Frequent flyer points check: What you need to know

Traps lurk for travel-starved Aussies wanting to spend frequent flyer points for the first time in years. But they can be overcome.

Anthony KeanePersonal finance writer

@keanemoney

3 min read

May 3, 2022 - 9:36AM

The Australian Business Network

SmartDaily

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Travel is back in a big way, prompting fresh warnings for millions of frequent flyer program members to check their accounts or risk losing money.

Frequent flyer specialists say some people who have effectively been grounded for two years may have lost points that expired, while others – a little rusty thanks to Covid – are spending many more points than they need to when securing flights.

Thechampagnemile.com.au founder Adele Eliseo says points expiry is emerging as a growing issue, although some airlines offer inactive members points extensions because of Covid.

“It’s important to note that for Qantas and Virgin Australia, points expiry is easily avoided, simply by registering some form of activity,” she says.

Qantas points will not expire if at least one point is earned or used in an 18 month period, while Virgin’s Velocity points only expire if an account is active for 24 months.

“While Covid has severely restricted travel opportunities, there are many ways to earn frequent flyer points without flying, often with very little effort,” Eliseo says.

Jennifer and Andrew Jones use frequent flyer points to fly at the front of planes.

“For example, members with no travel on the horizon can easily earn points by exercising with the Qantas Wellbeing App, shopping at Woolworths or making purchases online via Qantas Shopping.”

Eliseo says people should take advantage of rewards credit card sign-up options, and be flexible with travel dates to maximise chances of flying with points.

The chief executive of iFLYflat, Steve Hui, says frequent flyer points are so easy to earn that “you actively have to say no in order not to earn points”.

“Know how many points you have got and how many trips are sitting in your account,” he says.

“For example, if you have 250,000 points that’s a business class return trip to Los Angeles.”

Hui says the best value comes from redeeming business class flights, as points are up to 10 times more valuable when used this way rather than buying gift cards or goods at online stores.

Qantas allows people to pay with points for all flight bookings but Hui warns this can trap travellers.

“People are mistaking Points Plus Pay with Classic flight redemptions,” he says.

If you choose Points Plus Pay, you are often spending five or six times as many points for the same flight, Hui says.

“Finding seats is like fishing – they change all the time so keep looking all the time.”

Qantas has increased the power of a point when booking holidays. Picture: James D. Morgan

Jennifer Jones and husband Andrew Jones have used frequent flyer points to help them fly at the pointy end of planes.

“Frequent flyer points are by no means a free way to travel, but allow my husband and I to explore the world in a more comfortable and luxurious manner,” she says.

Jones says people wanting to maximise flight rewards should immerse themselves in as much points content as possible, and sign up to points and travel blogs.

“Connect with other like-minded people and start small,” she says.

“Your first redemption may be a simple domestic business class flight, just enough to give you a taste of what the market has to offer.”

A Qantas spokeswoman says activities such as buying groceries, logging steps or sleep habits on the Qantas Wellbeing app, buying fuel or using a credit card can keep people’s points balances active indefinitely.

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“Members remained highly engaged despite the low levels of flying over the past two years, shown by the fact they kept earning points on the ground and then redeemed them in record numbers as borders reopened,” she says.

“With travel one of the most popular ways to use points, we’ve released more reward seats and increased the power of a point when booking hotels and holidays.”