To knowingly commit a cardinal redemption sin

[rock86]

As we all know on AFF, the most value is gained from your loyalty points for redeeming them in premium classes. And what I've learnt from my short time in the 'points game' starts to become hardwired into your brain.

Some scoff at people using points for gift cards, holiday packages or hotels - I've become a little that way and thinking, why would you do that! But after speaking to my wife recently about starting to plan a trip to the US next year, I've started to think a little different about point redemption's and it definitely is not a 'one way fits all'.

After deciding on possible routes and classes for our planned trip, we knew that we would still have a healthy QFF balance after woods. My wife suggested we just use the remaining point balance towards booking some hotels, I scoffed, why would we do that as it provides such a bad return. She said, well that might be the case but when do you plan on using the remaining points on a premium flight? I had no answer as we generally only travel internationally every few years and I don't see that changing anytime soon at our current stage in life.

After giving it some more thought, by the next time we were probably going to travel we'd more then likely have enough points again to travel in a premium class (based on current accrual rate). So to save points for a premium rainy day, or save some money and use them at a sub-standard rate?

We'll be using the leftover points committing a cardinal redemption sin, but surely I'm not the only one am I??!!?

 

[Hvr]

As long as they don't expire and you're happy then all is good. Enjoy the hotels.

 

[I love to travel]

On AFF yes it is a cardinal sin but why not. Points are for pleasure so use them however best suits you (and let me redeem the premium seats)

 

[albatross710]

Hotels and gift cards are not the cardinal sins....imagine if the point had EXPIRED!!!! That would be the sin.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I'm in a similar boat. Planning another extended trip in the USA in 2010 after spending around 4 months their in 2017. Now that I no longer have an AMEX card, I worked out that even after flights I would have enough QFF points for around 30 hotel nights. I know I could get better value out of the points for flights, but do I want to spend $5000 on hotel nights out of my own pocket or use existing points? Simple choice for me, keeping my $5000. Previously I would have used my AMEX points for hotel stays.

 

[rock86]

As long as they don't expire and you're happy then all is good. Enjoy the hotels.

Hotels and gift cards are not the cardinal sins....imagine if the point had EXPIRED!!!! That would be the sin.

Letting them expire is definitely THE cardinal sin, that is why I noted it was a redemption sin

I'm in a similar boat. Planning another extended trip int he USA in 2010 after spending around 4 months their in 2017. I worked out that even after flights I would have enough QFF points for around 30 hotel nights. I know I could get better value out of the points for flights, but do I want to spend $5000 on hotel nights out of my own pocket or use existing points? Simple choice for me, keeping my $5000.

And that is pretty much what it boiled down to with us as well Dr. We will be saving a heap of cash by redeeming points as we have only spent a very small fraction to 'acquire' the points (through annual fee's), so in the scheme of things it works out to be an unbelievable discount on actual money spent for hotels - it just isn't anywhere near the value you get for premium cabins.

 

[pauly7]

Using the points for what makes you happy whether it be a long haul F flight, a domestic Y, a hotel booking or a gift voucher is the most important thing. Don’t worry about other people’s opinions

 

[bjm76]

I recently also did the cardinal sin... used QFF points in the QFF Store to purchase Bose QC25 headphones during a sale - 38,740 points and you can buy the headphones for $249 at the moment at Harvey Norman - I had a pretty large points balance (for me) at the time and nil success with getting upgrades on recent trips so is a good use of points for me, and the headphones are amazing, so much better than what you get provided by the airlines in J.... so I am happy.

 

[Denali]

I thought buying a toaster was the cardinal sin.

Long before I joined AFFer, I used points to buy Bose headphones, still have them and use them almost daily.

 

[rock86]

Using the points for what makes you happy whether it be a long haul F flight, a domestic Y, a hotel booking or a gift voucher is the most important thing. Don’t worry about other people’s opinions

Not worried about other people pauly, just thought I'd put a post up that when you follow AFF and read other point blogs it seems to become ingrained to redeem your points for premium cabins as it provides the best value. But when you sit back and think about it, there are actually plenty of other times that it makes sense to use your points, even if you are getting nowhere near the value you can obtain from premium cabins.

