What to do with your QFF points during the COVID-19 travel slump?

Pushka · Mar 20, 2020

lovetravellingoz said:
With a daughter who is an ICU Respiratory Nurse I hear you loud and clear.

And a DIL GP with new Bub who may need to return to work due to son's work going down, I'm really worried about what this will mean, for everyone.

I have over 800,000 points due to cancellations etc. And they are the last of my worries. But I'm hoping that come October we are all still on the planet and maybe I can use them for Award seats to go to UK for Christmas where her older parents are. And whom of course, she cannot visit now.

stopthecap · Mar 20, 2020

Pushka said:
And a DIL GP with new Bub who may need to return to work due to son's work going down, I'm really worried about what this will mean, for everyone.

I have over 800,000 points due to cancellations etc. And they are the last of my worries. But I'm hoping that come October we are all still on the planet and maybe I can use them for Award seats to go to UK for Christmas where her older parents are. And whom of course, she cannot visit now.

My thoughts in this are as such. International travel cannot start again until all countries are over covid. China is blocked off from the world basically because our fight isn't over. Who is to say parts of Asia, Europe, middle East aren't still in The midst of an epedemic.

Sure they can be locked out but if there is access from that country to anywhere else the whole disease breaks out again.

I hope for all our sake we recover by August and the sake of Qantas. Either way I'm out of the game.

Catweazle · Mar 20, 2020

celsioraus said:
5+ Years I have been rolling credit cards including 355k points accumulated this year to have over a 850k points saving up for a once in a lifetime First RTW Trip.. Denying myself any chance to spend points opting for cash instead. Well fear got the best of me and as i wake up from what seems like a drunken stupor (funnily enough a Wine free night) with only 16000 points left in my account.

What did i buy? Value.. I needed good value for my points and 0.4c per point wouldn't cut it
An Iphone for 370k when i can pick up one for 1500.. No. A TV for 450k which is worth under 2k at JB? No...

It started small and came with a nice buzz.. Including my Points Plus an extra 10% off really gave it that extra kick..
https://www.qantasstore.com.au/p/sunbeam-es9600-cafe-series-17cm-food-slicer/1029488
28k points, meh who cares... Reviews were disappointing but who cares right? My salami will now be thinly sliced. The hunt continued.. Next Purchase?

https://www.qantasstore.com.au/p/breville-bwd600sil-the-sommelier-wine-decanter/1001098
82k points... Reviews good.. still got a crumb-load of points.. Really happy with this..

By this time it was 1 am so i wasn't thinking straight and the next little one tipped me over the edge of sanity.

https://www.qantasstore.com.au/p/liebherr-wkb4612-free-standing-195-bottle-wine-cellar/164118
392k points.. Why? I don't know.. Going for around 3k online its one of those purchases any sane person would never buy... but yet im excited...

Still with over 400k points left there was only one thing left to do.. Wine... Buy some wine and i hope i made the right choice in getting 6 cases of these..

Mystery High Scoring Cabernet Dozen

The rewarding way for Qantas Frequent Flyers to enjoy award winning wines from our cellar in the sky. Qantas Wine invites you to experience premium food and wine, earn Qantas Points with every sip and meet with the producers and winemakers at our exclusive events.

wine.qantas.com

Nothing left, addiction got the best of me.. Will i keep rolling points? Yes.. Good job Qantas on rolling out your points plus program. Be Gentle.. I need some reassurance.. Links to hidden amazing deals i missed out on might kill me

Well, when things quieten down, never mind the QF lounge meets. We can all come over to yours! I do believe you'd be able to host a party gourmand enough to rival the best of the Chairman's lounges!

get me outta here · Mar 20, 2020

Yes, and, it’s possible that this will have a go around. China is now letting people back in from hot zones in Europe and the US. As fewer than 1% of the Chinese population have had CV, this could really blow up again.

celsioraus said:
My thoughts in this are as such. International travel cannot start again until all countries are over covid.

stopthecap · Mar 20, 2020

Catweazle said:
Well, when things quieten down, never mind the QF lounge meets. We can all come over to yours! I do believe you'd be able to host a party gourmand enough to rival the best of the Chairman's lounges!

Since my own lockdown 2 weeks ago ive bought 2 grand worth of wine, whisky and cured meats. (Being Italian anyway)... Now the wine fridge and the 6 dozen premium wines will top it off. Only question is how will it fit in the 30sqm studio i live in?

Pushka · Mar 20, 2020

get me outta here said:
Yes, and, it’s possible that this will have a go around. China is now letting people back in from hot zones in Europe and the US. As fewer than 1% of the Chinese population have had CV, this could really blow up again.

