How to earn Avios points in Australia?

[andye]

Avios are useful for Y redemptions in EU, Aus, US and elsewhere especially for short flights that would otherwise be expensive. I'm not a big fan of burning for short-haul J though there is clearly good 'value' compared to cash prices

In long-haul the taxes are an issue (except on AA intra-US & CX) and the burn rates are not particular good (though better than QF). If you are UK based the BA Amex card can give you a 2-for-1 redemption which improves value

 

[thehound]

I am about to leave Canada having lived here for a year, and have both Amex Platinum and Golds cards. I've been transferring the Amex points over to Avios.

I'm going to cancel the Platinum, but trying to decide whether I keep my Amex Gold open. The annual fee is $150 a year, and the forex fee is 2.5%. Any purchases I subsequently make will earn equivalent of 1 Avios per CAD $ (about the same as the AUD $), or 2 Avios per $ for travel purchases.

I'd need to keep my Canadian bank account open if I keep the Amex since I'll need an easy way to pay any card bill.

Given how hard Aussies find it to earn Avios, should I keep the Canadian Amex? I'm thinking I mainly will use them for PER-MEL J QF redemptions and occasional intra-Europe short hauls.

 

[andye]

I am about to leave Canada having lived here for a year, and have both Amex Platinum and Golds cards. I've been transferring the Amex points over to Avios.

I'm going to cancel the Platinum, but trying to decide whether I keep my Amex Gold open. The annual fee is $150 a year, and the forex fee is 2.5%. Any purchases I subsequently make will earn equivalent of 1 Avios per CAD $ (about the same as the AUD $), or 2 Avios per $ for travel purchases.

I'd need to keep my Canadian bank account open if I keep the Amex since I'll need an easy way to pay any card bill.

Given how hard Aussies find it to earn Avios, should I keep the Canadian Amex? I'm thinking I mainly will use them for PER-MEL J QF redemptions and occasional intra-Europe short hauls.

Unless I was expecting to return to Canada or have significant annual C$ spend, I would cancel and get a Diners/MC combo to get Avios