Originally Posted by
HighlandPark
Obviously it's a matter of choice for Qantas and BA as to whether they give avios and TPs for any particular ticket. But I also have a choice, so while I had been considering flying back to Sydney (cost: $99 + travel from central Canberra to the airport, and from Sydney airport to central Sydney) I'm now going to take the bus (cost: $36, and it goes city centre to city centre). So Qantas have lost out on a fare.
10 TPs and a bit of Avios should not really be the deciding factor in your chosen mode of transport to be honest. It sounds like it is more convenient and cheaper for you to catch the bus anyway. Or, if you want to have SCs and points, you should sign up to QFFF. You'll get 1000 points and 10 SCs. Bear in mind the redemption rates can be very poor with QFFF depending on what you do with them though.
Anyway, you can usually book an Avios/TP-earning fare for just a little bit more but to be honest if you are going to be saving over $100 ($30 for taxi from city centre to CBR, then around $15 train from SYD to city centre, plus $63 difference between flying and bus) and you are happy to catch the bus you should go right ahead and catch the bus. 10 TPs and Avios you earn isn't worth $100 unless it results in your missing out on getting a status.