Author: Matt Graham

Matt Graham

Matt was the editor of Australian Frequent Flyer from 2015 until 2025. His passion for travel has taken him to more than 100 countries - with a lot of help along the way from frequent flyer points! Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. His interests include aviation, economics & 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 @Mattg.

Qantas Points Expiry: Unfair

Qantas has come under fire over its inability to notify members that their points are about to expire. One member recently lost thousands of Qantas Frequent Flyer points, but says they were never warned by the airline. Qantas claims that it notifies members by email around a month before their points are due to expire. … Continued

American Airlines Admirals Club

Discounted Admirals Club Lounge Access

If you regularly fly with American Airlines, Admirals Club lounges provide a welcome sanctuary away from the hustle & bustle of crowded airports. Entry to the Admirals Club doesn’t come cheap though, with American Airlines charging $500 per year for membership. But if you’re a U.S. resident, did you know that you can gain unlimited … Continued

No Value in Business Class?

Business class may offer a more comfortable seat and a better meal, but it seems not everyone sees the value in flying up front. Some members believe that the differences do not justify the higher price of Business class, especially when multiple trips in cattle class can be had for the price of a single … Continued

Taj Mahal, India

Soaking Up the Sights of India and China

Our member RooFlyer recently spent twelve jam-packed days travelling around India and China, sampling a range of airlines and hotels along the way. The trip wouldn’t have been possible without advice and tips from a wide range of AFF members, on everything from tour guides to securing award seats on Singapore Airlines. This first post is about the … Continued

Redeeming Virgin Velocity Points to the USA

Redeeming Virgin Velocity points for Business class flights to the United States used to be fairly simple. But in recent times, securing a reward seat has become a real challenge. All Velocity members can redeem points for Business reward seats. Velocity Gold and Platinum members can also request a points upgrade to Business class, provided … Continued

Velocity Points to Stop Flowing at BP?

BP has announced plans to purchase Woolworths Petrol for $1.8 billion, spelling an end to Woolworths’ long-standing partnership with Caltex. It will likely also signal the end of BP’s extensive partnership with Velocity, the frequent flyer program of Virgin Australia. As part of the deal, BP will acquire more than 500 Woolworths-branded petrol stations. If regulatory … Continued

First Class Tickets Earned in 3 Months

A grateful new member has already earned enough points for two First class tickets to Europe, with the help of the Australian Frequent Flyer forum! Remarkably, they managed to earn these points in just three months by taking advantage of credit card signup bonuses. And this member believes that anyone can do the same thing. … Continued

The Key to a Successful Points Upgrade

Upgrading to Business or First class is not only an affordable way to travel in luxury, but also an excellent use of frequent flyer points. Unfortunately, there’s a catch: upgrades can be difficult to secure, and there’s a risk that your request will be unsuccessful. But there’s some good news if you want to use … Continued

Virgin Australia 737

Should Virgin Australia Join an Alliance?

Virgin Australia currently belongs to a virtual network of partner airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Air New Zealand. Virgin flyers can earn and redeem points with each of these partners. Velocity Silver, Gold and Platinum members also enjoy reciprocal status recognition when flying with these airlines. But some members believe that the existing arrangements … Continued