Qantas Frequent Flyer Points

[piakristy]

Hi All,

I am new to this forum, so please forgive the following question if it is not appropriate here -

I am wanting to acquire FF points and am in search of individuals whom might be able to assist me.

Thanks,

P

 

[JohnM]

Hi All,

I am new to this forum, so please forgive the following question if it is not appropriate here -

I am wanting to acquire FF points and am in search of individuals whom might be able to assist me.

Thanks,

P

Do you mean that, in addition to accruing FF points by flying and from credit cards, you wish to purchase points? ...

 

[piakristy]

thanks JohnM - yes, I am interested in purchasing points please.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Do you mean that, in addition to accruing FF points by flying and from credit cards, you wish to purchase points? ...

Wouldn't that be Red Roo who would then point the OP to the QFF web site to purchase additional points?

 

[JohnM]

Wouldn't that be Red Roo who would then point the OP to the QFF web site to purchase additional points?

No - but I guess I should have pointed out that it is possible to purchase points on the QF website. I've only ever glanced at it, so I have no idea of the value equation.

piakristy: just search the QF website to find this option. Others may have opinions on the value.

 

[TomVexille]

I believe that this contravenes the terms and conditions of this forum and of QFF

 

[cove]

Credit card sign ups are the first place to go.
Qantas Credit Union is a 30,000 point sign on and then a point per dollar to QF on the Visa card.
ANZ and Citibank have good deals as well.
If you want to fly in economy it is cheaper generally to just buy the flight using a credit card that earns 2 or 2.5 points per dollar spent. The QCU Visa gets you two points and some Amex cards can get you 2.5 points per dollar.
If you want points to upgrade then those points have the greatest cash saving benefit usually.

 

[JohnM]

I believe that this contravenes the terms and conditions of this forum and of QFF

It is possible to 'top up' by buying points on the QF website.

 

[Limewood]

Easiest way as said, sign up for CC with free points offers

or buy USA airline miles (like AA) and use them for award seats instead.

 

[TomVexille]

Mea culpa - I have misunderstood something that I was once told. Ignore what I said. But it is possible to 'top up' by buying points on the QF website.

Absolutely possible, up to 15% of the desired award IIRC

 

[Mr_Orange]

piakristy: just search the QF website to find this option. Others may have opinions on the value.

Not particularly good value!

 

[Red Roo]

thanks JohnM - yes, I am interested in purchasing points please.

To save you looking it up, here's a link about purchasing Top Up Points: https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/usingPoints/topupPoints

 

[Limewood]

To save you looking it up, here's a link about purchasing Top Up Points: https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/usingPoints/topupPoints

Be nice if QF caught up with many other airlines at a reasonable price like AA (current offer buy 100K miles get 60K gratis) rather than the paltry offer of a measly max 20K top up points

 

[smit0847]

Be nice if QF caught up with many other airlines at a reasonable price like AA (current offer buy 100K miles get 60K gratis) rather than the paltry offer of a measly max 20K top up points

Why would they? 11 million members comply with the current position/offers

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Officially, you can buy QF FF points from QF if you are short of 15% of points for an award for which you have in mind, ... This one I have done, but the next one, down below, no, haven't do that.
I have not bought QF FF points off any other member, so can't say if its a legit thing or not.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Why would they? 11 million members comply with the current position/offers

....Why wouldn't they?

I could rattle off figures all day long like 30% of all points created expire, less than 5% are redeemed for biz/first class flights.
Or that other airline programs make a fortune from selling miles - having to provide almost nothing in exchange for upfront cash.

It's an excellent high revenue opportunity.

My professional industry expert opinion is that QFF has probably considered this, however for fun here is some of my thought process on why QFF might not sell points like other programs do:-

