Your Experience on Purchasing QFF/Velocity

Lmbwl2010 on 21/10/2015 - 15:36
Last edited 21/10/2015 - 19:00

I am considering purchasing frequent flyer points, redemption flights and access to qantas lounge from ozbargainers.

I have never done these arrangements before so I would like to know your experiences on how it works. Does the buyer "normally" pays the seller first before the item is exchanged? What is the common arrangement?

What is my protection if my payment is cleared but I don't receive the item? I don't want to fall into any disputes and losing any money. I am sure fellow ozbargainers can be trusted but I just want to clear some doubts. Has this happened to anyone before?
Thanks.

Edit: Likewise on experiences when 'transferring' Velocity points.

Travel

Comments

  • inherentchoice on 21/10/2015 - 16:02

    Didn't know this was a thing. I thought the QFF T&C's dictate that you can only transfer points to an eligible family member?

    https://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/usingPoints/fam…

    When I look at the classifieds now and see someone asking for $1.3c per point I think that is a massive rip job. At best one point should be worth no more than $0.0067 each (because $1 = 150 points).

    • battler on 21/10/2015 - 16:03
      +1

      OzB = one big happy family

    • Maki on 21/10/2015 - 16:16

      I got offered $0.8c per point…but I don't think this is the right thing to do so I ignored the message…

    • mbwl2010 on 21/10/2015 - 16:31

      I have seen the common rates of 1cent per point for Velocity and some I have seen 1.1cent for QFF. But that can always be negotiated.

      • SirFlibbled on 22/10/2015 - 16:44

        Seems a bit pointless. Flights Canberra to Sydney are about $140-160. 8,000 QFF points would cost me $80. Then I need to pay the $45 fee on top. I'm saving a little bit but not a huge amount for it to be worthwhile.

        • mbwl2010 on 22/10/2015 - 16:52

          Savings on purchasing domestic flights may not be a whole heap. My personal preference is to convert velocity to krisflyer or use it for intl flight upgrades if using QFF.

  • ozhunter on 21/10/2015 - 16:05
    +3

    Just to be clear, you don't actually buy anything from ozbargain.

    • mbwl2010 on 21/10/2015 - 16:49

      but when you see the Classifieds section and people posting ads selling points..it has to be happening??

  • CyberMurning on 21/10/2015 - 16:26

    there is a risk. remember this is just a forum. anyone can post messages pretend they are honest and still run away with your QFF. admin cannot be held responsible.

    but,
    see the member history, how long they have been here, and yeah, if possible, do it face to face at public place. and cross your fingers

    edit:
    not buying but someone transfer the point and you transfer cash

    • mbwl2010 on 21/10/2015 - 16:38

      Agree. And I would like to hear from people's experiences if this risk has become an issue for some. I do understand this is only a forum and admin can not be held responsible.

      • CyberMurning on 21/10/2015 - 17:01

        i had experience, buying ticketek gift vouchers, seller gave me discount to the voucher value.
        he said he trusted me as i am old member of the forum, and sent me all the vouchers (total value $200+), i called ticketek and booked the ticket i want, and then paid him via paypal as family transfer so he didnt get charged by paypal

  • bluedufflecoat on 21/10/2015 - 17:42

    there is always a risk. Long term members could be less risky but they can still run away with your money. I've sold once, it went well. I got paid first, and I transferred points after.

  • The Champagne Mile on 21/10/2015 - 18:15

    Personally, my main concern would be about the possibility of Qantas picking it up somehow - presumably they'd void the transfer, and who knows what else? (void the points in question, cancel FF accounts for not complying with the rules?)

    There are a couple of members on this forum that trade in FF points frequently - Voteoften is known to pay for points as well as credit card redemption flights. Worth asking about their experiences.

  • MelbBargainChaser77 on 21/10/2015 - 18:49
    +1

    Ive sold FF points here. 3 times I think. Min 1c pp. The buyer paid into my paypal, and then I transferred the points to my new "cousins"

    • Pigey on 21/10/2015 - 22:53
      +2

      You coming to our Christmas reunion?

