The biggest question you’ll face when diving deeper into points is where to start with loyalty programs and frequent flyer points. You might also be wondering, should you join just one program and focus solely on that? Or should you play the field and dip your toes into the water with two or even several programs, in your chase for points and perks?
In our view, you should join at least two frequent flyer programs – even if there’s one airline that you would most typically fly with. That’s because, most likely, your favourite airline can’t take you everywhere. There will also be places that can earn points with one specific airline only – and if you’re going to be shopping there anyway, you may as well earn some points rather than no points.
Let’s take a look at two of the more obvious programs for Australians to join – and how to join for free. We also look at other popular international frequent flyer programs that also have strong appeal, if you’re looking to hit the ground running.
ANZ Rewards Velocity Platinum
- Sign-up Bonus:
- Up to 80,000 bonus Velocity Points
- Rewards Earn Rate:
- Earn 1.5 ANZ Reward Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases up to $2,000 per statement period, then 0.5 Reward Points per $1 you spend on eligible purchases above $2,000 per statement period. Keep on your auto redemption to transfer your ANZ Reward Points to Velocity Points. 2 Rewards Points for 1 Velocity Point.
- Annual Fee:
- $149 p.a.
- Get up to 80,000 bonus Velocity Points + $50 back with the ANZ Rewards Platinum Credit Card. Earn 60,000 bonus Velocity Points and $50 back when you spend $3,500 on eligible purchases the first 3 months from approval, plus 20,000 bonus Velocity Points when you keep the card for over 15 months from activation.
Two essential frequent flyer programs to join first
To get started, our first two recommendations probably won’t surprise you.
1. Qantas Frequent Flyer
There’s normally a $99.50 fee to join Qantas Frequent Flyer (ouch!). But, make this your first lesson. This can easily be circumvented by using a free membership sign-up link. It’s relatively easy to earn Qantas Points through a wide range of sources. Redeeming them takes some time and effort if you want Business or First Class on long-haul flights, but it’s far from impossible.
The appeal of Qantas Points is that they can be used on many partner airlines. You’ll be able to earn and redeem points with airlines like Emirates, Cathay Pacific, American Airlines, and many other partners.
2. Velocity Frequent Flyer
Virgin Australia’s Velocity program provides many opportunities to earn points for use on Virgin Australia flights, as well as flights with a diverse range of international partners. These include Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, United Airlines, Air Canada, and several partners further afield like Virgin Atlantic.
Once you’ve signed up, consider pooling your eligible family members’ points (who live at the same address as you) to your account. It’ll help you consolidate your points and also potentially reach a higher status tier, faster.
Thinking about levelling up? Join these next
3. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer has great value redemptions on Singapore Airlines flights. Points can be transferred from many credit card partners in Australia, such as American Express Membership Rewards and from all of the Big Four Banks. We rate KrisFlyer as one of the easiest programs for securing Business Class reward flights in advance.
KrisFlyer and Velocity also have a special partnership through which you can transfer points back and forth, though at a 1.55 to 1 rate in either direction.
4. Air Canada Aeroplan
Aeroplan sports some fantastic-value redemptions, such as Business Class from Australia to South East Asia for 45,000 points and stopovers for an additional 5,000 points.
If you’re not looking to sign up for credit cards to earn points, you could also potentially buy Aeroplan points on sale and redeem them for some great value reward flights. Alternatively, you can transfer points from programs like PayRewards or the HSBC Star Alliance Card to Aeroplan.
5. British Airways Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club
We’re combining these two programs because signing up for one without the other is like adopting only one puppy out of a pair. They’re just better together. Both programs allow members to earn Avios (their name for frequent flyer points), and you can freely exchange Avios at a 1:1 ratio between the two.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club is the gateway to Avios for Australians as you can transfer them from more programs than BA. Privilege Club also offers a fabulous 90,000 Avios Business Class fare between Australia and Europe, though seats are very limited at that price (we’re talking maybe a handful a week, off-peak).
British Airways Club is great for booking short-haul flights in Economy and Business Class, such as Qantas domestic flights or British Airways and Finnair connections throughout Europe, where cash prices may be high. You can also now convert points to BA Club from Amex Membership Rewards and PayRewards in Australia.
6. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Alaska Airlines is a partner of Qantas, American Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, among others. Despite being somewhat of a niche carrier, Alaska Airlines actually has a wide range of destinations you can fly to with miles, thanks to its connections with equally niche (but solid) partners such as Icelandair and Starlux.
Like most US-based programs, you won’t be able to easily earn miles in Australia unless you credit Qantas flights to it. But there is a way to earn miles via HawaiianMiles. In Australia, Amex Membership Rewards members can convert to HawaiianMiles at a 2:1 rate. From Hawaiian, points can be transferred onwards to Mileage Plan at a 1:1 rate.
Finally, consider these programs in your arsenal
7. Cathay (formerly Asia Miles)
Cathay Pacific’s loyalty program is good for long-haul flight redemptions on Cathay Pacific and its oneworld alliance partners like Qantas. Its rates for most reward flights are generally lower than Qantas would charge in Qantas Points.
