Best advice on AFF

[gaz0303]

After another week travelling in row 4 as a non-WP, it made me think about the single best piece I have received on AFF. Here's my top 3 in order:

1. T-80 seat selection. Too many row 4's on 737s or exit rows for free to count.
2. Alitalia status match - goes back a few years now but being alerted to to the ability to match my QF Gold to an obscure Italian airline aligned with skyteam made travelling throughout SE Asia ports with Garuda and Vietnam manageable.
3. Finding QF reward flights to UK by searching through the multi-flight portal, connecting through HKG or SIN. Always been able to find rewards when I wanted to travel.

Honourable mention to the mixed Y/J fare to UK via HKG with Finnair and credit card churning tips.

What's the best info you have found on this site?

 

[Dr Ralph]

I've received some very significant and useful advice since joining AFF. I am very grateful for it. Most useful have been:

1) Churn and burn credit cards as quickly as possible. As soon as you get the bonus points cancel and move on to the next offering. There's never been a good enough reason for me to hold any credit card.

2) Trying to get to the US? Go CX via Hong Kong. Multiple destinations possible. I've never missed out on getting a flight. Although planning ahead is critical.

 

[OZDUCK]

I also used the Finnair information for a trip to Ireland, so that is my favourite so far.

 

[Denali]

Don't be afraid to connect and enjoy those extra SCs.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Best advice? Well for me it was not any one piece of advice but more the light bulb going off that opportunities abound, and that the biggest opportunities are when you take advantage of a benefit/promo in a way that the provider did not intend, and that perhaps just importantly that you act, and act promptly.

That moment for me was when I read The Pudding Guy story and that then induced a huge thirst for FF knowledge which I fuelled on this site in particular, but also in others. That knowledge and willingness to act has allowed me my own Pudding Guy Times. One much larger, and some almost as good and many that were very, very nice

To think outside the square and push the FF envelope has been enormously lucrative as well as satisfying. Following the herd can be good, but finding your own loopholes can be fun and lucrative too.

So build your knowledge, think out side the square and act promptly.

 

[craven morehead]

Originally for me was the now defunct MASA , JASA & FASA made an absolute pig of myself on these mostly JASA's

 

[gaz0303]

ATO, JASA, MASA, FASA, TRs, WOWEDR, gift cards, lounges, expert flyer, madrooster, vouchers .... the list is endless.

Come on play the game Rank the top 2 or 3. We all know plenty of good advice on here, but what has made the most difference?

 

[amaroo]

Sorted ... Where does it state it's restricted to three? You mentioned 5 in your post, LOL !

See ya...

 

[pgsdiver]

MY Top 3:
1. ATO Payments by Credit Cards - I wish I'd found this sooooo much sooner (sob).
2. Suites Savers redemptions on SQ - I fall in love every time I travel this way - and not just with the Singapore Girls - hard product, on-board dining, lounges, service are all beyond reproach.
3. The various Status Run threads that have scraped me across the line into Gold or WP more times than I deserved.

My slogan should be changed to "There's gold in them thar forums, boy! Now, go git it!"
Rgds,
Pete

 

[boomy]

Before joining I was blindly loyal to QF and AFF opened my eyes to the world of points and miles.

My Top 3:

1. How to use points and miles to fly J and F on various airlines at literally a fraction of the cost.

2. How to maximise credit card signups and spending (sign, spend, cancel, rinse and repeat).

3. Not related to flying, useful info on the various wine threads helped me to purchase quality wines at significant discounts.

 

[LadyC]

1. The old points ASAs were a winner
2. Just understanding credit cards, sign on bonuses and points earning has changed our travel significantly
3. Learning about SQ and its reward program

 

[juddles]

"HUACA"

 

[BriarFlyer]

I'm a relative newcomer, but the AFF community has helped me to pointy-end travel that would never have been possible without:

1. credit card sign-on bonuses
2. increasing, exponentially, my points/miles earning opportunities using credit cards
3. searching and finding award space on a variety of carriers

 

[harvyk]

+1 for T-80 / JASA's

But I guess the big thing for me is the confidence to be devious in how I earn and burn my points.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

As a mainly recreational flier, I almost don't know where to start, I knew absolutely nothing before discovering this site. Top 3 has to include:

1. Points accumulation whether that be actual flying (why fly direct), card churn, wow, ato, epiqure, the list goes on and on. Many of the things aren't secret to the wider community but it is the way we as a group maximise (exploit) these offerings that differentiate us from the rest

2. 280K awards just give me anyway, my biggest bang for buck. Two in the last 4 years and the knowledge and confidence for many more in the future.

3. Understanding and maintaining status. At best Mrs Nick and I have one major trip a year, maybe a couple of domestic trips, incorporating status credit earn in those trips (particularly USA domestic first) has allowed us over the last 6 years to maintain SG for all but one year without necessarily spending more than we would have anyway. Who would have thought NY to BOG via MIA could actually include ORD and DFW, get me there at the same time and for less money

Notwithstanding the above three, my best piece of advise to anybody wanting to get the most out of their flying would be to join this site and community in the first place. So much information and so many people willing to take the time to listen and happily share their knowledge whenever they felt they could help.

 

[cove]

ATO thread
Credit card sign ons
Amex Platinum Edge for 5% off Woolies gift cards for 3 points per dollar.
Kris Flyer Amex from Westpac for Kris Miles as ATO was starting to trial credit card payments.
Status runs from Perth to New York with Double Status to go WP in one go in business class with stops.
The FASA and JASAs were fun while they were running.

 

[bertflyer]

For me it's:
-MASA/JASAs. Those were heady days
-T-80 you would never know about this without AFF
-The many fabulous non QF lounge options around the globe available to SGs and above
-being able to get really good advice about a specific route/lounge/airport as I'm planning trips

 

[OATEK]

In order:
1. T-80
2. EF
3. Options for International J

 

[JohnK]

Some of the important ones

- Complimentary exit rows for QF Platinum, sort of an unwritten benefit that call centre were not aware of and would try to discourage you from requesting over the phone
- Gift vouchers to book flights and save the then $7 credit card surcharge which increased to $7.70 at some point
- Hang up and call again

The reason I'd found AFF was to try and maximise economy SCs earn on trips to Thailand. I'd sort of worked what needed to be done but wanted some clarification/advice. I have found quite a few glitches over the years. Some have been posted here, some were shared at drinks/dinners.

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Honestly I don't feel like I've really played 'the game' to any great extent. Lady Lenny and I aren't high earners and we're not overly keen on recycling credit cards over and over, so the big ticket points earning opportunities tend to pass us by. No big overseas J redemptions for us or overly convoluted routings to Europe (although I'd love that, flying is exhausting Lady Lenny atm and she doesn't fly well when she's exhausted).

What I've found most helpful is the wealth of knowledge in the community from frequent travelers. E.g. what to expect at unfamiliar airports, local insights about destinations and hotels etc. Also the ability to pass on some of the knowledge and tips that I've picked up on my journeys.

The actual best advice/help I've received here so far though is mostly confirmation of what I already suspect/think I know about trips/destinations/border controls etc. That all helps make things smoother for when I travel, either for work or leisure, and I find that invaluable. I'm happy to guess at what I know and see how it goes, but to have a trusted source of confirmation from AFF makes quite a difference!!