Best way to fly on points

[SNW1406]

First Post Here Goes!!

I am looking at either RTW or BNE/SYD-LAX in Premium Economy or J and would like to know what is the best Card to rack up points by using purchases only using Visa or MC & the best airline reward program to use.
I am amassing points on a fairly regular basis and have no loyalty to any card or airline.

Thanks
SNW

 

[MAX_1]

Are you buying the ticket or hoping to redeem points?
If buying, what month? Card earnings in some cases change for the worst in Feb.2010 eg CBA.
What card or cards do you use? Cards vary in their offers.

PS Welcome to AFF

 

[NM]

Welcome to AFF, SNW1406.

If you want to earn all the points/miles from spending, then I hope you plan on spending a lot. Here is a just a simple example - obviously changes slightly based on program etc.

Using Qantas FF program, which is generally going to offer the best credit card spending points earning for someone in Australia, a OneWorld Award of up to 35,000 miles travelled (required for ATW itinerary) is 140,000 in economy or 280.000 in business class. Qantas does not offer a OneWorld Award in Premium Economy at this time.

Assuming 1 point earn per 1$ spend, you will need to spend $280,000 on your credit card to earn enough points.

Now some credit cards offer bonus points for new accounts (perhaps as much as 30,000 points for some high-value cards), and some offer 1.5 points per 1$ spent. So you may be able to get the spend amount down to say $175,000.

Also note that some card cards cap the number of points they will provide in a given period - some per month and other per year.

Another point is that to obtain premium cabin award seats, you often need to book well in advance. Many of us make premium cabin award bookings 11 months ahead of travel to ensure seat availability. So it if takes 2 years to earn the points, it would be three years before you get to travel.

So if you think you have the means to earn enough points from credit card spending (as some people do with business expenses) in the timeframe you want to travel, then start researching the cards and FF programs that will offer the best earn/burn rate for your situation. Remember that what is best for one person may not be best for everyone.

 

[SNW1406]

Thanks for your views.
I am happy to purchase economy and upgrade to J if that's the way to go. I am basically looking ahead for a trip in 18 months to build up a bank of points to fly. I have a suncorp business card which is capped at 80K which is basically useless but am looking to learn which carrier and card program is best to achieve what I want.

Thanks

 

[NM]

Thanks for your views.
I am happy to purchase economy and upgrade to J if that's the way to go. I am basically looking ahead for a trip in 18 months to build up a bank of points to fly. I have a suncorp business card which is capped at 80K which is basically useless but am looking to learn which carrier and card program is best to achieve what I want.

Thanks

What status do you hold in the Qantas FF program? Keep in mind that with Qantas FF program upgrades are not confirmed at the time of booking or requesting. When requesting a points upgrade, you are added to a waiting list that is only actioned within the last 24 hours before scheduled departure. The waitlist is then processed based on a priority system where the FF status is the most significant factor. So if you have Bronze or Silver status, your chances of success in the upgrade waitlist lottery are far from assured.

Also be aware than the cheapest fares are not eligible for upgrading. So by the time you have paid a higher price to purchase an upgradeable fare, and then play the upgrade lottery, you may end up out-of-pocket and not upgraded with a pool of unused FF points.

 

[SNW1406]

Thanks for the reply NM.

I am only Bronze QFF.
So what's the answer? Do I ditch QFF and join another airline rewards scheme.
How do you increase your chances of an upgrade with QFF?
This is what I'm trying to ascertain. What is the best way to fly J RTW or BNE-LAX.
Thanks

 

[munitalP]

Thanks for the reply NM.

I am only Bronze QFF.
So what's the answer? Do I ditch QFF and join another airline rewards scheme.
How do you increase your chances of an upgrade with QFF?
This is what I'm trying to ascertain. What is the best way to fly J RTW or BNE-LAX.
Thanks

I don't know of any airline that status of the Pax is not a primary factor in upgrade requests, so ditching qf to another airline may not be an option... As NM has pointed out, requesting an upgrade to J is a lottery where a number of factors come into play including fare class. A gold ff on a Y is a high probability vs a gold ff on an O for example. Now to buy the Y fare, you are paying considerably more than a cheapy, and being a bronze ff, little chance in success with an ug request.

I would say that if you partically want to fly J, look around the airlines fir J fare sales and buy outright. Keep banking your ff points for the following holliday and buy the fares outright with ff points plus $ for taxes, you will have far better luck doing it that way.

Mr!

