Are the days of Points collecting over?

[SOPOOR]

I no longer have an amex and now only churn once in a blue moon due to annual fees

Surcharges on everything credit card
Points earning rates to various programs going from 1.5 to 0.5 or below

For me personally its no longer worth chasing any points,

I used to chase gift cards at supermarkets, paying all bills using credit cards, churning, and promotions such as bonus points

 

[CaptJCool]

So do we call churning the Age of the Dinosaur

While I know your point was relating to points, the overall volume of people of travelling internationally is only going to continue to go up as more and more of the world's population (which is also increasing) is becoming affluent enough to travel internationally.

It is one reason why my wife and I now tend to favour travelling to places off the beaten path as places like major cities, or well known sites/attractions are just swarming with tourists and queues. Apart from the swarm, what is then at that site/location is often a an ersatz experience. Sure we still visit major locations, but after each trip what we have most enjoyed enjoyed is always the lesser known locations and activities.



My wife and are just back from walking 400km through mainly Tuscany on the Via Francigena. We walked from hilltop village/town to hilltop village town. The "tourist" meccas like Siena and San Gimignano we overnighted at along the walk were just zoo's during the day. Whereas, there were many amazing villages we stopped at which where fabulous and largely deserted of travellers. There are just so many hilltop villages in Italy that most are just not visited much. Sometimes just as they say lack a good rail connection.

The dining was authentic, and much cheaper too and when dining rather than being just part of an international throng, we were often the only non-Italians there. Whereas is say Rome or Siena if you go to a restaurant you will mainly just be given the English tourist menu, rather thana menu based on what local seasonal produce is best at that time.

my kid took me out to Biella and Oropa

Home - Santuario di Oropa

Oropa is the most important and largest Sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary to be found in the Alps. It is located at 1200 mt. in Biella, Piemonte, Italy

www.santuariodioropa.it

Just magnificent
Although I did laugh at the blank walls of the family of David (clearly they hadn’t asked me for family paintings to adorn the empty wall haha

By no choice of our own, it was a 16km walk back to Biella along the old tramway embankment (well most the way) which was a lovely treat !

 

[lovetravellingoz]

my kid took me out to Biella and Oropa

By no choice of our own, it was a 16km walk back to Biella along the old tramway embankment (well most the way) which was a lovely treat !

Looks amazing....and a little walk is good for everyone

Before we started walking we explored the Garfagnana Region including the Calomini Hermitage which was built/carved into solid rock in the 17th Century and also is overhung by a 70m high cliff face. Though the site days back to the year 1000 AD..

 

[bPeteb]

They aren't over for us because we aren't 'we will only fly F or J travellers'.

bAlt flew PE BNE-JNB return on points. It was there for any frequent flyer to book. Last year he came back J JNB-BNE. I had to ring to ask but it was there.

I pay for my mainly Y flights and bAlt flies Y CRs. We collect points just from credit card spend and flying to pay for his, usually, Y fare.

I've had the same Amex for who knows how long and bAlt the same free ccard that came with a Suncorp mortgage many moons ago. I haven't churned a card for at least 10 years, maybe more.

Compared to nine out of 10 of you we fly infrequently, but amongst my fairly large circle of friends we fly more than anyone we know. The points we accrue the old fashioned way are part of what allows us to do that.

Maybe after I finish work this year, and hit LTG next, we'll be less concerned about points and just travel on bYfotd. Time will tell.

 

[Seat0B]

Maybe after I finish work this year,

Just a reminder to get your future credit cards approved and credit limits adjusted while you still have a payslip. Gets much harder in retirement.

There’s a whole thread on this here

 

[bPeteb]

Just a reminder to get your future credit cards approved and credit limits adjusted while you still have a payslip. Gets much harder in retirement.

