Best way to accumulate points and pay for airline tickets

[lovetravellingoz]

No-one has seen fit to mention the Woolworths Rewareds card - of course only relevant if you plan to fly OneWorld -
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While my preferred point destination is SQ, I still collect QF points for opportunities like this that cannot be gotten to SQ.....but it would be silly ignoring them.

My QF strategy will be to eventually use the points for a Oneworld Award, rather than a QF Award...though some QF Awards can over reasonable value such as Melbourne-Broome.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

it's steep at $900/annum but there's 75,000 points (once you've spent $500 on the card in the first year) and the Travel Insurance is great (drawback is the travel must be paid for with the card). .

No actually the PLUS is with this card is that the Travel Insurance is proper Travel Insurance and for most things (ie except say on the insurance waiver on car-hire) no spend has to be on the card...unlike other Plat cards. Once you have the card...you are covered.

Also a big plus is that flights redeemed on FF points is covered.

Also all supp card holders )which are free)...also get free insurance even if you are not with them.
family members in your travel party are covered when you travel

 

[11sjw]

No actually the PLUS is with this card is that the Travel Insurance is proper Travel Insurance and for most things (ie except say on the insurance waiver on car-hire) no spend has to be on the card...unlike other Plat cards. Once you have the card...you are covered.

Also a big plus is that flights redeemed on FF points is covered.

Also all supp card holders )which are free)...also get free insurance even if you are not with them.
family members in your travel party are covered when you travel

I saw this comment on email and got all riled up and was ready to fire up in here but then developed a last minute "better read it again" thought.

Thanks so much for pointing out my mistake. Idiot boy here missd the Activation Statement on pg 4 of the Ts & Cs through my determination to get into the nitty gritty. Big pile of egg on my face!

I've done bugger all flying this year but am looking at potentially 4 OS trips in the next 18 months (incl the US Masters golf should certain contracts go my way. Wish me luck!! ) My taking up of this offer is certainly well timed.

With regard to the OP the AMEX Platinum will save you app $300 on travel Insurance as well as increase your earn rate on card spending. Be aware it's a charge card not a credit card, hence no extended (55 day type) interest free periods.

 

[Alanslegal]

Complimentary travel insurance with credit cards is a positive thing, but I believe that the OP doesn't travel that frequently so thus this free insurance is somewhat not valuable.

 

[Ennoh]

I'd like to say thanks to all of you who have given me tips and information on FFs and getting airline tickets. Im now on a quick and steep learning curve. I know that when I go to Coles they ask me if I have FFs and I usually say no - what other stores use the system? That would mean that I would get points on using a credit card as well as points for going to Coles - right?

 

[JohnK]

Im now on a quick and steep learning curve. I know that when I go to Coles they ask me if I have FFs and I usually say no - what other stores use the system?

Shopping at Coles would only earn you points on credit card and Flybuys. Most ColesMyer stores accept Flybuys cards.

That would mean that I would get points on using a credit card as well as points for going to Coles - right?

It is generally agreed that Flybuys is a fairly useless scheme.

Just one example I know is earn ~12,000 Flybuys points and redeem for ~$120 worth of Hoyts tickets or something similar.

If you want to earn frequent flyer points then join Everyday Rewards and shop at Woolworths to earn QFF points.

 

[ntaus]

I'd like to say thanks to all of you who have given me tips and information on FFs and getting airline tickets. Im now on a quick and steep learning curve. I know that when I go to Coles they ask me if I have FFs and I usually say no - what other stores use the system? That would mean that I would get points on using a credit card as well as points for going to Coles - right?

Coles are affiliated with FlyBuys, not Qantas FF, so when they ask you for that card it is to earn FlyBuys points which aren't convertable to QFF points.

Woolwroths are the supermarket chain that have the direct tie with QFF and allow you to earn $1/point for every $ you spend over $30 on items at Woolworths / Woolworths Liquor, over $50 at D**k Smith and for every litre of petrol at Woolworths branded fuel outlets. This is through their Everyday Rewards program (http://www.everydayrewards.com.au/).

ntaus

 

[oz_mark]

Shopping at Coles would only earn you points on credit card and Flybuys. Most ColesMyer stores accept Flybuys cards.

A small point, but there is no real ColesMyer group anymore. Many of the Coles Group stores remain as particpants, but Myer no longer participate in the FlyBuys scheme, focussing instead on their own Myer One program.

 

[MAX_1]

Hi and welcome,

Take a look at Citi Emirates Mastercard.

