Time to post bonus points

[Rich]

I am on a mission to get Points Club Plus quickly (for Mrs R) in time for an overseas trip to give us better lounge access than just QF guest passes. Being just over 3 months away I don't know if we will get there (3 recent card applications approved and nervous about a 4th), but I thought it was worth mentioning how fast we have received some bonus points for anyone on a similar mission. Only 2 recent cards to report but others may have some other data points to add and I will for another card that has just been approved when I have details.

Sep 22 - CommBank Ultimate (70000) - $3k spend reached in first statement period, points credited with 2nd statement (2 months)
Dec 22 - NAB Qantas Rewards Premium (70000) - $2k spend reached in first statement period, points credited with 1st statement (2 weeks)*
Dec 22 - ANZ Black (110000) - $5k spend to be reached in first statement period - posting of points TBA

*CommBank sent it's first statement 1 month after the first transaction.
NAB sent its first statement only 2 weeks after the card was approved and this was only 9 days after the first transaction. So 9 days in and we already have the 70000 points (all for a $2k spend). Pretty happy with that!

 

[bussyboy]

Good to know having just had NAB approve my card today, also chasing PC+ and exactly half-way there in less than 5 months.

Curious about the comment of PC+ lounge access (which is just Qantas club) being better than using a guest pass for international flights?

 

[sudoer]

Curious about the comment of PC+ lounge access (which is just Qantas club) being better than using a guest pass for international flights?

Possibly related to AAdmirals access, or guesting entitlements.

 

[SYD]

Possibly related to AAdmirals access, or guesting entitlements.

Yes. If travelling in the US (or ports with AA clubs), QP still provides reciprocal membership.

But isn’t there still some sort of temp AA club pass that can be purchased for X days? Probably much cheaper than PC+.

 

[Rich]

Curious about the comment of PC+ lounge access (which is just Qantas club) being better than using a guest pass for international flights?

Guest passes are only good for QF lounges when flying on QF or JQ but not at LAX. QC gets you in to LAX but also partner lounges.
I am not sure of all the rules, but for AA we have some flights coming up and QC gets member, guest and all kids in to the Admirals Club. We have 3 hours in LAX and otherwise would have spent USD118 to use the lounge for 2 day passes.

 

[Rich]

But isn’t there still some sort of temp AA club pass that can be purchased for X days? Probably much cheaper than PC+.

I think there is a 30 day pass or single day is USD59.
PC+ will cost more through credit card churn, but the cost is worth it for the points alone and the club membership will last for at least 12 months.

 

[SYD]

I think there is a 30 day pass or single day is USD59.
PC+ will cost more through credit card churn, but the cost is worth it for the points alone and the club membership will last for at least 12 months.

Yep. If you’re on your way to PC+ all good. Travelling in the US with AA is one of the few residual offshore benefits of QP.

The comment/question on an AA pass (if still available?) was more for people pondering a similar scenario but aren’t in a position to churn. Just paying for QP via AFF might be an alternative?

 

[tea4three]

I started around the same time. I got 160k points for the ANZ FF Black in Sept and 90k for the NAB Signature Rewards in Nov (with another 30k in the 2nd year, if I keep it).

 

[RichardMEL]

one wonders if the "reason" to chase PC or PC+ is for lounge access.. would not investing in a lounge membership (QC) potentially be cheaper and provide more or less the same benefits?

 

[jpp42]

would not investing in a lounge membership (QC) potentially be cheaper and provide more or less the same benefits?

Presumably though, all those Qantas points are being taken into account as well.

Depends on how much is overspent on annual fees, I suppose.

 

[RichardMEL]

Presumably though, all those Qantas points are being taken into account as well.

Depends on how much is overspent on annual fees, I suppose.

and of course if all the points are used on premium cabin awards (I know that is a whole different battle of course) then lounge access rights are not relevant.

 

[Rich]

and of course if all the points are used on premium cabin awards (I know that is a whole different battle of course) then lounge access rights are not relevant.

I wouldn't do it just for lounge access. In my case it is more about chasing the points sooner in time for a March trip for 5 in economy (i.e. would otherwise be aiming for 350k points in the membership year, but just not so quickly).
I have lounge passes for the departure but they are no good for the US domestic leg and return from LAX. Since we are flying back with AA QC would be nice as we would definitely pay to use Admirals Club at the end of a long day with a 3 hours connection time. That's about AUD175.
The PC+ chase will hopefully cost only twice that ($350) ($30 QF fee on CommBank Ultimate, $170 ANZ Black, and $150 NAB Rewards Premium) and will come with 250000 points. The other 100000 points would normally be earnt in a membership year but for March we either need an Amex retention bonus of 30000 points or will get the $149 Westpac Altitude Platinum with 70000 points. Either way, cheaper than paying outright for QC.

 

[RichardMEL]

No worries @Rich - I was just reacting to your first post comment "...give us better lounge access than just QF guest passes." - and of course you'd know that this would just give you more, rather than "better" passes.

 

[Rich]

"...give us better lounge access than just QF guest passes.

I'd argue that any access is "better" than "no access".

 

[RichardMEL]

I'd argue that any access is "better" than "no access".

Well it was my interpretation from the wording that's all.

Of course many of the CC's with bonus points offers churned into include yet more passes.....

 

[SYD]

Well it was my interpretation from the wording that's all.

Of course many of the CC's with bonus points offers churned into include yet more passes.....

But gratis PC+ QP membership is “better” because the QP passes don’t work when travelling on AA (or any non QF lounge). The rationale for getting QP for travelling in the US of A makes sense.

Whether PC+ or a paid QP membership is best will vary depending on personal situations and means.

 

[Rich]

I thought this thread was a good idea, but didn't get any traction. But in case anyone is wondering I now have my last data point for a while, after ANZ Black points posted.
For each of these I reached the minimum spend within the first statement period and each one posts points at the time a statement is produced (unlike my Amex which is "off-cycle"):

Sep 22 - CommBank Ultimate (70000) - $3k spend, points credited with 2nd statement (2 months after activating)
Dec 22 - NAB Qantas Rewards Premium (70000) - $2k spend, points credited with 1st statement (2 weeks)
Dec 22 - ANZ Black (110000) - $5k spend - points 2nd statement period (6 weeks)

 

[Rich]

But gratis PC+ QP membership is “better” because the QP passes don’t work when travelling on AA (or any non QF lounge). The rationale for getting QP for travelling in the US of A makes sense.

Whether PC+ or a paid QP membership is best will vary depending on personal situations and means.

SYD and @RichardMEL just back and PC+ worked better than expected with Admirals Club. If you recall, family of 5 in economy with 1 x PC+.
We only had 3 clubs to visit. All of them just let us in without paying for an extra day pass but it was always hush-hush. One didn't even allow day passes and it was obvious why as it was very cramped and soon had a waiting line to get in, so we felt pretty guilty. Food was limited but nice.

 

[Lost Redditor]

I completely overlooked this benefit of PC+, in fact I wasn't aware of most of them. I've reached PC 4 years in a row and PC+ once, but I didn't travel that year so kind of wasted on me. The vouchers were nice though.

I never suffered long waits on the phone to Qantas, maybe it was the queue priority from PC?

 

[Rich]

I completely overlooked this benefit of PC+, in fact I wasn't aware of most of them. I've reached PC 4 years in a row and PC+ once, but I didn't travel that year so kind of wasted on me. The vouchers were nice though.

I never suffered long waits on the phone to Qantas, maybe it was the queue priority from PC?

Wait times have come down from my experience, but helpfulness of staff (as a PB) is hit and miss. The PC priority is only on FF Centre, not sales and ticketing.