Points are still branded as ‘Asia Miles’, and these can be transferred from many Australian credit card partners, including American Express and the Big Four Banks.
8. American Airlines AAdvantage
AAdvantage offers some of the best reward rates on oneworld and partner airlines. It’s easy to buy miles, especially when special deals are running.
You can use AAdvantage for flat-rate Qantas domestic flights or great-value travel to Europe and the USA. For example, it only costs 25,000 miles to fly Business Class between Australia and New Zealand, even if you’re coming from Perth!
Unfortunately, it’s otherwise not easy to earn AAdvantage miles in Australia. Apart from buying miles, you can accumulate miles by crediting flights to AAdvantage. If you’re on a high-value paid ticket (such as Premium Economy or Business Class to Europe or USA), you could earn a decent chunk of miles for a future flight.
Summing up
By being a member of more than one frequent flyer program, you’ll be well-positioned to take advantage of various offers and earning opportunities as they come around.
Many of the promotions where you can buy miles at a discount will require you to have an account set up for a minimum amount of time, (e.g. 30 or 90 days) before purchasing points.
Spending a few minutes to join each frequent flyer program now is worth the effort. You’ll also start to understand the ins and outs of the various frequent flyer programs and airlines as you go. Better yet, those in a position to earn flexible points – such as through a bank’s proprietary credit card rewards program – gain very valuable flexibility. By being able to transfer points to an airline only when they’re required, you could keep options up your sleeve for when one airline has seats open using points, which aren’t available elsewhere.
Which other frequent flyer programs do you recommend travellers in Australia join? Share in the comments below.
Additional reporting by Chris Chamberlin.
Qantas points – so easy to earn. Until you want to ‘spend’ on decent long or even medium hauls in premium classes. Then it becomes even more worthless than Monopoly money..
Totally agree. I have no idea why Brandon didn’t factor in long and medium haul premium seat availability when describing the appeal (and order) of recommended frequent flyer programs.
I think Krisflyer is overrated and doesn’t belong at #3 in the list. It suffered a major devaluation last year and has always had a three-year expiration on points. I’ve found Virgin Atlantic well-priced for travel in Asia with SkyTeam – more attractive than KrisFlyer, and since last year they accept Amex points transfer.
Surprised that United is not mentioned — especially because its points don’t expire. Expiring points is the main reason I avoid many of those listed. If you fly once twice or three times a year you will inevitably accumulate points that expire. With United you can just let them accumulate. Ditto Delta. Qantas and Velocity you can obviously earn points from purchasing goods and services in Australia. So Qantas United and Delta get you points accruals in the three major airline alliances
Hi all,
Why would one sign up to multiple FF programs?
Wouldn’t this just dilute your point balance?
Isn’t it better to just focus on ONE FF program and just accumulate as many points as possible?
Thank you
From my recent experience I wouldn’t touch QF FF with a barge pole!
They are ok until something goes wrong and then they are diabolical. The incompetence beggar’s belief. The call centre staff in South Africa and Fiji have absolutely no ability or authority, yet they are who you will invariably end up talking to.
I had a minor change to a flight Milan to Paris which resulted in a 50 minute connection on to our CDG-HKG flight. No problem, as we were happy travelling the night prior. CR flights available online.
Rang QF FF and got South Africa. Within 20 minutes my entire international itinerary had been cancelled except the offending hop from Milan to Paris.
2 weeks and countless hours of phone called and I have achieved absolutely nothing.
No care, no accountability, no interest, no resolution, no effort and no idea.
Nothing…
Hi,
I would definitely people to stay away from Etihad guest program. Their customer service is shocking and they have a strong policy where they expire your points even though you are still flying on their airline.
Hi Keith and co.,
Based on my own experience, I would suggest that you add Thai ROP as a secondary program. As with most programs, lower level silver status does not offer that much, but gold status gives absolutely fantastic benefits. These include a free round-trip upgrade (for example economy to business) every time gold is attained and a yearly birthday gift (air award redemption at half point cost). Also easier to maintain gold compared with Krisflyer! You actually covered this in an article recently…
For people who travel to Europe often, the Thai ROP program has a lot to offer in my opinion – and since they are Star Alliance, there are lots of ways to accrue points!
Hi Keith, and others,
Having recently started regular business travel from Perth, mostly to the Asian sub-continent, but with infrequent sojourns to the US & Europe, I have found Thai offer good rates for business trips to India and Sri Lanka via Bangkok – I have been directing the points to my Kris Flyer account, which does not accrue at a particularly good rate.
Being a long term Velocity Member, on Silver status currently, I use Kris Flyer so I can store the points to use with Singapore, or transfer to Velocity. This strategy seems poor as the value of points is low by the time they reach Velocity.
The question I have is: I am trying to maximise benefit and value for the miles I’m flying and don’t believe what I am doing at the moment is the best option – do you have any advice for a better result please?
Many thanks
Kevin – Perth
The main Star Alliance programs you could consider would be KrisFlyer, United MileagePlus and Avianca LifeMiles but Asiana, ANA or THAI’s own program might also interest you. Check out this guide for more info.
