Best credit card to link to the Qantas frequent flyer program (fee free/low) and best way to utilise points

Lambidextrous on 27/01/2014 - 20:57

Hi All

I have been reading these forums for what feels like forever but i've only just signed up

I currently have a Commbank diamond amex/mastercard however I am cancelling this card.

I recently came across the citi platinum card fee free for life offer and have received my card last week. I am on the Platinum rewards card not the signature card. I rang up today to connect my Qantas frequent flyer account to this card and was told that it wasn't possible with the card i'm on.

So now im back at square one. I have no idea what fee free/low card I should go for so that I can link up to the FF program, my preference is to have an AMEX and a master card/visa althrough if the mastercard or visa itself will earn as much as an amex $1 - 1 point at least ill be more than happy to stick with one card.

Also, just wondering what is the best way to utilise points? Previously i've been using points to lower the price of my fights, but im sure there is a more cost effective option.

Thanks for your help

Financial Credit Card

Comments

  • tonester on 27/01/2014 - 21:36
    +1

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/113749 might help :)

  • evol on 27/01/2014 - 21:46
    +2

    Commbank awards card is crap, they recently lowered the points earning rates without telling people too. Cancel it after cashing out your points, you're not missing out on anything.

    For QFF points, the best value option is the Woolworth Qantas Mastercard. You get 16k QFF points on signup, $1:1QFF point earn rate, all for the price of $89/year. You won't find another 1:1 card cheaper than this.

    Another good option is the HSBC Platinum Qantas Visa. Currently 20k QFF points on signup (although it was 35k recently), $1:1QFF point earn rate, 2 x Qantas Lounge Passes every year (worth ~$80 on eBay), $199 annual fee (although you can get a lower fee via corporate rate or telling them you feel like cancelling the card…)

    Best way to utilize points is for business/first redemptions or upgrades. With QFF points the best value IMO is to book business class long haul on Emirates. Even shorter flights like SIN->MEL is only 60k one way in business.

    Using points to lower the cost of your flights = probably one of the worst value ways to use your points. For the same amount of points, compare the value of the $ off to the value of a business class redemption - you'll find that the first option is massively ripping you off ;)

    I'd recommend an Amex + one of the above Visa/Mastercard options to earn points. Amex cards tend to earn at higher rate in certain situations and come with much better features and support, albeit at a higher annual fee.

    For Amex I'd reccommend either the Platinum Edge card with it's 3/2/1 earn rate and free return domestic flight every year, or if you're putting all your eggs in the QFF basket then the Qantas Premium Amex (also with yearly domestic return flight) is also a good option (but with higher fee).

    If you/anyone is interested in Amex cards please send me a personal message and I can send you a referral link which gives you more sign up points when you apply.

    Lastly, see some of my other recommendations/tips in this thread here: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/103802#comment-1398486

    • bluedufflecoat on 28/01/2014 - 09:04
      +1

      How many referrals have you had for the Platinum Edge? I see you commenting each time someone asks for a recommendation. :)

      • evol on 28/01/2014 - 12:21
        +1

        A few here and there haha…Hopefully people find my advice useful regardless of if they want a referral or not! :)

        • Pumpkin_rrr on 29/01/2014 - 20:18

          Hi Tonester and Evol, cna you tell me how to get those referral links?
          I asked AMEX and they asked me to use FaceBook!

        • evol on 30/01/2014 - 00:07

          Once you're logged into your Amex account, go to the top and click Rewards, then Refer a Friend. You will require a Facebook account to generate the referral link unfortunately. They used to have an email option too but that mysteriously disappeared one day :/

        • Pumpkin_rrr on 30/01/2014 - 11:14

          Thanx Evol. This is just confirming what they told me, not that I agree at all.
          I loathe FaceBook and cant understand why a big company like AMEX has to do it this way…. It really beats me!

    • chumlee on 15/11/2015 - 12:56

      I believe HSBC had recently capped monthly points you can earn and dropped the Qantas lounge passes so useless card now

  • ambidextrous on 27/01/2014 - 22:08

    Wow thats very comprehensive, thank you

    I have the commbank diamond awards card which i have the points automatically transferred to the QFF program, i think at a rate of 1.5 qff points for amex and 1 point for master card

    I was thinking of the woolworths qantas card with the 16,000 points but it doesn't have the travel and purchase insurance or the price protection, is this right?

