Maximizing credit card bonuses which ones are the best for QFF

[Shanye2233]

I have been looking And planning for a while for a trip SYD to Europe . I figured what I was going to do was go around and grub as many QFF points as I could to pay for the flight. Two adults and two children (4 and 2) .So first I went for the citibank platinum deal I got approved got the 60,000 bonus that's a start. Then I went for the BMW gold card for the 10,000 points and I started looking at redemption pricing I.e how many points to fly and it's a lot.With only 6 months experience in traveling hacks or tips I figured better to ask someone in the know then continue this way as I'm running out of ideas and need half a million points I'm reading about west pac and Krisflyer is this a better way to redeem less points required or am I on the right track. Another issue is my wife doesn't work due to the kids and I'm on about 70k per year. I don't mind paying for the annual fees as long as the return is worth it , like the ciitbank plat.Any responses or help is much appreciated and I'm sure others will have the same ideas in mind we all could use your help , really thanks for all positive input.

 

[cove]

If you split up your points between QF and SQ Kris you will run into the problem of not having enough points in either scheme to get a free ticket. SQ Kris points expire after 3 years once they transfer over to Kris from your credit card so your attempt to do both based on what you posted is hard.To get 500k of points .....without access to a big business monthly BAS looks difficult.

 

[Alanslegal]

Its going to be a really big ask to generate 500K of FF points in a short space of time, though the making the most of sign up bonus is definitely a good start.

However food for thought - if booking award flights online QF charges 64,000 points from AUS to LON one way, whereas SQ will charge 40,375 for the same route. So for one person it is 128K return using QF points vs. 80,750 points on SQ and then a family of four will 512,000 QF vs. 321,500 KF points - that's a huge difference IMO and SQ looks very favourable.

CB Platinum coverts three points into two SQ KF points, so the 60K sign on bonus only equates to 40K KF points, and then you're still over 280,000 points to go. Some Amex cards earn 1.5 points per $1.00 and transfer to SQ at 1:1 so that could be a good way to build up some points, but you still need to spend close to $200K to get them.

Personally if I was in your situation - and if you're considering travelling within the next 12 months - I'd be looking at buying the tickets with cash. The amount of spending needed to generate almost half a million of points is going to be tough, in my case anyway. Try to look for early bird deals, travel in low or shoulder season, and when it is not school holidays. Fares to Europe can be found as good as $1,500 if you do your homework. Also if fares aren't that cheap for those dates you want, think outside the square, consider flying Jetstar to Asia (Bangkok,Singapore) on a sale fare (eg. $200 pp), then make your way to Europe with someone else. There's a whole bunch of airlines wanting your business, some examples include flying EgyptAir via Cairo (have a stop there even, and visit the Great Pyramids)! Qatar Airways (stops in Doha), Berlin Air (Berlin), Jet Airways etc. On a good deal, these airlines have Asia to Europe fares less than $1,000. So if you flew cheap JQ to Asia ($400 return), then Asia to Europe at $1,000 that's $1,400 per person with various stops along the way if you choose to.

And then all those points you have earnt, accumulate them and use them on your next travels ... whenever that may be.

 

[Stuser]

Yes, I'm with Alan on this one. It will need a lot of spending to get the points you need!

I use the Amex Qantas Ultimate card, which gives 1.5 QF points per $, and 2.5 on Qantas flights and misc. products. I haven't found a card that is better for QF, although, you need to spend quite a bit on the card to justify the annual fee....

I know Amex have special offers on this family of cards often, so get in then....

 

[Shanye2233]

Thanks everyone . Alan your ideas are very helpful I'm still trying to get there using points instead of cash. I'm in no hurry and with the kids still young very flexible and can go anytime. I'm going to ge both my family members to sign up and then I can get the points transferred into my account. I would prefer to fly qantas although I'm looking at points and cash instead of paying all points.So the best credit card to collect points with QFF or Kris is the Amex platinum? I spend about 40,000k per annum , I think I read something about a woolworths credit card that offers 2 points for $1 spent .Also I don't mind a stop over or a few just want to get there as cheap in points or cash as possible.

 

[Robert K]

You can't convert points from Amex Platinum to QFF. If you want QFF points from amex, you have to get the Qantas Ultimate direct earn card.

 

[TonyHancock]

You can't convert points from Amex Platinum to QFF. If you want QFF points from amex, you have to get the Qantas Ultimate direct earn card.

The Amex Platinum charge card collects points in Ascents Premium Rewards, which can be transferred to QFF.

 

[serfty]

You can't convert points from Amex Platinum to QFF. If you want QFF points from amex, you have to get the Qantas Ultimate direct earn card.

The Amex Platinum charge card collects points in Ascents Premium Rewards, which can be transferred to QFF.

This a major difference between the AMEX "Platinum Charge" and "Platinum Credit" cards.

The charge card has a much greater annual fee but comes with more benefits.

 

[Shanye2233]

So which card is best for points earning for everyday spending an annual amount of $40k . I also have been usin the Amex westpac card I have about 200,000 points saved up if that helps me can I convert themTo krisflyer or QFF ? What's the benefits of the charge card compared to the credit card what's the costs involved ?