There’s a whole thread on this here

In play already Seat0B and thank you

 

[SOPOOR]

With these upcoming Amex/qantas devaluation

I'm not even sure why anyone would bother from now on

There appears to be some remaining value in churning

However it now appears to be a situation of spend 250k and get a free toaster or. A local domestic flight in the economy

As a not so " old man yelling at the clouds" i feel like corporate greed has taken over, and i feel like a baby that's had their pacifier taken away

 

[aikman]

To secure business class rewards seats to Europe it takes time and effort to churn credit cards and chase points during promos. It takes even more time and effort to research reward seats and find a workable itinerary. After booking you still continuously check availability in case something better comes up. The whole process takes years and a countless number of hours. On top of the cost of acquiring points you still have to pay taxes, change fees and transit hotel costs on your indirect way to Europe.

Meanwhile the folks in economy spent a grand total of one hour of their life planning and booking their flight to Europe on a direct route. They also spent less money in total. They didn't get a flat bed to sleep on during the flight but they also didn't spend years of their life and a countless number of hours for the privilege of sitting in that business class seat.

Anyway, just something that has crossed my mind.

 

[Human]

To secure business class rewards seats to Europe it takes time and effort to churn credit cards and chase points during promos. It takes even more time and effort to research reward seats and find a workable itinerary. After booking you still continuously check availability in case something better comes up. The whole process takes years and a countless number of hours. On top of the cost of acquiring points you still have to pay taxes, change fees and transit hotel costs on your indirect way to Europe.

Meanwhile the folks in economy spent a grand total of one hour of their life planning and booking their flight to Europe on a direct route. They also spent less money in total. They didn't get a flat bed to sleep on during the flight but they also didn't spend years of their life and a countless number of hours for the privilege of sitting in that business class seat.

Anyway, just something that has crossed my mind.

It takes a special type of warped mind to regularly fly long-haul in Business class or higher using points. It always has.

Everything you write is true. But to my warped mind, that's part of the fun. It's like a hunt -- you spend hours and hours fruitlessly searching for your prey, but when you find it, you pounce! And it's all been worthwhile.

Like I say: it takes a warped mind. I love it. All of it, including the hours spent looking for seats and the effort chasing points. But that's just me.

 

[levelnine]

To secure business class rewards seats to Europe it takes time and effort to churn credit cards and chase points during promos. It takes even more time and effort to research reward seats and find a workable itinerary. After booking you still continuously check availability in case something better comes up. The whole process takes years and a countless number of hours. On top of the cost of acquiring points you still have to pay taxes, change fees and transit hotel costs on your indirect way to Europe.

Meanwhile the folks in economy spent a grand total of one hour of their life planning and booking their flight to Europe on a direct route. They also spent less money in total. They didn't get a flat bed to sleep on during the flight but they also didn't spend years of their life and a countless number of hours for the privilege of sitting in that business class seat.

Anyway, just something that has crossed my mind.

Good perspective.

Even for the people that love the hunt of finding award seats, they will have a breaking point where all the joy has been sapped out of the points game.

My guess would be a lot more people are going to hit that breaking point as the devaluations mounts and mount.

 

[elanshin]

Good perspective.

Even for the people that love the hunt of finding award seats, they will have a breaking point where all the joy has been sapped out of the points game.

My guess would be a lot more people are going to hit that breaking point as the devaluations mounts and mount.

I digress, for those that were truly in the game, the game has just shifted. The enjoyment is in the process as much as it is in the result.

Its the people that just wanted cheap business class+ flights that would be the first to leave.

 

[Human]

I digress, for those that were truly in the game, the game has just shifted. The enjoyment is in the process as much as it is in the result.

Its the people that just wanted cheap business class+ flights that would be the first to leave.

Totally agree. Part of the thrill of the hunt is finding new loopholes and sweet spots as the old ones close. They do exist. And as for people leaving the game, if they leave and I stay, that can only be good for me.

 

[levelnine]

I digress, for those that were truly in the game, the game has just shifted. The enjoyment is in the process as much as it is in the result.

Its the people that just wanted cheap business class+ flights that would be the first to leave.

100% disagree. Indeed, it is incredibly easy to prove you are wrong.

The world has hundreds of thousands of points programs. 99.9% of them attract no attention from anyone.

