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Not all frequent flyer programs are created equal, and it is always best to compare to sort your way through to the one that will offer you the best value for money to help your travelling experience become a bit more comfortable. Frequent flyer cards can give you access to the best deals in town, but if you do not take this with a bit of salt you might find yourself coughing up more than you should. These are the six frequent flyer card pitfalls that you should be aware of.
1. Not weighing the cost against value
9 out of 10 Australians are part of a loyalty program, which 50% is made up of frequent flyer programes, which is a clear sign that we are a nation that loves travelling but we also loving saving wherever we can. If you are still fresh on the market for a frequent flyer card you might be amazed at the incredible offers that are available.
But if you fail to check the ongoing costs of a card it can cost you more than what it offers you. Some cards require that you spend big in order to win big and if you are not a big spender it can cost you hundreds of dollars to maintain. This could push you into the red. If the cost outweighs the value, you are getting then it is best to part ways with your card.
2. Be aware of the annual fee on the card
Most frequent flyer products will come with an annual fee which can either make or break your budget. The average annual fee can range from $208 – $700. Without taking into consideration the amount that you will pay an annual fee is also something that can result in you missing on payments or even exceeding your budget for something that does not add value. It is important that you constantly compare annual interest rate. This alone can save you hundreds of dollars.
3. Restrictions on where you can use points
Taking out a credit card that is affiliated with an airline generally means that you can only utilise those points on that frequent flyer program that is partnered with your credit card. Some frequent flyer programs will penalise you with a higher fee for your next flight if you happened to use their points on another airline that is not affiliated with them. However, there is a silver lining when it comes to airlines that have alliances with other airlines, making it easier to convert your points to use with another flight.
4. Reward value can increase or decrease over time
Reward programs are constantly shifting to provide customers with a better service, but sometimes they can lose value by increasing. This is known as award price increases, which means that the airline or rewards programme increases the number of miles or points that are needed to book a free flight or a free room.
This increase then devalues the points you have accumulated which can turn anyone’s mood sour especially if you were about to hit points that were going to book you a free flight to your desired destination. According to Mozo, reward cards have been plummeting by $27 in value p.a. which was a 63% drop from the previous year. This is when you need to weigh your options to see if the card is still worth it.
5. Point caps that can rain on your parade
It is important to factor in the fact that some frequent flyer credit cards limit the number of points you can earn per month. You will know if a card has a points cap if it offers 1 point per $1 spent but will have a limit of 50,000 points in a year. Which means no matter how much you spend on your card you will still earn 50,000 points.
6. Passing the ‘best before’ date
Reading the terms of your frequent flyer credit card are vital to make sure that you cash in when it matters the most. There are some frequent flyer reward programmes that have an expiration date on their points. This means that if you don’t use them up until a certain date the points will become void.
You cannot retrieve your points once they have expired. You will have to keep an update on the expiration date before you become extremely disappointed when it is time to retrieve them.
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This guide provides general information and does not consider your individual needs, finances or objectives. We do not make any recommendation or suggestion about which product is best for you based on your specific situation and we do not compare all companies in the market, or all products offered by all companies. It’s always important to consider whether professional financial, legal or taxation advice is appropriate for you before choosing or purchasing a financial product.
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