Using credit card overseas, worth the point ?

[get me outta here]

I pay $220 pa for the BWW. I'd like to go to the plat still getting low forex (and sign on bonus), but I am still holding the BWW and have not tried it yet...

No forex fees, correct. You can't start at the world, however, it has to be an upgrade.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I pay $220 pa for the BWW. I'd like to go to the plat still getting low forex (and sign on bonus), but I am still holding the BWW and have not tried it yet...

Ouch. I'm glad my annual fee was grandfathered from my Platinum days. I would not be paying $220 pa for 0.66ppd.

In fact, I'm considering swapping my BWW Qantas card for the BW No Fee Platinum and then getting a 1ppd earning VISA/MC from someone else. I noticed there are couple of cards with annual fees around the $150 mark, inc Jetstar Plat.

 

[Snoopydoo]

Citibank Plus is a domestic transaction account so only accepts AUD. You just shove the debit card in a foreign ATM and withdraw local currency.

QCash is a rip. Stay away.

If you are chasing QFF points, then consider the Bankwest Qantas Platinum card. Only 0.5ppd but at Platinum level is fee free when used abroad or foreign transactions on the internet.

Thanks for the clarification Mr_Orange

 

[Snoopydoo]

If they talk about Qcash being any good I'd run a million miles from their advice! You can't beat Citi unless you are a massive bear on the FX rate. The FX rates are terrible and Q points themselves have such huge surcharges to use.

The alternative to 28 degrees is a BW Plat or World card that also gives points and is FX free but they have annual fees. You would need around $7000 of FX spend a year to drop the points cost to 0.5c/point.

Thanks Cynicor, at this stage I don't really want to spend $$ for the sake of chasing points. From what I've read on other threads in the short time I've joined AFF, it seems like award flights are difficult to get unless you have SC.

 

[andye]

Thanks Cynicor, at this stage I don't really want to spend $$ for the sake of chasing points. From what I've read on other threads in the short time I've joined AFF, it seems like award flights are difficult to get unless you have SC.

Upgrades yes, awards not so much

 

[lovetravellingoz]

it seems like award flights are difficult to get unless you have SC.

Perhaps if you only use QFF consider swapping to other FF programs if you are finding award flights difficult to get. Availaibity is there. And with QFF also look at partner airlines and not just QF Metal.

I have no status (or at least have not since I gave up regular business travel), but mainly redeem for F or J long haul flights and mainly via Krisflyer (SQ). I virtually always am able to fly when and where I want, though yes I do mainly book almost a year out.

I mainly these days book 2 tickets at once, but it used to be for upto 5 when my daughters were kids and not adults. Since the Xmas after 9/11 when the 5 of us flew on SQ on the last of my Ansett Points (redeemed 2 weeks before they went under) we have redeemed award flights most years, and sometimes twice per year. Only long hauls I have bought in that period was the JetStar launch Sale of $1 tickets to Bali, with starclass not much extra, and a ridiculously cheap Y flight to New York (where I upgraded for free to PE on the return).

 

[Snoopydoo]

Upgrades yes, awards not so much

I don't quite understand the logic behind making upgrades difficult but awards easy(ish). With upgrades, you would have already paid for a ticket so you're just looking to travel in a better class so the airline would have already made their revenue. With awards, they're essentially having to give you something for nothing except for fees and charges which still come out to be less than the revenue fare they would have earned had someone booked that same seat as an upgrade.

 

[Snoopydoo]

Perhaps if you only use QFF consider swapping to other FF programs if you are finding award flights difficult to get. Availaibity is there. And with QFF also look at partner airlines and not just QF Metal.

I have no status (or at least have not since I gave up regular business travel), but mainly redeem for F or J long haul flights and mainly via Krisflyer (SQ). I virtually always am able to fly when and where I want, though yes I do mainly book almost a year out.

I mainly these days book 2 tickets at once, but it used to be for upto 5 when my daughters were kids and not adults. Since the Xmas after 9/11 when the 5 of us flew on SQ on the last of my Ansett Points (redeemed 2 weeks before they went under) we have redeemed award flights most years, and sometimes twice per year. Only long hauls I have bought in that period was the JetStar launch Sale of $1 tickets to Bali, with starclass not much extra, and a ridiculously cheap Y flight to New York (where I upgraded for free to PE on the return).

I've had a Velocity card for years but stopped travelling with them so lost all my SC and points circa 2013-2014. Just signed up for a NAB card with velocity points so star alliance flights are now also an option for me. i've been reading so much on who has the best hard/soft product that i'm starting to get analysis paralysis.