I think V2 is well and truly on the cards.

exceladdict · Mar 22, 2020

Qantas have woken up to a number of people cashing out points - JBhifi and Woolworths group digital cards now at a maximum value of $100 with a limit of 2 per day (and further, many are "out of stock").

exceladdict · Mar 22, 2020

celsioraus said:
That's fairly bad value and always the risk those don't get honored. There's actually not much value on the entire site actually

True, they could be dishonoured in the instance QF didn't pay the supplier or the retail group itself went bust. On the upside, they're pegged to the AUD. Qantas points certainly aren't.

opusman · Mar 22, 2020

get me outta here said:
Yes, and, it’s possible that this will have a go around. China is now letting people back in from hot zones in Europe and the US. As fewer than 1% of the Chinese population have had CV, this could really blow up again.

They're putting them in 14 days enforced quarantine though.

opusman · Mar 22, 2020

celsioraus said:
Since my own lockdown 2 weeks ago ive bought 2 grand worth of wine, whisky and cured meats. (Being Italian anyway)...

Speaking of cured meats, how long do they really last? Qantas have a 2kg chunk of smoked bacon for $75 which doesn't sound too bad but if it all has to be eaten in a few days I think even I might struggle!

JohnK · Mar 22, 2020

opusman said:
They've got 40% off TVs at the moment!

I'm sure some would bite but 50% off awards would be more useful?

Mr H · Mar 22, 2020

JohnK said:
I'm sure some would bite but 50% off awards would be more useful?

I'm guessing that the last thing QF wants right now is people using their points.

Dr Ralph · Mar 22, 2020

exceladdict said:
Qantas have woken up to a number of people cashing out points - JBhifi and Woolworths group digital cards now at a maximum value of $100 with a limit of 2 per day (and further, many are "out of stock").

Seems Virgin aren't (yet) doing the same.

I just cashed out all of my Velocity points for gift cards. Seemingly no limits.

Is it Time to transfer/withdraw points from Velocity?

Hi All, I need some advice from the brains trust on this forum. I, like many on here, have hundreds of thousands of points sitting with velocity. With the current COVID-19 situation and virgins financial position I’m concerned that if the airline was declare bankruptcy points may disappear...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

get me outta here · Mar 22, 2020

Is there any reason not to book rewards seats, for say next March?

Dr Ralph · Mar 22, 2020

get me outta here said:
Is there any reason not to book rewards seats, for say next March?

If you book seats you tie up those points. Cancelling those flights would cost you points.

Dr Ralph · Mar 22, 2020

celsioraus said:
The whole point is do you think Qantas will be around. Alot of people with years of credit card rolling around here. Personally I'm happy cashing out even if it's not in my preferred way

I'm much more confident that Qantas will be around vis a vis Virgin. So happy to cash out of Virgin for the sake of having something usable now, but I'm sitting on my Qantas points.

get me outta here · Mar 22, 2020

I have no inside info, but gut feel for me is yes, QF will be around. I'm interested firstly in rebooking my just cancelled trip preferable for late April. The points that will be recredited will then just be the same points going back out again, hopefully. I don't wish to cash out as I just don't spend that amount of money on stuff. Plus, gc are a pain.

celsioraus said:
The whole point is do you think Qantas will be around. Alot of people with years of credit card rolling around here. Personally I'm happy cashing out even if it's not in my preferred way

Dr Ralph · Mar 22, 2020

celsioraus said:
As we speak Qantas Store has removed all Sale prices (i.e. my wine cabinet has gone from 434 to 484 and no more Samsung 40% off. Actually no category for sales exist anymore). Watch the fallout..

Qantas wine are still doing sales, watch that close soon too.

Why would it close? They want you to use your points for wine and other goods vis a vis flights.

Matt_01 · Mar 22, 2020

get me outta here said:
Is there any reason not to book rewards seats, for say next March?

I would see no reason why not. Also if you are booking on another carrier and they folded your QF points should be returned.

Dr Ralph said:
If you book seats you tie up those points. Cancelling those flights would cost you points.

IME when making a booking 11 months out there will likely be flight changes throughout the year. The involuntary change card comes into play and you are not charged change or cancellation points fees.

Dr Ralph · Mar 22, 2020

Matt_01 said:
IME when making a booking 11 months out there will likely be flight changes throughout the year. The involuntary change card comes into play and you are not charged change or cancellation points fees.

Agreed. And I have recently been the beneficiary of that with Qantas as I have outlined here:

Do I have to pay a points penalty if I cancel my award flights after Qantas made changes to it?

Qantas has changed my flight times for a scheduled international flight in 2020. They've indicated that I need to call them to confirm all of the changes that they have made. I was considering cancelling the booking as I'm not happy with the change(s) made. If I do cancel the booking for this...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

However if you decide its time to do something else with your points in the next 11 months then you will have to accept the consequences of the penalty. That is what I was indicating, as the context of this thread is 'what to do with your QFF points during the covid 19 travel slump'.

What to do with your QFF points during the COVID-19 travel slump?

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