We often get asked ‘where to start’ with loyalty programs and frequent flyer points. Truth is, it gives you more options when you’re part of multiple programs rather than just one.
This beginner’s guide is a quick reference to all the various programs that are worth signing up for. All are free to join, one way or another. We have beginner’s guides for the following key programs:
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Etihad Guest
- Emirates Skywards
For the more expert readers that know this already — good for you! Everyone has to start somewhere, so when you get asked the inevitable questions, point them this way.
Which are the top five frequent flyer programs to join for travellers in Australia?
To get started, let’s register with the following ‘local’ programs that are the most dominant in this region.
1. Qantas Frequent Flyer
Qantas Frequent Flyer membership has a standard cost of $99.50. However, this is easily circumvented by using a free Qantas Frequent Flyer membership link. More than half the Australian population has signed up already.
You’ll be able to earn and redeem points with airlines like Emirates, Cathay Pacific and American Airlines, as well as many non-airline partners.
2. Velocity Frequent Flyer
Virgin Australia’s Velocity program is behind Qantas in member numbers but it does provide many opportunities to earn points for use on Virgin Australia flights.
With Virgin Australia now safely out of voluntary administration, we’ll expect to see new updates to the Velocity program in 2021.
Partner airlines include the likes of Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Delta, though not much international travel is happening in the foreseeable future. Once you’ve signed up, don’t forget to pool your points with family members to gets rewards, faster.
3. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer has especially great value uses for redemptions on Singapore Airlines flights. Points can be transferred in from many credit card partners in Australia, such as American Express Membership Rewards and ANZ Rewards.
KrisFlyer and Velocity previously had a special partnership through which you can transfer points back and forth. However, this has since been suspended in early 2020 and has not been reinstated yet.
4. Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles program is good for long-haul flight redemptions on Cathay Pacific and its oneworld alliance partners like Qantas.
Again, Asia Miles can be transferred over from many Australian credit card partners. And round-the-world pricing through Asia Miles is cheaper than through Qantas.
5. Etihad Guest
The Etihad Guest program is useful for their frequent bonus miles promotions if you fly Etihad frequently enough.
Otherwise, the best reason to hold an Etihad Guest account is in case of credit card transfer bonus offers from the likes of American Express Membership Rewards. Don’t forget to set up a Family Membership while you’re at it.
Other key frequent flyer programs for travellers in Australia
There are a number of overseas programs that are also worth joining for a variety of reasons. They might not immediately be on your radar, but could become more useful once international travel opens up once agian.
6. Emirates Skywards
Emirates Skywards is most useful for the true frequent flyer who travels on Emirates a lot. The airline also partners with a few different Australian banks and credit cards, such as Citibank and American Express.
For most people, though, it’s better to credit your Qantas and Emirates flights to Qantas Frequent Flyer, which is why this program isn’t featured in the top five anymore.
7. American Airlines AAdvantage
AAdvantage is great for redemptions on oneworld airlines. It’s easy to buy miles, especially when special deals are on. You can then use it for flat0rate Qantas domestic flights or great-value travel to Europe and the USA.
Unfortunately, it’s otherwise not easy to earn AAdvantage miles in Australia, which is why this program misses out on top-five billing.
8. British Airways Executive Club
The main reason to join British Airways program is to use their website to look for frequent flyer seats on a wider range of airlines than Qantas. It’s quite handy and shows you the number of reward seats available.
Note that you would need a non-Australian mailing address to join British Airways Executive Club.
9. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
Alaska Airlines is a partner of Qantas, American Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, amongst others. Despite being somewhat of a niche carrier, Alaska Airlines actually has a wide range of destinations you can fly to with miles, including the aforementioned airlines.
Like most US-based programs, you won’t be able to easily earn miles in Australia unless you credit Qantas flights to it. The easiest way to take part is to buy miles when a great deal is on.
Alaska is set to join oneworld in early 2021 after its original join date at the end of 2020 was delayed.
10. United Airlines MileagePlus
A United Airlines membership is most useful for searching for Star Alliance award seats. Until recently, MileagePlus miles were also a great way to fly with partners, including Thai Airways First Class. Unfortunately, this has changed with the introduction of dynamic pricing.
Once you feel more knowledgable about the frequent flyer game, you can take advantage of their frequent buy miles offers, if the numbers work out for you somehow.
11. Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca is another intriguing Star Alliance partner, as it often has unbelievable bonus miles deals for purchase. You can then put those miles towards premium flight redemptions with Star Alliance airlines, such as Singapore Airlines, United and Thai Airways.
However, it is a tricky program to deal with if things go wrong because English-speaking support agents aren’t always available.
Notable mention: Qantas Business Rewards
If you have an ABN, also consider signing up to the Qantas’ small business program to earn more Qantas Points. Frequently, there are offers which give you bonus points.
When you earn Qantas Business Rewards points, these can later be transferred to other personal frequent flyer accounts (yours, your employees, family and friends) on a 1:1 basis. This makes it a flexible way to earn Qantas Points.
Why should I register for all these programs?
Simple — if you don’t register, you can’t earn points if an offer comes up. Also, by registering you will start to opt-in to emails (if you want to), which will guide you toward some of the deals on offer.
Finally, many of the promotions where you can buy points or 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. This mainly applies to overseas-based programs.
Going through and joining the programs listed above will at least let you get your account in place to take advantage of any deals in future.
Summing up
If you don’t join some of these programs, you are locked out of ‘playing the game’ and joining in any great promotions that might crop up in future.
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.
Which other frequent flyer programs do you recommend travellers in Australia to join? Share in the comments below.
This article was previously written by Matt Moffit.
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…
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.
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!
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
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
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.
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??
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?
I’ve got an AirFrance flight coming up and wondering where to credit it to.
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.
Anyway, I have volunteered to write up some guides to buying and using Lifemiles as my contribution.