If I join all these programs and don’t attribute any points to them, does my membership expire or is it only the points which expire if I don’t use them?
Only the points can expire; your membership will remain active.
Some accounts do expire: my wife’s Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account (although not her Alaska Airlines account, meaning she could log in but lost her membership number) and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer account expired from lack of use.
Good to know! I’ll keep that in mind moving forward.
Is this relevant for me if I’m happy to fly economy? In your first Point Hacks email you mentioned flying business class for the price of economy..I’m looking to reduce economy fares to travel to Sumatra then Europe then Sth America..?
Yep, still relevant to you! This guide may help you learn more.
Hey Keith,
I was recently put on to your website by a friend and am looking forward to taking advantage of it, thank you.
I have the same question as the one above, but for all of the programs in your list. Do they often have sign up promotions? I saw your article about the Velocity/BP sign up promotion just as I was about to sign up to Veolcity, unfortunately it ended last year. Should I hold out signing up to any of these until I see a promotion?
Thanks,
Chris
Sign up promotions are rare enough that I don’t think it isonus. worth waiting for them. Programs are also making promotions like this less lucrative for the joiner and therefore less important again to worry about.
The last decent one was a Velocity referral bonus for existing members to refer new members. New members had to earn a certain number of points to earn the referrer a bonus, just to illustrate an example of the last point above.
Hi Keith – thanks for this awesome list. I see that KrisFlyer had a signup promotion last year. Sicne im unlikely to be doing much flying in the very near future, is it worth holding out for a similar signup promotion with them, in your opinion?
I wouldn’t predict KrisFlyer doing another joining promotion any time – I certainly wouldn’t hold out for it.
Hi Keith,
Wow. I’m pretty savvy financially (I’ve just retired at 48!) but admit taking NO notice of award points until um, today. Your list of credit cards at the bottom of your web pages – why no CBA cards listed??
Sorry I didn’t reply to this sooner Amanda. CBA Awards cards aren’t the most rewarding when it comes to points earn and redemption – we have a guide to CBA cards here which explains a bit more. Their offers are not usually that great and the cards aren’t too competitive for ongoing use either.
thanks Keith!
Quite late in the game but can any of these help out a solo budget Aussie traveller doing a round the world trip? I imagine I’ll be using whatever has the cheapest tickets instead of sticking to just one airlines. Are there any ‘generic’ programs where I can book with any airline from one pool of points? Thanks in advance, Keith 🙂
Hard to give general advice there, if as you say, you’ll be flying with a mix of unknown airlines. If you are coming back to Australia in the long run and you can focus on oneworld airlines at least, then you’ll have a decent chance of earning more points in future if you credit those flights to Qantas and keep it simple.
Great info Keith, thank you. One quick question on BA’s Executive Club.
Is the overseas address important? Based in Melbourne Aus, and I have an additional US mailing address but rarely get my mail forwarded. Will this cause any issues or is the address for sign-up purposes only?
The overseas address is needed to sign up – it will receive a welcome letter with your membership card only. For signing up only, not getting it forwarded shouldn’t be an issue.
I’m having difficulty registering for Avios. It won’t accept my Australian mobile phone number or my postcode. Please help? Thanks
Avios.com or BA Exec Club? BA membership needs a non-AU address, Avios.com maybe the same. Some ideas on how to get around this are in the post. If you don’t have an overseas address you can use, try googling for ‘free UK shipping address’ or similar.
Any thoughts on a Skyteam programme. Before moving to Australia I was deeply invested with delta and since moving here burnt down my miles with Busness class redemptions on China Eastern to Shanghai (great service and easy onward connections to the UK with Avios). Really good value at 55,000 each way.
I’ve got an AirFrance flight coming up and wondering where to credit it to.
Without thinking about this in too much detail, you could consider Alaska Mileage Plan – http://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/partners/air-france.aspx
Hi Keith:
I’m surprised you didn’t include Lifemiles as the must join program. It’s the only cheap way currently to get Star Alliance awards and they regularly run 2×1 miles sale (one just ended yesterday). To participate the sale you need to have an existing account, and therefore more of a reason to sign up now for the next promotion.
You’re right – I probably should not have erred on the side of caution and included them. Maybe I am being unfair but I am really hesitant to recommend Lifemiles to a general audience given how difficult I have heard it is to change or cancel redemption flights and get refunds. It’s good deal though. What are your experiences?
You are probably right. It is not a program for beginner given its shortcomings. But use it in the right way you can get incredible value out of it. I have cancelled tickets with them and I haven’t really had big issues.
Anyway, I have volunteered to write up some guides to buying and using Lifemiles as my contribution.
Thanks Michael!
Is it worth mentioning airberlin topbonus, for their unique position as a partner of both QF and VA?
It is – but it didn’t quite make the cut in this intro list. I’ll do a separate piece just on topbonus down the track – but it’s not immediately useful to everyone, which is why I didn’t include it.
I agree with Keith, join all these programs.