1) Their largest customers (banks/woolies etc..) may feel it somehow (not sure how) may devalue the QFF offerring with their brand being linked to the program (this is easily negated by QFF forcing them to promote it more/buy more points).
2) "Velocity isn't doing it so don't bother just yet..." (Seriously, how boring and non-commercial is this logic - fire any person who says this)
3) QFF lacks genuine game marketing mechanics and is out of touch, mainly due to the internal people (nothing wrong with it - just means things are very old school as their audience is mainly business people over 40 who are perceived as primary target customer - downside with this thinking is almost everyone under 30 years old doesn't give a fk about the program).
4) QFF doesn't think there will be much uptake outside 'hardcore FFers" (the term is really "people with disposable income wanting a good deal")... which couldn't be further from the truth (and highlights point 3)
5) Potentially pressure and/or an agreement from partner airlines not to sell points (blatantly selling points may breach this).
6) QFF thinks people will load up on points and not buy revenue fares thus costing the company lost revenue (Anyone in the FF loyalty game knows most people want to redeem for aspirational trips and not SYD-MEL daily bus rides. In this sense - people tend to 'trade up' when redeeming points. FFers will use on flights they otherwise may never take and thus creating a new revenue stream for this sub-segment. Additionally: this could capture the existing market of ever-growing people who are loyal to points and not to a FF program - again a revenue opportunity hidden under the same banner).
7) QFF may believe members will not take out a new credit card or shop at woolies as often if they have an 'easy' way to obtain points (true to a degree but this would be one sub-segment of the overall audience who may consider buying miles. Mum isn't going to stop shopping at woolies because she can now blow $2k on upfront points to get her accross the line on a trip she's been saving up for - and even if it was the case - which it's likely NOT - QFF has the CASH upfront and those points are likely sold at a higher rate than woolies is paying per point. Win:Win for QFF and customer)
8) QFF may be concerned all existing award seats in the system will be snapped up faster than usual thus 'annoying' members who are not interested in purchasing lumps of miles (SIMPLE SOLUTION: LOAD IN MH,JL, BA,AA.... create more flight options to redeem... anyone who knows anything in the FF business is aware that a member burning points on a partner airline is THE BEST value proposition for the FF program. A total no brainer approach)
9) Some type of agreement with max redemptions QFF members can use on partner/oneworld airlines (see point 8)
10) "This is the way it's always been and we don't do xx_x" (final words of a company heading down the drain)
11) Creating personal tax issues. Can of worms or yesterdays news?
12) "Too much in the pipeline" (what a good problem to have..... get more people!)
13) Potential fraud issues (totally negated by internal process and minor restrictions like targeting the offer to existing, active members)
14) Points being devalued by putting a price on the purchase amount (If I can get access to basic United & Delta statistics on this - so can QFF. And from what I see this argument is bogus).
15) Doing so will cannibalise the existing buy QFF points system (not if you run it as a limited time frame offer)
16) QFF is afraid of generating new revenue (never know!)


QFF SuperGods - here is how you design a perfect gaming system where everyone wins and you achieve business goals without pissing off anyone:-
- 1 Purchase per year
- Minimum purchase (10K+)
- Maximum purchase (150k)
- Under 2c/point all-in
- Can only purchase if earned more than x,xx_ points in past 12 months
- Targeted offer only to members who have paid for flights in past 12 months
- Make it a 'once off deal'

Any offer to buy that is highly restrictive over 2c/point with low purchase limits is likely to fail so best not to trial it out in this fashion.
I can think of a few other minor issues but my fingers are ready for zzZzz.

The PR & Communications opportunity here is equally as large. You'll also get an influx of new members from all over the world wanting to partake and checking out the program. For some this may be the first time they have engaged with the Qantas brand.

You're welcome.

 

[dfcatch]

Surprise surprise - I agree with Trippin'.

Couple of points though....

6/ THIS....THIS!! Red Roo are you paying attention.....

This is where QF Loyalty get it wrong.

Understandably too - an organization that is so embedded with YM and analytics can't see the forest through the trees.

QF see me (for example) redeeming points for an F award long haul and think - that they could have got me to pay $17,000 for that seat. Sorry QF not gonna happen. It's NOT an opportunity cost. It is however, still a profitable redemption as the cost to QF for the redemption is lower than the revenue to QF from the points revenue.

Besides - it's an academic discussion as award inventory is tightly controlled by YM and QF have a reputation as the best Yield Managers in the business.

(Of course if every F seat was sold at Full F Fare on each and every flight then no award/upgrade seats would ever be released.)

Aspirational redemptions mean folks are SPENDING MORE with QF than they otherwise would.

It's just a mixture of revenue currencies.


8/ It's a little more nuanced than that.
If a QF flight has empty seats, then filling those seats is at lower cost to QF than paying a partner to operate that redemption seat.

Of course on high load factor flights where QF could fill the seats with revenue pax - then partners represent a gold mine - it's like the airline version of drop-shipping .

I concur though - QFF have thoroughly considered this issue and have concluded otherwise.

Of course all conclusions are valid/invalid only according to the quality of the data, assumptions and modeling considered.

Time for QFF to invest in some fresh eyes and fresh talent.

In this area - 30 odd years of Australian airline experience is a ball and chain around Qantas.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Surprise surprise - I agree with Trippin'.

How about admin create a special BB code for you that auto-likes anything I post

Time for QFF to invest in some fresh eyes and fresh talent.

In this area - 30 odd years of Australian airline experience is a ball and chain around Qantas.

QFF without a doubt already has incredible talent. There's no denying that.
But...why be 90% when you can be 100% without much more effort.... I agree!

 

[Limewood]

Even if they did sell more points where are the award seats going to come from?, try OZ to USA or ASIA to OZ in J or F virtually impossible to find unless booking near a year out or just get lucky, really its beyond a joke.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Even if they did sell more points where are the award seats going to come from?, try OZ to USA or ASIA to OZ in J or F virtually impossible to find unless booking near a year out or just get lucky, really its beyond a joke.

That's why adding other partner airlines' award inventory was suggested.