How I became a frequent flyer convert

SO what changed my mind? Well, I just booked a $281 flight to the US and now I’m officially a convert.

I’VE just booked a flight to the USA for $281.

No, there aren’t a million stopovers or ridiculous extra charges for a checked bag, or entertainment, or a meal. And no, it doesn’t arrive in the middle of the night at some remote airport miles from where I actually want to be.

I’m flying Qantas from Sydney to Dallas-Fort Worth, which is the third-longest commercial flight in the world. So how was it possible?

Until now I’ve never really believed in frequent flyer programs.

I know a lot of people who collect points religiously, but apart from getting a rare free flight or the occasional cheap blender, I was sceptical if it actually paid off.

I figured you’d have to spend thousands before you got anything in return.

My salary is pretty modest and I don’t fly a lot, so when I do travel, price is everything. I can’t afford to stick to the same airline for the sake of points.

I figured shelling-out for an expensive flight basically meant you were just paying off a future free flight in installments.

Using the same logic, I figured you may as well save yourself the money by choosing budget carriers and buying future tickets on sale.

However, I finally became curious enough to try it out, and I’m officially converted.

The lightbulb moment came after a horror budget experience in Queensland.

The airline refused to let me board the plane, and I stood helplessly in the terminal until a Qantas lady came out from behind the counter to offer assistance.

I ended up shelling out $400 for a last-minute seat, and I couldn’t help but think I should have just booked Qantas in the first place.

For starters, they would have let me board the plane.

Second, it’s pretty obvious that one expensive Qantas ticket is cheaper than a forfeited low-coast fare PLUS a last-minute Qantas flight.

I’m really excited about taking my first international flight with Qantas.

I’m hardly the first person to realise the merits of frequent flyer points.

Points expert Matt Moffitt wrote an article for news.com.au only a few months ago, explaining how to get the maximum amount of value out of your points.

(Pro tip: don’t use them to buy a blender).

Many of my friends travel for work, and they all have frequent flyer accounts.

One day, I decided to see what it was all about, so I did some research, asked for recommendations, and applied for a credit card.

It came with a sign-up bonus of 45,000 points, and waived the $80 Qantas sign-up fee. All I had to do was spend $2500 within three months.

A short time later, I received two cards in the mail: an Amex, which racks up points very quickly, and a Mastercard to use when the Amex isn’t accepted.

I’m single and I live in a share house, so my expenses are pretty low. I use my credit card to pay for everyday purchases like groceries and public transport.

They’re all things I was buying anyway — I haven’t gone on any spending sprees or booked any expensive flights, and I haven’t paid a cent in interest.

When I started researching my trip, I tried everything to keep the cost down.

I kept my departure date flexible. I looked at stopovers. I compared return tickets with different combinations of one-way flights. I compared search engines.

Eventually, it occurred to me to open my unused Qantas app. The flight to Texas said “from $1445” one-way, and I was gutted. That’s huge amount for a one-way ticket.

Curiosity prompted me to click on it anyway, and I couldn’t believe my eyes.

It said: “Economy Classic Reward: 55,000 points + $281”.

Since I’ve done literally nothing to accumulate those points, it’s basically just $281.

That, my friends, is why I’m a frequent flyer convert.

Obviously, Kirrily Schwarz paid for this flight and for the credit card herself.