What are Flybuys best redemptions?

[Kylie36]

The best redemption's Ive used since being a member and having enough points:

1. Best Western Hotel accommodation (1 night) which we used at the Stellar Hotel in Sydney.

2. Captain Cook Cruises Sydney Harbor Top Deck Lunch - this was excellent - lunch for two. I surprised my best friend with this when she visited over Easter in 2009.

3. In September this year I used the Webjet redemption + $20.00 for a nights accommodation at the Hotel George Williams in Brisbane the night before heading back to Sydney by train.

 

[lovestotravel]

I just used 4000 points to puchase a $30 liquor voucher. Then logged on to 1st choice to purchase some champagne for delivery and applied the voucher for $30 off the total.

The prices are very competative and I consider this to be a good redemption

Thanks for that, I have just re-signed up to FlyBuys as when they sent the cards out I shredded it straight away

The lack of bonus points offers from Woolies has annoyed me enough, plus I prefer shopping at Coles as well

 

[coles525]

You should have just rang them and ask for a new card, or even online if you remembered your membership number. 6008 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Thanks for that, I have just re-signed up to FlyBuys as when they sent the cards out I shredded it straight away

The lack of bonus points offers from Woolies has annoyed me enough, plus I prefer shopping at Coles as well

 

[Newk]

my best redemption has been to trade in 1000 points for an extra 10c off petrol. Worked really well with large volumes of fuel (we are allowed up to 150 litres) and, clears throat and whispers, sometimes there may have been more than one car involved.
Today we got chatted when doing that and the servo attendant said they had been asked to enforce a one tank limit. Admittedly that is printed on the voucher as was pointed out to us today.

wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience?

 

[wombatcountry]

The best redemption's Ive used since being a member and having enough points:

1. Best Western Hotel accommodation (1 night) which we used at the Stellar Hotel in Sydney.

I too thought BW might be a decent value; when I checked last time (about a month ago), it was 19200 points/night. Checking again today I see that it's gone up to 22400 points, an increase of roughly 17%. Their bonus points take forever to post (when they don't go completely missing), and the award levels go up suddenly and without warning... I think I'll cash out and forget about this program...

 

[cove]

Enhanced to oblivion for me.

 

[Newk]

Yeah, I go through phases, and to get anything from this program it has to be worked very very hard

 

[rainbowgirl]

I too thought BW might be a decent value; when I checked last time (about a month ago), it was 19200 points/night. Checking again today I see that it's gone up to 22400 points, an increase of roughly 17%. Their bonus points take forever to post (when they don't go completely missing), and the award levels go up suddenly and without warning... I think I'll cash out and forget about this program...

How does this conversion rate against a cash conversion. 2000 points equal $10 flybuys dollars. Does it cost more than $110 for one nights acccomodation at Best Western? (22000 points equals $110 in flybuys dollars).

 

[wombatcountry]

I guess it depends on where or when, but generally speaking, one night accommodation in a BW in most Australian cities will usually cost at least $110 and probably more. If you look at rates in regional centres or smaller towns, then it could be less than $110. You might be able to get a better deal if you book directly with the hotel (as opposed to the BW web site), or with one of those last-minute/no-name deals, or if you have some corporate or discounted rate. But the disappointment is that the rate changed (IIRC, there were two rates for BW, with 19200 being the lowest - and probably not applying to all properties), sometimes in the last month or so, and there was no notice at all.

 

[rainbowgirl]

A lot of the loyalty programs, supermarket and credit cards included, have made some major changes to point redemptions in the last 6 months. Most of them have made it harder to collect points and increased the amount of points needed for the same reward. It isn't just flybuys who have made it so difficult to get useful return on the points. I just hope they don't make any changes to flybuys dollars in the near future.

 

[flybuys]

A lot of the loyalty programs, supermarket and credit cards included, have made some major changes to point redemptions in the last 6 months. Most of them have made it harder to collect points and increased the amount of points needed for the same reward. It isn't just flybuys who have made it so difficult to get useful return on the points. I just hope they don't make any changes to flybuys dollars in the near future.

The return on points increased substantially when flybuys was relaunched in 2012. The points issuance rate for most partners increased by 150% (from $5=2 points to $1=1 point), and many more bonus points opportunities were made available, through existing and new partners. In addition, points expiry was scrapped for active members. At the same time in April 2012, points required for awards increased by 60% and existing point balances for members were increased also by 60% so no member was worse off. Overall, by any measure the overall value and "return on points" increased. There have been no changes to flybuys in the past six months to make it either harder to collect points, or (in general) increase the points required for rewards. Occasionally, we have to change the points required for rewards - these reflect changes to commercial arrangements we have with reward providers.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The return on points increased substantially when flybuys was relaunched in 2012..

Indeed. But it is still not a patch on what it was when it was first launched.

The earn rate from FlyBuys in terms of what you can eventually use it to redeem for is barely worth the effort.

I do swipe if I am in an applicable store, but I would not waste my time chasing specials or even reading what specials are on offer.

 

[whatmeworry]

Flybuys that is all nice, but you guys got rid of the best rewards and they were the direct flight redemption's. Now all we are left with is the very poor flight redemption's with Webjet, which most people on this site dislike with a passion. As a result AFF has reduced your the status of Flybuys from flight redemption to program to mere shopping rewards program. Also I must mention webjet prices fluctuate meaning the points required can make it very expensive to book a flight with points with webjet.

