The Danger of Hoarding Points

[eastwest101]

I'm in the accumulate but burn them off camp - but with the important caveat that I need to earn SC's if possible in order to maximize future earning and get Gold in both QFF and VA Velocity.

The prohibitive fuel fines and taxes plus the often poor availability of FASA and JASA seats moderates my accumulative streak a bit, as well as the possibility of either frequent flyer program or indeed entire airline being further enhanced or being outsourced/ceasing also means I keep an eye out for good deals if/when they are out there.

 

[KLN]

I've got 550k Altitude points that I'd figured to use going somewhere with the family, but trying to book a flight via the Altitude web site it seem that I need 1,000,000 points to get one return economy seat to NZ!

Any tips on how best to use these point? Ideally I'd like to get my wife and one or two of the kids to Switzerland.

don't use the altitude websitem their points usuage are exorbitant. have a look at the individual websites of the airlines, if you'renot not already a member suss them out, but you'll find they are way less points than Altitude Travel

Sorry: should have read Mhen's post first...........all said there

 

[The six of us]

don't use the altitude websitem their points usuage are exorbitant. have a look at the individual websites of the airlines, if you'renot not already a member suss them out, but you'll find they are way less points than Altitude Travel

Sorry: should have read Mhen's post first...........all said there

Thanks MHen and KLN, good to know there is another way other than the Altitude site, I'll need to do a bit of homework to sort out what to do next.

 

[straitman]

How many people would book a holiday 13 months in advance? I'm typically about 2 months for a major overseas holiday.

I guess other airlines put more priority than Qantas on looking after their FF. I've tried to book premium economy on Qantas with points, but no seats available - only a couple of weeks ahead of the flight. Imagine my surprise when I boarded to find the cabin close to empty.

With some research and a little flexibility flights are available on many routes. On 27th Jan we are flying on a A380 HKG-SYD-MEL for approx 50,000 points and $300 each on a JASA (so 2 seats). This was booked on only 5 weeks notice and I had the pick of the J seats.

The reasons they don't make all the business seats available for awards or upgrades has been discussed menu times.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well, can I state the obvious, I don't think you have to. There are plenty of other options and you should start using them, vote with your feet.

Exactly. If you want better availability and the ability to book much latter as well other airline programs offer vastly better access to award flights.

This is further boosted by looking at Alliance bookings and Partner bookings.

Various credit cards also provide different pathways to gaining tickets. ie Direct bookings or via airline ff programs.

Malaysian for example has heaps of J availability to Europe for only 51K one way with comparable fuel fines to Qantas.
For about 60% points you book SQ, or via SQ *A airlines such as Thai. SQ has much better availability than QFF and Thai better again.

I have yet to use Cathay, but a number of forumites seem to use this channel with good success.

 

[Pushka]

I've got 550k Altitude points that I'd figured to use going somewhere with the family, but trying to book a flight via the Altitude web site it seem that I need 1,000,000 points to get one return economy seat to NZ!

Any tips on how best to use these point? Ideally I'd like to get my wife and one or two of the kids to Switzerland.

I was going to do that too but the redemption values are mind blowing. I ended up buying a weber BBQ, some lovely wine glasses and a "crate" of Moët. Sigh.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Our points are earned by spend with AMEX ( very few airline points as we use points for nearly all travel ) so they have become my points "Bank" and are withdrawn as required.
Airlines come and go but if AMEX goes we won't need points as the world will have fallen over the cliff and travel will only be for the very fortunate few !
Never seem to have a problem with SQ redemption availability. I always check first and then transfer points.

 

[drron]

How many people would book a holiday 13 months in advance? I'm typically about 2 months for a major overseas holiday.

13 months is a little short for planning a trip.All my 2013 trips are booked,August 2014 has a firm itinerary and I am firming up our plans for May and December 2014.When it comes to planning holidays I definitely fit the criteria for OCD.

 

[froggerADL]

I was going to do that too but the redemption values are mind blowing. I ended up buying a weber BBQ, some lovely wine glasses and a "crate" of Moët. Sigh.

And Altitude thank you very much.

