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.
Regular visitors to Singapore will be pleased to learn that from 1 October, Australians will be eligible to use the “enhanced-Immigration Automated Clearance System”, or eIACS usually available only to local residents passing through Singapore’s Changi Airport. Unfortunately, travellers will need to register first before they can use these “smart gates” and there are a … Continued
Imagine relaxing in your luxurious suite in the sky while being served champagne and caviar… Flying in First Class is a dream for many, but such luxury often costs many thousands of dollars. The good news for the majority of us that can’t afford to buy a First Class ticket is that frequent flyer points … Continued
This week our members reveal their best travel tips and tricks. Countless “gems” have been shared, that will help travellers with everything from charging phones to saving money on hotels. To save luggage space and reduce the number of overseas adaptors needed, one member suggests packing a power board with multiple Australian-style power point connections. … Continued
Redeeming frequent flyer points for free flights can be a challenging exercise at the best of times. But getting to South America is particularly difficult due to the relatively small number of flights between Australia and the Latin American continent. Qantas and its partner LAN currently have a duopoly on flights between Australia and South … Continued
Avianca, the national airline of Colombia, is not an airline on the radar of most Australian flyers. But its loyalty program “LifeMiles” offers some unique and substantial advantages. Most significantly, the program makes premium cabin travel for a fraction of the price possible! LifeMiles is one of a handful of programs to sell its own … Continued
If you’ve accumulated a stockpile of Virgin Velocity points, you don’t just have to redeem them on Virgin Australia flights! Velocity points can also be transferred across to the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program. So, how does this work exactly, and what are the benefits of transferring? As long as you have an account with both … Continued
It’s not that long ago that Qantas Platinum status came with the “ultimate” in perks. No expense was to be spared for the airline’s valuable Platinum members. But with Platinum One (and Chairman’s Lounge) members now trumping Platinum members, combined with a seemingly never-ending cycle of devaluations and cost-cutting, some members feel that their Platinum … Continued
After many years of loyalty to the flying kangaroo, one dissatisfied member feels that Qantas has failed to return the favour. This member has held Platinum status for over a decade, but had to put overseas travel on hold for a year due to the birth of a child. Qantas does not allow members to … Continued
A new partnership between Qantas and China Eastern Airlines has been approved by the ACCC. The joint venture means that Qantas’ relationship with China Eastern will be akin to the much-touted partnership with Emirates. Qantas and China Eastern flyers will receive reciprocal benefits when flying on either airline including lounge access, other status privileges such … Continued
Despite a reputation of superior reward seat availability, it seems Virgin Australia has drastically slashed frequent flyer redemption flights made available to the USA. Significantly fewer reward seats, particularly in premium cabins are now being released, leaving Velocity Frequent Flyer members frustrated. It has not traditionally been difficult to find reward seats on Virgin Australia … Continued
This week our members explain the ins & outs of using frequent flyer points to enjoy the luxury of Business Class. There are two different methods; the first being to buy an economy class seat and request a points upgrade to business class afterwards. The second method is to book a business reward seat outright … Continued
The concept of Premium Economy is reasonably simple. The cabin provides a middle-ground, offering discerning customers greater comfort than traditional economy class at a price below that of Business class. But, what benefits do Premium Economy passengers receive exactly, and do they justify the extra cost over regular economy? I may need to do a … Continued