Best use for 200,000 DC points

[NM]

I am not convinced on CC points -> hotel (note I have earned 600K of HHonors points on stays alone over the past 18 months so my view is probably coloured).

Well, as usual, it depends on each person's situation. if you already have enough points/miles for the flight and would otherwise be paying for the accommodation, then transfer to a hotel program and redemption for an award stay may well be good value.

[drron]

My calculations on transfer from DC to Aadvantage were by transferring via SPG.Beware though the extra 5000 miles for transferring SPG points only goes to 60000.I always transfer mine in batches of 40000.
Triple points wednesdays are great-for eating out on wednesday nights I can now effectively earn 1.875 AA miles per $A spend.It even works when eating out overseas.Much planning to find a restaurant that accepts DC on wednesday nights.
At the moment I do transfer my DCpoints to SPG points to AA as generally we dont stay in the top Hilton or sPG hotel unless a great deal.We do however use premium class awards-only 1 of us need be EXP.As well now 70% to LTG on AA.

[econgdon]

thanks for the information but I have a question about AA .. As I do not live in the USA, how easy is it to use their points on other airlines , what is the procedure?

[simongr]

You just call the number over here and book - kind of like an assisted award here. Not sure if there is a points penalty but given I try and book Cathay which QF cant book online then I would be up for the penalty anyway.

Pretty painless really.

[econgdon]

I have joined Kris and AA, but also on checking the Qantas ff rewards scheme, I note that for flying, if you quote your AA number, you only receive alf the reward points and sometimes even less than half, so do AA require half the points to make the same Qantas booking or do they require more than half. If they require more than half, the exercise is pretty useless in quoting the AA number when flying
Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Flights - Earn in the Air

Airline Discount Economy^ Full Economy^ Business First

Qantas* 1,000 points 1,000 points 1,250 points 1,250

Jetstar* N/A 1,000 points N/A N/A
British Airways* 125 points 500 points 500 points 500 points
American Airlines®* 500 points 500 points 500 points 500 points

[beardoc]

I note that an affinity card with no annual fees and 1.5 DC points per A$ spent has been mentioned - which organisations offer these for their members? For SPG->AA, there doesn't seem to be a better card on the Australian market.

[NM]

For SPG->AA, there doesn't seem to be a better card on the Australian market.

Well DC has to have something going for it

[drron]

econgdon-the difference between awards on AA and QF varies a lot.if you want a one way award QF is better as AA awards are for return travel.
A few examples i have seen in 2008(updated for change in AA awards)
BNE-AKL-BNE AA Y 20000,AA J 35000.
QF Y 36000,QF J 72000.
BNE-NRT-BNE AA J 90000,QF J 120000
NRT-JFK-NRT AA J 100000,QF J 184000
But the taxes etc are a lot lower with the AA awards.In June with the awards including NRT the AA extras were~15% of the QF extras,saving a few hundred dollars.
The points you were quoting were the minimum mileages per segment.For longer trips the earn rate is identical.Also if you get to plat or exp on AA you get 100% mileage bonus nearly eliminating the QF advantage.

Beardoc-my card was originally an AMA co branded card.When the AMA switched to Amex DC offered the card on identical terms to those that had it.Pharmacists and vets used to get the same deal.I dont know whether that is still true.

[beardoc]

Beardoc-my card was originally an AMA co branded card.When the AMA switched to Amex DC offered the card on identical terms to those that had it.Pharmacists and vets used to get the same deal.I dont know whether that is still true.

Interesting, because I used to be on the AMA cobranded card as well, but when the AMA switched the Amex, I wasn't offered anything at all. They started sending me mail suggesting that I would be charged rewards program fees, etc., so I cancelled it.

A pity - I might contact Diners Club and ask them if they will reinstate my account. It's a long shot, but worth a try, at least!