Buying Qantas top-up points with a bonus: Worth it?

[DejaBrew]

And for those considering it, also consider this…

Thread 'Qantas Wine latest offering'

Aug 24, 2012

bonus 2000 FF's if you buy 2 (6 bottle) cases
I have sampled the Wolf Blass 05 Black Label and can recommend it, however I am after some guidance on the Yering Shiraz/Voigner please?

• boylero
• wine
• Replies: 4,975
• Forum: Qantas Wines & Virgin Wines

 

[MELso]

Best value is 1.78cpp for 60K points or more.

Buy Blue Pyrenees Premium Red Six | Qantas Wine is 1.77cpp if you want some (very decent) wine...

 

[Walloper]

I buy points all the time - but - only when a bonus is included, eg, now.

I don't drink so the wine club is of no value to me - and I'm not going to buy them and try and resell!

I only redeem at J and F so the reality is that I'm always paying less by points than cash. Admittedly, the value in purchase and use has devalued over the years but it is still much, much cheaper to buy points than cash fares.

We redeem at least twice a year on long haul (we don't use points on domestic ever - no value even on my argument).

I've been flying this way for over 20 years. These days I don't have to worry about preplanning too much - retired - so the "new" short notice availability actually seems to help me.

Admittedly, QF are the worst value redemptions due to the exorbitant fees they charge but it still meets my saving on cash fares goals.

Finnair (currently on sale too) are good value redemptions and going anywhere via Helsinki is OK. By the by, I did a stop-over in HEL last month and loved the city.

Alaska points are simply wonderful with redemptions across OneWorld with next to no fees.

American points seem to be OK (well for me) but their metal is generally atrocious and don't start me about their cabin crews.

I've just drawn down all my points except for QF on a sector by sector RTW trip using Finnair, Alaska, American and Qantas points. No dramas at all getting ticketed for ADL-SYD-DBX-HAM-HEL-DFW-SEA-ICN-KUL-ADL over six weeks. Off to the USA west coast later in the year.

As I say not being too worried about "when" is advantageous too.

So - only buy on special, only redeem on J and F, only redeem on long haul, only use the multiple city booking engine if using QF points, don't be frightened to buy AA and AS points and never use BA (metal laughably bad, likewise cabin crew - and if landing/departing in the UK the govt fees are really, really bad on top of BA's cruel fees).

And if you do drink (or resell) wine then take the advice of the wine clubbers above - it's really good.

Happy to take queries. You can criticise my methodology too if you like - but I doubt that it will change me now .



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[henrus]

With a Qantas premium wine subscription you get the above for 1.71c per point thanks to the points you earn from the case in addition to the bonus.

 

[moa999]

2.75c/ point reducing to 1.83c/ point.. no thanks.

 

[fletty]

The numbers don't lie, but I can't bring myself to buy them.
I think it's more because I don't have an immediate redemption in mind, and with fletty_jnr here my wings are slightly clipped

I have bought United miles before when they had a bonus as I had a guaranteed upgrade I could apply them to immediately. Same for Velocity - immediately SQ J redemption.

 

[DejaBrew]

You can criticise my methodology too if you like - but I doubt that it will change me now .

Horses for courses. If buying points like this suits you and your goals, then power to you. I’ve done it before so I’m not going to criticise anyone else who does it, but it’s important for folks to understand that buying points is not the only strategy.

 

[DC3]

I buy points all the time - but - only when a bonus is included, eg, now.

I don't drink so the wine club is of no value to me - and I'm not going to buy them and try and resell!

The QF wines can be useful as gifts (and sometimes for those that you don’t really like).

 

[aikman]

Someone tell me how this isn't a great deal...What am i missing?

Purchase 150,000 points with a 75,000 bonus during the promo periods (225,000) for $4000 + $35 in fees ($4035)

Book a classic rewards flight from SYD-LAX in business return for 216,000 Points + $530 in taxes and fees

$4035 + $530 = $4565 To buy and book with points

Or pay $7800 AUD to book with cash.

What am i missing here? Provided you have flexibility using classic rewards and buy the points during the bonus periods

It'll cost 260,200 points from August 5. Either way, if there are classic rewards available on your date of choice then that's great. It is not the case for the majority of people.

 

[fletty]

Someone tell me how this isn't a great deal...What am i missing?

Purchase 150,000 points with a 75,000 bonus during the promo periods (225,000) for $4000 + $35 in fees ($4035)

Book a classic rewards flight from SYD-LAX in business return for 216,000 Points + $530 in taxes and fees

$4035 + $530 = $4565 To buy and book with points

Or pay $7800 AUD to book with cash.

What am i missing here? Provided you have flexibility using classic rewards and buy the points during the bonus periods

Nothing to miss provided you can actually get the J CR return.

 

[bussyboy]

Example case for buying points​

I did some analysis for a friend who's member year ends 30 June, uses points/cash for bookings in Y around 8 times a year and currently around 68k QFF in the bank.

She's also 20k short from Points Club - so considered purchasing for this. The fact she had points club this year meant that her redemptions earned SC's and she just made Silver for the first time, which she'd like to keep, though struggles to understand the game we all play here. Wine is cheaper - but wasted to try and convince her of this.

She has plans to fly to CMB in about 6 weeks. Buying the 20k QFF would mean she could redeem them for Y flights, but overall there's minimal value to be had - around $150 immediate cash saving against buying the cash fare. If the trip doesn't go ahead, there may be no value after the changes to redemptions later this year.

Overall, really difficult to see the economics in buying points unless they were being used for non-economy seats.
I suggested instead that buying 60k points and fly the return flight back to Australia (overnight) on UL business class, for a total outlay of $2,200. Totally worth it for the 10hr flight and a good sleep IMO!