Tight Traveller: 5 incredible trips you can take with 8000 Qantas points

Nothing annoys this frequent flyer more than people who spend their points on toasters. He reveals the five best-value flights you should be booking instead.

Nothing annoys me more than someone telling me “I spent my frequent flyer points on a toaster, because I couldn’t find a flight I wanted”. It’s such a waste of valuable points.

It’s true, a really desirable Qantas rewards flight requires a shedload of points, especially after recent changes which made business- and first-class trips even more costly. Flying one-way to London in first? That’ll be 192,000 points, thanks. Also annoying, those seats are extremely rare and high-status flyers get first dibs on them.

Luckily, that’s not the only way to get value from points you’ve earned. To prove the point (ahem), here are five flights you can book with just 8000 Qantas Points, all in economy and for domestic holiday destinations running for 600 miles (965km) or less (the cut-off for an 8000-point flight).

Bear in mind that on many of these routes business class is not available anyway, and the economy seats that are on offer can be very pricey indeed. As such, they offer great value, even after the dreaded “carrier charges”.

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1. SYDNEY-LORD HOWE ISLAND

A return fare to Lord Howe routinely costs $1200 or more, so for value per point this is even better than scoring an upgrade into business or first. One caution: check accommodation on the island is available before you book as options are often limited.

Lord Howe Island is a great value option — and it’s stunning.

2. MELBOURNE-KANGAROO ISLAND

Another domestic island deal with massive points value, since the return fare can be $1200 or more. While there are two flights involved (Melbourne-Adelaide and Adelaide-Kingscote), the whole shebang can still be had for 8000 Qantas Points.

3. CANBERRA-GOLD COAST

If you live in Sydney, there are cheap flights galore to the Gold Coast. In Canberra, your choices are limited and don’t include any low-cost carriers. So why not take advantage of the fact that Canberra-Sydney-Gold Coast still only needs 8000 points?

4. SYDNEY-MAROOCHYDORE

While Qantas peppers the Sunshine Coast route with cheaper Jetstar flights, it does offer flights under its own brand as well, and you’ll have luggage and a snack thrown in for free.

5. SYDNEY-MELBOURNE

This is Australia’s busiest airline route, and that really helps from a frequent flyer perspective. More aircraft running means more reward seats. Book early for peak-period seats (think Friday and Sunday afternoons) that would cost you $200 or more each way otherwise. I often use this strategy for Christmas and Easter trips.

Qantas has increased economy availability for rewards seats this year, but finding these flights will still require work and planning ahead. But I promise you the joys of a close-to-free holiday will make you happier than a new toaster.

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

 

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Originally published as Tight Traveller: 5 incredible trips you can take with 8000 Qantas points