Basic FF point questions please??

[TanyaB]

I'll be doing three trips in next three years - 2009 (UK/Paris), 2010 (Seoul) and 2011 (Italy)

For the 2010 trip in particular I'm hoping to get the fares on points. I started my Qantas FF balance with a trip to Singapore last year and will probably fly Qantas to UK next year. My husband will join the Qantas FF program before we leave next year. I have just subscribed to a magazine via Qantas FF website as I believe this will keep my Qantas FF Card "Current" Plus we have also just opened Westpac Altitude Rewards cards that are clocking up the points nicely as they are linked to our small business.

1. Will my Qantas FF points expire before Sept 2011?
2. Can my husband transfer his points to my balance (after he and I have travelled in 2009) and can I purchase two airfares (for myself and my son) to Seoul using these points or can I only use the points to purchase my own fare?
3. If I was to redeem our Altitude Rewards for Krisflyer points (even though I'm not a Krisflyer member at this time) could I purchase two airfares for myself and my son as per question above?

Naturally I realise the above will depend on points balance and through a previous thread I have had advice that if my points balance wasn't quite up to the total required I might be able to (for example) purchase a Melbourne return flight to Hong Kong or Singapore with points and then pay for a return flight to Seoul from that hub.

I know the above are basic questions - but navigating airline and banking websites to have these simple questions answered is easier said than done! So thanks for your help (yet again!) Your experience is certainly helping me make the most of the "system" and the way I can make it work to my advantage! Cheers.

 

[Evan]

1.) As long as you have some activity on your QF account in a 3 year period no points will expire. (A good thing about the QF program !)
2.) Yes, 1 family transfer per account allowed per 12 month period.
3.) I am not sure, i know SQ are a lot stricter on what you can do with there miles but its often easier to redeem on SQ from the ones i have redeemed.

E

 

[TanyaB]

Thanks for the reply Evan...just wondering...does a magazine subscription via Qantas Frequent Flyer equal "account activity"?

Also - just received the email late yesterday from Qantas about changes to some credit cards. The Westpac Altitude Rewards is one of the ones that will be changing - so I now I have to see what Westpac comes up with as its new QFF product for businesses! (Just when I thought I was all organised!!).

 

[straitman]

Thanks for the reply Evan...just wondering...does a magazine subscription via Qantas Frequent Flyer equal "account activity"?

Also - just received the email late yesterday from Qantas about changes to some credit cards. The Westpac Altitude Rewards is one of the ones that will be changing - so I now I have to see what Westpac comes up with as its new QFF product for businesses! (Just when I thought I was all organised!!).

TanyaB,

The transfer of points from your CC to your FF account is sufficient to satisfy the rules.

 

[oz_mark]

Thanks for the reply Evan...just wondering...does a magazine subscription via Qantas Frequent Flyer equal "account activity"?

Anything that changes the balance of your FF account is activity.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

TIP: For those without a CC dumping automatically into QFF, or other point earning activity, an easy way to get points to keep your account active is to buy something at a Fletcher Jones Store.

Shirt, tie whatever. So cab be quite low cost.

Is also handy if you are some points short of a desired award...as a new 3 piece suit might get you those points you need if you are say $500 short.


Besides Fletcher Jones you will find a few others such as Tyre suppliers etc....

 

[TanyaB]

Thanks so much everyone for this great info - just checking...if I have enough QFF points...can I purchase two return airfares for myself and my son with my points? (There's nothing silly like "the points in your account can only be used for travel by the account holder"??). With thanks for your help....learning all the time!!

 

[Mwenenzi]

You can get a QF reward flight for you son with your points. Note however it can be hard to get award seat and even harder to get 2 reward seats on the same flight. With QF you still need to pay $ for taxes & surcharges on rewards flights.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Thanks so much everyone for this great info - just checking...if I have enough QFF points...can I purchase two return airfares for myself and my son with my points? (There's nothing silly like "the points in your account can only be used for travel by the account holder"??). With thanks for your help....learning all the time!!

Yes..you can get them for all family members.

However, before you get too excited some of the more popular routes you would need to book your seats up to almost a year out to be sure of getting them.

Having said that you can get less popular routes at much shorter notice.

I have for example flown to Thailand and New Caledonia after only booking a few months in advance.

 

[TanyaB]

Thanks so much lovetravellingoz - as my son and I will be flying to Seoul we will probably use points for a Melbourne to Singapore or Hong Kong return, while purchasing a flight (with $$!) from SIN or HK to Seoul return. This may be the most "economical" way to spend points, $ and time. I've had a "play" on the frequent flyer website using some dummy dates late March/early April 2009 and whilst some days are not available, there still seem to be quite a few that have seats on offer. We will have some flexibility come the time to play with dates/routes etc. But thanks for the heads-up!

 

[TanyaB]

Hi Mwemenzi - sorry - forgot to say thanks for letting me know about taxes, surcharges etc. Now that you mention it - I had read about that somewhere but had completely forgotten! Will have to keep on eye on those "extras" so I can budget accordingly. Cheers.

 

[serfty]

Those taxes (or

) can be surprisingly high.

e.g. Look at this from a booking for two people one way MEL-SIN:

Points & Credit Card = 60,000 + $375.20 (AUD)*

 

[TanyaB]

Hi Serfty - is that one way or return? I thought it was 60,000 pts Melbourne - Singapore - Melbourne per person? If so - are those taxes/surcharges return as well or do I double them for return? Cheers!

 

[serfty]

As posted, 2 PAX ONE-WAY MEL-SIN.

Note, there's an Oz "Passenger Movement Charge" of $47 each in that.

The return is $340.95 per PAX - $681.90 for two. (+120,000 points)

 

[TanyaB]

Thanks Serfty - of course it was late and I hadn't read your post correctly Sorry! Thanks for the update...cheers

 

[KateMayo]

I've had a "play" on the frequent flyer website using some dummy dates late March/early April 2009 and whilst some days are not available, there still seem to be quite a few that have seats on offer.

Hi TanyaB,

If you continue through to the Review stage of the QFF award booking engine, whilst playing with some dummy bookings, it will show you the required taxes as well as points, without committing you to an actual booking. This should help with your budgeting.

 

[TanyaB]

So using points + paying taxes, surcharges etc will get me Melbourne - Hong Kong - Melbourne (or same points Melbourne - Singapore - Melbourne). How much will it cost me in $ to get a return flight from Hong Kong - Seoul - Hong Kong (or Singapore)? I've tried messing about on zuji and bestflights but get some really expensive flights (ie. over AU$1,000)..I might be doing it wrong, but again I've used dummy dates late March, early April.

IF the Asian return flights really are that expensive then it's almost the same as paying in full flying Melbourne-Sydney-Seoul-Sydney-Melbourne (Qantas/Asiana) for what seems to be about $1,800 and saving my points for something else??