    • narbe on 28/01/2014 - 09:16
      +1

      One thing to note about these programs, is that the return is about 1% and below.
      So if your spend is not that high per year, the annual fee eats it all up.

      I use Woolies Qantas for points and 28 degree for price protection.

    • evol on 28/01/2014 - 12:40
      +1

      I believe for Commbank diamond the current earn rate is up to 1.5QFF/$ for the Amex, and up to 0.625QFF/$ for the Mastercard. Pretty crap for a "Diamond" card.

      Correct the woolies card doesn't have any insurance/price protection features. However for the annual fee you can't expect too much given they're already offering 16k QFF and a 1:1 earn rate ;)

      28 Degrees Mastercard as mentioned above is a good secondary card to keep in the wallet for price protection and for online shopping (as you get the Mastercard market exchange rate with no additional fees).

  • NancyCat on 28/01/2014 - 10:08

    Best way to utilize points is to buy gift cards. You can set up your QFF account to automatically send you Woolies gift cards for whatever points you have. $20 for 3000pts. You can also buy the gift cards from the QFF shop, but I think that requires extra points: Woolies $25 = 4000pts, BigW $25 = 3750pts, Westfield $25 = 4300pts …
    Never buy anything (eg luggage/kettle/toys…) from the QFF shop, always over priced, little choices. If you need a new kettle, get the gift card with your points and buy your kettle somewhere else!
    As for flights…I don't fly often, but from experience, the choices are very limited too.

    • evol on 28/01/2014 - 12:32
      +1

      Best way to utilize points is to buy gift cards

      Nope, unless you don't fly at all. Gift cards often have one of the lowest $ per point value. Likewise with the ridiculous prices the QFF shop has. I'd only redeem for gift cards if you have nothing else you wish to save the points up for and never fly anywhere.

      E.g:

      Woolies $25 = 4k points. A paltry $0.00625 for each of your hard earned points.
      Emirates Singapore -> Melbourne in Business. For a random day in March, the price on Emirates website = $2478. You can redeem said flight for 60k QFF points, which works out to a point value of $0.0413 per point.

      So based on this random date example, redemption for flights is worth 6.6x more than for gift cards. The redemption point cost is the same regardless of the date, so imagine booking the same seat during peak season when the base airfare is more expensive!

    • tonester on 28/01/2014 - 12:50
      +1

      Never buy anything (eg luggage/kettle/toys…) from the QFF shop, always over priced, little choices.

      they do have the occasional good sale :)

    • Hirolol on 15/11/2015 - 12:41

      Yeh this is probably the worst way to use your points

  • verio on 28/01/2014 - 10:30
    +1

    I use Amex Qantas American Express Discovery Card and it works just fine. 1 point per dollar spent, not annual fee.

    P.S. If someone is interested in extra points on sign up, please send me a personal message.

  • ambidextrous on 28/01/2014 - 13:13
    +1

    Thanks everyone for your help

    What im considering is the woolies card for my everyday expenses. I currently have the 28degree card for overseas transactions and I might just keep the citi platinum card for the price protection and overseas insurances, although i'll lower the limit on that card

    The comm bank card is on the way out regardless, I can't justify the $400 annual fee

  • dbun1 on 30/01/2014 - 14:33
    +1

    It's probably too late now, but if you qualified for the Citibank Signature Credit Card (on the F&F no fee offer), you could then opt in to the QFF rewards program

    Earn rate is 1 point per $1 spent, which is pretty good considering the card is free and comes with all the benefits of a Signature card.

    http://www.citibank.com.au/aus/credit_cards/qantas_rewards.h…

    If you already hold a Platinum card with Citibank, you could apply for a credit increase to get to the Signature Card level, which usually means they will upgrade you for free, so you will stay on whatever your current annual fee is.

    The Woolworths card is good too as you can get bonus points by shopping at Woolworths on Everyday Rewards I believe.

  • Mafoo on 14/11/2015 - 15:22

    How do you find out how many points you need for a flight?

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