QFF offers US Citibank cardholders better transfer options than in AU

[Supersonic Swinger]

Interesting to see that in the US, Citibank ThankYou points can be transferred to 11 different airline programs, now including Qantas - https://www.thankyou.com/pointsTransferPartnerDetailPage.jspx?itemId=1867669 . Looks like no additional fees other than the usual annual credit card fee - https://www.thankyou.com/pointsTransferPartnerDetailPage.jspx?itemId=1867669

Yet in Australia, to get to QFF as usual you are forced into a 'direct earn' situation where you can't warehouse your points, and have to pay the 'great value' additional annual Qantas Reward fee of $49 for the privilege.

Thoughts as to why the poorer deal for those based in Australia?

 

[bismarck]

Lack of competition?

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Lack of competition?

Maybe, Citi only offers 4 airline transfer partners in Australia.

But I wonder what the justification is for Qantas forcing Australian based members to pay an extra fee (and lose the ability to warehouse and transfer to other airlines) for something they can easily provide to those in the US? ​Red Roo?

 

[andye]

Why would someone who is US-based want to transfer their points to QFF (except to stop expiry)?

 

[moa999]

Interesting. Is this the first non-Aus transfer program to QF. I don't believe any in Asia

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Thoughts as to why the poorer deal for those based in Australia?

In Oz is the dominant FF Program (personally I think this is because the vast majority of its members do not know how to maximise earn and burn).

In USA QFF is a minnow PLUS the US based programs are much better value for what you get by burning points with lower fuel fines as well!!!
If QFF put any more barriers in the way they would get even less take up from those based in the US than they currently do.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

let's all sing together....

feels like home to me...

 

[burmans]

In Oz is the dominant FF Program (personally I think this is because the vast majority of its members do not know how to maximise earn and burn).

In USA QFF is a minnow PLUS the US based programs are much better value for what you get by burning points with lower fuel fines as well!!!
If QFF put any more barriers in the way they would get even less take up from those based in the US than they currently do.

Thanks for saving me the effort, agree totally. The likelihood of QF having the clout to enforce their direct earn terms in US are minimal but it seems they are able to twist the banks arms here in OZ to get their way.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

it seems they are able to twist the banks arms here in OZ to get their way.

... and hose OZ based members for additional fees.

Ben Schlappig of One Mile at a Time looks at the Classic Award chart and concludes "I don't think there's a single redemption value on the chart that I'd consider to be especially lucrative"

Qantas Added As Citi ThankYou Points Transfer Partner - Should You Care? - One Mile at a Time

 

[burmans]

... and hose OZ based members for additional fees.

Ben Schlappig of One Mile at a Time looks at the Classic Award chart and concludes "I don't think there's a single redemption value on the chart that I'd consider to be especially lucrative"

Qantas Added As Citi ThankYou Points Transfer Partner - Should You Care? - One Mile at a Time

Pretty good analysis on his behalf but they do have more competition than us.

 

[scheps]

And it is 1USD:1QF point. So from our point of view, not exactly 1:1.

 

[cove]

I go to AA miles as 35k AA miles get you a J PER-SYD-PER and it is better in many other locations. Now QF are 72k points for the same journey.

 

[serfty]

The only benefit in the USA is to redeem for economy journies 600 miles or less on AA, and less so the 601-1200 mile band.

QF is from 8k points and $5 for economy; vs. 15k AAdvantage.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

The only benefit in the USA is to redeem for economy journies 600 miles or less on AA, and less so the 601-1200 mile band.

QF is from 8k points and $5 for economy; vs. 15k AAdvantage.

Good point - have paid 16,000 points plus $10 for New York - Toronto return flights which would have cost almost USD $500, which values each QFF point at about 3.6 cents each. We may have found the hidden value in the QF award chart!

 

[burmans]

Good point - have paid 16,000 points plus $10 for New York - Toronto return flights which would have cost almost USD $500, which values each QFF point at about 3.6 cents each. We may have found the hidden value in the QF award chart!

Lets not tell everyone, there are few enough bright points that Id rather the good ones are not gutted.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Lets not tell everyone, there are few enough bright points that Id rather the good ones are not gutted.

Is ok... avios offer an even better deal!

 

[burmans]

Is ok... avios offer an even better deal!

Agreed but I'd rather that wasn't widely publicised either!

 

[moa999]

Suspect the review would have been better if MASAs were still around