What to do with 500k VFF points (with new baby)!

tunzafun001 on 06/07/2020 - 01:33
Last edited 06/07/2020 - 01:33

Sadly, saved up 500k VFF points for a RTW trip (fail).

Life is about to change with our first baby due 4 days ago! So our whole approach to travel is definitely going to change.

Travel would normally be the furthest from my thinking at the moment, but with a potential total collapse of VFF, I'm thinking of booking whatever redemption flights I can now for as far into the future as possible (as it looks like Bain 'may' honour existing bookings at least).

Any tips on booking flights with a young bub? Minimum age, air pressure relief, dare I say it..pointy end seats (everyone loves a crying baby..not ;) but it would provide extra luggage allowance for prams/ car seats etc.

Prior to baby news and ole mate corona we were thinking of future travel to NZ, Japan, Cairns, Perth and maybe the Italian alps (Based in SA). Open to any location options for young families.

So basically, how would you spend 500k points if you were going to lose them anyway with a baby that will be maximum 330 days old (if it happens tomorrow)!

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Comments

  • Hybroid on 06/07/2020 - 01:40
    +4

    Sell them. Congrats on the baby.

    • dust on 06/07/2020 - 07:49

      I wonder what the going price for velocity points are.

    • ausdday on 06/07/2020 - 11:02
      +1

      Sell the baby or sell the points? Hmmm .. tough choice

  • morse on 06/07/2020 - 08:01
    +1

    Could do Westfield gift cards if that’s still any option. Can pretty much be used like a VISA debit gift card. Might male you feel better about all the extra expenses involved in a newborn. You’ll be buying random things that you didn’t think you’d need constantly and as the kid grows. Takeaway purchases also go up - that’s what my husband has been using Westfield gift cards for.

    Alternatively book a trip less than 3-4 hrs away. If you have the points necessary, consider flying business class and make the trip a bit fun/special. Alternatively redeem for shorter cheap flight and spend excess on accommodation, car hire etc.

    We have a ten month old and have been considering Tassie, Broome, Perth + Margaret River, somewhere in North QLD eg magnetic island. Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast are also good, I live Gold Coast so might be bias.

    We did our first trip when bub was 5 months from Gold Coast to Sydney. We managed to get him to sleep on the plane, in the hotel and even at the wedding we attended. We accidentally got ushered into the Virgin lounge on the way down and that was nice to do for bubs first flight.

    Many of the families I know have done some great trips with bubs. I personally wouldn’t do it until they have their 8 week vaccines at least, and probably would wait until they are 3months plus, but each to their own. Things like breastfeeding/bottle feeding, sleep are harder earlier on. Later it’s keeping them entertained and finding appropriate solid food. Either way it’s all workable. Do consider all extra things you might need or want for a trip e,g. Travel pram, baby carrier, travel cot, car seat hire.

    • kerfuffle on 06/07/2020 - 08:22

      Could do Westfield gift cards if that’s still any option

      That hasn't been an option since April 21.

      • morse on 06/07/2020 - 08:24

        Oh darn… it still lists it on the webpage, but yeah figured it might not be an option. Lucky we redeemed some earlier.

    • tunzafun001 on 06/07/2020 - 11:44

      Good tips here, thanks. Any specific travel prams/ cots?

      • morse on 06/07/2020 - 19:24

        Re Travel prams, we don't actually have one. We traveled with our standard pram which we got ex-demo quite cheaply so weren't too worried about. But, it did get damaged (only mildly) when we stowed it underneath. We decided to take our pram with us because we wanted him to be able to chill in the pram in the airport. With Virgin you can take the pram to the gate and then they stow it underneath on boarding. They are (at least were when we traveled) generous with baby baggage and you're able to take a car seat, travel cot and pram in addition to your luggage allowance in economy. I like the look of this one from Kmart https://www.kmart.com.au/product/genius-compact-stroller/275… but haven't tried. Whatever you do make sure you get one with recline if you plan for them to sleep in it. Also some people get a baby capsule that doubles as a car and pram seat, but it needs to interface with your pram and it only lasts until they are six months. Depending on when you travel with your bub you'll need to consider whether you need a bassinet or not - some are rating for sleeping some aren't. Ours wasn't but our bub transition out of his pram bassinet to the regular seat at 4 months.

        Re travel cots we have this one https://www.babybunting.com.au/phil-teds-traveller-v4-portac…. We found it very good and light but a bit expensive. We were hoping to using it more then COVID happened, but we'll use it soon for sure. If the hotel you stay in has a cot you could also consider that. Consider that none of the travel cots are assessed against Australian Standards, so make your own judgement about what is safe. The mesh sides, firm base and our bubs age made us feel more confident.

