Expert reveals sneaky way to earn cheap Qantas points

Haven’t quite got enough points to book the flight you want? Here’s how you can score your trip without wearing the hefty price tag.

It’s a frustration that every frequent flyer faces at some point.

You’ve found an oh-so-desirable rewards flight in the fancy end of the plane, but you haven’t quite got enough points to book the return flight. It’s tempting to purchase a few extra points so you can reach that goal. Both Qantas and Virgin Australia offer the option to buy extra top-up points. The going rate depends on how many points you need to purchase.

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Let’s look at Qantas as an example. You can boost your total up to four times a year in amounts ranging from 1000 to 150,000 Qantas points. Buying 1000 Qantas points will cost you $56 at current rates. If you splash out and purchase 150,000, you’ll pay $3999.

While that’s a big chunk of cash, there are flights where that represents a potential bargain. A business-class one-way from Sydney to London will use 144,600 points and could cost you $9000 or more. Actually finding that reward seat can be trickier, but it’s not impossible.

However, there’s a more efficient way to acquire points than paying for them outright when you’ve spotted a desirable rewards flight.

Qantas’s online wine store frequently offers bonus points when you make a purchase. Picture: iStock.

Qantas Wine, Qantas’s online wine store, frequently offers bonus points when you make a purchase. You’ll regularly see offers that score 8000 bonus Qantas points. If you purchased those 8000 points as top-up points, you’d pay $313.

If you can pay a similar amount or less and get a dozen bottles of wine as well, it’s a better deal overall.

If you’re after a larger boost, then the best tactic is to sign up for a frequent flyer credit card that includes a bonus points offer.

This can score you 100,000 points or more if you qualify. However, you’ll need to allow time for that one: Typically, you’ll have to commit to a minimum spend each month over a three- or six-month period.

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Go with the wine if you’re looking for a last-minute mid-level points boost. Picture: iStock

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You’ll also need to weigh up the cost of the annual fee and whether those spend requirements are realistic. So it’s a handy bonus but not one where you can guarantee the points will show up tomorrow.

Another option for topping up points cheaply is simply to book flights, but you have to choose carefully and the earn rates aren’t anywhere near as good. The cheapest return you’re likely to see on Qantas will be about $200, and for that you’ll earn 2000 points on short-haul domestic routes.

You’d also need to take into consideration the cost of getting to and from the airport, not to mention that you’ll be spending all that time flying.

On the whole, going with the wine still seems a better bet if you’re looking for a last-minute mid-level points boost.

Angus Kidman is the editor-in-chief and travel guru for Finder.