Redeem Points

Redeem Points is a popular topic at the Australian Frequent Flyer, as much of our focus is about getting the best value when redeeming your frequent flyer points.

Mackay, Queensland, Australia - June 2020: Coles supermarket signage in a shopping centre

Flybuys Hacks to Earn More Flights for Shopping at Coles

If you’re a Flybuys member and shop at Coles every week, you might be disappointed with the lack of meaningful rewards. Sure, you might score $10 off your shopping every once in a blue moon. But there is so much more to be gained from the Coles Flybuys loyalty program with some clever points hacks! … Continued

9 Oct 2022 Flybuys
Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 in Oneworld livery

Alaska Airlines Award Chart Overhaul Coming

For a long time, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan has been a popular frequent flyer program due to its excellent value award flight redemptions. As Alaska Airlines also sells miles, often with bonus miles attached during promotions, some Australians have even been buying Mileage Plan miles on a regular basis. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan redemptions may be a … Continued

6 Oct 2022 Oneworld
Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 pushes back at SYD T1

15-25% Bonus Points on Transfers to Velocity (October 2022)

Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program has brought back its twice-yearly offer of bonus points when transferring from a credit card or hotel loyalty program a month early! For the past several years, Velocity has consistently offered at least 15% bonus points as an incentive to transfer points into Velocity from flexible points programs every … Continued

A Cathay Pacific A350 and Japan Airlines 767 at Vancouver Airport

Qantas Partner Awards: What If The Airline Cancels Your Flight?

When redeeming Qantas points to fly overseas, you’ll often end up on a partner airline as it can be difficult to find award availability on Qantas-operated flights to destinations such as Europe – especially in premium cabins. Redeeming points to fly on a partner airline is a perfectly normal aspect of most frequent flyer programs. … Continued

3 Oct 2022 Qantas
Needle is lost in haystack and searching with loupe

Podcast #94: Amazing Airline Award Chart Loopholes

When redeeming for flights, the key to really maximising the value of your frequent flyer points is to understand how airline award charts work. These charts determine the number of points you’ll need for a flight redemption, and you can get outsized value by exploiting any loopholes or sweet spots in the award charts. With most … Continued

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350

What Virgin Atlantic Joining SkyTeam Means for Australians

Virgin Atlantic (not to be confused with Virgin Australia!) has announced that it will join the SkyTeam alliance in early 2023. This is great news for Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members, who will soon be able to earn and redeem Virgin Atlantic points across the SkyTeam alliance. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members will also be … Continued

28 Sep 2022 SkyTeam
Qantas 787-9

Qantas Ending COVID Flexibility on Reward Bookings

There are only a few days left to take advantage of fee-free changes and cancellations on Qantas Classic Flight Reward bookings. The airline’s Flexible Classic Flight Rewards policy will come to an end next Friday, 30 September 2022. Qantas began waiving change and cancellation fees on Classic Flight Reward bookings in May 2020, as part … Continued

26 Sep 2022 Qantas
Woman paying online with Amex credit card

Podcast #93: The Amex-Marriott Bonvoy Transfer Trick

American Express Membership Rewards points are already one of the most useful and valuable points currencies in Australia. That’s because you have the option to transfer your points to nine different airline frequent flyer programs (plus Qantas Frequent Flyer, if you have an Amex Platinum or Centurion card). Amex points can also be converted to … Continued

Qatar Airways Qsuites

Qatar Airways Rewards: Velocity Members Get Priority over Qantas

This week, Qatar Airways launched a new strategic partnership with Virgin Australia. But as a member of the Oneworld alliance, Qatar Airways already partners with Qantas – Australia’s other major airline. This creates a unique situation where members of both Virgin Australia Velocity and Qantas Frequent Flyer can earn points, earn status credits, redeem points … Continued

8 Sep 2022 Qatar Airways
Emirates Boeing 777-300ER at Sydney Airport

Full List of Emirates Fuel & Carrier Surcharges

Following successive price increases in 2022, Emirates’ fuel surcharges (sometimes referred to as “carrier charges”) are now among the highest of any airline in the world. In fact, the additional taxes & charges on a return Emirates Business or First Class reward booking from Australia to the Americas are now almost $5,000 per passenger! This … Continued

1 Sep 2022 Emirates