 

[Buzzard]

I don't consider myself a hoarder, rather a saver. Currently I have about 1.5 million QFF Points after using about 150,000 for some Business Class upgrades for my significant other and I flying to Europe and back last month. The way I see it as retirement (= more travel) is only about 2 years away, these points will come in handy to either upgrade or buy Round the World tickets. Like everything else in life, each to their own.
Now, I just wish I knew what some of these things frequent flyers talk about are like JASA's, WP/LTS/LTG.

 

[amaroo]

I don't consider myself a hoarder, rather a saver. Currently I have about 1.5 million QFF Points after using about 150,000 for some Business Class upgrades for my significant other and I flying to Europe and back. The way I see it as retirement (= more travel) is only about 2 years away, these points will come in handy to either upgrade or buy Round the World tickets. Like everything else in life, each to their own.
Now, I just wish I knew what some of these things frequent flyers talk about are like JASA's, WP/LTS/LTG.

Welcome, Buzzard.

Here you go.....http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ions/abbreviations-and-explanations-5056.html

FWIW plenty here were burnt when AN nosedived.....IMO with QF the big risk is devaluing & fee increases.

 

[kpc]

I don't consider myself a hoarder, rather a saver. Currently I have about 1.5 million QFF Points after using about 150,000 for some Business Class upgrades for my significant other and I flying to Europe and back last month. The way I see it as retirement (= more travel) is only about 2 years away, these points will come in handy to either upgrade or buy Round the World tickets. Like everything else in life, each to their own.
Now, I just wish I knew what some of these things frequent flyers talk about are like JASA's, WP/LTS/LTG.

As others have said previously, your main concern is "points deflation"...i.e. Qantas can raise their awards anytime and by any % at their discretion; just look at what the various hotel loyalty programs have done recently eg Hilton have raised the points requirement for some of their top end hotels from 40K per night to 95K per night!! All the consumer can do is to "grin and bear it"...not quite true as I have just burnt my last 200K Hilton points to beat the price rise!

 

[Storyteller]

I don't consider myself a hoarder, rather a saver. Currently I have about 1.5 million QFF Points after using about 150,000 for some Business Class upgrades for my significant other and I flying to Europe and back last month. The way I see it as retirement (= more travel) is only about 2 years away, these points will come in handy to either upgrade or buy Round the World tickets. Like everything else in life, each to their own.
Now, I just wish I knew what some of these things frequent flyers talk about are like JASA's, WP/LTS/LTG.

Hi Buzzard
welcome! Great name for someone who flies & circles the good deals

For me, the best use of my points is international upgrades. Have enjoyed a few JASAs over the past couple of years for holidays, dropping in for a lunch, OzFest in DRW.
And giving to family.

Despite using them often, I have around 1/2 M in my savings account, & seem to have trouble getting it less than this. I too have points in other airline savings accounts, so not all eggs in one basket And also with cc where I can choose where it goes at the time.

Out of my last 6 trans PAC bookings I have had success with 9 flights. Could be 10. Another good thing about upgrades is no fuel etc fines. I hate it about Classic Awards that the tax, fuel, airline costs are the price that tickets used to be. I remember when the extras for a ticket to the US were around $43.

 

[Buzzard]

Hi Storyteller,

I was quite surprised that the name Buzzard was still available when I registered.

Many thanks for responding to my thread.

Can you tell me please what JASAs are? I'm a bit new to all this stuff. Thanks in advance.

 

[JessicaTam]

Hi Storyteller,

I was quite surprised that the name Buzzard was still available when I registered.

Many thanks for responding to my thread.

Can you tell me please what JASAs are? I'm a bit new to all this stuff. Thanks in advance.

A JASA is an Any Seat Award seat booked into business class (J)
Have a look at this thread

 

[mumof2sydney]

I too have learnt the hard way that hoarding is bad- was BADLY burnt by Ansett- and am now being slowly deep fried by emirates....as an above poster said- if you suddenly stop flying for a period (like say when you have a baby) , status disappears fast....and then you think- yeah ok lets book a family holiday on points and of course its impossible to get any more than 2 seats in any class....then you do stupid things like blowing 60 K points on "raffle"tickets....spend up early I say!