Airlines, Miles and Points

Airlines, miles, and points is the most popular topic at Australian Frequent Flyer. In this category, we provide expert tips, insider tricks, and facilitate discussions about Qantas, Virgin Australia, non-Australian airlines, and global airline alliances. From earning and redeeming frequent flyer points to maximising elite status benefits, we aim to help you get the most out of your travel. We also cover every step of the journey – from planning and booking flights to experiencing the flight itself, and finally, arriving at your destination. Whether you're a seasoned traveller or just starting to explore the world of frequent flyer programs, you'll find valuable advice to elevate your travel experience. See below for articles on airlines, miles and points.

United Airlines 777 EWR

United Hikes Award Flight Prices

United is the latest airline to announce a devaluation to its frequent flyer program. From 1 November 2017, United will be making a host of unwelcome changes to its popular Mileage Plus program. Award prices on many routes will be increasing, including on flights to and from Australia. United will also replace its “Standard Awards” … Continued

Australia Phasing Out Departure Cards

Overseas travellers will no longer need to fill out those pesky green cards when departing from Australia. From 1 July, Australia’s “outgoing passenger cards” will finally be phased out. Travellers are pleasantly surprised with the news. These forms have been an annoyance – albeit a minor one – to many of our members. Good, now … Continued

26 Jun 2017 The Journey
Qantas SYD international transfer

Qantas Sydney Connection Times: Too Short

Connecting from a domestic to an international flight in Sydney can be a time-consuming process. The international and domestic terminals are located several kilometres apart. Passing through the immigration and security checkpoints can also be a lengthy process. Despite this, Qantas continues to sell connections with as little as 60 minutes between the scheduled arrival … Continued

24 Jun 2017 Qantas
Emirates Lounge Singapore

Emirates Lounge Off-Limits

One of the well-publicised benefits of Qantas’ partnership with Emirates is reciprocal access to both airlines’ airport lounges. Qantas frequent flyers are allowed to use the Emirates lounge when flying Qantas or Emirates, and vice versa. But Qantas flyers have reported being turned away from Emirates lounges. A Platinum Qantas flyer recently tried to access … Continued

22 Jun 2017 Qantas
Qatar Airways 787 Manchester

Qatar Flights Disrupted

Visitors to Qatar and passengers flying with oneworld member Qatar Airways are likely to face disruption after several neighbouring countries cut diplomatic ties with the small Arabian Peninsula nation. Direct flights between Qatar and the affected countries are no longer allowed. Qatar Airways aircraft are also being forced to take longer, circuitous routings as they … Continued

21 Jun 2017 Qatar Airways

Jetlag Busting Tricks

There are countless great things about international travel, but jetlag isn’t one of them! Long-haul flying and crossing multiple time zones leaves many travellers exhausted, yet unable to sleep at night. One member recently flew from Sri Lanka to Australia. Despite flying Business class, they felt wrecked once they got home and took almost a … Continued

15 Jun 2017 The Journey
Emirates A380s in AKL

Emirates Cancels Sydney-Auckland A380 Flights

Emirates will stop flying from Sydney to Auckland next month. Emirates currently flies a daily A380 on the route, while its partner Qantas operates 5x daily Boeing 737 flights. In Emirates’ absence, Qantas will up-gauge two of its daily flights to a wide body Airbus A330. EK418 and EK419 will continue to operate from Dubai … Continued

12 Jun 2017 Emirates
Poor investment stock market crash

Frequent Flyer Points Losing Value?

Earning frequent flyer points is now easier than ever. You can earn points almost anywhere, and generous credit card sign-up bonus points are an everyday reality. Some airlines even sell frequent flyer points directly to customers – often at generous discounts! But, while the overall number of frequent flyer points in circulation is ever increasing, … Continued

Machu Picchu Peru

Non-Stop Flights to Peru Coming?

Thanks to recent technological advancements, aircraft efficiency and range is constantly improving. The latest aircraft from Boeing and Airbus – the 787 Dreamliner and A350 respectively – are both medium-sized aircraft capable of flying very long distances efficiently. The success of these aircraft has culminated in the creation of many new non-stop city pairs on … Continued

George Clooney in Australia?

How far would you go to earn top-tier status with your preferred airline? It’s not uncommon for AFF members to undertake what’s known as a “status run“. This is where a series of flights are taken in order to earn enough status credits to attain or retain elite airline status. Booking a status run can make … Continued

Malaysia Airlines A330 takes off from Narita Airport

Value Stripped from Malaysia Airlines Enrich Program

Malaysia Airlines has announced yet another major devaluation of its Enrich frequent flyer program. The changes, which come into effect on 10 June, remove almost all of the remaining value in the program. Enrich mile redemptions will become more expensive, with the price of award tickets and upgrades both increasing. It will also become more … Continued