Airlines, Miles and Points

Airlines, miles, and points is the most popular topic at Australian Frequent Flyer. In this category, we provide expert tips, insider tricks, and facilitate discussions about Qantas, Virgin Australia, non-Australian airlines, and global airline alliances. From earning and redeeming frequent flyer points to maximising elite status benefits, we aim to help you get the most out of your travel. We also cover every step of the journey – from planning and booking flights to experiencing the flight itself, and finally, arriving at your destination. Whether you're a seasoned traveller or just starting to explore the world of frequent flyer programs, you'll find valuable advice to elevate your travel experience. See below for articles on airlines, miles and points.

Qantas Club Lounge Access Denied

One frustrated Qantas Club member feels their membership has been devalued after they were wrongfully refused entry to a Qantas lounge. But even more concerning is that this issue appears to be systematic. The member was flying on a partner airline but had booked the ticket as a Qantas codeshare. Under the published rules, the … Continued

12 Nov 2015 Qantas

Air NZ Catering Catastrophe

One member is appalled at being offered just $20 worth of Air New Zealand vouchers as compensation for an in-flight meal that left them “very ill”. The Business class passenger had requested a vegetarian meal. But by the time they discovered that the meal in fact contained chicken, it was already too late. The catering … Continued

Fast-track to Virgin Velocity Status

Gold status with Virgin Australia’s Velocity program can be a valuable asset for frequent travellers. Benefits include complimentary lounge access, increased upgrade opportunities, bonus points and even the ability to change to an earlier flight for free. Virgin status can be earned by flying with Virgin Australia and its partner airlines. Often the path to … Continued

Etihad launches A380 flights to Melbourne

Etihad Airways will begin flying its flagship Airbus A380 to Melbourne from June next year. The A380s, which already fly daily to Sydney, offer a more comfortable journey in all classes of travel. But First Class passengers can expect to be especially pampered. The A380 is equipped with “apartments” in First, as well as on-board … Continued

2 Nov 2015 Etihad Airways

Bridging a Frequent Flyer Points Gap

Many frequent flyer point collectors save up for years in order to redeem those points for Business class flights to Europe. But if you still don’t quite have enough points to cover the trip, what other options are available? I’m a Gold FF with about 250k points. I’m going to Europe with the wife in … Continued

27 Oct 2015 Qantas

British Airways: A Smart Alternative to Qantas Frequent Flyer?

After a series of recent changes that have effectively devalued the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, many are looking towards alternatives. Virgin Australia is an obvious choice, while the American Airlines AAdvantage program is a popular program within the oneworld alliance. But the British Airways Executive Club program is rarely given a second thought by most … Continued

24 Oct 2015 British Airways

QF Freq Flyer Changes: A Dog’s Breakfast?

Qantas has quietly slashed the number of frequent flyer points and status credits earned when flying on many partner airlines. It’s the second major change in as many years, and many members are not happy. Status credits determine a member’s elite status level with the airline, so a decrease in the number of status credits … Continued

22 Oct 2015 Qantas

Avoid the One-way Flight “Tax”

If you’ve ever tried to book a one-way international flight, you’re probably aware that these tickets can be very expensive. Airlines often penalise passengers flying one-way in the form of higher prices and in many cases, a one-way international flight is more expensive than a return ticket on the same route! Cruise passengers often face … Continued

Qatar Airways announces daily Adelaide flights

Qatar Airways will commence daily flights to Adelaide from next year. And as an added bonus, the flights will be operated by Qatar’s newest state-of-the-art aircraft, the Airbus A350-900. Qatar will be the second airline to offer direct flights between Adelaide and the Middle East, with Emirates already flying daily to Dubai. Both airlines will … Continued

19 Oct 2015 Qatar Airways

Major Velocity Changes Imminent?

Speculation is rife that some major changes to Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program are just around the corner. Benefits offered to frequent flyers would likely be at the heart of the changes, with lifetime Platinum status among the many developments under consideration. The speculation is the result of a recent survey sent to Gold … Continued

15 Oct 2015 Virgin Australia

Cathay Pacific Overhaul: Winners and Losers

Cathay Pacific is overhauling its Marco Polo Club program, with changes to take effect from 15 April, 2016. These changes will make it more difficult to earn high tier Gold and Diamond status, however the benefits of these status tiers will also increase. Among other new benefits, Diamond members can now gift a friend or … Continued

12 Oct 2015 Cathay Pacific

Explore “Transit” Cities for Free

Imagine spending a full day or night in an exciting city like Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai or Tokyo – for no cost at all! By taking advantage of a small but significant loophole, our members have been able to enjoy the sights and sounds of all of these cities, and many more, for free. The … Continued