Why flybuys surveys might not be worth it
You can score points for doing surveys, but the earn rate isn't high.
So flybuys has a new way to earn flybuys points: taking part in surveys that are linked from the flybuys app.
"We're teaming up with leading survey providers so you can collect points just by completing surveys," the app cheerfully proclaims.
This isn't a unique idea; both Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity also have survey partners .
And the essential problem is the same for all of them: you'll potentially spend a lot of time finding a survey you qualify for, and have to share a lot of personal information, for a fairly small number of points.
Worse, if you don't qualify to complete a survey in flybuys, you don't earn any points at all.
Nor is it always clear when your survey is actually "complete" and you'll earn points, even if the topic has completely changed.
When I tested it out this morning, I had to answer over a dozen questions just to get to a survey I was eligible for.
While the app promised "up to 250 points", the highest-paying option I could actually find offered 203 points.
And it really did take the full 15 minutes predicted to complete.
If I convert that to a pay rate, it's somewhere between $4 an hour and $12 an hour.
The former assumes my flybuys points are just being converted to $10-off shopping vouchers, the latter that I'm converting them to Velocity Points and spending them on a high-value redemption.
Either way, it's a lot lower than the minimum wage.
Many of the surveys on offer only promise 100 flybuys points, so that's an even lower pay rate.
I'm all for grabbing points when you can, but I don't think this is going to be my main go-to for getting more flybuys. I'll stick with good bonus offers and credit card earning instead.
Angus Kidman's Findings column looks at new developments and research that help you save money, make wise decisions and enjoy your life more. It appears regularly on Finder.
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