 

[albatross710]

First Post Here Goes!!

I am looking at either RTW or BNE/SYD-LAX in Premium Economy or J and would like to know what is the best Card to rack up points by using purchases only using Visa or MC & the best airline reward program to use.
I am amassing points on a fairly regular basis and have no loyalty to any card or airline.

Thanks
SNW

The Westpac Krisflyer card has been working for me clocking major business expenses. Note that taxes are higher when redeeming for flights on SQ. No redemption options for internal AU flights.

Check out this thread but note that the intro rate has finished :http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...ac-singapore-krisflyer-credit-card-17536.html

 

[NM]

I am only Bronze QFF.
So what's the answer? Do I ditch QFF and join another airline rewards scheme.

Remember that the airline loyalty programs are called Frequent Flyer Programs and are in place to improve profits for the airlines. They achieve this goal in two ways, having members spend their air travel budget with the airline to which they remain shackled, and by selling "points" to anyone who will buy them, including credit card companies. In the second case, they have already made their money when the points were purchased by the bank so no need to treat the member overly special. In many cases (most cases??) the member is already addicted and willing to continue spending and hence the FF program earns revenue by selling more points.

The first category are the ones the program will try to look after the best as it affects the airline's core business. Although some would argue they can make more profit at the moment from selling points to banks as a frequent spending/debting program.

If wanting to earn points primarily through credit card spending, then you have a few options of programs, but all have similar constraints. Some are better for certain awards and other better for different awards. But in my opinion, you need to have a very high credit card spend pattern to warrant using it with a goal of free flights. I use my credit card spend to supplement my earning from flying, allowing the benefits of FF program status and reasonably healthy points balance.

How do you increase your chances of an upgrade with QFF?

Best option is to have Gold or Platinum status. Of course it not impossible for Silver and even Bronze members to be successful redeeming upgrades, but its certainly more difficult.

Other things can help such as booking flights that are likely to have lots of unsold business class seats (routes, days of the week, time of the year etc) and flights likely to not have a lot of high-status FF members also waitlisting for upgrades. But there is no set rules around which flights are likely to meet these criteria.

This is what I'm trying to ascertain. What is the best way to fly J RTW or BNE-LAX.
Thanks

Best is generally to earn lots of points and book an award ticket. That way you have a confirmed seat in business class. Programs for consideration for business class to LAX with good points earning from credit card spend in Australia will likely be Velocity and Qantas Frequent Flyer. Perhaps also include Singapore KrisFlyer redeeming for travel on United or Air New Zealand.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

First Post Here Goes!!

I am looking at either RTW or BNE/SYD-LAX in Premium Economy or J and would like to know what is the best Card to rack up points by using purchases only using Visa or MC & the best airline reward program to use.
I am amassing points on a fairly regular basis and have no loyalty to any card or airline.

Thanks
SNW

Generalising to get upgrades you need status...and in the main you get status by flying...and not just buying.

An exception to this is the American Airlines FF program where any points go towards status...but you will needa million points before it makes a difference!!!

So I would suggest you look at booking a reward directly for PE or J.

Using only Visa and MC will make it harder as often they will earn less points than Amex.

Also before anyone can really make a suggestion to you how many $$ per year do you intend to put through as "amassing points on a regular basis" could mean virtually anything?
Also why only VISA or MC?

There are for example combination Amex with a Visa or MC than can work well.

 

[equus]

I don't know of any airline that status of the Pax is not a primary factor in upgrade requests

I do.

MH still allow upgrade requests to be immediately confirmed by anyone if seats are available. Not only that, they will (not officially, but talk to the helpful office staff), waitlist the upgrade request, then if it clears, let you know so that you can transfer Amex points to get the Enrich miles to redeem. YMMV. I had never set foot on an MH plane prior to doing this, and the Enrich accounts used were brand spanking new, with only the 1,000 mile online sign-up bonus in them.

Of course, you have to buy an upgradeable economy fare (so not the cheapest), and be prepared to travel in that class, and physically go to the MH office and spend the time talking face to face with the staff, however, being able to waitlist and then confirm the upgrades, and without risking orphaning points if things don't come off, was pretty much risk free.

I must admit, I don't know of any other airlines offering even this, and do caveat that it is not officially permitted (the call centre will certainly say no unless the miles are in the account, and I am not sure they will waitlist either). Unlike other airlines, it seemed that any I class availability was up for grabs for a reward redemption or upgrade, but this may just be coincidence.