Question for the group regarding FF and credit cards

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Littlederm

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Hi Team,

Have recently started a new job where I’ll be racking up 40 SC a week. Worked out it won’t take long till I reach silver then gold etc.

My question is should I start to use a credit card that has frequent flyer points attached? My current card doesn’t have this feature.

I’ve seen plenty of cards that offer frequent flyer points to joint up and obviously ongoing points per dollar spent.
What have others experienced? Is it worth it or should I just stick with points I earn on each flight?

Thanks in advance.
 
My question is should I start to use a credit card that has frequent flyer points attached? My current card doesn’t have this feature.

Three answers to this: yes, yes and yes.

Depending how aggressive you want to be you really can aim to not spend a single dollar without accruing points. Eliminate cash, BPAY etc and put *everything* on your cards.
 
Doesn't hurt to switch up the cards from time to time as well. Not getting attached to cards means I get a steady stream of 90-100K bonus gifts through the year due to sign on bonuses, however there are times when this might not be a good strategy also (such as if you intend to take out a mortgage anytime soon)
 
Doesn't hurt to switch up the cards from time to time as well. Not getting attached to cards means I get a steady stream of 90-100K bonus gifts through the year due to sign on bonuses, however there are times when this might not be a good strategy also (such as if you intend to take out a mortgage anytime soon)
Churning cards can hurt your credit rating - although I find once every two years doesn't have an impact
But, choose a card that suits your lifestyle as much as getting the points, otherwise you can be paying for annual fees, or worse, changing your spending patterns to chase points and ending up worse off financially. Mrs K and I have a couple of cards, for different reasons. The Qantas AMEX is $450 per year, but you get a $450 Qantas flight credit to use through AMEX travel. Since we always fly somewhere warm in July, we get our $450 back. If you don't normally spend that money on flights in a year, then you end up paying an extra $450. Mind you, we did quite well out of the 100,000 point sign up bonus. I got mine first, referred Mrs K (and getting myself 30,000 points for that) , and then she got 100,000 - which she transferred to me as being a WP I get better access to reward flights.
Check out the Qantas website for which cards have sign up bonuses, and the threads here for the best way to manage them - I just picked up another 100,000 on an ANZ Visa card. There's a wealth of knowledge, tips and ideas.
 
Churning cards can hurt your credit rating - although I find once every two years doesn't have an impact
Impact to what? The wildly different random number generators that are ilion, equifax and experian? :D

The score is largely fiction, and once every two years is super conservative. You're missing out, OP should do their homework and hang around the CC forum for a while, they'll soon get a hang for what actually matters. Don't churn if you are looking to take out a large loan, that is absolutely true, but the advice I'm quoting about credit scores is largely irrelevant in the scheme of things, only organisations who pull my credit file are the credit cards I keep getting approved for.

Also, if you're doing it every 2 years, you're either paying full annual fees for no return or going without a CC for a year, that's crazy. If you churn at least once a year you'll get a reduced or zero annual fee for a lot of cards plus a big chunk of bonus points. Loyalty does not pay.
 
Also, if you're doing it every 2 years, you're either paying full annual fees for no return or going without a CC for a year, that's crazy. If you churn at least once a year you'll get a reduced or zero annual fee for a lot of cards plus a big chunk of bonus points. Loyalty does not pay.
I have a couple of cards at a time, which means we always have one or two cards on the go. Plus, I ring up to cancel just before the end of the first year, and without fail they have waived the fee for the next year - so I haven't had to pay any extra. Even AMEX when I called threw in 40,000 points to stay on. If they didn't waive it, then I'd cancel the card. As you say, on the CC Threads there are lots of tips and tricks to learn from.
 
This is not the thread for this discussion but again this is bad advice. The new consumer laws in Australia since 1st Jan prohibit the credit providers from offering incentives to those looking to cancel. You will literally lose the card the moment you say the C word. Perhaps we all should head over to the card section and learn a few tips and tricks.

 
Churning cards can hurt your credit rating - although I find once every two years doesn't have an impact
Have heard this said many times but my experience is that's it's not really true (this experience includes working in the ARCA Comprehensive Reporting Implementation Working group). 2 or 3 months and your history bounces back, far more important is your repayment history and your overall open credit limit, I.e close those cards you no longer use and only ask for the minimum limits. I've been applying for 5-6 cards a year and have yet to be declined. Admittedly I have a good income.
 
I've never understood this. Why use a non-earning card for overseas spend?
Until recently (unless I have missed something) very few points earning cards offered minimal FOREX margins (and/or no 3% overseas transaction fee) - like 28 degrees - which I too used. That said, I have recently picked up the ANZ travel rewards card that provides some points and decent FOREX rates.

3% cost for points is a bit of a stretch.
 
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I've never understood this. Why use a non-earning card for overseas spend?
because I don’t care about points particularly- I pay for overseas flights and use points for domestic and I gain more points in a year than I can spend :) 28 degrees costs me nothing to hold and saves me on currency so that’s what I need.
 
"more points than you can spend" then you're not playing the game right ;)
I know - I have actually walked away from the game :). Don’t get me wrong - I love my points for domestic travel, but they go a long way. I think we have about 700,000 at the moment - that’s a lot of domestic travel, even using for Ms FM and husband as well.

However getting back on topic, I do think a points earning CC is a very easy way to add to the points total. We don’t churn though - as retirees I think it would be quite painful.
 
Hi Team,

Have recently started a new job where I’ll be racking up 40 SC a week. Worked out it won’t take long till I reach silver then gold etc.

My question is should I start to use a credit card that has frequent flyer points attached? My current card doesn’t have this feature.

I’ve seen plenty of cards that offer frequent flyer points to joint up and obviously ongoing points per dollar spent.
What have others experienced? Is it worth it or should I just stick with points I earn on each flight?

Thanks in advance.

Relying on points from flying wont get you very far.... CC earning or churning is a game changer. Take the time to select the best cards for you.... don't just accept the one for you is the one aligned with your flying. For example - some cards will allow you to warehouse points / miles which allow you to redeem on other alliances including the one you fly.
 
I use BankWest World Mastercard. And, for the first time in years there is a sign on bonus offer at the moment, open till some time in Aug I think. Go for it, min forex and no transaction fees. Reliable card.

Until recently (unless I have missed something) very few points earning cards offered minimal FOREX margins (and/or no 3% overseas transaction fee) - like 28 degrees - which I too used. That said, I have recently picked up the ANZ travel rewards card that provides some points and decent FOREX rates.

3% cost for points is a bit of a stretch.
 
Bankwest World gave me a very in depth interview on what I was spending prior to me getting this card and a $12000 credit limit. Mrscove with same income and almost same assets has a $75,000 limit. The manager who finally approved me went thru lines of expenditure that I had provided. I think he was surprised by the answers. Yes the card works and the sign on is attractive. I use it mostly in Europe and UK as the exchange rate is pretty good.
 
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