How to choose the best frequent flyer program for you

Domestic or international, business or leisure – learn how to choose the right frequent flyer program for you.

Whether you’re an avid traveller living a globetrotting life of leisure or a jet-setting professional conducting business both domestically and abroad, one thing is certain: you need to join a frequent flyer program. Offering valuable benefits for regular flyers – including the ability to earn points or miles on flights that can be redeemed for free tickets, upgrades and other rewards – frequent flyer programs afford members all sorts of privileges. Access to priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling, and airport lounge passes and exclusive partner deals are just the beginning.

Navigating the crowded world of frequent flyer programs can be overwhelming, so we asked a travel expert what to look for when choosing an airline loyalty program. Mark Trim is an Australian entrepreneur, travel expert and point hacker with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. Over the past 17 years, Trim has grown his business into a network of seven premium travel brands across Australia and New Zealand. One such business is The Well Connected Traveller, a boutique travel rewards management agency for Australian frequent flyers. Naturally, Trim has some incredible insights and advice.

What are the most important factors travellers should consider when choosing a frequent flyer program?

MT: That depends on your primary goal: are you chasing status for travel benefits, or point accrual for reward flights?

A dual approach, where you chase both status and points, is an option for frequent flyers who also have a high volume of transaction spend as a business owner. This enables you to focus on an airline that you fly with regularly, whilst maintaining the frequent flyer program that you use for earning and burning points via credit cards and other maximisation strategies.

What should travellers look for when comparing reward seat availability across programs?

MT: When comparing reward seat availability across frequent flyer programs, travellers should take into consideration significant carrier charges, which are common on airlines like Emirates. Travellers also need to evaluate higher reward seat tiers, such as Qantas’ ‘Classic Plus’, ‘Flex’, or ‘Advantage’ (and similar across other carriers), based on their individual needs and point balances.

Transfer rates between programs, or from credit cards to airline partners, should also be considered. For instance, transferring from Virgin Velocity to Krisflyer miles involves a 1.55:1 ratio loss of points, and Velocity’s reward inventory is released later than Krisflyer’s.

How significant are fees and surcharges when redeeming points, and how do they vary between programs?

MT: When redeeming points, fees and surcharges can be highly significant, varying from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Despite this, airlines that charge as such sometimes offer more reward seats, especially in premium cabins. So it’s arguably better to chip in some cash and have more options rather than chasing scarce availability.

Are there particular programs that offer better value for international or domestic travel?

MT: When evaluating frequent flyer programs for international or domestic travel, we find it particularly valuable to keep your balance in AMEX Membership Rewards where possible. This offers unrivalled flexibility for transferring to a range of programs with strong international business class reward availability.

However, if you are happy using points domestically for both reward and upgrade seats, or are comfortable flying long-haul in economy, then Qantas offers good availability across its short-haul network and in economy on long-haul flights.

How do airline alliances affect the value and flexibility of a frequent flyer program?

MT: Airline alliances play a huge part in enhancing the value and flexibility of frequent flyer programs.

Some airlines, like Qantas, may be selective about releasing their own reward seats. But alliances often unlock better availability across a network of partner airlines, dramatically expanding the reach of your points.

Alliances such as Oneworld (a global airline alliance consisting of 14 member airlines) offer benefits such as Avios, which serves as a common frequent flyer ‘currency’ across multiple carriers such as British Airways, Finnair and Qatar Airways. Bilateral partnerships also contribute by creating specific redemption and benefit-sharing opportunities between two airlines.

How can members take advantage of status tiers and what are the best shortcuts to reach them?

MT: The best shortcuts to leverage status tiers in a frequent flyer program include maximising double status promotions, typically offered once or twice a year, and exploring status matching opportunities if you’re considering switching programs. Additionally, adding extra domestic or internal sectors whenever possible, without additional cost, is a great way to supercharge your balance – much like opting for a round-the-world trip over a standard return fare to Europe or North America.

What’s the biggest mistake travellers make when using their points?

MT: The biggest mistake travellers make when using their points is buying something in the airline shop, such as headphones or a massage gun. Or using a points+pay type option with a poor redemption value, especially when their point balance isn’t substantial. If in doubt, redeeming them for domestic flights is often a solid choice.

Are frequent flyer programs worth it?

MT: Some people believe that frequent flyer programs are overly complicated and so ignore them. However, people shouldn’t underestimate the diverse redemption options or dismiss entire programs based on one scenario. What’s needed is a mindset shift from ‘can my points be used for this trip?’ to ‘what trips can my points be used for?’. This is where expert guidance proves crucial in simplifying the process and maximising potential. Another common misconception is the expectation of significant rewards from just a bit of travel. In reality, such a scenario would necessitate much higher fees. The crucial word to remember is ‘frequent’.

SLTS: The benefits of becoming a member of a frequent flyer program depend entirely upon your frequency and type of travel. For those who fly interstate to visit family often, travel for work or simply travel often, becoming a member of an airline loyalty program can be beneficial and reduce the overall cost of your travel expenses, or afford you access to privileges you wouldn’t otherwise be able to.

Mark’s top tips for earning more points without flying

Use business expenses

Our top tip for earning more points without flying? Start a business! Joking. Well, kind of. For those who do, running significant expenses and transactions through a credit card, especially with merchants charging low or no fees, offers a fantastic way to accrue a large number of points and miles. We often see franchise and other business owners leverage this, or utilise third-party settlement companies for payments, earning back the small fees in reward points.

Online shopping portals

For employed travellers, accruing points without flying is often more challenging and requires a more creative approach. Actively seek out other point-earning bonuses, such as always checking your airline reward website before using online shopping portals, as this can boost your point balance for everyday spending.

Credit card spend

Maximising responsible and viable credit card spending is a good way to earn frequent flyer program points. Credit card point transfers are arguably the most effective way to boost your frequent flyer program balances significantly. Therefore, it’s wise to avoid holding large balances in less versatile, niche programs and instead only transfer the points you need for a specific redemption.

Sign-up bonuses

Credit card sign-up bonuses can be useful occasionally, but travellers should carefully consider the potential impact on their borrowing capacity or credit score by discussing it with their financial advisor or local banker first, especially regarding the number and frequency of applications.

Partner programs

For those who need the extra points, partner retailers, hotels and car hire services can be a great way to ensure you’re filling from every possible bucket.

FAQs

What is a frequent flyer program, and how does it work?
A frequent flyer program is an airline loyalty scheme designed to reward customers for their continued travel. Members earn points or miles not just for flights with the airline, but often through partner airlines and services. These points can be redeemed for a range of travel perks, including free or reduced airfares, seat upgrades, extra baggage, and lounge access. Many programs also offer tiered membership levels, where frequent flyers unlock added benefits such as priority check-in, faster boarding and exclusive offers as they move up in status.

What is the best frequent flyer program?
There is no single answer to this question, as it all depend on where you live, where you travel, and how you do so. The best frequent flyer program is one that benefits you and your needs. However, in Australia, Qantas Frequent Flyer and Virgin Velocity are the two most popular airline loyalty programs. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Emirates Skywards, Air New Zealand Airpoints and Cathay PAcific Asia Miles are all growing in popularity too.