15% Bonus Pts (to 31 May) and 15% off Reward Seats (to 30 June)

[quokka77]

I got tired of waiting around for the ClTl points to post, so I rang AmX, bought a few MR, which transferred to velocity within a day, topping off my account and allowing me to book the seats I wanted (3 return J awards Australia-US for next year). When the ClTl points come through they can sit there for a while until I work out what's next. The AmX agent was initially a little hesitant to sell me the points, but when I explained what happened (topping off an account for an award, recent transfer of a parcel of points from this account to VFF) she sought her supervisor's approval and it went through. Took about 20 to 30min.

 

[quokka77]

Another option for those looking for just a few extra points to round off their VFF accounts is an SPG points purchase (they are currently doing a purchase bonus, up to x% discount for purchases up to 20000 starpoints (which is the annual purchase cap). These starpoints can be transfered to VFF (or any number of other programs) at a rate of 1:1, with a 25% bonus for each parcel of 20000 starpoints.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

Another option for those looking for just a few extra points to round off their VFF accounts is an SPG points purchase (they are currently doing a purchase bonus, up to x% discount for purchases up to 20000 starpoints (which is the annual purchase cap). These starpoints can be transfered to VFF (or any number of other programs) at a rate of 1:1, with a 25% bonus for each parcel of 20000 starpoints.

And 20000 points cost how much?

 

[Grimace1]

And 20000 points cost how much?

Buy Starpoints® for yourself or as a gift now through May 31, 2015, and get up to 25% off the regular price.

• Get 10% off 5,000–9,500 Starpoints
• Get 15% off 10,000–14,500 Starpoints
• Get 20% off 15,000–19,500 Starpoints
• Get 25% off 20,000 Starpoints

Need extra Starpoints® for a free night, free flight or room upgrade? Now, you can buy 500 Starpoints for as little as $17.50 USD. Add up to 20,000 Starpoints to your account!

So for 20,000 it's $525 with the 25% off already.

 

[quokka77]

Currently 525USD for 20k Starpoints (until 29/5 i think). AmX purchase is 25AUD for 1k MR (if they will sell them to you).

 

[Coops1]

Currently 525USD for 20k Starpoints (until 29/5 i think). AmX purchase is 25AUD for 1k MR (if they will sell them to you).

Think I might just continue to churn credit cards where there is free pts and no annual fees. That's a ridiculous spend for 20k pts!

 

[quokka77]

Grimace1 beat me to it.

 

[quokka77]

In isolation you are right Coops. But maybe not if you only need another 25k to get that last longhaul J seat for a big trip. However value is personal.

 

[Johnno101]

So for 20,000 it's $525 with the 25% off already.[/QUOTE]
That's in $US I understand (=$AU0.03c/pt)

 

[Moindardt]

Saw this promo on the CBA Awards site. I haven't flown VA before (will be QF WP in Sept), however, I have just over a million CBA awards that I was going to use at flight centres (worth around $5500). With this I could convert to about 580k velocity points.

We predominately will be travelling to US (most times LA) on a mix of awards and paid J flights. We normally have to book a year in advance anyway so that isn't a problem. I have seen a lot of people complain about Velocity rewards and saying it is a lot easier to get rewards flights on QF to the states. Is that right?

Is it worth transferring over?

 

[quokka77]

Saw this promo on the CBA Awards site. I haven't flown VA before (will be QF WP in Sept), however, I have just over a million CBA awards that I was going to use at flight centres (worth around $5500). With this I could convert to about 580k velocity points.

We predominately will be travelling to US (most times LA) on a mix of awards and paid J flights. We normally have to book a year in advance anyway so that isn't a problem. I have seen a lot of people complain about Velocity rewards and saying it is a lot easier to get rewards flights on QF to the states. Is that right?

Is it worth transferring over?

No, no, stay with QFF, award availability is terrible with VA.... Only joking. Seriously though, award availability for BNE-LAX or SYD-LAX is pretty good on VA. You do also get good access to J award seats one year out as a QFF WP (I am told), but I think you would find it easier to get seats closer to departure on VA than QFF. If you are flying J it shouldn't matter that you will start out on VA with no status.

Whatever you do, don't waste your points on flight centre vouchers.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

Saw this promo on the CBA Awards site. I haven't flown VA before (will be QF WP in Sept), however, I have just over a million CBA awards that I was going to use at flight centres (worth around $5500). With this I could convert to about 580k velocity points.

We predominately will be travelling to US (most times LA) on a mix of awards and paid J flights. We normally have to book a year in advance anyway so that isn't a problem. I have seen a lot of people complain about Velocity rewards and saying it is a lot easier to get rewards flights on QF to the states. Is that right?



Is it worth transferring over?

I would say the opposite is true. I am gold with QFF and red with Velocity and I see more on Velocity and they offer these 15% discounts.

 

[bullerdude]

Currently a return J on VA is 159,000 pts with the discount.

Thus for 319,000 VA points you would get two return J to the US worth at least $10K which is a lot more than your flight center vouchers.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

Currently a return J on VA is 159,000 pts with the discount.

Thus for 319,000 VA points you would get two return J to the US worth at least $10K which is a lot more than your flight center vouchers.

I thought it would be 163200. Last year I flew in J for 177000 including fees.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

I thought it would be 163200. Last year I flew in J for 177000 including fees.

VA return J is 188000 ( 94000 each way ) less 15% disc of 28200 = 159800 J return as above by bullerdude

 

[Lonely Flyer]

VA return J is 188000 ( 94000 each way ) less 15% disc of 28200 = 159800 J return as above by bullerdude

I stand corrected. 2000 cheaper than QF each way.

 

[serfty]

I stand corrected. 2000 cheaper than QF each way.

Not to mention somewhere around $700 less in +++ ...

 

[Colin 2905]

My 15% Citibank bonus has landed.

 

[quokka77]

My 15% Citibank bonus has landed.

Got mine today too... Maybe I could have saved the $ I spent topping up my account via AmX. At 2.17c per velocity point, I guess I can't feel too hard done by.

 

[Moindardt]

My CBA Points went in overnight with bonus.

Just booked 5x Y & 1x J BNE-AUH (only 1x J available) and 6x J AUH-CDG for just before XMAS. Jumping on flights to NY next day to spend XMAS and NYE in Times Square then off to Whistler for some skiiing. I am using AA and QF points CDG-JFK-YVR-JFK and then paid return flights from JFK-BNE (we will be back to LA/NY in Sept 16).

A huge thank you to the people here for there advice. I wouldn't have looked otherwise and missed out on a massive opportunity.