Starting to wonder if frequent flyer points and miles will be used for flying

[Lynda2475]

Corrected this for you --> It takes little or no effort to keep Qantas points alive.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I already have a decent stockpile.
Just booked a redemption for June next year, let's see how that pans out

Hammering the platinum charge card to get the 4.5% back.. Cash is King in this climate IMO

Yes for the first time in decades I am not chasing ff points. It feels very strange. I still earn some of course am not going out of my way to earn them, and am mainly leaving points at the credit cards, and taking cash up front when I can. ie Woolworth Rewards Points I just take cash rather than convert to Qantas.

I have enough points in case award travel comes good again in 2021, but don't see a lot of benefit in building up what not be used, or building up what may end up become gift cards instead.

 

[clipped_wings]

Accepting this New World is hard, when you spend so much of your free time planning a holiday. Our choice to fly VA exclusively since 2009 was to our benefit, but it may also be our downfall. Concern now, is not the use of our points - it's the loss of status as the months and years gradually tick down. The one year Status extension granted to Velocity members is only beneficial to people who fly domestically - and even this is now challenged by the restrictions on Australian State borders. Years of regular international travel gifted Mr Clipped with constant Platinum benefits. But no more X flights with Virgin (or anyone else ATM) means our options to retain or generate any more SC with Velocity will be remote at best.

By 2022, which we feel is a realistic return to international travel (without 14 day quarantine mandates and assuming Velocity is still alive) Mr Clipped will be Silver. And that will prohibit him from upgrading with points for international flights. Such a cruel Catch-22, as he will have accumulated enough points to do this.

Not the worst of our problems. More a sober realization.

 

[mrsterryn]

We are just waiting on a big boost to our points for the end of year cancellations.
My last "use" of points was March this year. I can keep mine active by a domestic trip . Husband keeps his alive by his Qantas card.
I did check the "value " of our points in gift cards and yes kinda nice but....hoping that reward seats come back is probable more alluring

 

[Seat0B]

I was quite worried that there would be a tightening of award availability in the "new world" ahead of us. However, Qantas has just emailed saying that they are increasing award seat availability domestically between now and end of year. So perhaps they are keen to get us all back in the air - a lot of surveys have shown that people are not overly keen to return to flying, which I can totally understand. Now, if they extend that to international, assuming we ever get the border open again...

I felt happy for a few moments, but then I realised how hard it actually is for an ACT person to fly anywhere domestically (can't go to WA, SA, NT, Tas or Vic and I reckon Qld will close again soon too). That only lets me fly between Canberra and Sydney, and around NSW. So back to thinking that there is no good use for my growing pile of FF points.

 

[Matt_01]

I have started looking at international rewards for next year but the bookings will not open up to Sep 20. Like others I have a big influx of returned points and although we will be heading to the US and CA (2020 cancelled trips) we may choose different carrier alliances and routes to use SQ miles as these may start to expire. Who knows what next year holds.

 

[Pushka]

We used a batch for one of the Luxury Deals advertised the other day. An award flight and "free" accommodation for treat trip to Port Douglas in a months time. The Luxury Deal was the same price as that direct from the Hotel without the luxury inclusions (breakfast, cabana hire each day, bottle of sparking etc etc). We are supposed to be boarding a small yacht in two days time touring the Greek Islands.

 

[MARTINE]

Spent over 1/2 million velocity points on eve before crash to help set up daughters new house - vacuum cleaner luggage etc etc. Surprised they all arrived
—— really don’t think I can use points (or money for that matter) anytime in next 12 months for travel