Thanks, AFF

[coriander]

Still only a newbie and I've been on that steep learning curve of pointy end flying at economy or less prices. I joined here in September and it's taken me a bit of time to work through the forums. I hadn't been thinking clearly about points accumulation or using points for upgrade etc. I've gone from paying everything by Bpay and EFT to putting as much of my expenditure on credit cards and accumulating points that I'll be able to use in the most productive manner (I shudder to think I actually used to redeem gift cards - yes a shocking admission, I now know!).

I thought I'd share my QFF points graph since I joined here in September: thank you everyone for your generous and helpful advice.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

The allure of higher levels that represent rarer metals will soon be tempting you.

 

[RooFlyer]

Good stuff; well done, grasshopper #. But points accumulation is only Stage 1 in conquering the flying universe. next - higher Status Achievement, so you can more effectively use those hard won points.

Unfortunately that will probably require some more cash outlay but there are plenty of tips here on how to get QF Status Credits for the least outlay. JohnM I admire for planning a round-the-world once per year tat keeps him in the Platinum comfort he's used to (you don't need Platinum of course - but it helps!)

# '70s reference!!

 

[GoldCanyon340]

# '70s reference!!

now you're making me feel old.

 

[medhead]

now you're making me feel old.

Repeats...

 

[puppysparkes]

Welcome coriander... My points FF status increased within 6 months of finding this forum. Pop along to the social events to learn other hot tips Forgot to mention I'm still on a heathy balance due to this forum...

 

[coriander]

Good stuff; well done, grasshopper

Aaah, thank you Master Po! <bows deeply in respect>

plenty of tips here on how to get QF Status Credits

Yes, I have a two day hole in my itinerary whilst in the LOTFAP come November for which I'll seek advice in filling closer to the date.

 

[JohnM]

(you don't need Platinum of course - but it helps!)

Have you had a touch of the sun today RF :shock:. It helps - a lot .

 

[RooFlyer]

Aaah, thank you Master Po! <bows deeply in respect>
<snip>

I had you pictured as a young 'un :mrgreen: (which you might be, albeit better informed than most!).

ps I am definitely NOT Master Po wrt FF short cuts ... listen to others for that!

 

[JessicaTam]

Good stuff; well done, grasshopper #. But points accumulation is only Stage 1 in conquering the flying universe. next - higher Status Achievement, so you can more effectively use those hard won points.

Unfortunately that will probably require some more cash outlay but there are plenty of tips here on how to get QF Status Credits for the least outlay. JohnM I admire for planning a round-the-world once per year tat keeps him in the Platinum comfort he's used to (you don't need Platinum of course - but it helps!)

# '70s reference!!

[-]'80s if I have the right movie: The Karate Kid (1984) - IMDb [/-]


Edit: Boy, did I get that wrong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_Fu_(TV_series)

 

[coriander]

I had you pictured as a young 'un :mrgreen: !

LOL! (and my kids wince!) My avatar should give an indication of my age: I think I was member 437 or somesuch.

My professional association of which I was a committee person always flew Chansett so I "had" to be a Golden Wing member, couldn't afford both Flight Deck and GWing so took up their (at the time) cheap lifetime membership offer (that ended well. didn't it?) then started renovating and breeding which grounded me for about 12 years.

My then girlfriend now wife worked at TAA during the era of the last of the ex-pilot CEOs, Frank Ball; I was a bit of a "crash-test-dummy"/mystery shopper for both early Flight Deck Club and early business class with Australian Airlines in the early 80s (jacket and tie essential to get an op up into F, even in the Flight Deck club).

 

[cove]

I like to think of AFF being a place where you can get to fly in the nicest seats based on the information that suits you. You may pick a credit card or two,go AA miles or Avianca Life Miles or something else that works.
You can develop champagne tastes in travel without the hit to your pocket. The buzz from doing this does not stop.

 

[Alanslegal]

Still only a newbie and I've been on that steep learning curve of pointy end flying at economy or less prices. I joined here in September and it's taken me a bit of time to work through the forums.

I have been here 8 years on and am still learning so take your time. As cove said the buzz doesn't stop so you find ways to be more creative, you start to think outside of the box, you become an efficient points collector, and then you maximise the way you spend them - it's not stop. I came here in 2007 to ask whether my checked baggage would be interlined with US and QF during my visit to the USA, that was my 4th country ever visited. Now I am up to my 45th country so not only am I seeing much more of the world I am also using the many excellent tips here to fly in premium cabins and for very good value

 

[coriander]

What you now need, and its of most importance is SC earn or status credit earn.
SC earn will help you climb the ladder to more benefits.
FF earn means absolutely nothing.

Hmm... SC and FF are mutually exclusive, aren't they?
If I'm not mistaken, I earn SC by flying on a ticket for which I've paid some money. I earn FF by flights and purchases but then put them to use to redeem awards such as upgrades on international flights, but I don't earn extra SC using my FF points; eg if I fly MEL-LAX in PE and use 45,000 FF to (hopefully) upgrade to J, I still only earn 90 SCs not 180 SC. I am current at SG. So it seems to me that there needs to be a balance between FF usage and SC earn. I understand the benefits of SG which is why I'm tempted to do an SR when I'm in the US in November to maintain SG.

As I said before, I was guilty of using FF points to buy gift cards and because I didn't need anything recently, I actually hadn't being paying too much attention to my accumulated FF points. Overnight I did a tally - approximately 280k QFF, 290k Amex, 380k DinersClub. I'm now looking at how to best use those points for non-business travel (which is why I'm here on AFF).

I too thought you were a young "sprat", didnt realise you were around in the AN days.
So, er, you would have had SC earnings already down pat.

Interesting..... my kids don't think I post like an old bloke either ! As I said, I bought a (cheap) lifetime GW membership in the 80s, used it for monthly MEL-SYD flights for a couple of years, then dropped out of committees due to terrace house renovation and then children (build a nest, then fill it) - so didn't use my GWing or fly at all in the 90s. Only started flying again in the mid 00s as the kids were old enough to start travelling. In 2007, my wife's company sent her to NY for a world-wide marketing meeting flying her J MEL-LAX-JFK. That ruined her for flying down the back and she "forced" me to fly J to LAX a year or so later, ruining me as well.