The new Flybuys launches Monday (April 23rd)

[Deleted User]

The only redemption rate I have seen is 0.5cents per point to give $10 credit for 2000 points.

I don't exactly know how the webjet option works but I have seen the fine print which says you need $50 credit (which is 20000 points) before you can start using the webjet option. I hope this helps. Sorry I can't give you more details.

I have heard that flybuys are sending cards to most people in Australia, regardless of whether they have been part of the scheme previously or not. I don't know how they got the information. Maybe electoral records.

Thanks, shame its so hard to work out the redemption rate for flying.....After all it is called Flybuys... Would have thought it would have plain and simple to make the following clear and easy to find.

• How many points does one need to fly
• How much does one need to spend to earn a point...!

I think they have released a very confusing product indeed, perhaps that's the idea maybe...?

 

[PLANT]

So I have seen the TV/newspaper adds and been to the site.....basically spend $50 on anything and then BUY 5 of the items you select to get 10% off what?
1. The 5 items only?
2. The total bill?

 

[Mal]

So I have seen the TV/newspaper adds and been to the site.....basically spend $50 on anything and then BUY 5 of the items you select to get 10% off what?
1. The 5 items only?
2. The total bill?

https://www.flybuys.com.au/flybuys/content/benefits/my5atcoles.html

my5 entitles flybuys Members to a 10% discount off the current price, including any applicable discounts, of up to five items from each of their selected Product Groups, per day when shopping in Coles Supermarkets (including BI-LO and Pick'n Pay) and Coles online. The my5 discount is subject to a minimum transaction spend of $50. See "Getting your my5 discount" below. my5 is available until 31 October 2012.

 

[rainbowgirl]

Oops, sorry, got my calculations wrong. 10,000 points is $50 credit under the new Flybuys. I believe you need this much credit to start using the Webjet option.

If I have interpreted this correctly the flybuys redemption rate for flights is the same as the gift card (flybuy dollars) redemption rate. This seems extremely poor compared to EDR. Flights have a better dollar redemption rate than giftcards under the QFF/EDR scheme.

Of course this is just my opinion.

 

[blackcat20]

I have heard that flybuys are sending cards to most people in Australia, regardless of whether they have been part of the scheme previously or not. I don't know how they got the information. Maybe electoral records.

On Monday I got the cards for my registered Flybuys account with info on how to activate them. Yesterday I got two more cards with info on how to register. The first lot were sent to my registered, preferred name, the second lot to my proper name... they must be getting info from somewhere!

 

[oz_mark]

On Monday I got the cards for my registered Flybuys account with info on how to activate them. Yesterday I got two more cards with info on how to register. The first lot were sent to my registered, preferred name, the second lot to my proper name... they must be getting info from somewhere!

They sent my cards to an old address. When I went through the registration process, they had my current address already there. There's been something up with this process!

 

[whatmeworry]

Having a quick look at this, the big downside I can see is that this program is still not directly connected to an airline such as Qantas or Virgin, yes I do understand that there is a partnership with webjet, however I can see nowhere how the redemption of points for flights works...?

Anyone know of a link for some rough redemption rates...?

This is the only information I could find regarding points required for redemption.

The flybuys program provides another way to reward our customers, and deliver value to their shopping experience. With the ability to earn flybuys points with every Webjet booking, regardless of carrier, hotel or destination, customers are given a flexible facility to earn points when booking their travel arrangements. Even if a customer part-pays for their travel with flybuys points, they will still earn points on the portion paid using their preferred credit card.


Redemption of points is a seamless and flexible process as well. Webjet customers can book a flight from Melbourne to Sydney one-way for under 10,000* flybuys points per person; Sydney to Brisbane return for under 20,000 flybuys points per person or Perth to Bali return for under 70,000* flybuys points per person. They can also purchase any one of the over 100,000 hotels worldwide available on the site and pay with flybuys points,” said John Guscic, Managing Director, Webjet.

I think with the better earn rates and with points not expiring, plus the ability to part pay with points, means flybuys looks a little more attractive. However I tried to do some dummy bookings with the flybuys option but the search engine keeps timing out! So if you can't even do a booking whats the point?

 

[oz_mark]

This is the only information I could find regarding points required for redemption.

The redemption rate is the same as for vouchers, 1 point is 0.5c, but there seems to be a booking fee along the way!

On the Flybuys site, if you go to the Browse and Book page for Webjet, there is this statement at the bottom:

Terms and Conditions

*Minimum 10,000 points required ($50 value)......

When you go through the booking process you see things like:

• Payable Now (in Australian Dollars) (Equivalent to 26,200 flybuys points)
• $130.40

(Maybe it rounds up a bit on the points, not sure there)

 

[zzyss]

One thing FBs have that is better than EDR is additional cardholders. My wife has a separate EDR account but because all the credit cards are in my name and hence points go towards my QFF, her account is almost pointless (ba-da-boom!)

 

[Nigelinoz]

As the holder of a Coles Mastercard I recently received a new card with Flybuys integrated on to the credit card,apparently this is to save me from having to carry two seperate
cards,great idea ! why then did Flybuys send me another new card with the launch of the new FlyBuys,seems like a waste of plastic and packaging to me,surely the Flybuys
computer system is smart enough to know that I have a Mastercard and therefore don't need another one?I haven't even bothered to open the envelope with the new Flybuys card .
Cheers
N'oz

 

[Saji]

I agreeFlybuys is not great for FFs but then again...its obvious from all the posts here that it is not a program targetted to FFs and its a loyalty card targetted to everyday loyal coles customers. With this in mind, if you do not compare Flybuys with Airline FF programs...it may still be good... after all its been running for a few years!!!

