How to get the most points?

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moonman

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Hey All.
Noob here.
Just got a new job. Looks like I'll be flying a fair bit (just domestic) on Virgin.
Also, there's potential I may be able to spend a fair bit on a credit card (tens of thousands per month), potentially a personal one.

What's the best card to optimise both opportunities?
 
Fly indirect, ie, MEL - SYD - BNE if schedueling allow.
Fly a higher class of fare, elevate, rather than getaway on domestic flights, (more expensive), elevate will give you more status credits, not so much points, status credits are the ways to get to {free} lounge entry, ie, if you keep flying VA and amass 500 VFF SC, you get lounge access as VFF SG, so this status is of more importance than points accrual, don't fly Tiger, fly SQ if you have to fly overseas, buy all your groceries from Coles ensuring you have linked your FB points to VFF, buy all your petrol for car from BP...
Don't think there are any more utility usage points accrual direct 1:1 points anymore.
If you have an employer provided card, that is good, but be aware of not misusing it. **(EDIT: ah, private credit card, I burned my bridges there, got a credit card, went over the top into the thousands, into the red, got pulled out of the debt, haven't done credit cards after that... try out google search, the info is out there, but the fees can be $199/$299, and points earn per $1 spent these days are 0.25/0.50/0.75 for visa, and 1.25 for amex, but some places don't take amex).**
Avoid buying points from any source apart from VFF, you can transfer points between family members, but avoid doing that with others, there are means to do it, but ideally, don't do transfers that are iffy.
Check out acronyms on this website if you are not sure of our codings, ...
NR-you still start VFF with that, 250 SC and you will get VFF PS, (2 lounge entries for free), 500 SC and you get VFF SG, lounge entry for the next 12 months after you make SG...
 
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Ha! Just discovered the hotel I've been staying at is a Virgin one. Next booking via Virgin then. I don't think there's a way to back claim with Hotels.
 
AustraliaPoochie has nailed all of the essentials. Also set up family pooling if that's an option, and get them to fill up at BP, pool Flybys, etc.

The Point Hacks website has a credit card comparison table which will help identify the best performing cards. But of course, be wary of high annual fees unless you are taking advantage of the card's benefits.
 
Everyone’s circumstances can be a little different. Our family is pretty active with credit cards and we have quite a few charges to pay. Picking a credit card out of the point hacks site with bonus offers of points is fine as long as the card is not paying a miserable earn rate on lots of items you need to pay.
Currently we use Amex Ultimate and Amex Platinum Edge St George Visa and a Citi Prestige Visa as our workhorse credit cards.
 
Would joining Accelerate be of any use? It's a handy way to track your flying, but I'm not sure it offers a better points haul.
 
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Flying and credit card spend are good for points, but cycling through multiple credit cards can quickly amplify your balance. Velocity amex currently has 100k points on sign up - check pointhacks or ausbt sites they have great recommendations, or the credit card sections of this site.
The best card is one with a high bonus, low annual fee and no new card bonus exclusion period after cancelling...
 
The best card is one with a high bonus, low annual fee and no new card bonus exclusion period after cancelling...

Interesting. Do you know which are the specific cards or the issuer that have no new card exclusion periods? The most generous new card sign-ups in the past have been AMEX. However, once you've canned a card and canXD it, they generally exclude you from reapplying within 24 months?

I'm a bit loathed to canX mine as they have a high rated Choice included insurance and no fee, but in saying that, the sign up points are a great way to BOOST your balance really quickly.
 
Just to be clear, in order to get the points, you do need to pay the annual fee right? So with the amex you are basically paying $375 for 100,000 points?
 
Interesting. Do you know which are the specific cards or the issuer that have no new card exclusion periods? The most generous new card sign-ups in the past have been AMEX. However, once you've canned a card and canXD it, they generally exclude you from reapplying within 24 months?

I'm a bit loathed to canX mine as they have a high rated Choice included insurance and no fee, but in saying that, the sign up points are a great way to BOOST your balance really quickly.

No exclusions for reapplying but many exclude you from receiving bonus points for 12 months or more. Some can be cancelled and taken out again immediately for another bonus. The current credit card promotions area of the forum is a good place to start!
 
Just to be clear, in order to get the points, you do need to pay the annual fee right? So with the amex you are basically paying $375 for 100,000 points?

Exactly. Some cards will have additional benefits such as free flight or airline vouchers and other perks which may make the true cost for purchasing points even lower.
 
No exclusions for reapplying but many exclude you from receiving bonus points for 12 months or more. Some can be cancelled and taken out again immediately for another bonus. The current credit card promotions area of the forum is a good place to start!
Thanks. I'll have a look. You haven't really answered my question though, so I am presuming that you don't actually know.
 
There is VGW which is a prepaid (like a Visa debit), no annual fees, 0.33points per Aud$1 earn rate Au domestic spend, you have to put money into it, I think annual spend limit is Au$50,000, have to tell them your passport or driving licence details, but this one, you will never be able to go into hock, so to speak, as you have to put the money in to spend it, I like it, (as mentioned in another thread, I got very very very deep into debt with credit cards in the past, so now only use QTMC/VGW).
In regards to the real credit cards, just make sure you are able to pay your debt on time, ie, what you buy on the card, the money for that, over the month, don't spend on other things, be disciplined enough to pay back the card usage.
I had a very good paying job at that time, in the 1990s, was in my 25s, and bought a lot, wasn't paying back the bank enough.
Someone helped pay the loan off, in one big payment.
Take it from the one who has been burnt by/for chasing points on card earnings, true credit cards that is.
 
Just to be clear, in order to get the points, you do need to pay the annual fee right? So with the amex you are basically paying $375 for 100,000 points?
Yes, and there’s often a higher surcharge for payment with Amex on flights and other large purchases. I can understand the allure of these cards with major points bonuses but I have to keep reminding myself that they’re probably not financially worth it. I have one that allows cash back. It doesn’t give me any FF points, but the cash I get back exceeds annual fee (so I win out) - I prefer cash to points, but many don’t. My advice is to be cautious and not get carried way with chasing points at all costs.
 
Thanks. I'll have a look. You haven't really answered my question though, so I am presuming that you don't actually know.

Just changes regularly. Each bank has multiple cards with different offers and t&cs and they change them up all the time. At the moment the Qantas money cards don’t have an exclusion period for example but they have previously...
Amex used to have none but now have 18 months which has been a big disappointment as they have great welcome bonuses and bonuses for referring friends and family.
 
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