About to embark on indefinite RTW travel, looking for FF advice

[globetrooper]

Hi All,

Wow, what a forum. I've been reading and reading... and reading, but this "other world" is still very otherworldly to me. Nonetheless, I've learnt a lot, so thanks to everyone for the content.

I'd be very grateful for some advice regarding frequent flyer programs. My partner and I are soon to embark on indefinite RTW travel. Basically, we're planning to run our business on the road and live from a range of (cheap) cities (indefinitely). So, we'll be doing a lot of international travel to remote places, which I've just discovered can be made a lot cheaper (and more comfortable) with careful planning around frequent flyer programs.

We're both members of QFF with about 50k points each. And, we're only just starting to charge everything to QFF-optimised CCs (Amex Ultimate, CBA Visa, etc.).

Can anyone please tell me if this is a sound strategy?
- keep earning QFF points on Australian purchases before we leave
- go for AA Plat challenge just after 16th June (we can leave anytime) and make sure our initial flights are mostly on AA to make the challenge (maybe book LONE4/5 via AA desk)
- then, book all possible flights on OW partners thereafter (I suspect OW will give us the most flexibility with remote locations), which will add to our AA points and give us more flexibility re upgrades in the future (compared to QF)
- I'm not sure what the point of building up QFF points is now, but we're only getting points from CCs, which seems much easier to do with QF (direct earn, and Visa, etc.) than AA (Amex only I believe); 70%+ of my monthly spend can't go on Amex, but can go on Visa

A few points to keep in mind:
- we are paying for the flights and will only pay for economy
- we'd like to have access to lounges without paying for QP, etc
- we will have no checked baggage (so related benefits don't matter)
- we'd like to be able to use points to upgrade to business every now and then (if possible)
- we're very flexible with flights, dates and even with destinations (we're letting the road take us)
- please assume we'll make the AA Plat challenge; we're yet to plan the original trip

From what I've read and been told, it's virtually impossible to get upgrades with QF with a low status (only bronze now, may get to silver, but still no good). That leads me to think QFF is only good for award flights, which again have other problems and as I understand, are a less valuable use of FF points. We won't be travelling domestically at all.

Does this all sound reasonable? Any big tips or hints to make life easier?
Many thanks advance.

 

[scibo10]

Welcome to AFF globetrooper

You have made many suggestions in your thread and I will only comment on a few these.

The general rule is that to maximise the points and benefits of a loyalty program that is part of a global alliance, it is best to stick to those airlines within the alliance. In the case of QFF, Oneworld. Having said this, there are times when this is not possible, be it due to lack of airlines within Oneworld servicing a particular destination, or that a non-Oneworld airline is offering more competitive rates.

If flying in Economy, note that not all economy fares will accrue FF points. Heavily discounted fares are frequently exempt from accrual. Also remember that Oneworld airlines will offer status for QFF, but partner airlines of QFF just offer the points.

Should you make the AA challenge, you will be living the high life of status land for at least a year. There are some posters here who are complete experts on the AA plat challenge, and I am not one of them, so will leave commentary on this for them.

Flexibility is the key when redeeming FF points. Having a too rigid itinarary decreases the chances of finding available reward flights.

I would keep using the AUD Amex until departure, however post this, remember the extra expenses of FX charges.

Cheers

 

[globetrooper]

Thanks for the reply Mr scibo10

I'm really struggling to see value in the QFF program. If I can't upgrade (being a lowly QFNB), then the only use is for award seats (talking international here). From my understanding, premium award seats are just as rare as premium upgrades. So the only value of QFF, if planning to fly Qantas, is for economy award seats booked far in advance.

Is there other potential value in using QFF for other OW airlines? I.e. are QFF points more easily used to book award seats on other OW carriers or even upgrade on other OW carriers?

Lastly, can you use QFF points to book an award seat on AA and have that flight count towards an AA Adv Challenge? That would be nice.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

You may need to calculate how often that you will make flights, and will continue to make flights. ir achiving status in one year is really of benefit the follwing year if you keep flying.

