The great points transfer to AAdvantage

[futaris]

"1,000 Membership Rewards point(s) is equal to AUD 330 Starpoints"

121300 MR = 40,029 SPG
40,000 SPG = 50,000 AA

MR -> SPG -> AA gives 41.22% of the initial value.

 

[QF WP]

futaris, forgot to say thanks earlier . Have just hit 123K points, so time to transfer 121,000 MR points to SPG today (already have 349 points picking around in my SPG account); so I can get them across to AA before the 30/11 deadline towards MM status.

 

[Kangol]

Thankyou to everyone who has posted in this thread, one main factor I can see that has recently rocked the boat is that non BIS points will soon no longer contribute to lifetime accumulation of status miles:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....changes-aadvantage-lifetime-status-29619.html

Therefore, getting to lifetime AA Plat (OWS) would be a lot harder now..

So for me, a relatively new flyer (ie only started flying semi regularly 6 months ago, predominantly QF domestic, and have a whopping 685 lifetime SCs) who has just started his flying "career" so to speak - would it be worthwhile to switch to AAdvantage sooner rather than later?

Is it easier to get to QFF SG or AA Plat? Also my credit card points go to QFF so using them for JASA/YASAs would be beneficial in helping get SCs for status requalification every year. Time depending I also plan on doing some AA YUPPs over the next year or two, which would certainly help with earning SCs.

For those of you who have lifetime QP/PS/SG (do they even offer lifetime QP any more?) I can see the value in that your points are worth more in terms of redeeming for flights compared to QFF points, but for someone starting out is it better to stay with QF (at least for the next couple of years)?

 

[NM]

Is it easier to get to QFF SG or AA Plat?

That depends completely on the type of travel you do. For my personal travel pattern, I will manage AA Executive Platinum this year. But if I booked the exact same flights to QFF I would only earn 620 SCs (enough to requalify Gold but not to qualify Gold from Silver).

But for others, QFF Gold or Platinum are easier to attain the AA Plat or Exec Plat. If travelling in Business or First Class, then QFF is likely to be easier to gain status. If travelling in heavilly discounted economy, again probably easier with QFF.

For those of you who have lifetime QP/PS/SG (do they even offer lifetime QP any more?)

Lifetime Qantas Club membership is no longer available to be purchased.

I can see the value in that your points are worth more in terms of redeeming for flights compared to QFF points, but for someone starting out is it better to stay with QF (at least for the next couple of years)?

This is the million dollar (point/mile) question. Unless you know your future travel patterns (type of fares, destinations etc) and your desired outcomes from the program (award flights, upgrades, lounge access, priority/additional baggage etc) its impossible to say which program is going to be best for you.

 

[QF WP]

Thankyou to everyone who has posted in this thread, one main factor I can see that has recently rocked the boat is that non BIS points will soon no longer contribute to lifetime accumulation of status miles:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....changes-aadvantage-lifetime-status-29619.html

Therefore, getting to lifetime AA Plat (OWS) would be a lot harder now..

Correct, one of the reasons I transferred my remaining Amex points to my AAccount. I'll also buy some points before end of October to finish up the easy miles to AA. From 1 November it will be BIS mileage only and this is a bit of a gamechanger for me.

So for me, a relatively new flyer (ie only started flying semi regularly 6 months ago, predominantly QF domestic, and have a whopping 685 lifetime SCs) who has just started his flying "career" so to speak - would it be worthwhile to switch to AAdvantage sooner rather than later?

I can't see it's going to be of any benefit for you to switch

Is it easier to get to QFF SG or AA Plat? Also my credit card points go to QFF so using them for JASA/YASAs would be beneficial in helping get SCs for status requalification every year. Time depending I also plan on doing some AA YUPPs over the next year or two, which would certainly help with earning SCs.

For those of you who have lifetime QP/PS/SG (do they even offer lifetime QP any more?) I can see the value in that your points are worth more in terms of redeeming for flights compared to QFF points, but for someone starting out is it better to stay with QF (at least for the next couple of years)?

