QR withholding award seats from Qantas?

[levelnine]

Hey when you say 'churning us credit cards', do you mean being in the usa and churning cards over there or by churning cards like citi bank here in Australia and converting to Avios? thanks

Churning US-issued cards from Australia, but converting Citi points to Avios is a great strategy that is easily accessible in Australia.

 

[cathalm8]

Churning US-issued cards from Australia, but converting Citi points to Avios is a great strategy that is easily accessible in Australia.

Cheers for confirming. Can anyone churn US issued cards from Australia or do you need a presence in the US?

I recently signed up for the Citi prestige and may well convert to avios instead of velocity after reading this thread. Which other cards can you recommend to keep an eye on for good bonus point sign up offers?

 

[levelnine]

I recently signed up for the Citi prestige and may well convert to avios instead of velocity after reading this thread. Which other cards can you recommend to keep an eye on for good bonus point sign up offers?

My strategy would be to convert the Citi Prestige points to Avios (the current 300K sign-up bonus would be enough for Australia to Europe one way in QSuites) then acquire Velocity or Singapore points to book a Singapore (with Velocity or Singapore) or Etihad (with Velocity) flight in the other direction. There are lots of credit card programs that transfer to Velocity and Singapore: The Ultimate Australian Credit Card Points Transfer Matrix

You could also consider buying Avios points if you only want to fly Qatar, but that is more expensive than credit card churning.

Edit: Reading the OzBargain thread on the current Citi Prestige deal, it looks like you can churn Citi Rewards program cards on a very regular basis (eg every 3 months, if not more frequently). So I'd also consider getting the Prestige every time it has a sign-up deal.

 

[cathalm8]

My strategy would be to convert the Citi Prestige points to Avios (the current 300K sign-up bonus would be enough for Australia to Europe one way in QSuites) then acquire Velocity or Singapore points to book a Singapore (with Velocity or Singapore) or Etihad (with Velocity) flight in the other direction. There are lots of credit card programs that transfer to Velocity and Singapore: The Ultimate Australian Credit Card Points Transfer Matrix

You could also consider buying Avios points if you only want to fly Qatar, but that is more expensive than credit card churning.

Edit: Reading the OzBargain thread on the current Citi Prestige deal, it looks like you can churn Citi Rewards program cards on a very regular basis (eg every 3 months, if not more frequently). So I'd also consider getting the Prestige every time it has a sign-up deal.

Can anyone churn US issued cards from Australia or do you need a presence in the US?

 

[cathalm8]

My strategy would be to convert the Citi Prestige points to Avios (the current 300K sign-up bonus would be enough for Australia to Europe one way in QSuites) then acquire Velocity or Singapore points to book a Singapore (with Velocity or Singapore) or Etihad (with Velocity) flight in the other direction. There are lots of credit card programs that transfer to Velocity and Singapore: The Ultimate Australian Credit Card Points Transfer Matrix

You could also consider buying Avios points if you only want to fly Qatar, but that is more expensive than credit card churning.

Edit: Reading the OzBargain thread on the current Citi Prestige deal, it looks like you can churn Citi Rewards program cards on a very regular basis (eg every 3 months, if not more frequently). So I'd also consider getting the Prestige every time it has a sign-up deal.

Ive been reading that thread too. Using the citi payall feature you can set it up to earn 20k citi rewards points each month as a minimum depending on credit limit. That's 6666.7 Avios per month for holding the card. My plan is to hold it for 11 or 12 months and then cancel.

But yeah considering the 3 month turnaround, which I can confirm, it may be a better strat to close and resign.

 

[levelnine]

Can anyone churn US issued cards from Australia or do you need a presence in the US?

It is a somewhat complex option that takes years to develop in full, so not the road for anyone looking for a quick or easy route. It will be more accessible if you have a social security number and US mailing address, but not impossible if you have neither. If you are serious about it, this thread is the place to start: Strategy to obtain US Amex

You are right, the Citi PayAll feature is an excellent option to have going in the background while churning non-Citi cards. Then you can get the best of both worlds — accumulation of Avios and VA/SQ points simultaneously.