Citibank

$229 per annum.
The promo at the moment is 3 Skywards ( Emirates ) miles per $1 for the first $20,000 spend,there after 1.5 miles per $1.
The card is capped to 150,000 points per year. Year 1 means $80,000 spend. and thereafter $100,000 spend.
One advantage is that being Mastercard, you will be able to use it everywhee and avoid the surcharge applied by some stores to Amex.
Also the feature of transfers to and from Airport and using the Emirates lounge is a great saving.
Need 95,000 miles to get a return ticket to Europe. Just check expiry of points ( can't remember of the top of my head) . Emirates run early bird fares to Europe about october each year and last october, I think it was about $1700 per person.

 

[Ennoh]

So basically I have to work out which airline I want to travel with and then decide on what credit card to get depending on what rewards go with the card? Is this correct?

 

[malmacdowall]

Hi Ennoh, I have been looking at this myself recently and found this website really helpful. For comparing credit cards, check out mozo.com.au and you can compare different credit cards and search rewards cards. You can also put in you approximate spend, what type of rewards you prefer (shopping cards, flights etc...) and a estimate of the split you could spend on Amex vs master card/visa.... It then ranks all the cards and compares terms / conditions fees etc to give you actual value vs cost..

As others have mentioned, it's also important to note how many points are needed depending on the ff program it is linked to... The mozo website also gives a guide to this as well.... Hope this helps with your decisions....

 

[JohnK]

So basically I have to work out which airline I want to travel with and then decide on what credit card to get depending on what rewards go with the card? Is this correct?

Possibly.

As a general rule Amex cards enrolled in Ascent can be transferred to Cathay Pacific, Malaysian, Virgin Atlantic, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and Velocity. Perhaps Air New Zealand as well. If you have Ascent Premium then you can trasnfer across to Qantas as well.

Qantas Amex co-branded cards (including Visa/Mastercard) go to Qantas via direct sweep.

Kris Flyer Amex co-branded cards (including Visa/Mastercard) go to Kris Flyer via direct sweep.

Woolworths Everyday Rewards cards go to Qantas via direct sweep.

I am not too sure about Citibank, Altitude, CBA and other credit cards.

Your best bet would probably some sort Platinum Amex if you can justify the annual fee. I cannot justify the annual fee for a Platinum card.

Personally I spend ~$30,000 a year on Amex Gold card and use the points for redemptions on SQ Kris Flyer. And then ~$10,000 a year on Qantas Amex Premium which obviously go to Qantas.

 

[auriga]

So basically I have to work out which airline I want to travel with and then decide on what credit card to get depending on what rewards go with the card? Is this correct?

This is quite complicated, and you do need to put in some work (to calculate which cards can give you your "free" flights most efficiently, based on your spending pattern). Good luck!

Don't forget that a lot of people here are more into upgrading their flights, or getting flights in business/first class so their "strategies" involved may be quite different. Plus some of them fly a lot, so they earn mileage from flying, not just spending on cards.

 

[11sjw]

So basically I have to work out which airline I want to travel with and then decide on what credit card to get depending on what rewards go with the card? Is this correct?

Again, the $900 AMEX provides the greatest flexibility here as it includes Qantas but doesn't limit you to them. (See response from John K re Ascent vs Ascent Premium programs, $900 AMEX gives you Premium).

 

[ZeroPoint]

Another card you might want to consider is the Citi Select. It's a $700 Visa card, so more widely accepted (with a greater chance of no surcharge) then an Amex.

You can transfer to $1:1 for SQ, Virgin. Also you can use take flight with a choice of airlines. You can also go for a direct sweep to Qantas as well $1:1.

There's a separate thread on it if you want more information.

 

[JohnK]

The hardest thing with credit cards, that is also not easy to explain, is there is no such thing as one size fits all.

As mentioned it is very complicated and one needs to do a lot of research to get the most benefits out of credit cards for their spending patterns. It is a no-brainer to go for a $900 annual fee credit card if you're spending >$100,000 a year where as if you are only spending $30,000 a year the $900 annual fee could be a waste of time and money.

One approach that does not cost a lot is to get the cheapest Amex (only $80 a year for Ascent) and/or Visa/Mastercard with airline rewards until one has done all their research.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So basically I have to work out which airline I want to travel with

Actually if you want to maximise things....you need to think about which Alliance you want to travel with, and not just which airline. Or at least the one that you mainly want to use.

