Looking for advice on best FF program and Credit card

[DebV]

Hi to all
looking for some advice.
I am trying to get my head around the various cards / programs and am getting seriously confused.
These are the basics
I am a member of virgin velocity.
I have a basic credit card from NAB and collect Flybuys points and get approx $1 k per year in credit on the NAB card.
My spend goes something like this.
month 1 $5k Month 2 $5k month 3 $50K - so approx $249K per year.
I pay the card out every month - so interest is not an issue.
I fly with Virgin from Coffs and hunt the specials as i am a planner.
I use wotif and lastminute for accommodation.
I will be going overseas every 2 years from now on.
HELP - what is the best FF / credit card for me??

 

[craven morehead]

If the majority of places you spend accept AMEX then that is what you need with such a large CC amount.:mrgreen: Also does a Qantas affiliate fly in and out of Coffs?

 

[DebV]

Yes - Qantas flys from Coffs - Jetstar from Ballina.
AMEX is the card.....so a particular AMEX?
As my spend is irregular (wish i could average it out ) - and for the amount of money put thru the card - there are caps on points earnt.
There are uncapped cards?

 

[craven morehead]

I am in a similiar situation to yourself. I am in a regional area and have a large cc spend annually. I am using a Qantas Amex Ultimate wherever possible and a variety of platinum visa and m/cards until they cap out. The Amex is $450 annual charge which includes one domestic flight per year but the upside is the 1.5points / dollar spent. Of course this would mean joining Qantas FF to take advantage as the points automatically credit to FF Card each month. The wife and I are more than happy to fly twice yearly abroad in J or sometimes once a year in F on points. May suit you? C.M. :mrgreen:

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

I use the Earth Platinum, it's a 1.5 points per dollar on the Amex card (you get a mastercard as well but only 0.5 pp$), an additional 1 point per dollar on QF purchases, and no capping. I think the annual fee is $250, but I haven't been charged it yet as still in the first complimentary year. Free travel and purchase insurance etc. like the Amex direct platinum cards.

I used it to rack up 550,000+ points in a year in the good ol' glory days pre-QFF changes recently at 3 points per dollar It's paying for my partner and I to go RTW J in August. Unfortunately they closed that promo.

Now its not bad, still cheaper than the Amex but no domestic return economy flight (est. $200 value so perhaps on par?) and the points are uncapped. All Amex direct cards are capped however many they don't enforce it. This is the only one I know of that doesn't cap - but happy to be corrected.

IMO, FlyBuys is rubbish. This is actually a data collection and marketing tool rather than an awards program. It allows Coles to know you like buying particular brands of whatever and details your shopping habits to they can target you with direct marketing.

Good luck!

Should clarify - this is for Qantas frequent flyer. Pretty sure you get QFF membership free with this card.