Are you a frequent flyer point addict

[kamchatsky]

Not sure if this is reported, but interesting read.

Cannot believe that Jetstar Platinum Mastercard is considered as top CCs. :shock:

Of course, at the end of the article, it asks:

"Is anyone else addicted to earning frequent flyer points? Do you think this is a rational or an off-the-rails pursuit? And have any of you changed your mind after giving the new Rewards Revealer a whirl?"

Confessions of a frequent flyer point addict

 

[cove]

Yes I have taken it too far.
The signs are:
Never wanting to pay for a ticket.
Wanting to travel in J or F only.
Getting scrubbed from WP and thinking "How do I stay Silver"?
I am sure there are other signs but it is hard to self diagnose.

 

[kamchatsky]

Yes I have taken it too far.
The signs are:
Never wanting to pay for a ticket.
Wanting to travel in J or F only.
Getting scrubbed from WP and thinking "How do I stay Silver"?
I am sure there are other signs but it is hard to self diagnose.

Yep, me too, even though I can still fly Y .... for now. But yes, always want to earn as many points as possible, without paying extra.

I would say your "Silver ambition" is really "status addict" instead (me too!).

 

[cove]

Seat selection vanishes is the thing that you suffer when you go down the slippery status slope beyond silver to bronze.
Real addicts will find this out even if they are Lifers in Qantas Club.

 

[kamchatsky]

Seat selection vanishes is the thing that you suffer when you go down the slippery status slope beyond silver to bronze.
Real addicts will find this out even if they are Lifers in Qantas Club.

You are right about seat selection. I am QF NB and my last flight with them, when I was early OLCI for SYD-ADL, I got allocated ..... 29B (last row)! :shock:

 

[cove]

In Ansett I got the very rear seat next to the staff jump seat.
That is how you tell if you have zero status.
I remember thinking "yep I have really made it to zero status by redeeming that quiz night prize"

 

[drewbles]

It's a good idea badly executed IMHO.

It fails to take into account those cards that give you a free flight (Amex QF Ultimate/Platinum CC etc), and the ability to reduce annual fees for most people (I pay nowhere near the fee for my card that's listed here).

With ASA as well now, this also fails to take the points value into account (ASA's can be a lot cheaper than classic awards as we know, especially if you're SG/WP).

Too many variables really. The JQ MC is a joke considering the cap on earn.

That said, I don't know how i'd do it better. They're trying to aim at a market that doesn't fly much and wants to just get free flights based on daily spend (and don't care which airline they fly of course).

 

[cove]

Being addicted can still be fun.
Taking more care of your frequent flyer points than your cash on hand could be a further sign of addiction.

 

[dajop]

Yes I have taken it too far.
The signs are:

A true sign of addiction is when you are flying some obscure airline in Burkina Faso (ok i exaggerate on this one) and you do the research and find out you can join up the Faso Flyer program for free ... so do. And so you accumulate various pieces of plastic, numbers and passwords for every airline you've ever flown on, and each account with only 721 point in it ..... Thank goodness for LCC's that all goes away.

 

[drewbles]

A true sign of addiction is when you are flying some obscure airline in Burkina Faso (ok i exaggerate on this one) and you do the research and find out you can join up the Faso Flyer program for free ... so do. And so you accumulate various pieces of plastic, numbers and passwords for every airline you've ever flown on, and each account with only 721 point in it ..... Thank goodness for LCC's that all goes away.

*looks at his Air Berlin card*

Nup. I'd never do that…

(and yes I know they're joining OW but they weren't 3 years ago when I flew 'em )

 

[kamchatsky]

It's a good idea badly executed IMHO.

It fails to take into account those cards that give you a free flight (Amex QF Ultimate/Platinum CC etc), and the ability to reduce annual fees for most people (I pay nowhere near the fee for my card that's listed here).

With ASA as well now, this also fails to take the points value into account (ASA's can be a lot cheaper than classic awards as we know, especially if you're SG/WP).

Too many variables really. The JQ MC is a joke considering the cap on earn.

That said, I don't know how i'd do it better. They're trying to aim at a market that doesn't fly much and wants to just get free flights based on daily spend (and don't care which airline they fly of course).

I wouldn't say badly executed on this one. Afterall, there are way too many variables to take into calculation. It really is for most people, who are QF NB, to get free flights based on simple amount spend on CCs, without needing a degree from AFF University on Frequent Flyer Management.

 

[Verde]

Another symptom may be not wanting to use the points.

Perhaps it dates back to computer games where you just want to score more points, so the idea of dropping points by using them is a bit of a battle.

I discovered this when I found the benefits of Qantas/Jetstar Any Seat Awards fares as a Status Credit earner via domestic business fares. I've vaguely been saving QFF points so my next trip to the USA would be return business rather than the economy I always have in the past. Yet it was amazing how reluctant I felt to use the points for an Any Seat Award domestic ticket - not that I wanted to keep them for my US trip - but that I just hated the thought of the balance dropping.

I'm sure I'll get over it. Sometime I am using the classic award for an Albury-Canberra-Newcastle flight once I've done the Rex flight to Melbourne as that way I'll have done every airline/destination from Albury in at least one direction (I've done the three Albury-Sydney options, just have the two others to go now but have booked a flight to Melbourne for early next year so that just leaves the Canberra flight).

 

[JohnK]

Another symptom may be not wanting to use the points.

I think you are right.

I am addicted to collecting frequent flyer points but very hesitant to use them.

 

[nlagalle]

Another symptom may be not wanting to use the points.

I can so relate to that!! I hate using them.. lol!! It's like a secret stash getting bigger and bigger!

 

[Flashback]

I can so relate to that!! I hate using them.. lol!! It's like a secret stash getting bigger and bigger!

I used to be like that, till my balance got to 250k so I figured I should start to use them. 78,625 points later and I'm flying F to Europe

 

[nlagalle]

I used to be like that, till my balance got to 250k so I figured I should start to use them. 78,625 points later and I'm flying F to Europe

Mine was over the 7 digit amount til I booked some christmas travel for the family to KGI..

 

[Flashback]

Mine was over the 7 digit amount til I booked some christmas travel for the family to KGI..

I'm sorry to hear that:!: :shock:

 

[nlagalle]

I'm sorry to hear that:!: :shock:

It was a distressing time let me tell you!! oh how i wish for another promo like the Amex of Spring of '08. Build the points up :mrgreen:

 

[Flashback]

It was a distressing time let me tell you!! oh how i wish for another promo like the Amex of Spring of '08. Build the points up :mrgreen:

I was referring to having to goto KGI, but fair call! :mrgreen:

 

[drron]

I was referring to having to goto KGI, but fair call! :mrgreen:

Well if it were triple miles to KGI I would go!
but no way am i an Addict.