How can I earn more frequent flyer points?

Whether you’re new to the world of frequent flyer points or you’re an avid points chaser, it’s always worthwhile familiarising yourself with strategies to earn more points. 

Offering frequent flyer points is one of the many ways in which credit card companies reward their customers as well as attract new customers. Some banks and credit card providers also issue premium cards in partnership with different airlines, like Qantas and Virgin. 

These credit cards offer customers even more opportunities to earn extra points when they travel with that airline, shop at certain stores or eat at select restaurants. So, let’s explore how everyday Australians can easily earn more frequent flyer points.  

Strategies to earn more frequent flyer points through your credit card

One way you may earn more frequent flyer points is to use an affiliated credit card on eligible purchases. Several specific transactions that may help you earn frequent flyer points include:

• Booking travel and accommodation
• Renting a car
• Shopping at certain stores or through the frequent flyer programs online mall.
• Buying movie tickets or making restaurant reservations
• Investing in property through select realtors
• Applying for loans from participating lenders
• Buying travel or health insurance
• Partnerships with other rewards programs such as Flybuys or Everyday Rewards.

Qantas spending options to earn more frequent flyer points

Source: Qantas.com. Data accurate as of 10/02/2023

Bulk frequent flyer points on sign-up

One of the most popular strategies to boost your frequent flyer points balance is to take advantage of sign-up points bonuses. Many credit cards with a frequent flyer program tie-in reward customers with bonus points just for signing up, which can give you a head-start in terms of accumulating points.

At the time of publishing, these are the credit cards offering the biggest Qantas frequent flyer points at sign up:

• Qantas Premier Titanium – 150,000 points
• NAB Rewards Signature Qantas – 120,000 points
• Westpac Altitude Black (Altitude Qantas) – 120,000 points
• ANZ Frequent Flyer Black – 110,000 points

This could be enough frequent flyer points to travel to the US or Asia return, jsut for signing up for a new credit card (assuming you met all eligibility requirements). 

What to keep in mind about earning frequent flyer points 

When shopping for a credit card with a frequent flyer partnership, you should consider the following factors:

Earning frequent flyer points

Some credit cards may reward you for using your card to book international travel or accommodation or shopping at a particular store. But if you don’t usually travel internationally or shop at that specific store, you would probably end up earning fewer points than you expect. 

Minimum purchase requirement

You may need to use the credit card to make purchases worth a specified minimum amount every year to earn frequent flyer points. You should check how this amount compares with your usual spending on your credit card before choosing the card. 

Points per dollar spent

How quickly you can earn frequent flyer points could depend on the points per dollar spent that the card offers you. Some purchases can get you twice the number of points as other purchases. 

Points cap and usage

You should check if there are limits on the number of frequent flyer points you can earn or use per year and if frequent flyer points expire if not used within a specified period. 

Annual Fees

A credit card offering frequent flyer points may require you to pay a high annual fee. This may not be financially viable for you, even with the benefits of earning points.  

Before running out and going on a shopping or holiday booking spree, ensure you check if the retailer you’re shopping with allows you to earn frequent flyer points with your program or accepts your credit card. If you’re booking flights or other travel, you’ll need to ensure the airline, flight and other travel bookings all offer you frequent flyer points when you book.

You should make sure to check the conditions for earning points with these credit cards, as they could involve spending large amounts of money, or you may have to pay a high annual fee.

Do all airline flights earn frequent flyer points?

Unfortunately, not all airlines, or all flights on a particular airline, allow you to earn frequent flyer points. However, some airlines do have points-earning partnerships with other airlines so you may earn frequent flyer points when travelling with these other airlines.

Suppose you book tickets to travel on a Jetstar flight using a credit card offering a partner program with Qantas. You may earn frequent flyer points from the credit card transaction, but you’ll need to book specific Jetstar packages to earn points from the actual flight. You’ll probably need to quote your frequent flyer number when booking your ticket to ensure the points are credited to your account. 

Consider also checking whether you’re eligible for points when you book travel for others using your card. Alternatively, you may qualify to convert some credit card rewards points into frequent flyer points. If you have signed up for the Flybuys program, for instance, you could convert some of your points into Velocity frequent flyer points. 

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