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.
When redeeming frequent flyer points, high taxes can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of a “free” flight. These taxes typically need to be paid with real money, in addition to the points required. Many airlines also impose their own “carrier charges”, sometimes disguised as fuel surcharges. Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and British Airways … Continued
One member is planning to use points for a long weekend overseas, and is seeking some destination inspiration. Based in Sydney, this member would like to leave Australia on a Friday and return in time to return to work on Monday morning. I’m looking for some inspiration for a weekend getaway. My thoughts are call in sick on … Continued
With almost 600,000 Virgin Australia Velocity points at their disposal, one member is planning a trip for two from Melbourne to New York. They would like to redeem their Velocity points to fly Business class, and seek advice on an itinerary to New York that offers good value. Just wondering what is the ‘best’ way … Continued
Having saved up a healthy balance of Qantas points, one member wishes to use them to fly in Business class to Rome. But they’re now faced with an all-too-common dilemma: Redeem the points for a Business ticket, or try to upgrade with frequent flyer points from an Economy ticket? Buying an Economy ticket and requesting … Continued
In recent weeks, Virgin Australia expanded its frequent flyer program partnership with BP. Virgin Velocity points can now be redeemed for petrol at any BP service station in Australia. This complements the existing ability to earn Velocity points on all BP purchases. Our members generally welcome new ways to earn and redeem frequent flyer points. … Continued
If you’re having trouble using your Virgin Velocity points to book a reward flight, you’re not alone. It appears that the Virgin Australia website is currently displaying very limited reward seat availability, particularly for flights on Etihad and Singapore Airlines. In many cases, reward flight searches on the Virgin website are bringing up only the more … Continued
One member is currently trying to determine the best Oneworld frequent flyer program to join. This member travels three times per year between Australia and the UK in Business class. Status is the most important consideration for this member, however the ease and value of earning & burning points is also a factor. So my … Continued
If you’ve ever tried to book a one-way international flight, you may have discovered it’s more expensive than buying a return ticket! This week our members reveal their strategies to beat the one-way price hike and save hundreds of dollars. Many airlines penalise passengers for booking one-way, rather than round-trip international tickets. But one-way bookings … Continued
What would you do with 120,000 Amex rewards points? That’s the enviable dilemma faced by one member this week. This member recently applied for an Amex Platinum Charge card, which is currently offering a large sign-up bonus of 100,000 Amex points. But by taking advantage of a referral, such as the ones found in our … Continued
You’ve worked hard to build a healthy Qantas point balance, but what is the best way to spend them? This week our members share their tips and strategies to gain maximum value from your points. Premium cabin upgrades and reward flights, especially on long-haul international flights, are some of the best value, and most popular … Continued
Most passengers travelling between Australia and the United States want to get there as quickly and directly as possible. But if you enjoy flying, a more indirect routing can come as a welcome opportunity to try out some new airlines and visit some new cities along the way. One member is planning something quite different for their upcoming … Continued
Singapore Airlines recently announced several significant changes to its KrisFlyer frequent flyer program. The good news is that KrisFlyer miles can now be used to purchase a Premium Economy award flight or upgrade. The bad news, however, is that some redemptions are becoming more expensive. In addition, point upgrades from Economy to Business class are … Continued