Can my wife use my Qantas frequent flyer number? It's complicated

Escape’s points expert, Sabine Leroy, answers one of the most burning questions couples have about Qantas frequent flyer points. 

Can my wife use my frequent flyer number? It’s a common question and a sensible one, especially when couples travel separately and want to consolidate points. The short answer is no, your wife can’t use your Qantas Frequent Flyer number. 

The Qantas Frequent Flyer program, like most airline loyalty schemes, operates on a strict one passenger, one account basis. That means the name on the ticket must match the name on the frequent flyer account being credited – this is spelled out in Qantas’ terms and conditions of membership.

That said, there are smart and legitimate ways for couples and families to earn and pool Qantas Points. First things first. Your wife needs to create her own Qantas Frequent Flyer account. Normally, there’s a $99.50 joining fee, but there are plenty of ways around this that mean, you don’t have to pay a cent.  

No your wife can't use your FF number, but she can create her own

Once she has her own membership, she can earn points and Status Credits every time she flies under her own name, while you continue doing the same. 

Now although Qantas doesn’t have family pooling like other airlines, it is extremely generous with family transfers. This allows you to transfer points between eligible family members. That includes your spouse, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and even in-laws.

You can transfer as little as 1,500 points per transfer and Qantas allows unlimited transfers within any 12-month period. It’s totally free and you can complete the transfer by logging into your account and visiting the Family Transfers page. This is particularly beneficial for families who travel with kids. While you can’t transfer Status Credits, sharing points allows you to combine efforts and aim for bigger redemptions, like upgrades or Classic Reward flights.

You can transfer points between eligible family members

Airlines with family pooling 

If you often fly domestically or you’re not wedded to Qantas, you could join or switch to another program that does offer family pooling. 

Take Virgin Australia, for example. Its Velocity Frequent Flyer program offers Family Pooling with up to six members – including two adults and four children living at the same address – able to automatically pool both Points and Status Credits into one account. It’s a fast-track route to elite status like Gold or Platinum and ideal if your household flies even semi-regularly. Each member needs their own account, and you set it up with a main beneficiary and contributors. 

Virgin offers family pooling for up to six members

On the international front, Emirates’ Skywards offers the My Family program. You can link up to eight members and choose what percentage of your Skywards Miles to contribute, starting from 25 per cent to 100 per cent. This lets you strike a balance between personal and pooled use. It’s particularly beneficial for travellers who regularly fly to Europe or the Middle East on Emirates. 

See also: Airline experts rank Qantas the world’s safest airline

It’s worth noting that when you transfer miles from credit cards or other partners, they might go to your personal account, not the family account. Double check beforehand as once transferred, they can’t be swapped between the personal and family account.For many frequent flyers, the smartest move is to be loyal across a few airlines. You might continue to use Qantas where it makes sense, while also earning with Velocity or Emirates where pooling and sharing benefits are stronger.

If you’re planning trips as a family or couple, it’s worth putting in a little strategy and finding the program (or mix of programs) that pays off.

Have a question about points? Drop Sabine an email at [e-mail]. Personal replies are unfortunately not possible.

Originally published as Can my wife use my Qantas frequent flyer number? It's complicated