Post-Pandemic Award Travel – AIR074

Matt Graham

 

As the international border reopens, some Australians are starting to book overseas trips using their frequent flyer points. But post-pandemic award travel is a bit different – the pandemic has turned award availability on its head, and Australians are also using their points to travel to different places than before.

In this episode, Matt chats to James Green from Frequent Flyer Solutions about what’s changed for people using their points to book international flights in and out of Australia. Matt also takes a deep dive into some of the arbitrage opportunities to save significant amounts of points by using alternative frequent flyer programs to book Qantas and Virgin flights.

Plus, Matt provides an overview of which Australian states & territories are now open, when the rest are expected to open, and the current COVID-19 requirements for interstate travel.

 

Episode contents:

  • 1:10 – Fortnightly news round-up
  • 8:47 – One by one, Australian states are reopening for quarantine-free travel
  • 14:29 – Where to get a COVID-19 test for travel
  • 17:02 – International border update
  • 19:11 – Interview with James Green: Using points to book international flights in 2022 & new post-pandemic award flight trends
  • 30:30 – Listener question: Opportunities for arbitrage when redeeming frequent flyer points
  • 39:26 – Round-up of loyalty program promos expiring soon

 

Links:

 

Frequent Flyer Gazette articles referenced in the fortnightly news round-up:

Matt Graham
The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 70 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.
Matt Graham
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