Selling QFF points

[RoMambai]

Though Joe Punter is also punting on not having his flights denied to him if QFF happens to smell a rat.

Correct. Though it seems if you play it smart, work through diversified accounts and don't make a habit of it, you can minimise the risk. There are numerous players on ozbargain who are running this as a business, some with testimonials stretching into the hundreds.

So emptor caveat but it seems the risk isn't as pronounced as many here would presume. This is Qantas and Virgin we're talking about

 

[Dr Ralph]

So emptor caveat but it seems the risk isn't as pronounced as many here would presume. This is Qantas and Virgin we're talking about

Vehemently disagree. I had a phone call just last week asking about a recent legitimate transfer I made. First transfer in 2 years.

Do not sell you points. The risk is great.

 

[RoMambai]

Vehemently disagree. I had a phone call just last week asking about a recent legitimate transfer I made. First transfer in 2 years.

Though with your travel patterns Dr, you possibly have a greater chance of being investigated than Joe Average who has made his first transfer ever (in the scenario where he'd just sold points). So you're probably not a perfect random sample. Just a thought.

 

[Falcs]

Wouldn't a regular frequent flyer be less likely to take action that risks losing his FF points/status?

 

[Dr Ralph]

Wouldn't a regular frequent flyer be less likely to take action that risks losing his FF points/status?

I don't know what Qantas was looking for in my situation. But they are being proactive despite what people might think. There is a huge risk in selling your points.

 

[RoMambai]

I tend to agree with you Dr Ralph. Though in my experience, I've transferred points to 16 family members, a few of whom live in Portugal, over the last few years and I've never been questioned. It led me to think how would Qantas know who's related to who in this seething melting pot of ours.

 

[Dr Ralph]

It led me to think how would Qantas know who's related to who in this seething melting pot of ours.

I'd have thought they would have the right to ask you to prove the relationship if they thought it suspicious.

 

[RoMambai]

I'd have thought they would have the right to ask you to prove the relationship if they thought it suspicious.

I don't disagree with you. The point is they never did, despite what could appear as tenuous connections. I could have been selling points to 16 unsavoury characters for all Qantas knew.

 

[JohnK]

Wouldn't a regular frequent flyer be less likely to take action that risks losing his FF points/status?

Transfer points to a family member that does not have status and does not fly very often.

I'm not suggesting that's what I'd do but there's a lucrative market out there for some people that are able to earn generous signon bonuses.

 

[UP4014]

I tend to agree with you Dr Ralph. Though in my experience, I've transferred points to 16 family members, a few of whom live in Portugal, over the last few years and I've never been questioned. It led me to think how would Qantas know who's related to who in this seething melting pot of ours.

They don't know of course. But if caught out it gives them a rationale to close the accounts.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I don't disagree with you. The point is they never did, despite what could appear as tenuous connections. I could have been selling points to 16 unsavoury characters for all Qantas knew.

You could have, and Qantas do not check when you swap, but they do reserve the right to ask you to prove the relationship.

Also if you are a buyer you have no idea what the seller's record is. If Qantas tumbles the seller either your points will be lost and account frozen, or the flight they have booked for you cancelled.

You may or may not be caught. Same as buying that hot mobile phone down the pub.

 

[RoMambai]

You may or may not be caught. Same as buying that hot mobile phone down the pub.

I agree. Having said yhat, the ozbargain market seems to be dominated by 2 or 3 buyers whom have ways to avoid detection. They also do their risk assessments and buy only off rarely used accounts. While there hundreds of positive testimonials, there are no negative ones which suggests they're doing something right.

 

[cove]

You can become a customer of a Qantas points vendor. I think there are more than a hundred of them including many banks and real estate businesses as well as general merchants and retailers who often advertise points with purchase. These are all good avenues to grow your points balance.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I agree. Having said yhat, the ozbargain market seems to be dominated by 2 or 3 buyers whom have ways to avoid detection. They also do their risk assessments and buy only off rarely used accounts. While there hundreds of positive testimonials, there are no negative ones which suggests they're doing something right.

Or they're writing half the positive testimonials themselves from other accounts.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Or they're writing half the positive testimonials themselves from other accounts.

Not from what I have seen.

But I still wouldn't suggest selling the points no matter how safe it seems. It will eventually all come crashing down. There's nothing to stop Qantas retrospectively black banning you and closing your account.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

But I still wouldn't suggest selling the points no matter how safe it seems. It will eventually all come crashing down. There's nothing to stop Qantas retrospectively black banning you and closing your account.

I agree. I have zero problems with QF permanently closing the accounts on both ends of the transaction.

 

[cove]

Yes it would be an expensive lesson to get your frequent flyer account permanently closed.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Yes it would be an expensive lesson to get your frequent flyer account permanently closed.

I hope when it does happen that Qantas do a big press release.

 

[RichardMEL]

I know of people who had VA accounts cancelled due to alleged inproper use... it does happen.

I am also reminded of the mileage brokers out there buying points/miles and selling award tix where sometimes the carriers discover and cancel the tickets and the customers are screwed.

 

[RoMambai]

I agree. Risks far outweigh any short-term gain.

But (and I have no way of backing this up) I have a feeling in my water that this indignant practice isn't a major preoccupation with QF or VA. It has modest impact for them - from their perspective, the number of points that are sold to Mr Ozbargain doesn't change the overall supply in circulation and nor does it affect the rate of redemptions, both of which are set by the airlines themselves. The other aspect is that you can 'legally' buy points to your hearts content directly from the airlines so they don't have a problem with members acquiring points, just the mechanism they go through.

The true victims of this dastard trade are the subscribers of this forum who actively pursue redemption opportunities and may lose out to the ozbargain sharks. And I'm not sure JB or AJ lie awake at night wondering about our plight.