The Ultimate Guide Of Frequent Flyer Points, And The Best Way To Accumulate Them!

Featured Image by pichai pipatkuldilok on Vecteezy. Credit Card Stock photos by Vecteezy

Airline miles or points are often referred to as miles in the US and points in Australia. For the sake of this article, let’s call them points. 

So, I’m sure we have seen the advertisements on the TV, Radio and Social Media. It’s all about airline points and their participating programs. What are airline points and how can you earn enough points to get discounted travel or goods? Airline points are a form of currency offered by airlines to their frequent flyers as a reward for their loyalty to their services. They generally work by signing up – some programs have a sign-up fee while others are free, then you can start earning points by booking flights or accruing points via shopping, credit cards or partnerships with other companies. Once you have accrued a certain number of points, you can use them for booking flights, upgrading to a higher cabin class, access to airport lounges, and booking or upgrading your hotel. Some partners even allow you to redeem these points for experiences, gift cards or donate them to charity. Pretty sweet aye! 

When deciding on which airline partner to join or sign up for, it’s best to research which airlines have partnered up with other airlines. This way, you can book your travel through your frequent flyer program but have the option of flying with more carriers. For example, if I want to go to Dubai, but I have joined Qantas Frequent Flyer, I could easily travel with Emirates and book this on the Qantas website as both carriers have partnered together. It’s best to do your research based on where you are primarily located and what countries interest you. You won’t want to join British Airways Avios club if you live in the US and have no intention of travelling to Western Europe. So it’s always best to research your primarily located Frequent Flyer Programs and to decide which one is right for you. 

There are many frequent flyer programs globally, the most popular being: 

• Delta Skymiles – US-based carrier
• United MileagePlus – US-based carrier 
• American Airlines Advantage – US-based carrier and OneWorld alliance member. 
• British Airways Executive Club – British-based carrier and OneWorld alliance member. 
• Air Canada Aeroplane- Canadian-based carrier and Star alliance member. 
• Emirates Skywards – UAE-based carrier
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer – Singaporean-based carrier and Star alliance member. 

However, if you think you have to join one of these programs then think again. Some credit cards allow you to accumulate points and transfer them to their airline partners. For example, if I am with American Express Australia, my points can be transferred to their partner airlines, such as Air New Zealand, Emirates Skywards, Singapore Krisflyer and so much more! More on this later… 

Qantas and Velocity Frequent Flyer Programs.

There are two major frequent flyer programs in Australia, Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer. Both of these programs offer generous ways to earn points from everyday purchases using your credit cards, grocery rewards points, health insurance, fuel, and so much more. What’s even better is that some global airlines have partnered up with Qantas and Velocity giving Australians and tourists better value for their points. 

Qantas Frequent Flyer is the loyalty program of Qantas Airways. The program usually charges a fee of $99.50, however, there are many ways to join for free! Once signed up, you can begin earning points on your everyday spending, or by booking with Qantas on your next trip. Qantas Frequent Flyer members also get bonus points when signing up for their insurance offers. You will find most of their bonus offers on their website. What’s also convenient about QFF is that they have partnered with many major airlines across the world making booking, earning or upgrading their flight status a breeze. QFF also offers you Top-up points which allows you to buy points for your next trip. This isn’t always recommended as most points can be expensive. For example, as of 2024, 1000 points are $56 and 30,000 points are $929. Qantas Frequent Flyer points also have an 18-month expiry date, which means if your account has been inactive, such as no earning or redeeming points has occurred in those 18 months, your points will disappear. 

Velocity Frequent Flyer is the loyalty program of Virgin Australia, the second largest airline in Australia and members can earn points similarly to QFF. Velocity Frequent Flyer is FREE to sign up, so you can sign up and start earning points without any hassle! However, Virgin Australia does not have as many partner airlines as QFF so options may be limited when booking your next holiday. Members can earn points by signing up for Flybuys and scanning their card in selected stores, spending at 7-11 for fuel and goods, or by credit card offers. Visit their website here for their complete list of partners. You can also buy Velocity points by using the Velocity points booster, however, keep in mind that buying points may be expensive. As of 2024, buying 1000 points can set you back $36 and buying 100,000 can set you back $2340! Also, remember to keep your account active as points expire within 24 months of inactivity (no earning or redeeming in that period). 

The best and easiest way to earn BIG points is by credit card spending and welcome offers. Points rewards credit cards are a popular type of credit card that offers cardholders the opportunity to earn points on their purchases. CC members can accumulate points and use them for travel, merchandise, gift cards, hotels or car rentals. These credit cards usually offer a welcome bonus allowing you to accumulate more points faster when a minimum spend is made over a period. The key benefit of earning points on a credit card is the flexibility of how you want to use your points, allowing members to choose based on their preferences. In Australia, several credit cards offer rewards programs that allow cardholders to earn airline miles and points, which can then be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related benefits. Here are some of the most common credit cards for earning airline miles and points in Australia: 

• American Express Platinum Charge Card
• Qantas American Express Ultimate Card
• Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer Card
• ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Credit Card
• Westpac Altitude Black Credit Card
• Citi Prestige Credit Card
• HSBC Platinum Credit Card

When choosing a credit card for earning airline miles and points, it’s essential to consider factors such as the earn rate, annual/monthly fees, additional benefits, and the flexibility of redemption options to ensure it aligns with your travel preferences and spending habits. Additionally, be mindful of the terms and conditions, including any eligibility criteria and interest rates, before applying for a credit card.

Hot Tip: Use these credit cards the same way you would use your debit card. Pay off your amount during the interest-free period to avoid paying interest and keep your credit score balanced. 

Points or miles allow you to maximise your travel plans, whether for booking flights, upgrading cabin classes, hotel bookings, travel insurance, or even car rentals. Having some points handy can make a difference to your trip. By accumulating points through credit card offers and everyday spending, airline flyer members can rest assured that their points will go to good use. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or feeling as though you may never reach your points goals, don’t be! We all started at zero too. 🙂 

Blog That Travels xx