Summary

The author, a savvy traveler, shares strategies for utilizing the Qantas Frequent Flyer program and credit card rewards to minimize airfare costs, allowing for frequent international travel on a budget.

Abstract

The author details their experience with the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, which they joined in 1994, and how they accrue points through various means, including credit card shopping, to cover the cost of international flights, only paying the associated taxes and fees. They highlight a significant points bonus from a travel special to Disneyland and the strategic use of points for upgrades to business class. The article emphasizes booking frequent flyer seats well in advance, sometimes up to 12 months, and occasionally securing last-minute seats for unplanned holidays. The author also discusses the benefits of "double dipping" with American Express and Woolworths Everyday Rewards for grocery shopping, and how they maximize points by using their Qantas American Express card for travel-related expenses. Despite not owning a home, the author prioritizes travel and has visited Europe six times and Japan twice using points earned through these methods.

Opinions

The author values travel over material possessions like homeownership.
They believe in the strategic use of loyalty programs and credit card rewards to fund travel.
Airport taxes and fees are seen as the only real cost of flying when using frequent flyer points.
The author finds it worthwhile to pay extra for business class upgrades.
They advocate for booking frequent flyer seats as early as possible but acknowledge the possibility of last-minute seat availability.
"Double dipping" with rewards programs is considered a smart and legal way to accumulate points faster.
The author has a positive view of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program and the associated American Express card, emphasizing the bonus points earned for travel-related purchases.
They express excitement about nearly having enough points for a round-the-world ticket, indicating a strong passion for travel.

TRAVEL|GLOBETROTTERS

I Never Pay Full Fare for Flights

How?

Pene Hodge prompted me to write how I fly overseas so frequently on a tight budget.

The Qantas Frequent Flyer Program

Here is why I don’t pay for overseas airfares — well, actually I pay the tax, not the flight. I joined Qantas Frequent Flyers in 1994 even though I was anything but a frequent flyer. I still had 3 kids under 12 so I wasn’t going far.

In 1996, I saw a travel special to Disneyland advertised in the newspaper. It seemed too good to be true so I rang to find the catch. There was none! And there was a bonus of 30,000 points on each fare — even on the kids’ fares. That was a return flight from Brisbane to Perth for the whole family. So we went to Disneyland and San Francisco and a few months later flew to Perth. We hired a motorhome — the kids thought they’d died and gone to heaven.

Back in the nineties, airport taxes were either minimal or non-existent. I continued to collect frequent flyer points (I think other airlines might call them air miles) by shopping using my credit cards. It’s amazing how quickly the points add up.

Airport Taxes

When I flew to London Heathrow in 2011 for “the trip of a lifetime”, the economy flight cost me AU$64. (Heathrow has the most expensive airport charges of any airport I’ve flown into.)

Airport charges and taxes have escalated since then and in 2019, the out of pocket amount was $293 for flying from Brisbane to Vienna via Dubai. Upgrading to business class cost me an extra $360. Worth every cent! More details here…

Business Class, Baby!

How I flew business class from Brisbane to Bratislava

medium.com

Book ahead

Frequent flyer seats are hard to come by as only a certain number are released for each flight. Sometimes I have to fly a longer route via Sydney or Melbourne which is the opposite direction to where I want to fly. I book almost 12 months ahead — that’s as far in the future as you’re allowed. Sometimes you can be lucky and book a seat at the last minute. I’ve done this twice — once to Japan (I booked two days ahead!) and once to Nantes, France ( two weeks ahead!) Both were unplanned holidays.

I really am a frequent flyer.

Since divorcing my second husband, I have flown to Europe six times and Japan twice using my points — it seems amazing even as I’m typing this — but I don’t own a home. I’d rather spend my money on travel — as often as I can, and as cheaply as I can.

I collected 2,000 points every time I flew to Melbourne for a conference at my company’s expense, and 6,000 points being flown to TV game shows at the network’s expense, but the majority of my points have been earned by using my credit card when shopping.

Amex and Woolworths Everyday Rewards

American Express and Woolworths Everyday Rewards are my biggest earners. Every time I shop for groceries, I earn points on my Woolies card plus points on the Amex card I use to pay for them. I call it “double dipping”. It’s perfectly legal.

When I’m at the supermarket and there’s someone in the queue ahead of me who doesn’t have a Woolworths Everyday Rewards card, I ask do they mind if I use mine. They see how little shopping I have and feel sorry for me so agree wholeheartedly. I’ve never had anyone refuse me. I don’t mention how many trips I’ve had overseas on my points!

I used to earn points on both my MasterCard and American Express but I converted my MasterCard to a “no international conversion fee” just before my last trip, so I don’t earn points on it any longer. You can’t have your both point-earning ability AND no overseas fees.

Photo by CardMapr Mine is a Qantas American Express card.

I book as much of my accommodation as possible on Amex and pay before I leave home, earning even more points. I buy train tickets, internal flights in Europe, everything travel-related on my Qantas Amex, and of course, pay the airport taxes as well. Because it’s a Qantas Amex, I get bonus points.

I won’t be travelling this year but almost have enough points for a ROUND THE WORLD ticket!

I hope this has answered your question, Pene Hodge.