AFF Point Valuations

[sydney slug]

This would have taken an enormous amount of work. Well done.

It's interesting to compare to equivalent projects in the US: see, eg, Reasonable Redemption Values (RRVs).

It's striking that, as you note, this chart doesn't include Qantas' upcoming devaluation, which will drop their value. With that next drop, Qantas points will start to get very close to Classic Plus (1.5c/pt in premium cabins). As I've mentioned elsewhere, it means Qantas has solved the award availability problem — by devaluing points so much that Classic Plus basically reflects what they're worth!

At some point surely businesses begin to ask their shoppers whether they want these less and less useful qantas points or 1% off their bill?

 

[Waddygib]

[points earned when booking with cash] was not part of the calculations

Curious why not? This would increase the "effective" cost of the flight (in points) y 10-20% would it not? Seems very material especially in a world of 2% surcharges.

 

[Kremmen]

We've just updated our Point Valuations for both airline and credit card points.

You've added Alaska Atmos. Why not add American AAdvantage? That's much bigger and generally better value than Atmos. Also it can combine multiple OW carriers in a booking, while Atmos is still a mess in that regard.

 

[burmans]

You've added Alaska Atmos. Why not add American AAdvantage? That's much bigger and generally better value than Atmos. Also it can combine multiple OW carriers in a booking, while Atmos is still a mess in that regard.

Having quite a few Aadvantage points myself I agree but hard to earn them these days in Oz. Whereas Alaska is quite easy.

 

[flyguy77]

I still don't understand how you can do all this analysis and with a straight face say a Qantas Point is more valuable than a Krisflyer Mile...

 

[aikman]

The only way I can make peace with these valuations is to distinguish them from market value.

AFF might value them at X cents but it doesn't mean that is what you get in the real/actual market when it comes time to earn/redeem.

 

[PrueF]

Why is much of the text in this article in such a pale blue font that it is impossible to read? I don't know if it's relevant, but I'm using a Firefox browser.

 

[Mattg]

Why is much of the text in this article in such a pale blue font that it is impossible to read? I don't know if it's relevant, but I'm using a Firefox browser.

I'm not seeing this - any chance you could post a screenshot please of an example?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The only way I can make peace with these valuations is to distinguish them from market value.

AFF might value them at X cents but it doesn't mean that is what you get in the real/actual market when it comes time to earn/redeem.

I guess it comes down to the minimum value you should be getting for your points. If it costs your 1c to get them, but you’re redeeming for .5c, that could be a problem.

My issue is with the determination of ‘value’.

How many people in the points-chasing game would realistically spend $11,000 on a return to London for Qantas or Singapore Airlines business class. Or $22k for a couple?

So valuing an award against the $11k seems unrealistic. Most people wouod see the alternative on Cathay/JAL/Thai for $7k and buy that instead. So the $11k QF fare really needs to be adjusted to $7k - what most people would reasonably buy - and value on that basis.

I value my awards against aeroplan. That prices SE Asia at AUD1800 return, NE Asia and India at $2400 return, and Europe at $4400 return. It doesn’t matter how expensive the QF business class ticket retails for, the max I can value it as is $4400, because that’s the most amount of money I’m saving.

I still don't understand how you can do all this analysis and with a straight face say a Qantas Point is more valuable than a Krisflyer Mile...

Because you can use one of them?

 

[PrueF]

I'm not seeing this - any chance you could post a screenshot please of an example?

This article is just an example. They all have this same issue.

 

[burmans]

Because you can use one of them?

From memory Matt stated somewhere above it’s because QF was easier to use, not sure I agree with this logic. As far as ease of use, while I do understand in recent times KF points have been harder to use, in general over the last many years KF have been both easier and much cheaper to use,

 

[MEL_Traveller]

From memory Matt stated somewhere above it’s because QF was easier to use, not sure I agree with this logic. As far as ease of use, while I do understand in recent times KF points have been harder to use, in general over the last many years KF have been both easier and much cheaper to use,

I have found star alliance partner awards on Aeroplan, and also VA awards on the velocity site - all ‘lowest’ awards - and they simply haven’t been available via SQ

I think Qantas points are far more readily usable for an Australian resident than say SQ’s.

SQ’s are great if you want to redeem on SQ metal. But for others, or for things like being able to access domestic awards?

 

[aleadoux]

This article is just an example. They all have this same issue.

View attachment 485758

HI @PrueF ,
I work with Matt and will help you with this issue.
I am unable to replicate the link colour issue on Firefox (both Mac and PC).
Are you able to advise me on which version of Firefox you are using? I am using the latest version which is 146.
Adam.