If this does not add up to a fair bit then a better focus may well be to concentate on flying at less cost for the quality that you are happy with. This of course includes eraning awards. However some flights as so cheap this days that going sans-points (shock-horror!!!) can be the better way to go on at least some flights.

Discount QC Membership can be had and remember that if you always intend to fly with your wife that only one of you need join. This will allow one to guest the other in to lounges and will also allow you to use the priorty QC queue at check-in. Yes this is a cost, but it can bea lot less than the cost of aquistion by flying. Unfortunately you would not be able to get the really cheap corporate rates as I assume that you are self employed.

 

[globetrooper]

Thanks lovetravellering... that's a really good point you make about just saving money. It's so easy to get caught up in all of this, when really, most of us have bigger fish to fry.

I found this thread on the QFF vs AA debate: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...-program/qff-program-or-aadvantage-10052.html.

The main take away for me is that AA is a better program with respect to burn rate, upgrades, award flights, etc., but it's harder to earn points on CCs and other sources. Considering both sides of the equations, there's much less of a difference.

 

[drron]

A whole lot of issues here.If flying economy it is certainly going to be hard to get status on any OW airline.Yes the AA plat challenge does get you there and by timing you can keep it for 18 months.however you now have to pay a fee-I think $US 150 now-so the benefit still comes at a cost-and the fares may be dearer than alternatives.The Benefit though is that it will get you into OW business lounges around the world apart from US domestic and have a choice of lounges whereas QP membership is when on QF flights,BA and AA even domestic.
Possibly one of you could do the AA challenge the other remain with QFF and build up the CC points.As to CCs you can get points into AA with Amex or DC-best is to transfer via SPG(for amex this is the only way).So if you could get a fee free Amex or DC might be worth considering.
I certainly find AA better for getting premium cabin awards and upgrades than QF-but then again the upgrades are only on AA.However as an AA plat I can get J awards on QF that as a QFNB i cant access.
Chasing FF points though means not using LCCs and so paying a lot more in the end.so all depends on your priorities and where you are going to spend most of your time.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I'm really struggling to see value in the QFF program. If I can't upgrade (being a lowly QFNB), then the only use is for award seats (talking international here). From my understanding, premium award seats are just as rare as premium upgrades. So the only value of QFF, if planning to fly Qantas, is for economy award seats booked far in advance.

Is there other potential value in using QFF for other OW airlines? I.e. are QFF points more easily used to book award seats on other OW carriers or even upgrade on other OW carriers?

You can't use QFF points to upgrade anything except QF (marketed) seats on QF (operated) flights. But this is the same of all the OW programs (e.g. BA points can only be used for upgrades on BA flights) with the limited exception of Cathay's program.

You can use QFF points to book award seats on other OW partners, however availabilty is pretty much no different (as far as we can tell) than booking with that carrier's native program. As you mention, premium award seats are fairly rare, and that applies equally to BA/CX/AY/etc as it does to QF.

Lastly, QFF does give you the benfit for "Anytime" awards - you can book any free seat on the plane (for a corresponding cost in points). However this may not be palatable to you due to the increased number of points required.


On a more general note:
Premium cabins are expensive. That's a fact that's not in dispute. If you want to fly in premium cabins, then I would expect to either pay a lot in dollars or pay a lot in points. You can't have it any other way, otherwise everyone would be sitting in Business/First all the time, and no one would be sitting in economy

I realise that you mentioned you didn't want to pay for AAdmirals Lounge/QC membership, but one of those might be the cheaper way to have lounge access. Use the money you've saved on a nice restaurant or nice hotel.

Also, be aware that if you are travelling to out-of-the-way places, there might not even be a lounge or the lounge might be pretty ordinary.

Good luck with your travels!

 

[globetrooper]

Many thanks for the advice DrR and AC.

That's a good idea; one of us can focus on QFF one on AA. Not sure how likely it is, but we may be able to book one award RTW and use the other paid RTW to go for AAPlat. But consensus seems to be that we shouldn't forget pricing in aiming to achieve status or points.

Thanks all for the advice and input.