What new airline alliances mean for you (and your frequent flyer points)

A new airline partnership and another addition to the ranks of the Oneworld alliance bring new opportunities for Australians to earn and burn their frequent flyer points in fresh pastures, aboard more airlines.

What the Virgin Australia-Qatar Airways partnership means

You can now book a Virgin Australia flight to Qatar and beyond, but from the aircraft livery to the in-flight entertainment to the flight crew uniforms, everything about the experience will look like a Qatar Airways flight.

Virgin’s new international flights use Qatar Airways aircraft and crew.Credit: Getty Images

Under the “wet lease” arrangement, which started on June 12, Qatar Airways provides aircraft, crew and maintenance to operate the routes, which are sold as Virgin flights. When it is fully implemented towards the end of the year, the partnership will add 28 flights a week from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane to Doha. Qatar Airways already operates on all those routes, and Virgin Australia sells seats on those flights as a codeshare partner.

Why the change, you might ask? This is part of Qatar’s strategy to increase its penetration of Australia’s aviation market. In 2023, the Doha-based carrier’s request to increase its flights was skittled by the Australian government at the behest of Qantas lobbyists. Since these new partnership flights are effectively Virgin Australia flights, the ban doesn’t apply. The relationship between Virgin and Qatar Airways goes far deeper than just the partnership. Early in 2025, Qatar Airways Group acquired a minority 25 per cent equity stake in Virgin Australia from Bain Capital.

This is a win for Australian flyers, giving them access to Qatar Airways’ huge network of more than 170 destinations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East from the airline’s Doha base. It also brings more choice, competition and better connectivity to our long-haul flights, aboard one of the world’s premier carriers (recently named the world’s best again), and allows Virgin’s Velocity members to upgrade on Qatar flights using their points.

Oman Air joins Oneworld

The national airline of Oman became the 15th member of the Oneworld alliance on July 1, taking the alliance’s network to more than 900 destinations in 170 countries and territories. Members of Qantas’ Frequent Flyer scheme can now earn and spend Qantas Points on Oman Air flights, an uptick on the previous partnership that only allowed Qantas flyers to spend but not acquire points on Oman Air flights. Status with Qantas also confers reciprocal benefits aboard Oman Air.

Oman is a great alternative stopover destination to the typical candidates.Credit: iStock

While the airline’s fleet of 34 aircraft servicing 40 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East is dwarfed by the fleets and networks of Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, there are reasons why you might prefer Oman for a multi-day stopover. This is one of the most interesting, cultured and likeable of the Gulf states, with a male population that still regards a dagger in the waistband as an essential item of daily attire. In the capital, Muscat, the souk in the nearby commercial area of Mutrah still carries on its ancient business of spices and gold, supervised by the descendants of traders who once sold carpets, camel skins and frankincense between India and the Mediterranean.

Beyond Muscat is a heroic landscape of forts and toothy mountain ranges, where an intricate system of irrigation has created a web of startling green oases. Local tour operators offer expeditions from Muscat to take in the desert towns, the towering dunes of the Wahiba Sands and the lost-in-time landscape of the Hajar Mountains. Australian passport holders benefit from visa-free admission to the Sultanate of Oman for stays of up to 14 days.

I flew with Oman Air in March, business class return from Delhi to Cairo, and although these were relatively short flights aboard the airline’s 737s, with no fully reclining seat, the aircraft, amenities, service and food and beverage were all on par with the stars of the Middle East triumvirate. An 11-hour layover at Muscat’s airport was pain-free. This is arguably the best international airport in the region – quiet, calm and well supplied with relaxation areas.

This is the second airline to join the alliance this year, after Fiji Airways became a full member in April. The Fijian national airline was previously a “Oneworld Connect” member, which allowed Qantas frequent flyers to acquire and spend points with the airline, but full membership brings extra benefits, such as admission to Oneworld lounges when travelling aboard Fiji Airways.

Ways to boost your frequent flyer points

Get a co-branded credit card

A co-branded card issued jointly by a credit card issuer and an airline is the best way to accelerate your points-earning power because they earn points with a specific airline rather than reward points, which convert to airline points at a lesser rate. For example, the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card earns 2.25 Qantas points per dollar spent on eligible Qantas products and services, and 1.25 Qantas points on everyday purchases per dollar.

The American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card comes with two Qantas points per dollar spent on Qantas products and services, 1.25 Qantas points on everyday business spend and 0.5 Qantas points on government, utilities and insurance per dollar. Both cards come with a huge points bump by way of a sign-up bonus.

Use airline shopping malls

Airlines have online shopping malls featuring preferred merchants whose merchandise ranges from fashion labels to sporting goods, technology and office supplies. You pay the same price as if you were shopping direct with the merchant, but you earn extra points, often at a rate better than one per dollar.

Bank your points with the alliance that best suits your needs

Airline alliances expand your travel opportunities. Frequent flyer points accrued with one airline can be used to buy seats or upgrades within the alliance in most cases, which gives you a far greater choice of destinations when you want to spend your loyalty points. There are also perks and privileges that apply at each alliance membership level, bringing benefits such as speedier check-in, priority luggage handling, preferential boarding and upgrades, and lounge access across the alliance member airlines.

There are three airline alliances, but for most of us, the ones that matter are Star Alliance and Oneworld. As a Oneworld member airline, Qantas allows flyers to use their points for flights on 14 other airlines including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways. While it is not a member of any alliance, Virgin Australia flyers acquire Velocity points and status credits that can be used for flights and upgrades on partner airlines including Singapore Airlines, United, ANA, Air New Zealand and Qatar Airways.

Consider buying airline points or miles, cautiously

Some airlines offer points for sale at a discounted rate from time to time, and that might be a worthwhile investment if you’re planning to fly soon using those points. You need to make sure the cost is less than the value of the points you are acquiring. It is not worth purchasing points unless they are being sold at a special, reduced rate.

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