        I hope your bub arrives safely into the world soon. What a joy and a journey it will be! Feel free to send me a message to ask any questions - I've learned lots along the way about feeding, sleeping, where/when to get help, equipment, travel, clothes, toys etc etc etc.

  • Austaurean on 06/07/2020 - 08:15

    Feeding during takeoff/landing helps with ear pressure relief for the bub.. plus its a comfort thing..

    • dust on 06/07/2020 - 08:36

      They do have to be seat belted though so you'll have to do a bit of manoeuvering to breast feed.

      • morse on 06/07/2020 - 09:10

        Yeah, it’s tricky. I just loosened the strap heaps (technically not allowed but the host suggested it quietly). He fed on one take off but was too distracted on other. Had no issues with ears, but I think from memory we gave him a dummy when not feeding.

        • dust on 06/07/2020 - 13:17

          It's the sucking/swallowing that helps with the ear pressure so a dummy would work too.

  • Ocker on 06/07/2020 - 08:58

    Rather than risk your QFF points expiring get a Woolworths rewards card. Select the QFF points reward option and then each time you make a Woolworths purchase record on the card then the QFF expiry clock will start afresh.

    • kerfuffle on 06/07/2020 - 08:59
      +2

      How does that help the OP considering the topic on hand is about VFF?

      • Ocker on 06/07/2020 - 09:15

        My bad

    • 87percent on 06/07/2020 - 10:15

      Wait.. what? So your points would technically never expire?

      • kerfuffle on 06/07/2020 - 10:17
        +1

        It's the same with VFF; as long as you earn points, your points never expire.

      • Agarwal on 06/07/2020 - 11:35

        For Qantas, the Qantas wellbeing app is good for that. You don't get many points, but it means the ones you have wont expire.

  • RockyRaccoon on 06/07/2020 - 10:01

    Put the baby on the flight with the points, then get some sleep while its winging its way around the world. 😴

    In all seriousness use Ockers strategy, but with Flybuys (not WW rewards) then you can extend the life of the points until you are ready to fly with the bub as well.

    • kerfuffle on 06/07/2020 - 10:02
      -2

      You can't transfer VFF points to flybuys; you can only transfer flybuys points to VFF

      • RockyRaccoon on 06/07/2020 - 10:22
        +2

        you can only transfer flybuys points to VFF

        Exactly what I was saying.

        By transferring TO Virgin, you keep your virgin account alive, rather than have the points expire, then the OP can use them when they can fly again. (or they let you redeem for gift cards again)

        Same as you said here

        It's the same with VFF; as long as you earn points, your points never expire.

        😀👍

        • kerfuffle on 06/07/2020 - 10:45

          I think the OP wants to get rid of their points, not accumulate more haha

        • tunzafun001 on 06/07/2020 - 11:52

          VFF are 'possibly' being disbanded with a statement around August. So its book travel now (potentially 20 domestic business class flights) that I don't really want or possibly lose them completely in a month and get nothing for them at all. Flybuys won't save them ;) Offered to book outer family travel for nothing as well.

    • jv on 06/07/2020 - 11:40

      Put the baby on the flight with the points, then get some sleep while its winging its way around the world

      I don't think you can send a baby unaccompanied on a flight.

      • tunzafun001 on 06/07/2020 - 11:55
        +1

        Compromise then maybe..book bubs into economy down back, get a nice rest in business up front ;)

        • fun police please note this has a winky face.
  • theoracle30 on 06/07/2020 - 11:04
    +2

    VFF is relatively safe (a separate company from Virgin Australia and all), plus initial reports from Bain are that the company will honour points and the 'existing points architecture' (i.e. current redemption rates), for now.

    Congrats on your kid! If you do travel in the next two years, your kid can travel for free in most cases. Combined with Business Class reward seats, your points could be good for a nice domestic trip down the track.

    Once they turn 24 months old, those perks disappear.

    • tunzafun001 on 06/07/2020 - 12:00

      Where have you seen they said they would maintain the points? The release I read say they 'may' honour existing bookings and redemptions but not a single word about points. Hence the 'lock flights in now' strategy as i missed out on getting gift cards
      The ole silence on points seemed deafening to me?

      • theoracle30 on 06/07/2020 - 12:12
        +2

        It's from this article.

        Bain Capital has said that it will retain the Velocity Frequent Flyer scheme – along with all the points currently held by members and the "pricing architecture" of redemptions – while working to "bring the Velocity and Virgin brands closer together."

    • lainey13 on 06/07/2020 - 19:18

      Yes but now there's action from bond holders to reject this bid :( so we may all be screwed still

  • jv on 06/07/2020 - 11:39

    Tahiti

    All the pacific islands will be part of the safe bubble…
    (unless you're from Vic… thanks Dan… ☹️)

    • tunzafun001 on 06/07/2020 - 12:02

      Yeah, can't book them yet though..I dont think.

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