 

[Pumbaa]

So which card is best for points earning for everyday spending an annual amount of $40k . I also have been usin the Amex westpac card I have about 200,000 points saved up if that helps me can I convert themTo krisflyer or QFF ? What's the benefits of the charge card compared to the credit card what's the costs involved ?

Hi Shanye,

I think with your personal situation, you'd be best transferring all your points to Singapore Airlines. The points required for overseas travel is significantly less than Qantas.

My recommendation

1) Upgrade your BMW Amex to a Platinum Credit Card (Earns 1.5 points / dollar) - Annual fee is $399 I think
2) Use your Citibank Platinum Card at shops that don't accept your Amex (earns 2 points / $3)

Best case scenario and you spend your total annual amount of 40k on amex, it will yield 60k krisflyer points

 

[lovetravellingoz]

.To get 500k of points .....without access to a big business monthly BAS looks difficult.

But is achievable...

.....for those of us not running businesses the best tip is to make sure that one has a direct earn Amex in ones armory. Bank Amex's are for sign-on bonii only IMO.

Most other cards you are mainly stuck with the official earn rate, and very limited bonii.

A direct earn Amex can over the course of the year earn a lot more on average that the official rate, if one is alert for opportunities.

Like many, SQ is now my airline of choice to get FF points too, though redemption's may be on *A via SQ.

That does not mean that I avoid picking up the QFF "candy' when it is about.

To your Amex, add a VISA/MC for those tx that you cannot use Amex for. Currently I have reverted to Citibank after Wesptapc ruined the once fruitful KF Card.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Currently I have reverted to Citibank after Wesptapc ruined the once fruitful KF Card.

Westpac reps are adamant that it was SQ who pulled the rug on this one - I kinda believe it too as the Visa turnover must be way down considering the number of 1:1 Visa/MC alternatives now available - I really don't believe Westpac would be so short sighted.

 

[vitagen]

Amex Platinum Reserve converts to $1 to 1.25 points in QF direct!

Best non amex would be the Woolworths EDR!

 

[Alanslegal]

for a family of four i can see a big wad of spending at the supermarket on everyday household items, groceries and anything else ... look no further than with an amex platinum edge card as you will earn 3 points for every dollar at major supermarkets, this is a very fast way for points accumulation and most of these places happily accpet amex. annual fee is 149 but also includes a complimentary return flight in australia.

 

[Shanye2233]

If I transfer my OFF to Singapore points do I lose any value ? Is the ratio 1:1 because now I have about 80k points in QFF. Account once bonus hit and 200k in velocity will that give me 280k singapore points ? And how much is a return flight to Europe from Sydney with krisflyer points. Also I haven't been using the BMW gold just the citibank plat. Isn't $2/3 points the same as $1/1.5 Do companies ever offer bonuses for transferring pointsto them I can wait .From reading on flyertalk those guys got it so easy compared to us , and I think we need a good fares deal thread

 

[Shanye2233]

for a family of four i can see a big wad of spending at the supermarket on everyday household items, groceries and anything else ... look no further than with an amex platinum edge card as you will earn 3 points for every dollar at major supermarkets, this is a very fast way for points accumulation and most of these places happily accpet amex. annual fee is 149 but also includes a complimentary return flight in australia.

Ok but from the responses people are saying its best to use kris flyer points to redeem flights and not QFF. 3 points for every dollar is good but that's QFF and apparently I need krisflyer points. I have a david jones amex card and im sure it said 3 ,2 , 1 points about something

 

[Shanye2233]

American Express Cards : Find Our Best Card For You

 

[dajop]

One thing I am going to throw out there is Amex Membership Rewards, and ability to use these points for vouchers with travel agents. 10000pt = $100.

Why? Fuel surcharges and taxes!

At the moment if you redeem Qantas points you are going to be charged $867 per passenger in ripoff fees, oops I mean taxes & surcharges ....... that's right $867 .... to fly Syd-London return. So you will be paying a total of 512,000 pts plus $3468 in surcharges for a family of 4 to travel this route. And it will cost more if you want to travel to anywhere in continental Europe other than Frankfurt. You can buy QF fare for 2 adults + 2 children at the moment for $7619 (so you would then need $3468 + $4151 or 415,100 pts and between you would pick up around 80,000FF pts in the process).

A travel agent may be able to find a deal that works out better for you than using points (maybe not using QF, but possibly), and use the MR points to transfer to TA vouchers to pay for some of all of that cost (and in the process you may even get a fare that earns points as well).

I am not sure how this plays out with various cc promos, but I felt important to put out there. It can be very disappointing that your "free" flight really turns out to be only a 50% discount.

 

[casanovawa]

You could always purchase some points via offers from American airlines or US airways, don't they have pretty good deals as well??? You just need to watch out for the best bonus offers and u can afford to if you are not in a hurry...

 

[cove]

With those fuel and tax charges having risen sharply points for economy travel have become way less attractive compared with scouting around for a direct flight purchase at a low all up price.