First use of points

[Nooks]

Hi, have only started accumulating rewards points since May. I'm sure I still haven't mastered everything, but hopefully doing things smarter than I was...

In terms of points, I have:
162,000 Amex Ascent Premium Membership Reward Points. Growing at circa 6,000/month
85,000 Velocity Points, have two more months of 10,000 point bonuses plus normally circa 4,000/month
240,000 CBA Platinum/Diamond Awards convertible to Velocity Points at 2:1. Currently growing at 20,000 points per month as I’m using this for ATO spend. Hoping for a bonus offer soon...
19,000 Qantas FF Points growing very slowly

Have only ever flown economy. Having a family of 5 means I doubt I'll have a chance to ever get the whole family on a rewards flight... Next year (April) is our 15th yr anniversary and would like to spoil the wife and get away (and leave kids with family). With kids at primary school, realistically getting away for 5 days is as good as I could hope for which means not traveling too far.

One idea was to go first class to NZ (Emirates only from what I've seen), but not sure if that would ruin us forever or if it's a smart use of points. Another idea was to convert Velocity/Amex points to Krisflyer for business flights somewhere. If you were in my shoes, where would you go?

 

[BillytheFIsh]

Nice collection of points since May !

I personally would look at:

SYD-SIN-HKG-SIN-SYD in F for 2 pax = 255,000 KF miles + ~AU$1100

Same in J = 187,000 KF + ~AU$1100

Those flights have a mix of A380 and B777 flights, so make sure you know what you're getting.

Anywhere is SE Asia will be about the same, including SYD-SIN-SYD, if you would prefer a different final destination.


SYD-AKL-SYD on the 380 (or CHC from 31 October) in EK F is pretty expensive for the length of the flight both in terms of points and "taxes", but might be worth it if you would prefer to spend more time on the ground. Maybe F one way and J the other.

 

[Mattg]

First class to NZ on Emirates is a very nice (and relatively short) trip. But you'd need Qantas points for that, and it's 54,000 points per person each way. You could also transfer from Amex to Skywards for this reward, but Emirates transfers are more expensive than other programs and the points required are quite high. Probably better just to buy one of the $900 first class fares that pop up from NZ to Australia every month or so

I would agree that a trip to Asia on Singapore Airlines is a good choice. You can transfer points over from Amex, as well as Velocity. Singapore Airlines has an excellent product in the pointy end and redemptions are also reasonably-priced, although the fuel surcharges are somewhat high.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Hi, have only started accumulating rewards points since May. I'm sure I still haven't mastered everything, but hopefully doing things smarter than I was...

In terms of points, I have:
162,000 Amex Ascent Premium Membership Reward Points. Growing at circa 6,000/month
85,000 Velocity Points, have two more months of 10,000 point bonuses plus normally circa 4,000/month
240,000 CBA Platinum/Diamond Awards convertible to Velocity Points at 2:1. Currently growing at 20,000 points per month as I’m using this for ATO spend. Hoping for a bonus offer soon...
19,000 Qantas FF Points growing very slowly

Have only ever flown economy. Having a family of 5 means I doubt I'll have a chance to ever get the whole family on a rewards flight... Next year (April) is our 15th yr anniversary and would like to spoil the wife and get away (and leave kids with family). With kids at primary school, realistically getting away for 5 days is as good as I could hope for which means not traveling too far.

One idea was to go first class to NZ (Emirates only from what I've seen), but not sure if that would ruin us forever or if it's a smart use of points. Another idea was to convert Velocity/Amex points to Krisflyer for business flights somewhere. If you were in my shoes, where would you go?

Thats some great points balances you have generated so far - well done!

May I ask which card your using to earn points for ATO spend ?

 

[Nooks]

Thanks for the ideas!

I'm using the CBA Business Platinum Amex/Mastercard. 80,000 bonus points upfront (when I took it out in June), pays 1 point on Mastercard or 3 points on Amex with a 300,000 annual points cap. I reckon I will put approx $200,000 through the ATO this year so will mix and match the cards to get up to the 300,000 points. I'm currently aiming to build Velocity points (but recent changes might change that strategy). It works out at 0.84c/Velocity point on the Mastercard and 0.967c/Velocity point for the Amex by my calculations (before tax - so nearly half that after tax). When I first got the Amex Platinum Business Charge, I had thought it was going to be competitive, but it works out at a disappointing 2.9c/MR point so it doesn't get used for the ATO.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'd agree with the others - CBA -> Velocity -> Krisflyer and get a couple of SQ First suites to SIN, and anywhere beyond you fancy.

That's exactly what I've done with my CBAs and Velocity - SQ First class to Delhi and back coming up ..

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Thanks for the ideas!

I'm using the CBA Business Platinum Amex/Mastercard. 80,000 bonus points upfront (when I took it out in June), pays 1 point on Mastercard or 3 points on Amex with a 300,000 annual points cap. I reckon I will put approx $200,000 through the ATO this year so will mix and match the cards to get up to the 300,000 points. I'm currently aiming to build Velocity points (but recent changes might change that strategy). It works out at 0.84c/Velocity point on the Mastercard and 0.967c/Velocity point for the Amex by my calculations (before tax - so nearly half that after tax). When I first got the Amex Platinum Business Charge, I had thought it was going to be competitive, but it works out at a disappointing 2.9c/MR point so it doesn't get used for the ATO.

I was not aware the CBA had any credit cards that payed out on ATO spend since it was taken away from all consumer cards Diamond and below back in 2015.

However after Reading through the 36 pages of small print on the CBA 's website in relating to Award points, your absolutely correct that the CBA Business Platinum does in fact earn on ATO.
(only CBA card that does)
You learn something new everyday.

 

[Nooks]

I'd want it to work since I paid the $300 annual fee purely for ATO earning (although the bonus points helped). The only pain is that I only have a relatively small limit so I need to keep doing multiple transfers... I have kept my personal Diamond Visa which is fee free for me just as a backup but the $15K limit held me back from getting a higher limit with CBA...