Thanks Vasco....

I just travel with my husband and no freeloading kids. Currently we pay for premium airfares and nice hotels. I don't want to take the chance of booking economy and hoping to get an upgrade but it doesn't happen. That's why I have not done the points thing (I'm too lazy and not had the knowledge). I mainly do medium to long haul. Not a massive fan of Qantas. I do like SQ but their routing for example to the US is too long. I want to get somewhere quick.

Also, coming from Australia, if I use Amex I get charged a surcharge for using an AMEX card so my $4000 bill won't end up being $4000. It is sometimes up to 3%. My concern is if I have to pay all that extra 3% my "free" flight isn't free. Let's say those surcharges add up to $5000 extra on top of paying my bills, if I paid $6 or $6500 for a business class airfare I can go exactly when I want and I am not restricted. My biggest issues is restrictions with my business. I cannot go at any time. There are so many things I had to fit in around. How do you think that works with Amex.

So, if I get 1.5 points per $1 going to NYC is about 268,000 points with Qantas I need to spend $178,000? Is that correct.

Would value for points be better to spend on airfares or hotel stays?

Does it matter how much I would spend on bills a week?
Thanks