A Thank You to the awesome AFF community! I'm starting a "Points Project"

[cove]

Have you any relatives you can pay taxes for in the next 6 months? You can get some points at a cost of 0.42% which is close to free.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Can you and the other half do a hotel stay nookie, some hotels do let you earn points that can go towards QFF.
Hilton Honors, is one of them, have to join online, but make sure you ring them up to make a booking for any stays, and make sure you show your HH card on check in.
This is in extra to the CC earn for paying the nights rate.
Can join online, 1000 points per stay, or has that changed.
Is Telstra Smart box or what their DVD rantal is called, still an earning partner in the QFF system?
If you do want to go with VA, they have a link with Lumo Energy, 10k to join, and you get points per $ earnt on energy usage. QF used to have a program with Energy Australia, but I think that one is gone, and no electricity retailer now partners with QF.
Rental cars, (but of course you don't need that one).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

How to earn info can be found here: http://www.qantas.com.au/img/page_g...yer/pdf/Frequent_Flyer_benefits_guidebook.pdf
Turns out to be old info, still mentions 1000 points, instead of 800.
BUT as you won't be flying, you might be interested in the non flying part of the booklet.
If you haven't read it yet, that is.
VA also have something like it.

 

[Janeski]

HI Australian Poochie- I do realise it is a stretch... and you may well be right that 6 months is a pipe dream- I picked it as an arbitrary time frame given it is July and also as I am much better with deadlines than just a "I'll save some points".

No way can you get enough points to take 4 to the US, earning points via CC in 6 months, 2 years, maybe a yes.
But without flying, 6 months purely by CC spend, ... nak.

 

[Janeski]

Thanks for this- Ketsuzei- I am starting to accumulate V POints too- I am focusing on Q Points "this week" as I find I can concentrate on all of the Q Opportunities in one go- I have a few V points earning Opps too. I'm looking at all the ways to make the retur flights happen- ie Q one way and V one way to the US.

That VA flight you mentioned to LA is a good deal. I think as previous posters have mentioned my biggest challenge will prob be actually getting the flights!!

If saving money is a key objective and you're happy to make it as far as the west coast of the US, Virgin has a pretty big head start:

(One-way, economy)

QF: SYD-LAX 48,000 + $462
VA: SYD-LAX 47,000 + $102.12

I only mention this because you've posted in the Qantas forum, and getting the best bang for your buck might very well require you to look elsewhere.

 

[Janeski]

Ahhh the hours to do this.... I figure if I grab some time here and there to find deals and offers the saving and fun will be worth it. But I had not thought to calculate the cost/hr (and probably will find it is much more effort than reward)
Lots of helpful ideas here on the thread already to get me thinking.....One of the things I have not mentioned is that I will be trying to do this in conjunction with my husband so for example- the ANZ Qantas CC with 50,000 points- I have one for me and will be signing up my husband for one (I've checked and we can do this) so we will have 100,000 points pooled between us already.

Points collecting can be fun and even better when you get great value!
To spell out the analytics for those of us interested....

Assuming you're budgeting $2k per head for flights - surely this means your overall goal is enough points for 4 people with $0 cash to pay?
My calcs are: 168,300 * 4 = 673,200 QFF points required (based on a very cheap $1349 per head fare) Up to ~180K/head on a fare closer to $2k return each.

Compared to buying the tickets on sale:
4 x 1349 = $5396 + 40,000 QFF points earned (with no FF status)

Ultimately in this scenario you're saying 670,000 QFF points are worth $5300 (+ a bit of fun doing it).

Please keep us up to date on what you do to amass the points. For the super-geeks reading this we can then work backwards to see how much you're investing per hour to make it happen too
Would make a great case study!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

As awards in Y or subclasses need less points, more people aim for it, and slots are capacity controlled, but if you amass points now, and 18 months before trip, start in depth planning, it should work out.
Do try to get some flights too, us take the kids to CHC and see snow alps, saw them on CHC to SYD for myself from EK419, wow.
CHC to Mt Hutt us not that far.
SYD to CHC with EK is good, or JQ if saving $ on flights are important.
Took me 10 years from 97 to 07 for a worth it reward with QF for me in my case.

 

[Janeski]

Yes I am considering a stay- I'm already a HH member and get the odd point through erewards doing a survey (but to be honest its not necessarily worth the time involved) I am doing a "Points Chase" with V as well- just posted in the Q thread as I'm "working" on the Q accumulation first. Thanks for all your suggestions

Can you and the other half do a hotel stay nookie, some hotels do let you earn points that can go towards QFF.
Hilton Honors, is one of them, have to join online, but make sure you ring them up to make a booking for any stays, and make sure you show your HH card on check in.
This is in extra to the CC earn for paying the nights rate.
Can join online, 1000 points per stay, or has that changed.
Is Telstra Smart box or what their DVD rantal is called, still an earning partner in the QFF system?
If you do want to go with VA, they have a link with Lumo Energy, 10k to join, and you get points per $ earnt on energy usage. QF used to have a program with Energy Australia, but I think that one is gone, and no electricity retailer now partners with QF.
Rental cars, (but of course you don't need that one).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

On iPod, no good for much this iPod,
Try not go go into hock with this amassing of points.
CC are good when you can pay it off ASAP.

