Best use of card

[Steve_C]

Hi all,

I am new here so forgive me if this has been asked. I did a search but can't find anything recent.

I have a CBA platinum MC with Amex added, annual fee $AU59. 2.5 points/$ for Amex and 1 point/$ for MC. I don't go out of my way to accumulate points but use the cards for everything I can for normal living expenses. I don't use the cards to pay bills where there is a CC surchage as I figure it is not worth spending $2 to get a $0.005 benefit! I also pay the CC on time and don't ever have to pay interest.

I currently have 42000 points which equates to a $230 Flight Centre credit. I need to go to Sydney - Melbourne later this year, is it better to use FC credit or sweep points to Virgin? I have Velocity, QFF, Hawaiian and emirates FF cards, some with points, some not. I have used FC credits in the past for flights without worrying if it is value for money.

I do not plan on changing my card to another provider at any time soon, having said that is there any card which gives better FF conversions? I only ever plan on using the points for flights.

I quick check seem to indicate that Velocity gives about $0.01 per point at least on the Melbourne run.

Is Flybuys worth it for points as we shop at Coles and buy Shell / Coles petrol?

Regards,

Steve

 

[Colin 2905]

Hi Steve, and welcome.

If I've looked at the right CommBank card, those 42,000 CommBank points would get you 21,000 Velocity points. That's enough for three Sydney to Melbourne one-way flights, although you do have to pay $21.11 in addition to the 6900 points for each flight.

Based on a random date I picked, about 1¢ per point is about right. By my own personal benchmark, I'd pay cash instead, and save the points for something else. (I usually aim to get at least 1.5¢ worth out of each point.)

Card-wise, what you have is probably somewhere in the middle of the pack. My current strategy is....

Amex Platinum Edge: Each whole dollar spent at major supermarkets gets you the equivalent of three Velocity points (but you can also transfer them to several other FF programs.... just not Qantas). Buy gift cards at supermarkets to use elsewhere.

NAB Velocity Platinum: 1.5 Velocity points per dollar on the Amex (the Visa card is sitting in a drawer)..... I use this for non-supermarket spend (and assuming no gift card availability), where Amex is accepted without a surcharge.

Citibank Signature Visa: Each whole dollar spent gets you the equivalent of one Velocity point (or Singapore Kris Flyer point, if you prefer).... For when Amex is no good, and no gift cards.

Check out the credit card section of the forum more more ideas and offers.