Choice Magazine: "Frequent Flyer Schemes Not Worth It"

[airtraveladdict]

Re: Article: Frequent Flyer Failure?

Great article IMHO.

The more the general public at large view FF incentives as valueless the less likely they are to persue them which will lead to less and less FF redemptions which will mean more chances for frequent redemption flyers to capitalise - PERFECT.

LOL I tend to agree with you.

 

[airtraveladdict]

Re: Article: Frequent Flyer Failure?

Well it comes down to what the person knows and how they use their FF.

I think Choice is looking at frequent flyer points from an isolated POV, not counting SC tier, the benefits of higher level status etc.

I'm new to all this FF point, SC thing and only became an addict about 2 months ago. And now I will join any program that is free to get any points I can my grubby hands on. Normal stuff/bills is paid by credit cards that reward 1.25 points per $1, supermarket spending is 3 points per $1, petrol is 2 points per $1 and there are always rewards like 10 points per $1 at JB-hifi or harvey norman, and when using the airline's branded loyalty CC to pay for the ticket to get 3 points per $1 + bonus.

And i make sure now that the programs I belong to have a 1:1 conversion ratio, whereas in the past, i was a noob and belong to credit cards with 0.5:1 conversion ratio.

Then you have deals where you link your car/home insurance to get 10 points per $1 or link your home phone/mobile/internet to your program for 2 points per $1.

And then you get credit card companies throwing 60,000 points at you to change to them.

Before you even set foot on a plane, you have already chalked up enough points for a flight to Singapore on business class one way.

Sure in Australia our loyalty programs are no where as near as generous as the American ones.

But if you were flying 13 times to USA a year, which choice used as an example in their test, you would have qualified for Platinum SC, so access to first class lounges, dedicated check-in, security, luggage priority, upgrades, etc.

And we all know the best way of using your points isn't redeeming all of it for 1 flight, you research the date you want to fly on expertflyer or the airline's own booking system and look for award seats, then buy the ticket and upgrade with points.

 

[LovemyCC]

Ff programs are to reward members and loyalty. I only fly a meager 4 return flights a year however if merge with credit card rewards it adds up to around $300 of value. I certainly don't pay extra for flights, just fly which ever has best value.

 

[Alanslegal]

As long as a person can redeem 96,000 points for a Sunbeam Toaster, then I am all for frequent flyer programs.

Let us savvy'ier flyers fly in J and F, whilst being subsidised by that 'toaster' flyer.

 

[airtraveladdict]

As long as a person can redeem 96,000 points for a Sunbeam Toaster, then I am all for frequent flyer programs.

Let us savvy'ier flyers fly in J and F, whilst being subsidised by that 'toaster' flyer.

LOL yes, throw in a kettle as well.

 

[Awesom Andy]

As long as a person can redeem 96,000 points for a Sunbeam Toaster, then I am all for frequent flyer programs.

Let us savvy'ier flyers fly in J and F, whilst being subsidised by that 'toaster' flyer.

If it's made out of gold, with diamonds all over it, I may consider it over an F flight.