Transitioning from QFF to Velocity

zfind on 12/08/2024 - 13:26

Hi all.
I’m a longtime QANTAS / OneWorld member having accumulated lots of points and redeemed many reward flights over the years. But I’ve grown dissatisfied with the loyalty and especially points redemption situation with OW and have started to dip my toe in Star Alliance by taking advantage of the Air Canada gold status offer through HSBC. A quick test booking showed I can do PER SIN for 25k one way with lots of availability (on an actual decent airline too). So I’m considering switching my focus to *A but am a total neophyte with their program. Can you knowledge me to the best way to use it, how points redemption compares to QFF, any pitfalls? E.g QF points last forever while SQ expire. I’m currently with aeroplan but if I’m using AU credit cards as my main points source I’d want to be with VA I guess?

Many thanks in advance!

Travel Frequent Flyer Qantas Frequent Flyer Reward Points Velocity Frequent Flyer

Comments

  • Duckie2hh on 12/08/2024 - 14:31
    +1

    pointshacks.com.au

  • try2bhelpful on 12/08/2024 - 14:45
    +1

    We have both QA and Velocity points. This year we are travelling to Europe going over business class with Qatar on our Velocity points and coming back a mixture of short hop economy and long hop business/first on Emirates with our Qantas points. My credit card gives us Qantas points. My other half’s gives us Velocity. Coles is velocity and Woolworths is Qantas. We find Woollies mingy with giving points but we get quite a few points with Coles offers.

    Personally we’ve found Velocity cheaper and easier to find flights with points. We’ve also seemed to have a harder time finding business/first flights back into Australia than out of Australia. It can also be difficult to get two tickets on the same plane with business which is why we ended up business/first this time. If I was travelling on my own I would, certainly, look at first as an option because it didn’t come out much more expensive than business.

    I think Qantas and Velocity are similar with expiring. If you continue activity then the points continue to accumulate. With Qantas you can use the exercise app to keep it ticking over. With velocity just buy things at the Supermarket and swipe the flybuys card.

    I think the other secret is don’t waste points on economy flights. Try to look for business long haul.

    • zfind on 13/08/2024 - 01:02

      Thanks for the reply and helpful info.

      Do you find you can accrue enough points of credit card bonuses to make meaningful trips through Velocity / SA? If you churn that is.

      • try2bhelpful on 13/08/2024 - 10:00

        Now you’ve hit a sore spot, because we are retired we can’t churn cards even though we have more than enough money to service them. They prefer people who have an income that allows them to pay the interest but not pay the debt off completely each month. They don’t want some cashed up boomers who use the interest free period and diligently pay off all their debt. I’ve gone into angry old woman yelling at the clouds mode but this is very annoying. It is pointless trying to argue with them, I’ve tried.

        My suggestion is churn what you can as long as you don’t mind if your credit report is hit. Remember to cancel cards before the next annual payment is due. Be selective because some organisations say if you’ve had one of their cards in the previous x number of months you can’t get another card with a bonus. If I had the option I would, certainly, churn cards.

      • Autonomic on 13/08/2024 - 13:43

        Generally Velocity earning cards have higher earn sign up bonuses compared to Qantas.

  • capslock on 12/08/2024 - 15:07

    I assume your plan is to earn Velocity then convert to Krisflyer to access Star Alliance? Probably best to familiarise yourself with Krisflyer reward charts and rules.

    • zfind on 12/08/2024 - 15:35

      I don’t really have a plan, I’m just starting out, but I do really like SQ and being in Perth it would make sense to use them as my main guys - I don’t fly much in Australia at all.

  • dahax77 on 12/08/2024 - 15:26

    The loyalty and points redemption situation isn't really much better with other airlines.

    Too many (millions) of people with points and too few reward seats is the common theme worldwide.

    • zfind on 12/08/2024 - 15:34

      This is a good point, I kind of always assumed the SA situation was better as I’d personally always regard VA is inferior = the alliance would have to be too. My mistake there.

      Is it as dire as not being able to get business flights to Europe almost at all like it is with OW?

      • theoracle30 on 12/08/2024 - 15:40

        IMO, it's easier to get Business flights to Europe with Velocity Points out of Perth. We have Qatar and Singapore as the two main options. Still not easy, but I can usually find two seats at some point every year.

        • May4th on 12/08/2024 - 16:34
          +1

          it's hard enough finding reward flights on singapore natively let alone using velocity points

          • zfind on 13/08/2024 - 01:00
            +2

            @May4th: My last trip using points over to Europe was really difficult to make happen on points in business, I spent far longer than ever before finding routings especially to get back out of Europe. I’m talking one or two options a week on classic rewards. It was peak season but still, seems like OW just doesn’t have any reward seats.

    • Autonomic on 13/08/2024 - 13:41

      Personally I think Krisflyer is the best program at the moment in terms of being able to consistently book (multiple) business rewards seats 6-9 months in advance.

      • zfind on 13/08/2024 - 14:17

        If credit card churning is my main source of points that would tie me to Velocity though right? I earn almost no points from actual flying

        • Autonomic on 13/08/2024 - 15:16

          Pretty much. There are some programs that convert to KF at a worthwhile rate (Citi Premier/Prestige or Suncorp for example). Personally I collect both QF/VA points. I think both programs have their pros and cons.

  • May4th on 12/08/2024 - 16:32

    I find velocity handy for domestic travel. gold is easy to achieve. okayish lounges with premium entry to skip queues if you are in QLD/NSW. rarely have trouble booking reward flights in business (not that it's particularly worthwhile domestic unless to WA). the fly ahead benefits are handy if you are a business traveller. the guaranteed reward flights for families are handy during peak travel season xmas/school holidays

    • zfind on 13/08/2024 - 00:58

      Almost all of my travel is international so I’m wondering how SA stacks up against OW - I get a lot of utility using QF to Asia and then jumping on the two or three airlines that get to Europe. I’ll have a closer look at the SA routings.

      Good to know availability for J flights isn’t zero!

  • Downvoter on 12/08/2024 - 19:57

    You seem like a Sheldon cooper type

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