Indeed, even within the world of airline and hotel programs, there's only a small (and decreasing) number that attract attention.

Listen to the latest AFF on Air podcast and they talk about how they don't care about chasing points in most hotel programs because they are dynamically priced — they're simply a boring and poor cashback program these days. And that is from people who work in the points space (ie the most dedicated people imaginable!!!).

 

[dajop]

To secure business class rewards seats to Europe it takes time and effort to churn credit cards and chase points during promos. It takes even more time and effort to research reward seats and find a workable itinerary. After booking you still continuously check availability in case something better comes up. The whole process takes years and a countless number of hours. On top of the cost of acquiring points you still have to pay taxes, change fees and transit hotel costs on your indirect way to Europe.

Meanwhile the folks in economy spent a grand total of one hour of their life planning and booking their flight to Europe on a direct route. They also spent less money in total. They didn't get a flat bed to sleep on during the flight but they also didn't spend years of their life and a countless number of hours for the privilege of sitting in that business class seat.

Anyway, just something that has crossed my mind.

There is a third way. To suck it up for the 5-9 hour sectors between Australia and Asia and look for business class award from there (or alternatively just pay for a cheap cash fare from there).. Often easier than finding one all the way.

 

[levelnine]

Totally agree. Part of the thrill of the hunt is finding new loopholes and sweet spots as the old ones close. They do exist. And as for people leaving the game, if they leave and I stay, that can only be good for me.

And if every point was worth 1c each off a cash fare, where would be your sweet spot or loophole? Sounds like I found your breaking point pretty easily

 

[georgie23]

It’s much less about me but my wife's breaking point - and I just found it - direct flights only - looking at Japan next year for a Easter and no award without stops - not happening so direct flight it is. I have already spent hours looking for alternative options -Should have just bought the flight in economy and got on with life

 

[Human]

And if every point was worth 1c each off a cash fare, where would be your sweet spot or loophole? Sounds like I found your breaking point pretty easily

Well, I'm sure I have a breaking point. But at the moment I'm making more redemptions than ever, and flying more on points than ever.

If I have a breaking point, it's so far away that I can't even see it on the distant horizon.

 

[SYD]

There is a third way. To suck it up for the 5-9 hour sectors between Australia and Asia and look for business class award from there (or alternatively just pay for a cheap cash fare from there).. Often easier than finding one all the way.

There’s actually plenty of J reward seats to several “Asian” ports that open the door to incredibly good value J $ fares. That’s been our easy out post Covid.

I have recently seen interesting (one potential PNR) options ex SYD to Europe all in J (QF/EK) but didn’t have a need to book nor know for sure if the 1st transit point would cope (can be fickle).

 

[SOPOOR]

It takes a special type of warped mind to regularly fly long-haul in Business class or higher using points. It always has.

Everything you write is true. But to my warped mind, that's part of the fun. It's like a hunt -- you spend hours and hours fruitlessly searching for your prey, but when you find it, you pounce! And it's all been worthwhile.

Like I say: it takes a warped mind. I love it. All of it, including the hours spent looking for seats and the effort chasing points. But that's just me.

3-7 years ago, I was a serial points chaser, I would be at the post-office, supermarket twice a day 5 -6 days per week, on a few occasions i have driven across town to buy some gift cards, I found loopholes and other points accumulating techniques

I was pretty knowledgeable about velocity, qantas, kris. Emirates programs

I also did credit card churning, took advantage of amex offers

But now there is a surcharge on virtually every merchant, the devaluations have hit. I used to have cents per point value in would target, these days that target is virtually impossible.

In today's market I cannot find anything remotely worth it.

I question whether its my ability to find new opportunities or its just impossible. But I'm quite sad about it and feel lost, I am not a regular traveller but the combined 1-3 times per year for me and my parents, we have travelled in business and above

 

[levelnine]

Well, I'm sure I have a breaking point. But at the moment I'm making more redemptions than ever, and flying more on points than ever.

So am I, but all you've done is prove my point.