Latest news

Qantas Considers Expanding Points Club

Qantas appears to be considering a new membership tier for its Points Club program, which launched in March 2020. Currently, Qantas Frequent Flyer members can achieve Points Club membership by earning 150,000 Qantas points during one membership year. A higher tier, Points Club Plus, can be achieved by earning 350,000 points in 12 months. Of … Continued

10 Dec 2020 Qantas

Velocity Announces Additional Status Extensions & Rewards

Velocity Frequent Flyer has announced that some existing Gold & Platinum members will be eligible for another status extension of up to 12 months if they take at least one Virgin Australia flight by 28 March 2021. There are also additional rewards on offer for taking 2 or 3 flights by 28 March next year. … Continued

10 Dec 2020 Virgin Australia

Has Virgin Forgotten its Loyal Frequent Flyers?

Top-tier Velocity Frequent Flyer members have accused Virgin Australia of being “asleep at the wheel” until now when it comes to communication. These frequent flyers, who have been fiercely loyal to Virgin Australia in the past, feel their loyalty is no longer being reciprocated. They have become confused about the future direction of Virgin Australia, … Continued

7 Dec 2020 Virgin Australia

The End of Points for Paying Tax in Australia?

In 2009, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) began accepting payments by credit card. For the first time, this meant Australians could earn frequent flyer points through their credit cards for paying their tax bills. AFF’s ATO (tax office) payments by credit card thread now has well over 9,000 posts from members discussing the loophole and sharing … Continued

5 Dec 2020 Credit Cards

Virgin Australia Giving Further 12-Month Status Extensions

Virgin Australia appears to be granting further status extensions to some Velocity Silver, Gold and Platinum members who didn’t benefit from the previous 12-month status extension announced earlier this year. But Virgin hasn’t gone as far as Qantas in offering an easy opportunity for all members to extend their status for a second year by booking … Continued

4 Dec 2020 Virgin Australia

Qantas Reopens More Domestic Airport Lounges

Qantas has reopened 8 more domestic airport lounges, including the Qantas Business Lounge at Melbourne Airport. It comes as all three of Australia’s major domestic airlines report a surge in demand as Queensland and other states reopened their borders. In addition to the Melbourne Qantas Business Lounge, Qantas Club lounges have now reopened in Brisbane, … Continued

2 Dec 2020 Qantas

Rex Launches $79 Sydney-Melbourne Flights

Regional Express (Rex) has begun selling seats on its new Boeing 737 jet services between Sydney and Melbourne at just $79 for Economy class and $299 for Business class. Rex plans to operate 9 daily return flights on the Sydney-Melbourne route from 1 March 2021. It will initially use three Boeing 737-800 aircraft to do … Continued

2 Dec 2020 Rex & Regional Airlines

ANZ Extends Virgin Flight Booking Deadline

ANZ Bank has extended the deadline for ANZ Rewards Travel Adventures cardholders to book their complimentary Virgin Australia flights until 7 December 2020. Currently, ANZ Rewards Travel Adventures credit card holders can book a complimentary annual return Virgin Australia domestic flight. But ANZ announced in September that it would be withdrawing this benefit from 1 … Continued

30 Nov 2020 ANZ

How to Earn 100 Qantas Status Credits

If you took advantage of the recent Qantas Frequent Flyer status match, you’ll need to earn 100 status credits within 90 days to retain Qantas Gold status until the end of your next membership year. This guide explains how to earn 100 Qantas status credits and the easiest ways to do so. Right now, you … Continued

30 Nov 2020 Qantas

Podcast #50: Earning Points for Paying Tax

Since the Australian Tax Office began accepting credit card payments in 2009, AFF member cove and his family have earned 100 million frequent flyer points by paying tax bills they had to pay anyway. Those points have allowed his family to travel the world in luxury ever since. Who knew paying tax could be so … Continued

28 Nov 2020 AFF on Air Podcast

Earning Points for Paying Tax – AIR050

  In 2009, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) began accepting payments by credit card. Many Australians have to pay tax anyway, so they took the opportunity to pay by card and earn frequent flyer points in the process. Since then, the banks have slowly but surely removed this loophole by excluding government payments from earning … Continued

28 Nov 2020 AFF on Air (blubrry)

Velocity Global Wallet Shutting Down

Velocity Frequent Flyer is discontinuing its travel money card, Velocity Global Wallet. This is the Visa debit card found on the back of most Velocity Frequent Flyer membership cards. From the end of this year, you’ll no longer be able to load money onto your Velocity Global Wallet card. From then, there will be a … Continued

27 Nov 2020 Virgin Australia