I think QF SG is easier to get now.

I now intend to switch back to converting my Amex points to either QF or VA. Like you, I see JASA's now as very important in my requalifying for SG each year and continuing the march to Lifetime Gold. Likewise AA KUPP's/YUPP's may supplement my QF SC's earn next year.

 

[QF WP]

Well, the points from Amex > SPG have AArived:

Starting Balance	24,575
10/09/11	STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST		50,000	50,000

So my AAcount now looking like this:

YTD Elite Qualifying Points	326
YTD Elite Qualifying Miles	651
YTD Elite Qualifying Segments	1
Miles with Expiration Deferred Through 9/04/2013	74,575
500 Mile Upgrade Account Balance
Program to Date Miles	619,575
Total Available Award Mileage +	74,575

Now to look to buy another 40K AA points so they can hit my AAcount before the deadline towards Lifetime status

 

[QF WP]

And it has gone up to this with the purchased 40K miles (with a further 20K expected to be purchased by 31/12):

November

10/09/11	STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST		50,000	50,000
10/20/11	MILES PURCHASED		40,000	40,000
Total Miles Posted		90,000	90,000

AA YTD 2011
Total sectors: 1
Total EQP's: 326
Total EQM's: 651
Total AAdv points: 114,575
Program to Date miles: 659,575
Miles with Expiration Deferred Through 20 May, 2013: 114,575

so I'm still at 65.95% to LTG with AA (and there it willl stay for a while).

 

[NM]

So you didn't get the MM mark before the end of November

I cleared out Amex and Diners, laundering via SPG, and exchanged 30 x 500 mile upgrade certs to leave me at 1.7MM, and about 930K redeemable miles in the bank. Being pressured to take more LSL so plenty of options there.

 

[QF WP]

I laundered every point available but missed the MM mark. Will just have to credit some flying at some stage in the future.

Nicely done NM. My LSL earlier this year reduced my point balance significantly. After the additional 20K, will have enough for 1x J award to USA in Sept 12.

Then 60K points to be purchased for Mrs LW's AAccount, together with her existing balance, will have the 2nd J award ready to go.

 

[NM]

Then comes the challenge to find flights with award availability!

 

[QF WP]

You said it. Don't hold out much hope for 4x J, but may look for 2x J with either 2x PE or 2x F.

 

[QF WP]

Update:

As you all know, I bought 40K miles on 22 October for my AAccount (no bonus miles). Exchange rate was parity, so cost me $1,212.50 USD (or $1,223.78 AUD charged on the Amex)

Topped up my AAccount with the additional 20K (plus bonus) on 31 December. Cost was $621.25 USD (or $635.11 AUD charged on the Amex). Bonus miles yet to appear.

At the same time, bought the full 60K (plus bonus points) in my wifes account, cost was $1,803.75 USD (or $1,844.02 AUD charged on the Amex), again 20K bonus miles yet to appear in her account.

So balances are now 134,718 in mine and 61,490 in my wifes' AAccount (before bonus miles are added, 6K for me and 20K for her).

Last night, I bought the full 40K (plus 15K bonus - using the January offer) for both AAccounts, so cost me $1,212.50 USD each. Exchange rate has gone my way, now up to $1.00USD = $0.94AUD. Charges haven't hit the Amex yet, but expecting to see ~$1,157 AUD).

I was tardy and let my wifes 58K mileage balance lapse last year, plus my M-i-L's 47K. Think I'll be re-activating both of them and getting M-i-L's transferred (shAAred) to my wifes account.

Now to work on that part of the project and then see if we have sufficient miles (once sufficient F mileage is in each AAccount) to snaffle the award seats (2F + 2J would be nice). If need be, will buy 2x any class (or 2F and 1J) from AA, then might have to go cap in hand to QFF to buy 1 x PE and 1 PE award.