 

[cathalm8]

It is a somewhat complex option that takes years to develop in full, so not the road for anyone looking for a quick or easy route. It will be more accessible if you have a social security number and US mailing address, but not impossible if you have neither. If you are serious about it, this thread is the place to start: Strategy to obtain US Amex

You are right, the Citi PayAll feature is an excellent option to have going in the background while churning non-Citi cards. Then you can get the best of both worlds — accumulation of Avios and VA/SQ points simultaneously.

I lived in the US for 11 months back in early 2000's working as an intern as part of uni course. I should have a social security number but probably no way of finding it now..

 

[AFF Editor]

Here's the latest update on the Qatar Airways reward seat situation:

Qantas Flyers Lose Even More Qatar Airways Reward Seat Access

Qatar Airways has all but removed the ability for Qantas Frequent Flyer members to use their points for Qatar reward seats.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Daver6]

Here's the latest update on the Qatar Airways reward seat situation:

Qantas Flyers Lose Even More Qatar Airways Reward Seat Access

Qatar Airways has all but removed the ability for Qantas Frequent Flyer members to use their points for Qatar reward seats.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Do you know what the obligations are for partners in OW in relation to making award inventory available to other partners? Makes a total mockery of it being an "alliance" with this sort of behaviour.

 

[ThePW]

Here's the latest update on the Qatar Airways reward seat situation:

Qantas Flyers Lose Even More Qatar Airways Reward Seat Access

Qatar Airways has all but removed the ability for Qantas Frequent Flyer members to use their points for Qatar reward seats.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Terrible change. I've got flights next week on QR going to the Middle East in Economy and back in First, booked with Qantas Points back when this wasn't a problem. Hope there are no changes that require re-ticketing

 

[levelnine]

Here's the latest update on the Qatar Airways reward seat situation:

Qantas Flyers Lose Even More Qatar Airways Reward Seat Access

Qatar Airways has all but removed the ability for Qantas Frequent Flyer members to use their points for Qatar reward seats.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

The one point I'd add to the article is that it doesn't appear QF is alone here. Plenty of reports on FT that QR are blocking redemptions by CX members (eg 1, 2).

 

[cathalm8]

Terrible change. I've got flights next week on QR going to the Middle East in Economy and back in First, booked with Qantas Points back when this wasn't a problem. Hope there are no changes that require re-ticketing

I have QR business (via QFF) end of may from Europe to Aus, lets hope there are no changes! Is there any website or app that will notify you if a schedule change occurs?

 

[jase05]

One door closes and another opens.
Fantastic for those of us with a booty of VA points.
QF sure know how to pick a fight

 

[cathalm8]

One door closes and another opens.
Fantastic for those of us with a booty of VA points.
QF sure know how to pick a fight

Wen can we tranfer our qantas point to velocity

 

[azza007]

I think business/first awards on QR are still available using Qantas points but only for a few days in advance.
Per-Doh first class available until thurs 23rd Feb when using Qantas points
Adl-Mel-Doh business class available until thurs 23rd Feb when using Qantas points

Only able to book business/first class awards on QR a few days in advance is pretty much useless.

 

[jase05]

Makes a total mockery of it being an "alliance" with this sort of behaviour.

So does offering up pitiful SC earn rates for daring to choose to fly with a so called alliance partner.
QF has been the bully for years but now they have come up against a kid in the schoolyard who is bigger and tougher

 

[Daver6]

This really impacts one's ability to fly on a OWA out of Perth to Europe. CX is now a basket case with two or three flights a week. Leaves just QF who have so few award spots on the PER-LHR flight. Only hope is QF via SIN now.

 

[odysseus]

Do you know what the obligations are for partners in OW in relation to making award inventory available to other partners? Makes a total mockery of it being an "alliance" with this sort of behaviour.

While OW may have its own rules (or not), this is far from unique in the alliance world. There are also sorts of restrictions/exclusions amongst Star Alliance members having access to other alliance members, so being in an alliance doesn't generally limit that behaviour.

 

[jase05]

This really impacts one's ability to fly on a OWA out of Perth to Europe. CX is now a basket case with two or three flights a week. Leaves just QF who have so few award spots on the PER-LHR flight. Only hope is QF via SIN now.

Still one or two daily’s to KUL on MH or is their award availability poor on that route?

 

[djkelly69]

Is there any website or app that will notify you if a schedule change occurs?

For OneWorld, Check My Trip (usually referred to here as CMT). IME CMT will usually notify you at least 15 minutes before QF will, and sometimes QF is much, much later, if at all.