Meet the points geeks

[CaptJCool]

An article in the AFR today




As soon as I got to this part I thought
Hmmm
4 properties …

Getting obsessed through intermittent reinforcement, consider your share of wallet being directed to one program.




And a second article

 

[ChrisMars]

The angle of the pictures, the framing, and bluriness make it a bit hard to process for my little brain. Thanks god chatgpt is less judgemental and more patient. Hopefully it got the gist correctly, that's what it outputted for me below.

Summary of the Article​

The article explains how Australians can extract significant value from frequent-flyer points, particularly through credit cards and strategic everyday spending, but warns that it requires discipline and effort.

Key Points​

• Credit card sign-up bonuses are the main driver of points, not everyday spend.
  
  • While earn rates per dollar have declined over the past decade, bonuses have increased.
  • A single application can yield 100,000–130,000 points (Qantas or Virgin).
• Annual fees can still be good value
  
  • Paying a ~$300–$400 annual fee can be worthwhile if it delivers enough points for:
    
    • Business-class flights to Asia, or
    • Substantial long-haul upgrades.
• The biggest mistake is applying too often
  
  • Applying for cards every few months makes you look credit-desperate.
  • The recommended approach is intentional, spaced-out applications aligned to real financial needs.
• Banks are adapting
  
  • Some now offer 20,000–40,000 bonus points in the second year, once the annual fee is paid, to reduce customer churn.
• Everyday spending still matters, but less so
  
  • Supermarkets (e.g. Woolworths Everyday Rewards) and utilities can add points, but:
    
    • It takes ~$10,000 spend to earn ~2,000 Qantas points, often poor value.
  • The real value comes from converting points into premium flights, not gift cards.
• Mortgage and loan switching can be lucrative
  
  • Some borrowers switch multiple loans to Qantas-branded products and earn hundreds of thousands of points.
  • One example cited collected ~400,000 points, enough for:
    
    • Business or first-class flights to Europe (e.g. Emirates).
• Time vs reward trade-off
  
  • Managing cards, tracking offers, and staying across rule changes can feel like a part-time job.
  • However, for those willing to invest the time, the rewards are described as “well worth it.”

Overall Message​

Frequent-flyer programs still offer strong value, especially for premium travel, but:

• The easy wins are gone.
• Success now depends on strategy, timing, and restraint, not just spending.
• Points are best used for luxury travel experiences, not everyday redemptions.

 

[aikman]

There are three case studies.

1. Someone switched her four home loans to Qantas for 400,000 points per year.

Makes me wonder how much more interest she is paying by doing this.

2. Someone earned an undisclosed number of points by buying $2 bath ducks at Big W which earned 2000(?) points each.

I was not aware of this. Has this been mentioned in AFF?

3. Someone flew business class on SQ to Europe for $110.

Typical clickbait headline. Looks like he earned the points from credit card sign ups and he said the annual fees were worth it.

 

[RB001]

Has this been mentioned in AFF?

Of course!

Thread 'Sneaky Qantas points 'rubber duck trick' sends Aussie travellers into meltdown'

Feb 7, 2025

https://www.escape.com.au/travel-advice/frequent-flyer-points/huge-qantas-points-rubber-duck-trick-sends-aussie-travellers-into-meltdown/news-story/f47d320aa72c9dcf8f2c294f7daed499

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"Each bath toy was on sale for $3.50, and when combined with various other promotions, it worked out to just 0.59 cents per Qantas Point," Flight Hacks founder Immanuel Debeer told Escape.

https://www.bigw.com.au/product/playgro-bath-duckie-fully-sealed/p/291947

• futaris
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

• 
• 

 

[Human]

The ducks thing at Big W was the equivalent of the pet food Flybuys promotion from a couple of years ago (which was discussed at the AFF dinner last month).

These were the Everyday Rewards and Flybuys equivalent of "mistake fares" -- poorly thought-through promotions which were then exploited by an eager public (I must admit that I bought several weeks' worth of food for my pets during the Flybuys promotion!).

Needless to say, this has not happened again and to base one's points-collecting strategy on waiting for these sorts of deals would be a mistake!

 

[justinbrett]

Qantas gift cards for Woolworths charged to my QF Amex is my recent hack - use them for all my shopping and get 6.25 points / $ total, plus any EDR bonus points (my calculation is with the Extra subscription).

Even at a low value of 1.6c/point, I'm getting 10% of my grocery spend back as QF points.

In addition before I buy anything from any shop I check and see if QF sells gift cards - Ikea, Harvey Norman, Sheridan, JB Hifi - it's pretty good coverage (and for those I'm getting 5.25 points/$).

 

[AdMEL]

The left side of the third photo states: ‘If a frequent flyer card hit the market offering just 50 or 100 status credits per year, it would be a game changer for travellers struggling to maintain good or platinum tiers’ - pretty funny given such a card already exists! Amex Velocity Platinum offers 50 sc for $25,000 spend and a further 50 sc for a further $25,000 spend per year. And Virgin Money High Flyer Card offers 20% bonus sc on Virgin flights purchased on card. Poorly researched!

 

[SYD]

Qantas gift cards for Woolworths charged to my QF Amex is my recent hack - use them for all my shopping and get 6.25 points / $ total, plus any EDR bonus points (my calculation is with the Extra subscription).

Even at a low value of 1.6c/point, I'm getting 10% of my grocery spend back as QF points.

In addition before I buy anything from any shop I check and see if QF sells gift cards - Ikea, Harvey Norman, Sheridan, JB Hifi - it's pretty good coverage (and for those I'm getting 5.25 points/$).

Does your AMEX give bonus QF points for QF Marketplace?

I find I get the 2x for flights but not for QF Wine, QF Hotels etc. fortunately, my NAB QF VISA (1pt / $) usually awards 2x points on all QF things.

 

[aikman]

Of course!

Thread 'Sneaky Qantas points 'rubber duck trick' sends Aussie travellers into meltdown'

Feb 7, 2025

https://www.escape.com.au/travel-advice/frequent-flyer-points/huge-qantas-points-rubber-duck-trick-sends-aussie-travellers-into-meltdown/news-story/f47d320aa72c9dcf8f2c294f7daed499

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"Each bath toy was on sale for $3.50, and when combined with various other promotions, it worked out to just 0.59 cents per Qantas Point," Flight Hacks founder Immanuel Debeer told Escape.

https://www.bigw.com.au/product/playgro-bath-duckie-fully-sealed/p/291947

• futaris
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

• 
• 

Interesting how what was $3.50 and 1000 points became $2 and "similar to 2000 points" in the AFR article.

 

[justinbrett]

Does your AMEX give bonus QF points for QF Marketplace?

I find I get the 2x for flights but not for QF Wine, QF Hotels etc. fortunately, my NAB QF VISA (1pt / $) usually awards 2x points on all QF things.

Yes, it works for marketplace but not for wine (I would have thought it would be the other way around).