I have been a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program for years. I joined about ten years ago when I realised there were benefits available by consolidating all my business travel with the one airline. Later I found that I could transfer the points accrued on my credit cards over to my Frequent Flyer account – and use the extra points for free travel.
And despite the occasional issue with seat bookings, it has worked very well. For me at least.
Late last year, however, I received a message from my credit card providers explaining that soon it will not be possible to transfer my points balances over to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. Well, with American Express at least, it is possible – but with higher fees or charges.
And now that deadline is drawing near.
The “It’s Time to Choose” campaign, by M&C Saatchi, launches on Monday. Inspired by the recent political campaigns of President Obama and Prime Minister Rudd, the simple message aims to remind us all to transfer our points while we still can.
Now, let me just see where my whims might take me!
UPDATE: Gordon Whitehead is showing an optimistic streak – waiting on a windfall of frequent flyer points due to his blog coverage.
I am a heavy points user but luckily most are generated by Amex use. I can use them on multiple airlines and am not tied to one provider. Flying V Aust on next US trip instead of Qantas. Find Qantas hard to get decent FF flights on anyway. I reckon Virgin will profit from this move from QFF program.
Delta Skelter?
Doesn’t it cost you more to have multiple affiliations? Check the details. And let me know if you find a loophole!
JAL for the win, seriously.
Never ever had a problem redeeming points for hotels, flights, etc. Their redeem rates are reasonable, and I **love** their service.
Plus….getting bumped into First Class to Europe for the mo’fo’FF win!
Here’s what it says in the fine print on Qantas FF site:
American Express Membership Rewards Ascent
There is some change to the way you can earn points with cards in this program after 31 March 2009.
You will no longer be able to transfer points to Qantas Frequent Flyer after 31 March 2009 if you hold an American Express® card enrolled in Membership RewardsTM Ascent. This does not apply to:
* Professional Association Cards;
* selected Gold Business and Business Charge Cards;
* selected Cobrand Cards and Charge Cards including:
– Centurion
– Platinum
– Platinum Business.
American Express Membership Rewards Ascent, Ascent Premium and Spirit Programs
There is no change to the way you can earn points with selected cards in these programs.
If you hold one of the selected cards listed below which is enrolled in one of these programs, you can continue to transfer reward points after 31 March 2009 from those American Express® Membership RewardsTM programs to Qantas Frequent Flyer as you do today.*
Cards enrolled in American Express Membership Rewards Ascent include:
* selected Gold Business Cards, and
* selected Business Cards.
Charge cards enrolled in American Express Membership Rewards Ascent Premium include:*
* Centurion,
* Platinum, and
* Platinum Business.
Cards enrolled in American Express Membership Rewards Spirit include:
* American Express Qantas Corporate, and
* Qantas American Express Business.
What happens next?
You don’t need to do a thing. The way you can transfer your Membership Rewards points to Qantas Frequent Flyer points with these cards will not change, so you can continue to enjoy all the benefits of your Frequent Flyer membership.
Craig says: The way I read this, my Amex Platinum card is exempt from the changes.
Am I reading this the wrong way?
If I am I will simply use up the existing points I have at Qantas FF, which arent many as I only transfer them as I need them. Then i will use my abundance of Amex points elsewhere, Like VirginBlue in and around Australia, V Australia for longhaul to USA or Singapore to Asia and Europe.
I’m not sure which bank you’re with, but Westpac, NAB, Diners, CBA and ANZ will all have Qantas Direct Earn cards after the deadline, not just Amex. The deadline is to change over points from a card that isn’t direct earn – and then change your credit card to a direct earn card so that all your points can be frequent flyer points.
Check out this link for more info: http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/partners/card?pageLink=Choosing