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.

Flying to Canada with Qantas Points

One member is hoping to use their Qantas points to fly in Business Class to Canada next year and seeks advice on the best way to do so. 30th wedding present for me and 70th birthday for my dad… Between us we have 1.2 million qantas ff points and would like to use them to … Continued

6 Oct 2015 Qantas

Qatar Airways to commence Sydney flights

Qatar Airways will begin flights between its Doha hub and Sydney from 1 March, 2016. The airline will become the third of the major Middle Eastern carriers to fly to Sydney. With Qatar flying to most major cities in the Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa, the new route provides another convenient, one-stop oneworld … Continued

5 Oct 2015 Qatar Airways

Qantas vs Virgin: Head-to-Head

Many Australians are members of either Qantas Frequent Flyer or Virgin Australia’s Velocity program – or both. Each program boasts some fantastic features and benefits, but which offers the best perks and the greatest overall value? Many of our members believe that Qantas comes out on top for numerous reasons. Firstly, Qantas’ larger range of … Continued

Singapore Smart Gates Now Available to Australians

Regular visitors to Singapore will be pleased to learn that from 1 October, Australians will be eligible to use the “enhanced-Immigration Automated Clearance System”, or eIACS usually available only to local residents passing through Singapore’s Changi Airport. Unfortunately, travellers will need to register first before they can use these “smart gates” and there are a … Continued

28 Sep 2015 Post Flight

Living the First Class Dream!

Imagine relaxing in your luxurious suite in the sky while being served champagne and caviar… Flying in First Class is a dream for many, but such luxury often costs many thousands of dollars. The good news for the majority of us that can’t afford to buy a First Class ticket is that frequent flyer points … Continued

24 Sep 2015 Emirates

Top Tips for Stress-Free Travel

This week our members reveal their best travel tips and tricks. Countless “gems” have been shared, that will help travellers with everything from charging phones to saving money on hotels. To save luggage space and reduce the number of overseas adaptors needed, one member suggests packing a power board with multiple Australian-style power point connections. … Continued

17 Sep 2015 The Journey

South America using Points: Mission Impossible?

Redeeming frequent flyer points for free flights can be a challenging exercise at the best of times. But getting to South America is particularly difficult due to the relatively small number of flights between Australia and the Latin American continent. Qantas and its partner LAN currently have a duopoly on flights between Australia and South … Continued

135% Bonus Miles in New “LifeMiles” Promotion

Avianca, the national airline of Colombia, is not an airline on the radar of most Australian flyers. But its loyalty program “LifeMiles” offers some unique and substantial advantages. Most significantly, the program makes premium cabin travel for a fraction of the price possible! LifeMiles is one of a handful of programs to sell its own … Continued

14 Sep 2015 Avianca

Transfer Virgin Velocity Points for Maximum Value

If you’ve accumulated a stockpile of Virgin Velocity points, you don’t just have to redeem them on Virgin Australia flights! Velocity points can also be transferred across to the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program. So, how does this work exactly, and what are the benefits of transferring? As long as you have an account with both … Continued

10 Sep 2015 Virgin Australia

Platinum Perks Whittled Away

It’s not that long ago that Qantas Platinum status came with the “ultimate” in perks. No expense was to be spared for the airline’s valuable Platinum members. But with Platinum One (and Chairman’s Lounge) members now trumping Platinum members, combined with a seemingly never-ending cycle of devaluations and cost-cutting, some members feel that their Platinum … Continued

5 Sep 2015 Qantas

Qantas Loyalty a One-Way Street?

After many years of loyalty to the flying kangaroo, one dissatisfied member feels that Qantas has failed to return the favour. This member has held Platinum status for over a decade, but had to put overseas travel on hold for a year due to the birth of a child. Qantas does not allow members to … Continued

3 Sep 2015 Qantas

Qantas/China Eastern partnership given green light

A new partnership between Qantas and China Eastern Airlines has been approved by the ACCC. The joint venture means that Qantas’ relationship with China Eastern will be akin to the much-touted partnership with Emirates. Qantas and China Eastern flyers will receive reciprocal benefits when flying on either airline including lounge access, other status privileges such … Continued

31 Aug 2015 Qantas