5 of the Best: Australia’s Frequent Flyer Programs

We all love a perk. I think it’s in our DNA as human beings. And with the cost of living rising quicker than the new apartment building at the end of my street, there’s no wonder that when it comes to holidaying, we’re all searching for a little extra sweetener.

If you’re a frequent flyer, this is where you can really benefit; signing up to airline’s loyalty programs can mean free flights, upgrades and access to those swanky lounges you only see those other people enter. So which frequent-flyer scheme is the best one for me, you ask? Check out the below for a brief run down…

1. QANTAS Frequent Flyer program

One of the two major frequent-flyer schemes in Australia, this program allows customers to earn points and redeem them for flights and rewards. Points are collected by flying with QANTAS or its partner airlines (including Jetstar, Emirates, British Airways and American Airlines, to name a few) or by purchasing eligible products and services with a linked credit or debit card.

There are four levels of membership (Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum) and the higher your membership, the more privileges you receive.

If you’re a QANTAS Frequent Flyer, you can look forward to priority check-in, preferred seating, extra baggage allowance, access to VIP lounges and free memberships to other clubs.

2. Velocity Frequent Flyer program

The other largest frequent-flyer scheme in Australia, Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program allows customers to earn Velocity Points whenever they fly with Virgin or any of its partners, as well as using Virgin’s aligned hotels, car hire companies, insurance companies and more. If you’re also the owner of a credit card that is linked to the Velocity program, you’ll be able to score the chance at earning double the points (from using your card and on purchasing from program partners). Similar to QANTAS, there’s three tiers of membership (Platinum, Gold or Silver) and privileges can include family and pet benefits, international benefits and all the shiny extras you’d expect (priority check-in, access to VIP lounges etc.). Best thing is, it’s free to join and takes the time of an ad break to do it.  

3. Flybuys loyalty program

A joint project between the corporate big wigs Shell, Coles, Myer and NAB, Flybuys is the country’s largest customer loyalty program. Although Flybuys does allow customers to redeem rewards on flights, the main focus is to offer incentives that members can use day-to-day.

Homewares, entertainment goods, fashion, beauty and even groceries are where you can make the savings – simply by redeeming your points that you’ve earned through shopping at certain stores with your Coles Mastercard or bundling goods and services like insurance policies.

Flybuys is free to join and if you already do your weekly shop at Coles, then you’re not really having to put yourself out – only thing is, it takes quite a large spend to reap rewards (eg. You can redeem 2,000 Flybuys points for $10 Flybuys dollars to use at Coles, but generally one point is rewarded for every dollar…so you get the idea.). You can’t beat the scheme’s popularity though.

4. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program

This frequent-flyer program works the same as most – earning ‘miles’ for flying, using a linked credit card or by paying for services from KrisFlyer partners. Once you earn enough miles you’ll be able to exchange them for rewards including free flights and upgraded fares, but not for products and gift cards. Again, this program features tiers in which you can gain some pretty impressive privileges as you work your way up. Earn your miles by flying on an eligible Singapore Airlines or SilkAir flight, or on a flight by airlines under the Star Alliance group (a partner carrier of Singapore Airlines) which includes airlines such as US Airways, Air Canada, Thai Airways and Air New Zealand, to name a few. Other partners outside the Star Alliance group include Virgin Australia, which serves us Aussies well in particular.  

5. Emirates Skywards program

As one of the fastest-growing aviation brands in the world, you can be sure Emirates’ loyalty program will provide you with some pretty special perks. The scheme is divided into two types of points – Skyward Miles and Tier Miles. Skyward Miles can be earned through credit card spending or through flights on Emirates or partner airlines (such as Japan Airlines, QANTAS, Korean Air and Virgin America), and can be redeemed on fights, upgrades, car rental, hotels and more.

Tier Miles are only accumulated when you fly with Emirates (not through other spending) and features Blue, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels that offer impressive benefits from member-only travel offers right up to ‘last seat’ Skywards flex reward tickets which allow you to redeem points for a business or economy class ticket even on flights with restricted availability or high demand. Fancy!

(Feature image: Michael Coghlan)