Originally Posted by
DownUnderFlyer
I think everyone here will agree, the earn / burn ratio (especially the burn part) of QFF is bad. And it gets worse with the huge cash components. This is why in this forum we have typically sent people asking for which FF program to chose for award flights over to the AA guys. Now Qantas has learned hot to manage a captive audience really well coming up with ways how people are getting perceived value when very often there are better alternatives.
Most respectfully, yes and no, my friend.
If you mean the earn / burn ratio for QF based air travel and QF redemption, yeah, I've got your back. Other options may or may not prevail (ignoring folk's obsession with status).
But for the savvy player QF FF still offers the greatest
net return of any FF scheme globally that I know, presuming reasonable accessibility for Aussie points nerds such as myself or many herein. We can earn at over 60 points per AUD on a regular basis (not flying) and redeem in premium cabins at upwards of AUD30 to 100 per 1000 points. That's easily retuning close to or more in redemption value than the cash spend earning points m the first place. My VA stats are close to that and enable me to step out of the reward black hole of using QF points to exit Oz in favour of SQ or other airlines.
That's roughly 60 times more than typical credit card earn absent sign out bonus. The blogs are promoting credit card products that aren't even in the game unless we enjoy huge cashflow (which is fine if we have a high turnover business, etc).
And yes, the sometimes high cash components are absolutely creating a potentital cash barrier to premium rewards. Right on - you nailed that one. Having to chase down and use the tricks to avoid them is a pain in the *beep*.
Perhaps the smart money is on directing:
1) focus on net return not redemption value
2) point earn not status
3) mixed portfolio of airline loyalty programs (not just Qf or any other)
What d'you think?