QFF vs Asia Miles vs *A Credit Card Programs

[heykrazi]

Hi peoples

There is a lot of information on this website, but for somebody as "underqualified" and "overwhelmed" as I am, reading through everything and deciphering what's best for me feels nigh on impossible. Some might call it lazy, and you won't want to help, and that's ok. But I figured I might as well ask... because not asking and trying to wade through it all myself would send me insane.

I'm trying to get some guidance re: *A membership in another thread, and some guidance re: QFF vs Asia Miles also in another thread.

Obviously here I need guidance re: credit cards, but the issue should not be separated from my *A/QFF/AsiaMiles issues.

I currently have 1 credit card: the Qantas Amex Discovery card; but am looking to alter this by (a) adding either Visa or MC because apparently the same spend with them earns more points? but mainly because Amex is not accepted everywhere, and (b) switching from the Discovery card to a different Amex, as PointHacks website sings the praises of the Membership Rewards program?

Keeping in mind I still have not decided which *A membership I will go with (either Aegean, Asiana or SQ it looks like), or whether I will start favouring Asia Miles over QFF or vice versa, does any body have any suggestions as to how I can set up my credit cards? With 2 cards, and 2 main loyalty programmes (soon *A + either QFF or AsiaMiles), I'd like 1 card to earn points for 1 programme, and the other for the other.

Any tips, words of advice, pointers, etc would be suuuuuuuuch a help!!
Thanks in advance,
heykrazi

 

[heykrazi]

Any help anyone? *pretty please*

 

[cove]

Think Qantas for domestic travel and then Star Alliance or Asia Miles for international. You could read the blog Frequent Flyer Fiend and the Game for a few pointers on credit cards.
The best international deal running until 30th June is US Air Dividend Miles where this month you can buy 100k points for $1881.25 USD and a few months later buy the rest if you want a pile of Star Alliance points for long haul.
Woolworths Everyday rewards card is a good personal card for Qantas points.

 

[Moopere]

Its my opinion that you'll want to firm up exactly what you want to do program wise before making long term CC decisions. Most of the cards I started this game with I've now got rid of.

However, the king of choice I guess would be a proper Amex card that isn't co-branded. As you mention, you already know of these and the Membership Rewards program (Ascent). This will let you transfer your points to 8 different programs:

(Membership Rewards)

though not QFF unless you get a high end Amex and join Ascent Premium. Amex isn't accepted everywhere, you are right, however I get by in daily life, pay bills, etc, without any real trouble. 95% of my personal spend is done on Amex and most of my business spend too, except the ATO which I choose a Mastercard (only because of the surcharge difference).

If you do want to keep getting QFF points then the EDR card, as Cove suggests, is a cheap but good earner at $1:1

 

[scheps]

or the citibusiness gold for QFF but it is capped at 250k... so may pose a problem..