Companion Airfare Deals

[idle1002]

I am investigating the different C/Cs offering FF points and am very new to the whole concept. What is usually offered if companion airfare deals are part of the package? Are they something to look for?

 

[New Chump]

Welcome to AFF, idle1002.

Not many cards offer companion airfare deals. There are other threads on this site that comment on some them that do eg American Express Platinum Charge Card (which also comes with a hefty $900 annual fee).

As you are "investigating the different C/Cs offering FF points", it probably fair to say that companion airfare deals are not high on the list of pre-requisite card features for most people using this site, who tend to prefer cards with higher FF earn rates (ie > 1 point per dollar spent) and low/no annual fees. Everyone is different - some card features are more attractive to some people than to others.

Some of the potential problems with companion airfare deals are that:

1. You may be able to source the two fares elsewhere for a better price. The ACCC got nasty with AMEX recently for the way AMEX advertised its "free" companion airfare deals.

2. Companion airfare deals usually require Business/First class travel.

3. Watch out for the partner airlines linked to the card's companion airfare deal, and the permitted destinations ie don't expect to be able to fly Qantas to London or LA on the deal.

No doubt others on this site who have used a companion airfare deal (I haven't) may be able to comment on their value.

Cheers

NC

 

[Platy]

Nothing to do with CC's but you can get some great companion fare deals on QF and BA at certain times of the year, but not necessarily ex Oz - for example some recent ones ex UK

http://www.travelmood.com/site/hotoffers/flights/default_oznzJclass.asp

They are business fares and some are extremely attractive

 

[idle1002]

Moving Right Along: Your Thoughts on C/C Features??

thanks New chump and Platy,

Don't think I'll bother much about choosing a card with companion airfares then.

From what I've read on this site it seems that the best cards for our business and personal are Amex Rewards Gold at least for the first year fee free (might then go up to Platinum if it makes sense) and the Woolies Ezy M/C. Does anyone know if Woolies & Big W take AMEX? As we already have a standard CBA Visa with points on it I have enquired about upgrading it to Platinum to take advantage of those points at 1:1 instead of 2:1 as is currently, then thought I'd ditch that card after the first year. Does anyone know if it is possible to switch from CBA Visa standard to CBA M/C Platinum and transfer the points. The CBA M/C seems to be perceived as a better deal on other threads on this site. Also what's the feeling on the NAB Ant Visa? I see some advantages because it can be used on airlines not connected with QANTAS. Does Harvey World Travel take a big chunk out when booking through them?

 

[straitman]

Re: Moving Right Along: Your Thoughts on C/C Features??

thanks New chump and Platy,

Don't think I'll bother much about choosing a card with companion airfares then.

Does anyone know if it is possible to switch from CBA Visa standard to CBA M/C Platinum and transfer the points.

CBA will just open another points account to coincide with the new card. I have two CBA cards (substancially different) and this is what they've insisted on doing with me. :twisted:

Maybe someone has had a different/better experience :?:

 

[Mal]

Re: Moving Right Along: Your Thoughts on C/C Features??

CBA will just open another points account to coincide with the new card. I have two CBA cards (substancially different) and this is what they've insisted on doing with me. :twisted:

Maybe someone has had a different/better experience :?:

I've gone from Std Visa to Gold to Plat with my points following me... Not sure what would happen if I changed to a MC though.

 

[serfty]

Re: Moving Right Along: Your Thoughts on C/C Features??

... Does anyone know if Woolies & Big W take AMEX? ...

Yep :!:

BTW, With Woolworths Stores (Big W, Woolwoths, Safeway, DickSmith, Dan Murphies etc) an Ezy M/C earns 1¼ points per $.

 

[icarus]

If it helps, when the CBA Platinum M/C was first introduced I switched from a CBA Gold Visa to the Platinum, and to my surprise they let my points transfer on a 1:1 basis. So happy about that.

Something I was less happy about: CBA has something called a "Wealth Package" that for an annual fee of $300 gives you discounts on mortgage rates, a free gold card etc (but you have to take the gold card to qualify). I was told that I could have a Platinum card instead of a gold card to maintain the package - but *after* the event discovered that there is no discount on the fee for the Platinum card.

Now, I didn't necessarily expect to have the whole of the fee waived, but I'd have thought CBA could discount it by the amount of the gold card fee which is waived, especially as by taking the platinum card they actually get more of my business and charge a higher interest rate.

On the subject of the Wealth Package, the other irritating thing is that the great benefit it offered initially was a personal manager who would deal with your banking. Mine was fantastic - I didn't call her often, but when I did, she immediately knew my accounts, understood my priorities and could do whatever needed to be done. CBA seems now to have sacked these people and replaced them with a generic panel of chimps who know nothing about anyone's account and you never manage to speak to the same one twice in a row.

The $300 fee is still worth it for the discount on my mortgage, but for how much longer I don't know. I like the Platinum Card, though, and as it's for personal spending I'm unlikely to breach the cap on points.

 

[Maca44]

Re: Moving Right Along: Your Thoughts on C/C Features??

... Does anyone know if Woolies & Big W take AMEX? ...

Yep :!:

BTW, With Woolworths Stores (Big W, Woolwoths, Safeway, DickSmith, Dan Murphies etc) an Ezy M/C earns 1¼ points per $.

Serfty, you are probably still better off using the AMEX Rewards Maximiser and get 1.5 points per $ when shopping at the above stores and just keep the Ezy card for times when AMEX is not accepted.

 

[blundeni]

Absol;utely this is exactly how I work it - AMEX Maximiser for everything possible, or the Woolies card if AMEX is not accepted.

Also have the NAB Velocity VIS for the 15k points plus the use of a VISA card for when you get extras for using it - like extra points at the Marriot for paying with Visa

Cheers

 

[idle1002]

Thanks everyone for all the help and advice. I've learned more from this site than I expected. I think I'll ask my questions about the NAB visa/amex on the dedicated thread.