We’ve all seen the ads. “Earn points when you fly. Turn your everyday spending into free flights.” Et cetera. But if you’re just starting out, frequent flyer programs can feel confusing. Sometimes, they might even seem too good to be true.
The reality? Frequnt flyer programs are valuable, and they’re absolutely worth your time. You don’t even have to be a frequent flyer or a high spender to benefit. You just need to understand how the systems work, and how to use them to your advantage.
This beginner-friendly guide will take you through everything you need to know about frequent flyer programs. By the end, you’ll be on your way to earning rewards for your first dream trip booked on points.
Frequent flyer 101
A frequent flyer program is a rewards system attached to an airline. At its core, you can earn points every time you fly with that airline or one of its partners on an eligible fare. But frequent flyer programs aren’t just for people that frequently fly. Things you already do like shopping, filling up with petrol or using a credit card can be great opportunities for earning points.
Frequent flyer points can then be redeemed for:
- Reward flights, where only taxes fees and charges are payable.
- Flight upgrades.
- Hotel stays.
- Gift cards and more.
It’s a loyalty system that rewards you for playing smart, not just flying often.
Which frequent flyer program should I join?
In Australia, there are two major frequent flyer programs you should know about:
| Program | Best for | Key airline partners | How to earn points |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | Domestic widebody Business Class, oneworld Alliance partner flights | Qantas, Emirates, American Airlines Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines | Flights, credit cards, Qantas Shopping, Everyday Rewards (Woolworths) |
| Velocity Frequent Flyer | Domestic flights at off-peak times, redemptions on key international partkers | Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, United Airlines | Flights, credit cards, Velocity eStore, Flybuys (Coles) |
We recommend joining both and seeing which program fits better with your spending and travel habits. There will always be times when you’ll be able to earn points in one program only. So, even if you prefer to earn points with one specific program, you might as well still participate in the other program, too. Having more types of points available could be helpful when it comes time to redeem for a reward flight, as your options may be broader.
How do I earn points?
Most people think that you can only earn points by flying. But that’s just the beginning. Along with flying, here are the main ways to earn points:
Flights
Book flights with your airline or its partners, and you’ll earn points on eligible fares. The rewards earned could be based on distance and fare type, the price of the ticket, or another metric used by the frequent flyer program.
Credit cards
One of the simplest ways to earn large volumes of points.
Many cards offer big sign-up bonuses (potentially 100,000+ points, depending on the card) and even more points on top as you continue to spend. This strategy can turn your everyday purchases into travel rewards.
Groceries, petrol, bills, even streaming subscriptions? You could be earning points for all of them.
Shopping portals
Programs like Qantas Shopping and the Velocity eStore let you earn points by clicking through to stores like The Iconic, Apple, Microsoft or Adore Beauty.
Everyday spending
- Woolworths: Earn Qantas Points via Everyday Rewards.
- Coles: Earn Velocity Points via Flybuys.
- Some utility providers and insurance companies also allow you to earn points.
How many points do I need for a free flight?
It depends on where you’re flying and which program you use. Here’s a quick snapshot.
| Route | Qantas Points (Economy) | Velocity Points (Economy) |
| Sydney-Melbourne | 8,000 pts + taxes (9,200 pts + taxes from 5 August) | 5,900 to 12,900 pts + taxes |
| Sydney-Nadi (Fiji) | 18,000 pts + taxes (20,700 pts + taxes from 5 August) | 13,500 to 26,900 pts + taxes |
| Melbourne-Tokyo | 31,500 pts + taxes (36,200 pts + taxes from 5 August) | 56,000 pts + taxes Singapore Airlines via Singapore |
| Sydney-London | 55,200 pts + taxes (63,500 pts + taxes from 5 August) | 80,000 pts + taxes Qatar Airways or Singapore Airlines |
Remember: reward seat availability, taxes and carrier charges may vary. But, with savvy planning, you can get great value: especially in premium cabins.
How do I pick the right credit card to earn points?
Everybody’s needs are different. Factors like income, spend patterns, travel frequency and family size may influence which credit cards could be most suitable. Here are a few key factors you might consider when looking for a new credit card.
- Sign-up bonus. You may be able to earn 60,000 bonus points, or even more, after applying for an eligible product, being approved and meeting any minimum spend requirements.
- Earn rate. In general, higher-earning Mastercard and Visa products can typically earn up to one frequent flyer point per $1 spent on everyday eligible transactions. Some American Express cards can earn even more than this. Some products may also offer bonus points on certain transactions – such as with airlines, on supermarket spend or on overseas purchases.
- Direct earn or indirect earn. A direct earn credit card is one that automatically earns frequent flyer points in one specific program, and deposits those points straight into your nominated frequent flyer account. An indirect earn card is one that instead accrues points with the bank first, which can later be converted into frequent flyer points. Indirect earn cards are more flexible by nature, although in some cases, direct earn cards can provide rewards in more generous quantities given the transparent earn rates.
- Annual fee. You can generally expect that a credit card with points and/or travel perks attached is going to attract an annual fee. Some people consider the value of those points or perks in deciding whether an annual fee is reasonable. For instance, some credit cards may have moderate fees, but will also include a free return flight or a travel voucher every year to help the customer get value back from paying the fee.
Worried about credit cards? That’s okay. A lot of beginners are. The key is using them responsibly. For instance, by thinking of a credit card like a debit card, and paying off the closing balance in full each month.
When used in the smartest ways, a rewards credit card can a great tool for earning frequent flyer points.
Learn more: Explore our best frequent flyer credit cards
Ready to start your frequent flyer journey?
Get started with these key steps. Then, continue reading.
Do this now:
By now, you should have:
- Signed up for Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer.
- Understood how to earn points every day – not just when flying.
- Started thinking about whether a points-earning credit card could work for you.
This is just the start. With the right strategy, you could unlock free flights, upgrades and VIP travel experiences, just by being strategic with credit card spend.
You don’t need to be a high-flyer to be a point hacker. You just need to start.
Next up: Earning frequent flyer points on the ground
Featured image courtesy of Porapak Apichodilok/Pexels.
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