So where to start...

[ENGLISHGIRLINSYDNEY]

Sorry if this question is a bit broad (I'm still a massive clueless rookie despite joining 10 years ago...when I moved to Australia!)...but what is the best thing I can do now to start (re) building my QFF balance?

A bit of background... I am a long-standing NB, fly Qantas roughly 2-4 times a year and have wiped all my points out over the last 12 months for Y return flights to Fiji with my son and now emergency flights to KUL via SIN for medical reasons. I'm sure I've made huge mistakes in doing that but I didn't have the money either time to afford the fares outright. I have a reasonably well paid job but only work 0.4FTE so pro-rata salary not high and we have some debts. I did have around 200k QFF this time last year.

So now I'm on zero, what to do next? I'm thinking to get my own credit card (currently a second card holder on St George Amplify account which means my husband gets all the points) but not sure if I'll be approved on pro-rata income. No problem with a min spend though as gave lots of overseas medical bills. I earn points on my medical insurance, Woolies reward card and that's about it I think.

Please give me your #1 tips for for getting very quickly better at this! Thanks so much.​

 

[tgh]

There is a mine of information on line , so start there… eg Frequent Flyer Points: Find The Best Deals & Programs - Point Hacks
Then use somewhere like Canstar to compare the earnings of different cards
Be aware that without status, QFF points have limited value, so read up all the options.
Good luck

 

[ENGLISHGIRLINSYDNEY]

There is a mine of information on line , so start there… eg Frequent Flyer Points: Find The Best Deals & Programs - Point Hacks
Then use somewhere like Canstar to compare the earnings of different cards
Be aware that without status, QFF points have limited value, so read up all the options.
Good luck

Thanks...looks like I have lots of research to do then. When people say 'status' what does that specifically refer to? Being higher than NB? I have quite a lot of SCs but need to get my points up. They are valuable to me regardless because they get me free flights but I'm aware I'm not at all smart about it. I thought there might be some basics to start me off but I'll just get reading!

 

[Mattg]

Signing up for a/some credit card bonuses and putting as much spend as possible through point-earning credit cards would probably be a good start.

That said, if you're on a clean slate why stick with Qantas Frequent Flyer? There are definitely better programs out there! I'd be looking at getting an Amex card with the ability to transfer points to Velocity, KrisFlyer etc. as needed.

 

[ENGLISHGIRLINSYDNEY]

True...SCs not worth holding onto though?

 

[Mattg]

True...SCs not worth holding onto though?

If you're close to Lifetime Silver or Gold then perhaps. Otherwise, they reset to zero at the end of each year anyway...

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks...looks like I have lots of research to do then. When people say 'status' what does that specifically refer to? Being higher than NB? I have quite a lot of SCs but need to get my points up. They are valuable to me regardless because they get me free flights but I'm aware I'm not at all smart about it. I thought there might be some basics to start me off but I'll just get reading!

Status comes into it because the better opportunities to use QFF points go to those with 'status' - mainly Platinum and above (1,400 SCs in a year to get, 1,200 per year to retain - they expire at your anniversary date each year). That is, the higher up the status ladder you are, the higher priority you get for upgrades to business and PE and even the opportunity to book seats using points. 'Reward' seats in business cabins are always scarce, so you need 'status' to have a chance of getting one, and especially in getting two on the same flight. Economy seats are easier to book without status, but they are expensive. The taxes and Qantas 'fuel fines' on an 'award' seat can often be almost as much as an economy fare! If you can plan, you can often gat a international sale fare for about the same cost as the taxes etc on an 'award' seat!

Many people accumulate heaps of points via credit cards, but then are disappointed because there are 'never any seats' when they want to fly.

One tip you can take is that 'award' seats are released at a particular hour on a particular day, X days before the day of the flight - usually 330 - 360 days prior. Those days are listed on this site somewhere (maybe some-one can point to it ). You have to plan ahead and be prepared to be flexible as to day and maybe even route to fly on a popular route, such as to London or to USA.

 

[Paddy55]

Sorry if this question is a bit broad (I'm still a massive clueless rookie despite joining 10 years ago...when I moved to Australia!)...but what is the best thing I can do now to start (re) building my QFF balance?

Please give me your #1 tips for for getting very quickly better at this! Thanks so much.​

We ALL started where you are. Fortunately members of AFF are unstinting in their very helpful advice.
So invest a little time and enjoy the ride

 

[Quickstatus]

Family members can transfer points to other family members. But really don’t even need to do it.
Just use husband’s points

I would not worry about “status “ because this entails a lot of flying to get to say Gold or Platinum - more than the flying you described

The other way is while accumulating points the credit card way, why not just fly with the BFOD (Best fare of day). Don’t constrain yourself to one airline. People chasing status are essentially enslaved to one airline.