 

[Mattg]

While I personally wouldn't redeem Qantas points for hotels, I have redeemed them for economy flights every now and again where it makes sense. I've done a number of CBR-BNE redemptions in Y which cost 8,000 points + $50 but the airfare would have been around $250. So I'm still relatively happy with the value I'm getting for the points, even if it's not a premium cabin.

Simiiarly, I recently redeemed 20,000 points to fly Westjet Y from Toronto to Yellowknife. The airfare would have been around $500. Lord Howe Island is another Y redemption I was very, very happy with.

 

[DaveB]

I have always used my FF points for pretty much everything including annual fee renewals.
In my mind, flying, driving, staying and buying premium whilst saving your own cash is really the name of the game.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

One big difference between you and me Rock is that Mrs Nick doesn't know we can redeem QFF points for hotel stays. I still use the rule of thumb, minimum 3c per point value before I consider using my points.

Not quite the same as using QFF for actual hotel bookings but I have at times actively chased SPG points rather than QFF as I believe that redemption rates on hotel bookings using SPG gave me comparable value to what QFF offered for premium class travel.

At the risk of QFF being devalued, I think I will continue to accrue and save points. The writing is on the wall I believe, points will become harder to accrue going forward especially for those of us that that can't accrue through our own business or work funded travel.

But at then end of the day, everyone is an individual, only you can decide if you are getting value from the program by using points for hotel bookings. I don't think there is any right or wrong answer

 

[JohnK]

Not a cardinal sin. What's good for one does not hold true for all.

I used 31,500 QFF points for BNE-HKG-SYD-BNE in economy this weekend and I had blocked seats both ways.

 

[downloadingdata]

I recently also did the cardinal sin... used QFF points in the QFF Store to purchase Bose QC25 headphones during a sale - 38,740 points and you can buy the headphones for $249 at the moment at Harvey Norman - I had a pretty large points balance (for me) at the time and nil success with getting upgrades on recent trips so is a good use of points for me, and the headphones are amazing, so much better than what you get provided by the airlines in J.... so I am happy.

I would have sold those points for $400 and bought the headphone at harvey norman with $150 leftover.

Ofcourse, you are in violation of the T&Cs of the program and risk a ban if not careful - but violating the T&Cs is not illegal and i question the legality of the QF FF T&Cs in the first place.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Ofcourse, you are in violation of the T&Cs of the program and risk a ban if not careful - but violating the T&Cs is not illegal and i question the legality of the QF FF T&Cs in the first place.

Good luck with that. I'd suggest you do some research on the differences between criminal law and civil law. Then specifically research 'terms' rather than 'terms and conditions' in contracts.

 

[kamchatsky]

I have recently redeemed Qantas and Velocity points recently for 4 * Economy Award to Hawaii. Yes I know it is better to redeem in J/F but it is so hard to do on SYD-HNL route, and we really don't want to go via Asia or mainland USA, wasting many hours of detours + transits, this is the best way to go.

 

[Dr Ralph]

but it is so hard to do on SYD-HNL route

I'd call it impossible on QF unless you have status.

Good on you for getting value from your points.

 

[juddles]

there is only one cardinal sin with QF points - which is using them for anything but an F redemption with EK. Any other use of points is sinful, to the extreme.

 

[JohnK]

I have recently redeemed Qantas and Velocity points recently for 4 * Economy Award to Hawaii. Yes I know it is better to redeem in J/F but it is so hard to do on SYD-HNL route, and we really don't want to go via Asia or mainland USA, wasting many hours of detours + transits, this is the best way to go.

It is only better to redeem premium awards if there's a constant supply of points.

Earning ~100,000 QFF points/year it makes sense to book economy rather than waste them on premium travel. Also wife loves going to Thailand via HKG so need to do some planning and travel outside peak which is not so easy.