We use a Woolworths card and pay for everything we can with Amex, and Visa if Amex is not accepted. Big stores like Woolies, and fuel stops like BP will accept Amex.
The reason we prefer it is because we pay a fee to have a platinum Amex, but get double points., so it's worth it for us.
Amex charges a high fee, so lots of smaller retailers don't accept it. Most of those business owners will have an Amex in their wallet though. They are not stupid.

If you are travelling, paying by either platinum card means you get free travel insurance on legs paid for by the card, which is a nice bonus. You also then get FF points as well.

We have managed to pay for various fares and business class upgrades this way.
You need to monitor the expenditure and makes sure you just siphon the money through the credit card, and not build up a debt balance.
This all links to Qantas FF for us. Not saying that's the best scheme to be in, but we started out that way, so we stick with it. The biggest hassle with Qantas is having to go through
LA to get to Canada for ski-ing. So, consider where you like to travel, and pick the airline that is the best fit.

KenHo said...

We use a Woolworths card and pay for everything we can with Amex, and Visa if Amex is not accepted. Big stores like Woolies, and fuel stops like BP will accept Amex.
The reason we prefer it is because we pay a fee to have a platinum Amex, but get double points., so it's worth it for us.
Amex charges a high fee, so lots of smaller retailers don't accept it. Most of those business owners will have an Amex in their wallet though. They are not stupid.

If you are travelling, paying by either platinum card means you get free travel insurance on legs paid for by the card, which is a nice bonus. You also then get FF points as well.

We have managed to pay for various fares and business class upgrades this way.
You need to monitor the expenditure and makes sure you just siphon the money through the credit card, and not build up a debt balance.
This all links to Qantas FF for us. Not saying that's the best scheme to be in, but we started out that way, so we stick with it. The biggest hassle with Qantas is having to go through
LA to get to Canada for ski-ing. So, consider where you like to travel, and pick the airline that is the best fit.

I do the same, and have found it to be very effective. I just took my family of 4 for a US holiday for only the cost of airport taxes. Points are building up again since then quite quickly.

The addition of Amex has increased the points build up since the older visa gold system by a factor of 2 for me, and although I have not claimed it, the free travel insurane give peace of mind.

-- Adrian

i did that and got a family pass to seaworld!

cool hey.

Roar said...

Hi
I have started flying a lot more overseas in last year or 2 so was thinking i should look into this more.

What flybuy packages do you all use and how do you maximise your points.
Would be nice to be able to upgrade seats when flying up to maui etc.

Ive had a look and there seems to be 2 main themes here in Aus.
There is
Quantas specific Credit cards
Virgin + alliance Crdit cards

both belong to international alliance which have a few associated carriers.

Then you can also get fly buy cards that you flash at supermarket and shops when ever you do a purchase.
Which of these do you use and how do they tie in nicely with your credit it card

Cheers
Craig

you'll never get enough points from shopping only, you need to fly a lot to accummulate enough air miles to get some free flights. I used to fly fairly often with work and it's the overseas flights (preferably in business class ) where you rake up the big miles. Flybuys and other schemes are not worth the effort IMO.

I found that even my personal travel (I go to Europe at least once/twice a year) doesn't do much because I usually pick up some online special and it's either with airline I don't have frequent flyers with or one of the reasons the ticket's cheaper is that there are limited (or no miles) to be had.