I guess).

Actually, I take that back. I was renewing a QC membership at the time, not joining QFF, and it's during that process that they apply or don't apply GST on the bill based on where you're living...so I think you might be right.