Email from QFF [FF Account suspended]

[Matt_01]

points bought online (maybe 100K or 200K i really don't remember) and points transfered from my daughter in law (5000points)and from a friend (no money transaction as it was a gift 15000points)
i didn't know it was not allowed to buy or give points to people as many airlines are intelligent (you can do it on many airlines) and i didn't use it to buy any award ticket or to retain a status.

You lost me at "points bought online (maybe 100K or 200K i really don't remember)" maybe others have commented, I have however a quick google search would suggest that the value of 100K - 200K QFF points may have cost around AUD2300-4600, it hardly seems worth spending that much on QF points. I am not strapped for cash, however I would certainly notice that amount of coin charged to my CC. The 20K of points from daughter-in-law and "friend" can most likely be overcome and dealt with via a phone conversation.

There was a similar thread posted earlier this year, from memory, a VA thread. So forgive if I am wrong this thread is sounding like a troll looking to justify their current or future situation.

 

[Scott K]

i didn't know that as they opened widely the people to share points with. so i thought they didn't care about that. If you buy points on American Airline they don't care what you do with points, and cousins in US share points with friends without any problems.
I am posting to receive advices and you don't provide any except telling me i am wrong....

Urch. But you are wrong. I get you are upset at Qantas due to the shock - and probable financial loss from purchasing a substantial amount of points you have now lost. I feel you’re seeking a way to ‘game the system’ or simply find a big stick to beat Qantas with. No one here can offer you that. Qantas are really, really specific about the rules on transferring points and you can’t really plead ignorance about it. But what isn’t going to work is trying to demonise Qantas over it. Your best chance is to accept that the fault lies with yourself, rather than Qantas. Concede that you were ignorant about the rules and work from there.

 

[Scott K]

Just a question. We’re you by some chance attempting to ‘transfer’ (sell) points yourself?

 

[serfty]

Edit - the cousins who share points with friends in the US may just been have not been caught yet.

Actually, with AAdvantage, you can share points with any other AAdvantage member - ANY.

Moreover, you can redeem AAdvantage miles for anyone - such transaction must be a gift. No trade, sale or bartering in such an activity is permitted.

 

[Pleb Status]

Actually, with AAdvantage, you can share points with any other AAdvantage member - ANY.

Moreover, you can redeem AAdvantage miles for anyone - such transaction must be a gift. No trade, sale or bartering in such an activity is permitted.

Sharing miles on AA also comes at a significant $ cost, so AA get a decent 'cut' of any transaction...

 

[serfty]

Sharing miles on AA also comes at a significant $ cost, so AA get a decent 'cut' of any transaction...

True, but they don't need to be you cousin in law or somthing ...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Actually, with AAdvantage, you can share points with any other AAdvantage member - ANY.

Moreover, you can redeem AAdvantage miles for anyone - such transaction must be a gift. No trade, sale or bartering in such an activity is permitted.

That's the key though - no bartering. It would be a reasonable presumption that unless sharing with family or something like a wedding gift... just 'giving' away points is pobably more unlikely than not. IIRC one of the cases where AA closed down an acocunt was where someone redeemed flights for themselves plus travelling companion and companion agreed to buy the accommodation. Not allowed as it was a barter.

 

[love_the_life]

You lost me at "points bought online (maybe 100K or 200K i really don't remember)" maybe others have commented, I have however a quick google search would suggest that the value of 100K - 200K QFF points may have cost around AUD2300-4600, it hardly seems worth spending that much on QF points. I am not strapped for cash, however I would certainly notice that amount of coin charged to my CC. The 20K of points from daughter-in-law and "friend" can most likely be overcome and dealt with via a phone conversation.

There was a similar thread posted earlier this year, from memory, a VA thread. So forgive if I am wrong this thread is sounding like a troll looking to justify their current or future situation.

It did cross my mind, the last paragraph I mean.

 

[yld200]

Buying swapping selling points on the classifieds section on ozbargain is quite common. Quite a few users of the site seem to have made a mini business of doing so (Safer Way to Sell Any Airline, Bank or Credit Card Points - Enquire Within) but I'm not sure why QF and VA don't crack down on the site for giving users a platform to do so. At the end of the above thread there is a note from the moderator stating that they've received a cease and desist from VA however there was a post only 10 hours ago advertising VA points for sale and one of the regular buyers replying within 6 minutes.

