So is QFF points chasing worthwhile?

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm a bit confused about this question.

Seems most threads I read suggest QFF points are far from ideal to use, with redemptions being expensive (high fees), upgrades often left to the domain of high tier FFers and redemption availability being restrictive and many preferring the likes of AA (for the time being at least), yet QF still seems to be the airline of choice for many, many AFFers. Why? Is there a cheap (perhaps even beneficial) way to launder the points to a better scheme? What are people using their points for, or is everyone just putting up with the difficulties?

 

[samh004]

Depends how you value your points really. Sure, there might be higher values in other programs, but I can earn my points relatively easily with QF. As seen just last night when my account was again broken into for the 3rd time... there's plenty of things to buy in the shop, plenty of gift vouchers.

Last week, I actually used my points for a flight redemption, instead of whoever keeps breaking in, choosing to spend 40k points all in for a Business one-way from Perth. As the points didn't cost me anything more than doing my usual thing, flying/spending, but did save me ~$2000, I found them to be quite good value! YMMV.

 

[RooFlyer]

I don't 'chase' QFF points. Not in shopping, eating or anything else. (Use my CBA cards where points get turned into VA Velocity and then Krisflyer). So I guess I'm saying that I don't think they are worth chasing.

Earn enough QFF points in J flying for work to keep a decent balance, for occasional dom upgrades and a future intl redemption I suppose.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Depends how you value your points really.

Thanks for the reply Sam. I accrue FFer points almost exclusively for flying on holidays and more so of late, international holiday travelling. Although we still take domestic holidays, I'm more likely to just buy the fares and accrue points/SCs rather than use them. I basically never buy trinkets with points. Does that perhaps indicate that QFF points are not the best options for me to pursue?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I don't 'chase' QFF points. Not in shopping, eating or anything else. (Use my CBA cards where points get turned into VA Velocity and then Krisflyer). So I guess I'm saying that don't think they are worth chasing.

Earn enough QFF points in J flying for work to keep a decent balance, for occasional dom upgrades and a future intl redemption I suppose.

I have for years now, been a VA FFer but a holiday at the beginning of the year highlighted a few major fall downs with the VA "partnership" scheme. Plenty of gaps in the system and one world seems to be more complete. (hence the change).

 

[Deleted member]

Yes it is worthwhile.

 

[legroom]

.

Last week, I actually used my points for a flight redemption, instead of whoever keeps breaking in, choosing to spend 40k points all in for a Business one-way from Perth. As the points didn't cost me anything more than doing my usual thing, flying/spending, but did save me ~$2000, I found them to be quite good value! YMMV.

It would be impossible to upgrade from J to F for $2,000 for SYD LAX.

But you can for 45,000 points.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It would be impossible to upgrade from J to F for $2,000 for SYD LAX.

But you can for 45,000 points.

Are international upgrades in the lucky dip or can they be confirmed on application?

 

[RooFlyer]

Are international upgrades in the lucky dip or can they be confirmed on application?

Not confirmed on application. Confirmed from between T-7 days to at-the-gate depending on your status and whether you've registered for at-the-gate upgrade (catering not assured in that case). If you aren't plat or above pretty much a lucky dip.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Not confirmed on application. Confirmed from between T-7 days to at-the-gate depending on your status and whether you've registered for at-the-gate upgrade (catering not assured in that case). If you aren't plat or above pretty much a lucky dip.

Without switching all my flying to QF/JQ, the best I'll be is gold, so in that case the upgrades are not really an attraction.....similar in my mind to competitions as a reward if you do a survey or the like.....sure someone wins it, but it's not very likely that someone will be me!

 

[Mogul]

I started chasing (CC spend only) QFF points early last year and amassed around 350K fairly quickly. I then started researching redemptions and found that they were almost worthless once you added in the fuel fines, lack of availability, etc.

Have decided to stick with VA as their redemptions seem to have more availability, less fuel fines and for me just as easy to earn.

 

[andye]

Some thoughts:

QFF benefits (as opposed to other OW)
Easier WP compared to many other programmes (except VA BA)
Potential to release extra reward inventory as WP
Easy to earn points from multiple sources in Aus and consolidate to one big pile
One World Explorer award
Definite benefits of being an elite in the airline you fly often (as compared to crediting AA/BA etc and flying QF)
Lifetime status (present on some others)
MASAs (no longer but would have been a benefit to many on AFF in the past)

QFF downsides
Big YQ (except in US domestic and a few others)
Difficult redemption availability (but no worse than other OW)
Higher award cost than some other programmes (though gap closing)
Reduced SC earn on competing international carriers
Upgrade lottery (with expensive ticket)
All eggs in one basket for points (small danger of collapse, high risk of enhancements)
No family pooling (compared VA)

QF Benefits common to other OW programmes (compared to VA)
F lounges
Potential for F upgrades (points or op-up) on some routes
Genuine connectivity for priority boarding, seats, interline etc
Bigger network
Some argue QF more full-service than VA (though can't say I've noticed a big difference)

Note that many of the benefits kick in at the WP level

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Nice summary andye!

