Flying is just one of the many ways to earn frequent flyer points. But did you know that many Point Hacks readers earn the bulk of their points on the ground, rather than in the air? Loyalty programs have so many tie-ups these days that you can earn points with partners in pretty much any industry.

If you need some inspiration, here are 10 interesting ways you can boost your Qantas or Velocity points balances with day-to-day purchases and common expenses.

Earn more points with ground travel

Fuel: Head to BP to earn Qantas Points, or to Ampol and EG Ampol outlets to earn Everyday Rewards points that can be converted to Qantas. If you prefer Velocity Points, then consider fuelling up at 7-Eleven, or earn Flybuys Points from Shell Coles Express and Shell Reddy Express outlets.

Hotels: Qantas Hotels is a great starting point for your next holiday, with luxury offers packing a punch if all-inclusive packages are your thing. If Velocity is your thing, the new ‘Virgin Australia Hotels by Hopper’ partnership can earn you three Velocity Points per dollar.

Car hire: Velocity frequent flyers are rewarded with three points per dollar (or more) with Hertz, Thrifty and Europcar. Or if you book with Qantas, then enjoy at least four points per dollar with Avis and Budget.

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Earn more points with shopping and food

Who doesn’t love a shopping spree? But at Point Hacks, we love shopping sprees that also come with a healthy serving of points. Both Velocity and Qantas have online ‘shopping malls’ where you earn bonus points on purchases across many retailers.

Online malls: Visit the Qantas Shopping or Velocity e-Store online malls to get started. Click through to participating merchants and complete the transaction as usual. Your bonus points will usually credit within 90 days.

Supermarkets: Our major competing supermarkets are both affiliated with a major airline as well. Shop at Coles to earn Flybuys Points, which convert to Velocity Frequent Flyer. Or head to Woolworths to collect Everyday Rewards points, which can automatically convert across to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account.

Alcohol: Wine, wine, wine – the fuel of many frequent flyers worldwide. Get your fix with Qantas Wine, which is known for generous bonus points offers (up to 25,000 points on a case). The Velocity Wine Store is also a great destination for those wanting to fly with Virgin and its partners.

25,000 bonus Qantas Points with a $262 case of a dozen wines is a pretty good deal.

Earn more points with financial partners

Utilities and insurance can be a bit boring. Luckily, you can snag more than tens of thousands of bonus points under the right conditions, which makes life a bit more fun.

Health insurance: This industry is huge and very competitive. If you play your cards right, you can easily snag a sign-up bonus or two in a year. Keep your eyes peeled for the latest offers.

Utilities: If Red Energy services your area with electricity or gas, you could walk away with up to 15,000 bonus Qantas Points.

Credit cards: Sign-up bonuses are often the fastest way to add 100,000 frequent flyer points (or more!) to your account. See our latest Velocity Frequent Flyer and Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards card sign-up offers.

Summing up

Our beginner’s guide just begins to scratch the surface of how you can earn points without flying. If you run a business, there are even more ways to accrue points as well, from business loans to payment processors when it’s ATO time.

Saving up for a big reward, such as two Business Class flights to Europe, usually requires a multi-faceted strategy. For example, you might start by picking up a rewards-earning credit card. Then, using that card whenever you’re able to.

Scan your supermarket loyalty card for groceries, but don’t forget to look for bonus offers. A popular Flybuys example is a recurring four-week challenge, which rewards you with 10,000 bonus points if you pass.

If you’re happy to switch your utilities or insurance providers once in a while, that’s another great way to mop up another hefty sign-up bonus. You’ll be point hacking your way to Business or First Class in no time.

Still learning? Level up your points game with our beginner guides:

This article was previously written by Sam Hemphill.

Earning frequent flyer points on the ground was last modified: May 21st, 2025 by Brandon Loo