How I flew my family to Fiji for free using Flybuys points

“We’re all feeling the crunch from the rise in the cost of living and mortgage rates and often we will give up things seen as luxury items such as a holiday. So it was such a relief that I figured out how to do this," mum-of-two, Anna shares. 

Anna Brown, a mother of two from Australia, has become a master at stacking Flybuys points. 

Over the past few years, she has developed a method to maximise her spending and has finally perfected it. As a result of her savvy approach, Anna was able to take her family of four to Fiji recently without spending a cent.

We picked Anna’s brain for all her best tips and tricks to grow your own points. 

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Anna and her family in Fiji. Image: Supplied

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Top tips from a point-stacking master

As a point-stacking master, Anna’s top tip is to make sure you download the Flybuys app on your phone and activate all offers and consciously stack them. 

For example, the four-week promos get you 10,000 bonus points, which you can stack with the bonus point items within those shops.

Also, if her grocery bill is under the minimum spend, she’ll buy non-perishable items such as toilet paper to meet the spend requirement. “That is your basic double stack,” Anna explains.

Another tip is “Don't buy things you won't use, but don't be afraid to try new products to get those extra points - you may find a new favourite brand.”

Then you can take things up a level and “triple stack” your points by paying with a Flybuys-affiliated credit card such as the Coles Reward Mastercard, which can triple your points on some purchases. 

You can do this at places other than just Coles, like other partners such as Coles Shell Express, MyCar, Officeworks and Bunnings (hello linked partner account! My husband can help build our points nest as well!)

Anna says, “The Coles Reward Mastercard is a passive earner and a game changer because it gives you points for any and all spending on it.”

Anna is already planning her next trip! Image: Supplied

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Anna flew her family to Fiji - with upgraded seats too!

Anna shared some valuable insights into how she grew her points in order to take her family to Fiji for free. 

“If travel is a goal of yours, I recommend setting up ‘Auto-Transfer’ in your Flybuys app - which will automatically transfer your Flybuys points to Velocity points,” Anna says. 

“I also recommend keeping an eye out for promotions to earn bonus points if you have set up Auto Transfer in your app - allowing you to ‘triple stack’ your regular points and entering you into the draw to win additional points.

“Then, by setting and forgetting this Auto-Transfer and continuing my normal stacking strategy at the checkout (I did not go out and buy more stuff), I managed to accumulate enough points to pay for flights for my family of four to go to Fiji - in upgraded seats, too! You are able to use points to upgrade to more legroom, baggage allowance, etc.”

“You can also play the game to inject a big boost of points to your piggy bank. In my case, I applied for another credit card, a NAB Rewards Credit Card, which had a very generous bonus Flybuys point sign-up offer, which helped as well.” 

With the cost of living on the rise, it’s no wonder that the prospect of saving money can be incredibly appealing. 

So when Anna realised she could use her points for a free international trip, she said it was like “being on top of the world.”

“Everyone likes making a saving and no one likes paying more than they have to. We’re all feeling the crunch from the rise in the cost of living and mortgage rates and often we will give up things seen as luxury items such as a holiday. 

“Having the points to pay for our flights was such a relief and definitely made me smile throughout my trip, along with those beautiful Fijian island beaches.”

Anna’s used her points to fund other things, like decorating her kid’s room 

When Anna isn’t using her points to go on overseas trips, she likes to use her points for home improvements and decorations. As a mum of two under five, she managed to furnish her kids' nursery and playroom using points redeemed at Kmart and Target. 

“We also purchased our Christmas lights last year using my points, and we had the best lights on the street!” she shared. 

So what's next?

Even though Anna has achieved one of her major travel goals already, she’s showing no signs of slowing down. 

She says, “I recently purchased a Gold Coast hotel package including theme park entry at a great price using a time-limited special online deal. By accumulating my points towards Velocity points with Auto-Transfer on, I can feel comfortable that our flights will be covered, making it a very affordable family holiday.” 

“I will wait for a sale by Virgin before I utilise the points, so I get that extra saving too.”

Onya Anna!

Originally published as How I flew my family to Fiji for free using Flybuys points