For example:
* With SQ it would cost 250K to get a J to Paris from MEL, but I can get a J with Thai for 150K. So I would go with Thai.
* To Roam..SQ can be gained for 127.5K, whereas Thai would still be 150K.
In addition by thinking Alliance you can increase the number of destinations.


Personally my approach is to to use both the Star Alliance (Mainly SQ and Thai...with SQ being the "home" for my points that are not "housed" on a credit card" and the Oneworld Alliance (mainly Qantas, but others on this forum favour AA)...and avoid SkyTeam.


For each point earning opportunity I always consider what is the maximum earn to burn ratio...and then direct my points to the program that will earn be the most.

For my at prresent this is mainly stockpiling on Amex Mileage rewards and then moving to SQ.

But for example there are some opportunities that I can not get to *A..ie Everyday rewards, QF flights etc...so I put them to QF.
Others likea Hotel Stay, may be able to go to either but will result in a better earn to burn at one.

Now I "collect" enough points that I can adopt the multi-alliance (or airline) approach to supercharge my flights.. Others are better just sticking to one program, as they might not reach enough points to generate flights ata reasonable rate (or being expiry dates may cut in).

and then decide on what credit card to get depending on what rewards go with the card? Is this correct?

Basically. And others have said, this will depend on your own circumstances.
For many people to this will also not be just one card, but rather two or more cards.


For those not spending great amounts a good combo (required as Amex is not accepted by all businesses) would be the Qantas Everyday Credit Card earning at 1 point per $ on a MC to QFF with say the Amex Plat Edge. $149, but with a free domestic flight. This may not work for you re the edge as you would probably want a QFF creditng card.


How many $$$$ per year can you pump through a credit card, or cards?

 

[MelbMan]

Personally for the OP I'd avoid Kris Flyer and Emirates for a starter. SQ points only last 3 years and unless you want to take trips to NZ (about 25,000 to 30,000pts return which is not bad value if you fly in peak seasons and get in very early to redeem seats) I personally have given up on SQ.

By comparison I've concentrated on QF whose points have no real expiry. Apart from getting a good credit card, paying any ATO tax using a CC, one of the best ways is some of the bonus FF pt schemes the banks regularly come out. NAB, ANZ, 16,000 to 20,000 pts to join up. Don't be afraid to churn!

I did fly Alaskan Airlines last year and they have some very generous ways of earning points as do United I believe. So sometimes it might be better to join an affilliate of OneWorld or Star Alliance rather than the obvious.

But for me I'd be concentrating on schemes where the points don't expire. We've flown all over the place, mainly on CCs, not too many points earnt flying. Also not averse to doing a free flight one direction and a low cost carrier the return. Generally I won't pay more to fly a point earning flight preferring to get pts from my spending. Not for this boy chasing Silver or Gold QF status or any of the lounge rubbish. One other rule I employ is to never redeem pts for domestic flights. One exception back in the days of Ansett for a next day funeral in Canberra. 11,000 pts compared to $500 return, in those days.

For a big family like yours if you like domestic travel one of the Virgin Velocity cards where you get a free flight or 2 for 1 a couple of times a year might be worth something from the flying angle (rather than accumulating pts angle)

Good luck!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

But for me I'd be concentrating on schemes where the points don't expire.

If you "warehouse" your point earn at Amex Mileage Rewards the points do not expire as long as your card is current.

You only need move them to SQ, or another airline, when you need the points. This also allows you to cherry-pick when one of the partner airlines has a redemption special (deliberate or mistake!!).

Another advantage of an Amex Direct earning card is that they tend to have various promos and so one's average spend can be above the 1.5 points per $ For some of us...well above. Other cards tend to have bonii no where near as generously.

A further advantage is that Amex also seems to offer every now and again a transfer bonus of 10 or more %.

Fully agree on "churning'...as this all part of how I supercharge my point earning.


But again...there is no "one" right way...as what is best will vary on one's individual circumstances and travel desires.

 

[Alanslegal]

Personally for the OP I'd avoid Kris Flyer and Emirates for a starter. SQ points only last 3 years and unless you want to take trips to NZ (about 25,000 to 30,000pts return which is not bad value if you fly in peak seasons and get in very early to redeem seats) I personally have given up on SQ.

Well the OP is likely to be earning most of his points from credit card spend and choosing the right card will be important. The main preference is to earn credit card points which then can be ulimately transferred to an airline when you NEED to rather than an automatic sweep once per month. If you transfer when you need to, the three year limitation becomes quite negligable.