Purchasing FF points

[geoffbp]

I am 500 Emirates Skywards points short for a booking I wish to make. Purchasing through Emirates would be (relatively expensive because the minimum purchase is 2,000 points. Is there anywhere I can purchase just 500 points?

 

[Mattg]

If the minimum points you can purchase is 2,000 then that's probably the best you can get. The only other way to get 500 points would be to actually earn them - though you would need to wait for them to credit.

If you have a particularly award in mind and want the points quickly, I think buying the points is your best bet. USD$80 is not all that bad.

Oh, and I see that this is your first post. Welcome.

 

[geoffbp]

If the minimum points you can purchase is 2,000 then that's probably the best you can get. The only other way to get 500 points would be to actually earn them - though you would need to wait for them to credit.

If you have a particularly award in mind and want the points quickly, I think buying the points is your best bet. USD$80 is not all that bad.

Oh, and I see that this is your first post. Welcome.

Thank you for the welcome - yes, I have just started interacting with this site.
I understand I could earn them - but the easiest ways (or credit cards, car hire etc) are locked into an Australian carrier and to change them and then change back is a pain.
I have heard somewhere that there is a trade in FF points - some organisation buys and sells them. I presume I would still be locked into the Emirates system at some stage (and I would need to pay the transfer fee), but it struck me this would be cheaper. I agree that USD80 is not a lot, but I am interested in finding my way around a system where I can get better benefit from these loyalty schemes. I think these loyalty schemes are skewed too much in the airlines' favour.

 

[serfty]

...
I have heard somewhere that there is a trade in FF points - some organisation buys and sells them. I presume I would still be locked into the Emirates system at some stage (and I would need to pay the transfer fee), but it struck me this would be cheaper. ...

Any such trade would likely contradict the T&C of the program the points/miles were being traded and any such discusiion on this forum would be banned.

 

[Mattg]

Thank you for the welcome - yes, I have just started interacting with this site.
I understand I could earn them - but the easiest ways (or credit cards, car hire etc) are locked into an Australian carrier and to change them and then change back is a pain.
I have heard somewhere that there is a trade in FF points - some organisation buys and sells them. I presume I would still be locked into the Emirates system at some stage (and I would need to pay the transfer fee), but it struck me this would be cheaper. I agree that USD80 is not a lot, but I am interested in finding my way around a system where I can get better benefit from these loyalty schemes. I think these loyalty schemes are skewed too much in the airlines' favour.

Yes, generally the frequent flyer programs are skewed to favour the airlines, unfortunately. There are ways to get around lots of things, but in your specific case here I think the easiest thing would just be to buy the required points. You'll get them much quicker that way. And if it's a particular reward seat you have an eye on, I definitely recommend getting the points sooner rather than later and booking the seat - those seats tend to disappear, particularly the popular ones.

Living in Australia, it can be hard to earn points in foreign programs without flying. In the case of Emirates, I believe there are one or two cards available for Australians that earns Skywards miles (e.g. the Emirates Citibank card)... if you plan to continue flying frequently with Emirates, this could be another handy way to earn points. I think you'll find that most Aussies stick with QF or VA, though it doesn't have to be that way if you are prepared to do a little research.