 

[get me outta here]

I suspect some Ozb people come over to AFF to seek info to sort themselves out, not only to copy our expertise and post over there.

Buying swapping selling points on the classifieds section on ozbargain is quite common. Quite a few users of the site seem to have made a mini business of doing so (Safer Way to Sell Any Airline, Bank or Credit Card Points - Enquire Within) but I'm not sure why QF and VA don't crack down on the site for giving users a platform to do so. At the end of the above thread there is a note from the moderator stating that they've received a cease and desist from VA however there was a post only 10 hours ago advertising VA points for sale and one of the regular buyers replying within 6 minutes.

 

[Pushka]

Actually, with AAdvantage, you can share points with any other AAdvantage member - ANY.

Moreover, you can redeem AAdvantage miles for anyone - such transaction must be a gift. No trade, sale or bartering in such an activity is permitted.

Yes but there are fees involved even with family transfers.

 

[Pushka]

That's the key though - no bartering. It would be a reasonable presumption that unless sharing with family or something like a wedding gift... just 'giving' away points is pobably more unlikely than not. IIRC one of the cases where AA closed down an acocunt was where someone redeemed flights for themselves plus travelling companion and companion agreed to buy the accommodation. Not allowed as it was a barter.

And how the heck did AA find out about that? Impossible to trace and sounds like a completely ‘legal’ situation. Not even that.

I suspect some Ozb people come over to AFF to seek info to sort themselves out, not only to copy our expertise and post over there.

Well that sucks then as awards are scarce enough and we know they aren’t buying toasters.

Here’s a thought. Maybe any discussions of redeeming points for awards need to be in a protected part of this site, protecting the IP really of how to get such awards, so that people have to make some effort and maybe post in other threads a few times before they can get access to the info?

 

[serfty]

Yes but there are fees involved even with family transfers.

Yes, we know this and has been mentioned up thread. It is relevant in relation to as to who you can transfer to.

Sharing miles on AA also comes at a significant $ cost, so AA get a decent 'cut' of any transaction...

True, but they don't need to be you cousin in law or somthing ...

 

[33kft]

So it would be fair to say that we don't know of any airlines which allow the unencumbered transfer or sale of points to others? This discussion stems from OP's suggestion that QFF wasn't as permissive as other airlines that allow this, and from the discussion it seems that even schemes that do allow fairly open transfers have T&Cs that forbid sale/trading of points or that there are additional costs involved (which would make the economics questionable).

 

[Pushka]

Yes, we know this and has been mentioned up thread. It is relevant in relation to as to who you can transfer to.

Yes, I read Pleb Status comment after I posted. However it is also relevant to state it wasn’t an unfettered transfer even between close relatives. Qantas is very generous in that regard.

 

[Happy Trails]

Not quite the same I know, but in the context of this thread I had a smile at the subject line of a recent Rocketmiles email:

We'll trade you 500 AAdvantage® miles for your unwanted gift

 

[christopherc]

I guess first up what you hear about other airlines is just that, hearsay and not going to do anything for your account with QF.

As your account is locked you will have to call QF and ask them what you can do. The sister in law should be straight forward.

Buying points except via QF is as you know now against the rules, suggest if they delete those based on you not reading the terms, a hands up mea culpa, everything else is in order and please reopen the account.

Or, join another program and move on.

THANK YOU

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And how the heck did AA find out about that? Impossible to trace and sounds like a completely ‘legal’ situation. Not even that.

You are correct that there’s nothing illegal about the sale, purchasing or bartering of points... but it is against most program rules.

In the case i mentioned it was a barter... a ticket was redeemed in a name not immediately associated with the account, AA investigated, and the transferor told them the deal (he bought the tickets, the companion paid accommodation).

Even with programs that allow unfettered sharing or redemptions, it’s always something to be wary of if the tickets are being redeemed in a name not associated with the account (whether same surname, or a list of nominated people on the account).

The airline may take an interest and even if ultimately you can show it was legitimate, the time during which the account is locked could mean missing out on a flight.

 

[christopherc]

The entire passage is my advice to you not to fire up at QFF in order to limit the damage to yourself now that you are aware that you are in breach of the T&Cs. There are potentially ways to remedy this if you are sincere but not if you burn that bridge from the first email.

OK THANKS

 

[CaptJCool]

Well I hope they have married up all the related accounts.

QF probably have the best connected network (and family) structure of all time !