 

[chrispy3276]

That is a great summary andye.

I don't chase points, but if there's a way for me to earn points for things I already do, I take it up (day to day shopping, buying items online through the mall as opposed to direct entry to retailer, vouchers etc). Admittedly that's how QFF have hooked me with their program - the variety of ways you can earn points. I've earned 100k+ QFF points in the last 12 months through non-travelling methods, and I probably could've earned a lot more if I had "chased" after them. As someone whose leisure travel is almost always domestic (primarily due to time constraints), the system works great, as I can often pick myself up flights with points I have accrued with minimal fees. It's why looking at ways to accumulate points always works for me - because lots of smaller amounts from lots of avenues really does start to build up.

 

[drron]

Without switching all my flying to QF/JQ, the best I'll be is gold, so in that case the upgrades are not really an attraction.....similar in my mind to competitions as a reward if you do a survey or the like.....sure someone wins it, but it's not very likely that someone will be me!

I got 2 Y-J upgrades BNE-PER-BNE in January this year even though a PS only.Comped at that.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Surely this was a rhetorical question.

 

[andye]

Another point of comparison which I forgot is family pooling on VA. Will add

 

[nickfromeastryde]

I don't travel for work, all my flying is self funded and up until now, QFF has been a no brainer for me and I suspect many others in similar situations. Basically, it has been easy to push all my everyday spending into QFF, ie phone, groceries, credit card spend, QFF Online Mall, wine etc etc etc. Other programs don't give me that ability to channel all my spending to them. Taking it to the next level (and without you guys on this forum I may not have), credit card offers and the like have probably been more weighted to QFF than other programs though maybe not so pronounced at the moment. And though we complain about award availability I have to date been pretty happy with what I have been able to book. It has after all been more than 4 years since I flew down the back of the plane and that wouldn't have been possible without my QFF points

I also like the OneWorld alliance, a lot more options in my opinion than the others for where I want to fly

So without changing my habits too much, I have been able to accrue "usable' amounts of points in one program rather than across multiple schemes where I would quite possibly never get any benefit from. "Taxes and fees" are a source of irritation I suppose but when you are spending 50K plus on a RTW trip I don't really care about a few hundred dollars in the scheme of things

Is that now changing however? Optus gone, Woolworth's soon to go and if you believe yesterday's Reserve Bank comments, credit card earn may also be under threat or at least seriously degraded. I can't imagine Qantas will give up selling points as it has been one of the most profitable parts of their business in recent years however we'll just have to wait and see

In saying all of the above, a reduction in point earning capacity may not be a completely bad thing. It may create less competition for award seats and reward those who fly more often ( you know, like the old days) and I certainly hope and expect to be one of those people over the next few years

 

[michaele]

I would say the reason it is popular within AFF members is many of us do fly quite a bit - and when it comes to a flying network (particularly internationally) the OW alliance has traditionally been better. Virgin/Singapore/Etihad etc are starting to work together a bit more in recent years - probably since they bought into VA in 2012 and increased their holdings again earlier this year.

If you are actually flying a lot, your priorities will probably be different to those only chasing points for award redemption.

 

[kermatu]

The only time I chased points was in the last year or so of xASAs. Then it was clearly worthwhile.

Everyone's perception of value, travel patterns and spend patterns will differ. But for me, it's made sense to stick with QF/OW given generally excellent service and coverage that suits my needs. So it makes sense to accumulate - but not chase anymore - QFF points through whatever means fit with my other behavior (credit card, wine, groceries etc).

Used a lot of points on ASAs. Since then, have used on rare occasion in the store (for discounted electronics), points upgrades (best value) and the occasional classic reward (eg, just the other day needed to book a BNE-CBR flight for travel in a week or so - $costs in Y were steep - only fully flex fares left - so booked a J classic instead).

I have a very comfortable amount of points that allow me to do the occasional upgrade, classic reward or purchase. Flights and general life use keeps this at a healthy balance. And when I drop status (as will happen, probably through use of other carriers for international travel) I will probably use the points for 1 or 2 big overseas F adventures!