  • tomclancy on 21/10/2015 - 19:24
    +1

    Wow, far out 1c per Velocity point? I was soon going to cash out 240k points from the recent AMEX deal for $1300 wish gift cards.

    Thanks for bringing this to my attention OP!

    • Paul Atreides on 21/10/2015 - 22:07
      +1

      might want to hang out for a sec and see if they put up the same 15% bonus on top of what you transfer, like they did this year ~apr-may.

  • daveozsydney on 22/10/2015 - 07:58

    They are auto transferred from the velocity Amex madmouse58

  • SlickMick on 22/10/2015 - 09:32

    I was just looking at value of points. I knew a return flight BNE - LAX was 96000 points, so when flights used to cost $1500 a point was worth 1.56c, Now that flights are cheaper ($900), a point WOULD only be worth .9 of a cent. HOWEVER, I just noticed last night that they've bumped up the points required. It's now 156000 points, making points worth .58 of a cent.

    I need to look into Velocity points too. I just noticed Citibank is only giving me 1/2 a Velocity point per reward point. I can't remember if that's what I signed up for!!??

    • modsec802 on 22/10/2015 - 09:34

      Do these values include taxes?

      • SlickMick on 23/10/2015 - 09:35

        Yeah. The $900 is just ballpark - prob a bit minimalistic so as to not exaggerate points value. Anyway, I've since realised that gift cards are a more accurate way of valuing points. citibank points minimum redemption I could find was 3800 points for $20 gift card. So .526c.
        But I'm not sure you get a whole Velocity point per rewards point, so might be significantly less than that.

    • mbwl2010 on 22/10/2015 - 09:53

      citibank platinum visa is about 0.625 velocity per reward point / citibank signature visa is 1 velocity per reward point

      • SlickMick on 23/10/2015 - 09:29

        I realised afterwards that they have different rates depending on card. I was looking at platinum mastercard, which I thought was .5
        But I'm sure signature visa was only going to give 10000 velocity points for 15000 reward points (.667). I'll have to check again.

        • bluedufflecoat on 23/10/2015 - 13:15
          +1

          signature visa's rate of exchange is 10,000 velocity points for 15,000 rewards points. But you do get 1.5 points per $1 spent, so it's about 1:$1. And occasionally, there are bonus 15% points promotions as well, so I wait for that before I exchange.

        • SlickMick on 24/10/2015 - 10:37

          @bluedufflecoat:
          ahh thanks that sounds right. Thought I was being ripped off for a while there!

  • anna10 on 25/10/2015 - 21:31
    -3

    Sadly, as VA and QF have 'given away' billions of points for cc sign on bonuses etc, it is not virtually impossible to get an award seat. For a couple trying to travel together, it is even harder.

    • ozhunter on 26/10/2015 - 01:37

      not virtually impossible

      • The Champagne Mile on 26/10/2015 - 10:11

        It really depends where you want to go - Aus to USA flights are indeed very competitive. But there is generally good availability from Aus - Asia with CX and Qantas, and Aus - Europe with Emirates, as well as domestic flights. As with many things, however, it's first in best dressed - It always pays to book as early as possible - generally when the seats open up around 335 days in advance.

      • anna10 on 26/10/2015 - 11:54

        Yep, I should have said business and first class is very hard to get on some routes.

    • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 03/11/2015 - 18:18

      VA and QF aren't giving away anything. It's the banks that are doing that, by buying them off the airlines. Of course, given the FF programs are so profitable, you'd have to wonder how much (if at all) they've increased the seat availability as they sell points to the banks.

  • anna10 on 03/11/2015 - 18:53

    Well, as AMEX explained to me, it is 50% - 50% airline and bank.

    • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 03/11/2015 - 19:08

      Really? Both airlines? I could imagine Virgin giving away freebies to get their program going, as most people (usually incorrectly) assume Qantas points are more valuable, when the value is only greater for flights to South America, or first class (if you're not a gold+ tier).

  • anna10 on 03/11/2015 - 19:47

    That comment from Amex was apropos of VA recent offer.

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