 

[Deleted User]

I agreeFlybuys is not great for FFs but then again...its obvious from all the posts here that it is not a program targetted to FFs and its a loyalty card targetted to everyday loyal coles customers. With this in mind, if you do not compare Flybuys with Airline FF programs...it may still be good... after all its been running for a few years!!!

I have a problem when it's called flybuys but difficult to find out redemption rates for flying prior to joining up...

 

[oz_mark]

As the holder of a Coles Mastercard I recently received a new card with Flybuys integrated on to the credit card,apparently this is to save me from having to carry two seperate
cards,great idea ! why then did Flybuys send me another new card with the launch of the new FlyBuys,seems like a waste of plastic and packaging to me,surely the Flybuys
computer system is smart enough to know that I have a Mastercard and therefore don't need another one?I haven't even bothered to open the envelope with the new Flybuys card .

I guess two possible reasons:
1) Is that you do need to reactivate your account anyway, to accept the new terms and conditions etc. Sending you the new card encourages you to do this.
2) A disconnect between what GE are doing. For example, I still have not had my CC re-issued and am still using my Source card.

 

[whatmeworry]

I think the idea for the integrated flybuys card on the back of the Coles MasterCard was devised by a separate group then the group that worked on the flybuys relaunch. Makes me suspect that this relaunch was to a certain degree was rushed due to the momentum EDR card has got because of all the bonus offers.
I have tried webjet a number of times to do a regular and a flybuys dummy bookings and still the webjet search keeps freezing on me!
Makes me wonder who is running this program?

 

[rainbowgirl]

Well, I've noticed one change, although I hope it's a temporary one. Usually my base flybuys points from Coles show up one working day after I go shopping. I am still waiting for a transaction from last Sunday to post. I am also waiting for a transaction from Coles Express to post from last Thursday. The coles express transactions usually take about a week to post so I'm not too concerned about that.

Has anyone had points post that were earnt during the old scheme but processed under the new scheme?

What do you think of the changes to the transaction listings? I don't like them as there seems to be less information about the points rather than more information.

 

[whatmeworry]

I guess two possible reasons:
1) Is that you do need to reactivate your account anyway, to accept the new terms and conditions etc. Sending you the new card encourages you to do this.
2) A disconnect between what GE are doing. For example, I still have not had my CC re-issued and am still using my Source card.

My Source card was reissued in January, but with the relaunch of the card as Coles Mastercard I received a new card and a new supp card a month later! So now when I can be bothered to activate the new cards I will have to change the details for all my direct debits! At least they make feel special by sending me a "pretend" platinum card?

 

[drron]

Not used the new Flybuys yet.But it is amazing to realise what they already know about you already.My favourites under the My choice listings means they have every single item detailed with the link to my flybuys card.A little funny to see what you spend the most on-T-bone steak for those that are curious and dishwasher tablets are my most frequent buy when on special.

 

[roby]

Flybuys without a tie up with a FFP is a waste of time. FFPs have great value in that the reward flights or upgrades are worth far more than the face value of the points. Airlines control reward inventory so that they will not be burned. I fail to see what possible rewards these supermarkets/retailers can afford to offer members other than some close to expire products at cost price or less which are not enticing to consumers at all. With airline rewards, you get the same thing as your next seat neighbour who could have paid 10 times more than you.

DJ would have been doing them a big favour. Just look at how Flybuys in New Zealand has tied up with Air New Zealnad.

 

[pauly7]

DJ would have been doing them a big favour. Just look at how Flybuys in New Zealand has tied up with Air New Zealnad.

Unfortunately from the leaked reports and news articles that is precisely the attitude DJ went into negotiations with Coles.... Unfortunately Coles had the same attitude back to them - both saw each other as the weaker partner and as a result no deal.

And damn I just saw that min $50 spend for my5. Too much effort as I only basket shop.

Flybuys - 2/10
EDR - 4/10

Both pretty meh. Only hope EDR overreacts and gives us more QFF deals and points!!

 

[Skyring]

I was in the old FlyBuys scheme for years and got a few things out of them: boat trip up the Gordon River in Strahan, day at SeaWorld, that sort of thing, maybe a kettle or something, I forget. Gave up on them because the points kept on expiring and I was seeing Coles as the more expensive option anyway so it didn't seem like good value if I was paying dollars more for groceries and getting cents back in rewards. Loyalty is fine, but at a certain point, (or to quote JG, when a line is crossed) there's no incentive.

EDR has been good to me, in comparison. A steady flow of QFF points, often for just making a bulk shop of stuff I normally buy when they target me. Coffee, for example. A bag or two of beans and I'm over the $30 mark. It might only be a computer program holding my hand, but my hand is being held and if I have a choice when choosing Coles or Woolies I go for Woollies because of the EDR card. And the petrol discount thing.

I'm a bit dubious about FlyBuys - it looks confusing, the rewards aren't that enticing and it's yet another chunk of my information I'm handing over to a corporate giant. I'll give it a go, but they'd better be doing some fancy handholding to get me to swap. Besides, Aldi and Supabarn have most of my grocery business already, and they compete on price and convenience. Love Aldi - get my bulk groceries done in five minutes and save fifty bucks over Coles or Woolies.

However, I do go into Coles - or K-Mart - every now and then, so I might as well get something out of it.