I just tried to do a dummy booking with webjet from MEL to NAN return, yet it makes it hard to see how many points I require for the booking.
So the webjet quote wants at least $100 more with Webjet compared with Qantas, poorer connections and a eye watering ~200,000 flybuys points required!

I don't have the old points required for MEL-NAN return but even with the points conversion I think you need at least ~50% more flybuy points by booking with webjet.

P.s I also have switched my Credit card spend from flybuys earing cards to Credit Cards that earn QF points.

 

[Cynicor]

Completely agree. I'll use flybuys if I'm instore, but I shop with the Woolworths groups more, even to buy my vouchers, because the QFF points are an order of magniture more valuable. I'd value a flybuy point at about a maximum .4-.6 of a cent if you redeem for petrol vouchers (can you still do this?). QFF points are 2-3c /point. Its basically a backup program, but it is nice that they have a social media rep around at least.

I think the program needs more and better value redemptions. Who partners with Webjet?! Maybe it appeals more to the masses than the more saavy on AFF.

 

[rainbowgirl]

The return on points increased substantially when flybuys was relaunched in 2012. The points issuance rate for most partners increased by 150% (from $5=2 points to $1=1 point), and many more bonus points opportunities were made available, through existing and new partners. In addition, points expiry was scrapped for active members. At the same time in April 2012, points required for awards increased by 60% and existing point balances for members were increased also by 60% so no member was worse off. Overall, by any measure the overall value and "return on points" increased. There have been no changes to flybuys in the past six months to make it either harder to collect points, or (in general) increase the points required for rewards. Occasionally, we have to change the points required for rewards - these reflect changes to commercial arrangements we have with reward providers.

I don't think we're talking about the revaluing of points and redemptions which happened when Flybuys were relaunched. I accept that members were compensated with all of this and I like the fact that points don't expire the way they used to expire.

In the last 6 months flybuys has removed some very popular rewards and increased the points for other rewards. You just admitted that you have increased the cost price for some of the merchandise available as rewards. You've removed Bunnings vouchers, NAB credit card payments and many of the old physical gift cards. Some people used the physical gift cards as gifts for other people and you can't get this with flybuys dollars. I like flybuy dollars but some people can't get their head around how this works. They have diffiuculty remembering their pin or remembering how to use the system. Getting gift cards in the mail is much easier than adding them to your shopping trolley having the checkout operator spending extra time activating them and then extra time spent with the flybuys dollars conversions.

The good thing is that you haven't devalued the flybuys dollars conversion. Some loyalty programs have put up the price of gift cards this year which have made it difficult to get good value for the points.

I agree that there are more targeted offers for bonus points but I think there are less general offers for bonus points. You used to have a page on your website showing most of the general bonus offer points available for various flybuys partners. This webpage and most of the general deals have been removed. The only ones I'm used to seeing now for basic products are the mobile phone deals which not everyone can take advantage of. The insurance deals are good but not everyone is in a position to change insurance companies. I liked the general bonus points each week for grocery items in the Coles catalogues. These types of promotions were good for people who couldn't qualify for the targeted offers or who never got the targeted offers.

 

[whatmeworry]

Yep the lack of gift cards is a problem. What happened to the jetset travel and travel world gift cards? Aren't they part of the Coles group yet preference was given to a non coles group company for redeeming points for flights?

 

[flybuys]

In the last 6 months flybuys has removed some very popular rewards and increased the points for other rewards. You just admitted that you have increased the cost price for some of the merchandise available as rewards. You've removed Bunnings vouchers, NAB credit card payments and many of the old physical gift cards. Some people used the physical gift cards as gifts for other people and you can't get this with flybuys dollars. I like flybuy dollars but some people can't get their head around how this works. They have diffiuculty remembering their pin or remembering how to use the system. Getting gift cards in the mail is much easier than adding them to your shopping trolley having the checkout operator spending extra time activating them and then extra time spent with the flybuys dollars conversions.

Thanks for your feedback; it's always appreciated. We acknowledge that for some members, using the PIN for flybuys dollars isn't as straightforward as it might otherwise be; it shouldn't take the checkout operator much longer as a gift card requires exactly the same activation. We've received positive feedback about flybuys dollars being loaded immediately to the card, rather than waiting to receive gift cards in the mail. We have also encouraged members that the money they saved from using flybuys dollars can be used to purchase gift cards at Coles, Target or Kmart - you can even purchase Bunnings gift cards from those locations, again without waiting for delivery. We've been encouraged by the popularity of flybuys dollars, especially leading up to Christmas.

 

[whatmeworry]

Sorry Flybuys but the Fly has been taken out of FLYbuys once the recent changes have taken place. I realise some moron with a MBA has received a promotion, a pay rise and a bonus because someone fiddled with the numbers.
Has Flybuys popularity increased with Webjet? I think not!
Oh hang on, Coles spent millions on advertising.

 

[coles525]

The original flybuys was about:

"The more you buy, the more you fly".

Sheesh, QFF is now way better, as you still actually use your points on flights!

 

[drross]

The original flybuys was about:

"The more you buy, the more you fly".

Sheesh, QFF is now way better, as you still actually use your points on flights!

totally agree. coles need to lift their game