Best FFP and CC for SYD-PRG and the odd flight around Aus and Europe

[beanni]

Hi all

I have been a member for a while but this is my first post. I have been wading through the wealth of great info on this site but I'm in information overload now and I am really not sure where to start. I know that my situation is a drop in the ocean compared to the majority of members on AFF, but I was hoping that some of the amazingly informed people on this site might be able to point me in the right direction.

My situation is this -

My family (partner and 4 y.o daughter and 1 more on the way) and I do a return trip SYD-PRG each year usually with KE. We also plan on doing maybe 1 return flight per year in Europe with a budget airline (like easyjet) or with OK and 1 or 2 return flights in Australia with VA or QF. Also with my work I alone do maybe 1 return flight per year in Australia with VA.

I am currently enrolled along with my partner, daughter, mother and father (they occasionally visit us in Europe) in KE Skypass so we can transfer points to each other. My partner and I are also enrolled in QFF but we have never really used it.

I have a citibank Signature credit card (free for life) thanks to a recent upgrade from Platinum and a previous upgrade from Gold. And an even bigger thanks to the members of this site for introducing me to the citibank Gold free for life in the first place.

My strategy -

Money is not tight but we are not exactly rolling in it either so I would like to learn how to maximize points so that I can reduce the cost of international flights (and to a lesser extent local flights) and/or get at least one upgrade for an adult from PRG-SYD (KE puts us up in a nice hotel near ICN for SYD-PRG leg but on the way home it is a 7 hour stopover in ICN, so if one of us could get upgraded PRG-SYD, it would make the flight bearable).

Some Questions -

• Should we stick with KE for our international flights? We used to fly only with QF/BA but found KE to be cheaper and as good if not better service also the free hotel in ICN on SYD-PRG and the 2 equal 10 hour legs make it good for the kids. However we are definitely open to other cheaper/better options.
• Should we stick with SKYPASS and QFF for our points or look at other options like Velocity and maybe Emirates Skywards or others?
• What other credit cards should I be using to maximize points in the right areas?
• Who should we focus on flying with in Australia - QF/VA/other? What about when in Europe (it will be ex PRG)?
• Any other ideas, strategies I should be employing?

Thanking you in advance oh great and wise ones

 

[serfty]

Welcome to AFF and your first post!

Have you considered the options for buying opoints then booking premium rewards directly?

 

[Jousams]

Hi all

I have been a member for a while but this is my first post. I have been wading through the wealth of great info on this site but I'm in information overload now and I am really not sure where to start. I know that my situation is a drop in the ocean compared to the majority of members on AFF, but I was hoping that some of the amazingly informed people on this site might be able to point me in the right direction.

My situation is this -

My family (partner and 4 y.o daughter and 1 more on the way) and I do a return trip SYD-PRG each year usually with KE. We also plan on doing maybe 1 return flight per year in Europe with a budget airline (like easyjet) or with OK and 1 or 2 return flights in Australia with VA or QF. Also with my work I alone do maybe 1 return flight per year in Australia with VA.

I am currently enrolled along with my partner, daughter, mother and father (they occasionally visit us in Europe) in KE Skypass so we can transfer points to each other. My partner and I are also enrolled in QFF but we have never really used it.

I have a citibank Signature credit card (free for life) thanks to a recent upgrade from Platinum and a previous upgrade from Gold. And an even bigger thanks to the members of this site for introducing me to the citibank Gold free for life in the first place.

My strategy -

Money is not tight but we are not exactly rolling in it either so I would like to learn how to maximize points so that I can reduce the cost of international flights (and to a lesser extent local flights) and/or get at least one upgrade for an adult from PRG-SYD (KE puts us up in a nice hotel near ICN for SYD-PRG leg but on the way home it is a 7 hour stopover in ICN, so if one of us could get upgraded PRG-SYD, it would make the flight bearable).

Some Questions -

• Should we stick with KE for our international flights? We used to fly only with QF/BA but found KE to be cheaper and as good if not better service also the free hotel in ICN on SYD-PRG and the 2 equal 10 hour legs make it good for the kids. However we are definitely open to other cheaper/better options.
• Should we stick with SKYPASS and QFF for our points or look at other options like Velocity and maybe Emirates Skywards or others?
• What other credit cards should I be using to maximize points in the right areas?
• Who should we focus on flying with in Australia - QF/VA/other? What about when in Europe (it will be ex PRG)?
• Any other ideas, strategies I should be employing?

Thanking you in advance oh great and wise ones

Hands down velocity, purely because of family pooling. You may be able to reach gold, but definitely silver .
Plus the option of 3.5 airlines to Europe (VS,SQ,EY,EY/VA)
CC wise some of the Amex cards are good with velocity. I have the nab velocity gold cards and they suit my CC spend (35k) okay.