Converting IHG to Qantas

[Disco]

Hello, I am a novice in the loyalty programme world and this website and I am having problems getting my head around the different loyalty programmes; the most effective accumulation of points and the transfer of points between different programmes. E.g the IHG program states points can be converted to Qantas 'miles'. Is that literally 'miles', or 'points' and is it worth buying IHG points. Just noticed a new offer which came through today.

I realise these questions may well have been answered before - been 'lurking' according to the website - and if anyone can give me a comprehensive link it would be appreciated,

Thanks for any constructive comments,

 

[markis10]

Welcome to AFF, points VS miles tends to be a bit confusing but you can convert 10000 IHG points to get 2000 miles in Qantas Frequent Flyer, but you will get better value elsewhere, such as buying Epiqure wine. IHG points are best left for IHG, 5000 points will get you a hotel room with some planning/keeping an eye on points breaks, 1000 QFF points won't.

Some other program's are handy for washing points through from credit cards, ie Starwood, where transferring 20000 points results in a 25000 mile credit to selected program's, while they don't convert to QF, they do AA for instance, so that's well on the way to a business class flight to Asia with Qantas using AA.

 

[Disco]

Thanks Markis. It has never occurred to me to use AA points - although we've been to the US - for a Qantas flight to Asia. I have accumulated points in United which I think is about to be absorbed by one of the other airlines. I will check on Starwood: we move around a fair bit but I haven't bothered optimizing our reward programmes to suit. Matter of time & maths, have to run it past the mathematician who is usually 200% occupied with other things.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Welcome to forum

Moving points/miles from one loyality program to another, tends to result in a loss of value, as Marks post above. However this is not always the case. Points/miles in loyality programs often have expiry dates. So moving those can be better than loosing them.

United Airlines is still around.
US Airways is going to merge with American Airlines (subject to legal, etc, ). UA Airways miles will convert to AA miles

 

[JohnK]

Most times it would not be worth it to convert points from Hotel programs to airline points/miles.

I have ~320,000 IHG points which if converted to Qantas are ~64,000 QFF points. I can stay ~13 nights in a Holiday Inn at 25,000 IHG points per night or a return SYD-BKK + taxes and surcharges on Qantas.

 

[zainman]

what is the buy miles offer the OP is referring to? is it better than the book+cancel trick?

 

[JohnK]

what is the buy miles offer the OP is referring to? is it better than the book+cancel trick?

Not quite. I think it works out to 90,000 IHG points for ~USD690.

 

[serfty]

Earn rates have to be considered as well.

At face value for example, a base level SPG member wound need to spend USD10,000 to earn those 20,000 points to transfer to 25,000 AA miles, a Gold or Platinum USD6,667.

IHG is a little different but a base level at mid-range properties needs to spend a little under USD10,400 to earn 125,000 point to transfer to 25,000 AA miles.

Of course, bonus points can complicate things with IHG where reports abound in the regions of, say, 30,000 points for $200 stays.

FWIW, I try to retain a minimum of 5000 IHG points.

I have converted more IHG points to airline miles than I have ever redeemed for stays - but that suits me better as Hilton has been my main program - IHG is a mere backup.

75,000 AA miles and ~$90 will get a return journey between Australia/NZ and the USA in economy (That can be PER-//-BOS vv) (125K & ~$90 in Business class).

 

[Disco]

Wow; thanks people for those helpful comments. I will absorb and get back if any further queries.

 

[JohnK]

Of course, bonus points can complicate things with IHG where reports abound in the regions of, say, 30,000 points for $200 stays.

You couldnt do this with every stay though. Could you?

A lot of the bonus points are once off every 90 days and some do not stick a second time around. I got 30,000+ IHG points recently but before that was just normal earn.

 

[bryanjones]

Most times it would not be worth it to convert points from Hotel programs to airline points/miles.

I have ~320,000 IHG points which if converted to Qantas are ~64,000 QFF points. I can stay ~13 nights in a Holiday Inn at 25,000 IHG points per night or a return SYD-BKK + taxes and surcharges on Qantas.

Or take advantage of the 5000 point breaks nights and stay for a month, and have some change for next time

 

[serfty]

You couldnt do this with every stay though. Could you?
...

No - that's why I excluded such from my specific examples.

 

[JohnK]

Or take advantage of the 5000 point breaks nights and stay for a month, and have some change for next time

I would to see Pointbreaks available when I am on holiday but that very rarely happens.

I would even settle for 15,000 IHG points/night for Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express. Cant seem to get that either.

 

[TonyHancock]

It's all relative though. I convert a couple of hundred thousand points a year to QF from IHG. Sure it's not the best conversion rate but I spend so much time on paid hotel stays a holiday for me is a couple of weeks at home.

So for me 40,000 QF points is worth more to me that 200,000 IHG points. :-O