 

[jlien]

Scwappy- fuel maybe $50/ week. Food- probably $150-200 a week??? It is the $195 annual fee that puts me off right now as there are no signif points offers. But I'll do some calculating in my "Points spreadsheet" to see if it would be a good option- thanks for the tip!!

If you're looking to consolidate all your points into QFF, then the platinum edge isn't a viable choice.
Consider the David Jones Amex (non platinum) for 2.25 QF points per dollar at supermarkets & petrol stations for $99 annual fee. It will also come with 22,500 points as a sign on bonus.
Though if your ANZ amex is the platinum or the black then it may still work in your favour to stick to that.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If you want VA, change your electricity co into Lumo, if Lumo is in your state.
10000 sign on, and 6 VA points per $1 paid in bills.
They will try to give you other offers in it, but insist on VA points collection.
Yair, I know I talk too much!

 

[get me outta here]

Special thanks to all the people taking the trouble to write in here, I am finding it most useful.

 

[blackcat20]

Sounds like you're off to a pretty good start!

 

[Janeski]

Get me outta here- I was just about to say the same thing! That's why this community is terrific- LOTS of knowledgeable people who are very generous with sharing tips!! It's why I'm posting- want to be able to share what I figure out too!

Special thanks to all the people taking the trouble to write in here, I am finding it most useful.

 

[Janeski]

Thanks Black Cat- I also feel like documenting the process here will help me be accountable and on track.

Sounds like you're off to a pretty good start!

 

[Alanslegal]

Scwappy- fuel maybe $50/ week. Food- probably $150-200 a week??? It is the $195 annual fee that puts me off right now as there are no signif points offers. But I'll do some calculating in my "Points spreadsheet" to see if it would be a good option- thanks for the tip!!

The Platinum Edge cards gives you a complimentary domestic return flight to certain destinations, so you can consider that as a part offset against the annual fee.

At $150 and $50 for food and petrol respectively, you will earn 450 + 100 per week. That becomes 28,600 points p.a just by not needing to spend more. [In my case, I send Amex points to Singapore Airlines Kris Flyer].

Use your Woolworths Everyday Rewards card to 'double dip' and you will get Qantas points. So using your $150/week on food, you will earn 120 points per week. That's 6,240 Qantas points p.a.

I know it doesn't like alot of points but it's a starting point.

 

[Janeski]

HI Alanslegal
Yes I rechecked the offer and the domestic flight does make it worth while. I may have a trip to Melb coming up. And it's true- every point does count to chip away at the Points Chase. Thanks!

The Platinum Edge cards gives you a complimentary domestic return flight to certain destinations, so you can consider that as a part offset against the annual fee.

At $150 and $50 for food and petrol respectively, you will earn 450 + 100 per week. That becomes 28,600 points just by not needing to spend more. [In my case, I send Amex points to Singapore Airlines Kris Flyer].

Use your Woolworths Everyday Rewards card to 'double dip' and you will get Qantas points. So using your $150/week on food, you will earn 120 points per week. That's 6,240 Qantas points.

I know it doesn't like alot of points but it's a starting point.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Points collecting can be fun and even better when you get great value!
To spell out the analytics for those of us interested....

Assuming you're budgeting $2k per head for flights - surely this means your overall goal is enough points for 4 people with $0 cash to pay?
My calcs are: 168,300 * 4 = 673,200 QFF points required (based on a very cheap $1349 per head fare) Up to ~180K/head on a fare closer to $2k return each.

Compared to buying the tickets on sale:
4 x 1349 = $5396 + 40,000 QFF points earned (with no FF status)

Ultimately in this scenario you're saying 670,000 QFF points are worth $5300 (+ a bit of fun doing it).

Please keep us up to date on what you do to amass the points. For the super-geeks reading this we can then work backwards to see how much you're investing per hour to make it happen too
Would make a great case study!

Not surprisingly, 670,000 QFF points worth $5,300 means each one is worth 0.79 cents, which is about the same value when you use them for "Points + Pay" or Qantas Store redemptions.

Lesson is that if you can accumulate them without outlaying any more cash than you normally would, go for it. Just don't go shopping at Woolworths so you can earn the points, if you can buy the same things at Aldi or a local grocer cheaper. Don't spend annual fees on credit cards which earn QFF points if you can get away with fee free cards (this is the only QF one - https://www.americanexpress.com/au/content/frequent-flyer-cards/qantas-discovery-card/) or earn cash back or more valuable rewards on other cards.

Otherwise you're paying extra dollars to accumulate cents to offset against extra dollars.

 

[Janeski]

Collector Gets 422 Million AmEx Points With Cup Purchase - Bloomberg
Well I most likely won't be making a purchase like this on my cc's but 422 million Amex points would CERTAINLY make travel a LOT more fun!!! How many First Class RTW's do you reckon you would get with that???? Am wondering how I can get on his family points transfer?!?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Collector Gets 422 Million AmEx Points With Cup Purchase - Bloomberg
Well I most likely won't be making a purchase like this on my cc's but 422 million Amex points would CERTAINLY make travel a LOT more fun!!! How many First Class RTW's do you reckon you would get with that???? Am wondering how I can get on his family points transfer?!?

Still a lot, but is evidently about 28 million FF points as it was a purchase in $HK.