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12 great and cost-effective ways to earn frequent flyer points in everyday life

Flight attendant walks across a pink globe because she has frequent flyer points and the world is her oyster. What a queen.

Frequent flyer points conjure images of suits in the sky and first-class cocktails. But you can use airline rewards for much more than discounted flights and earn them without ever setting foot in an airport.

So if you’re keen on racking up an impressive collection of Qantas, Velocity, or Flybuys Travel points, here are twelve big, cost-crunching ideas to get you off the ground. 

Maybe the money you save could go towards travel insurance for your next holiday.

NOTE: Rewards offers always come with terms and conditions, so read the fine print carefully before signing up for or purchasing a product or service.

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BIG POINTS IDEAS

1. Grocery shopping rewards – Woolworths, Coles

Collage of a woman holding a literal grocery basket.

Alas, Aldi’s only rewards are its low prices and great-value mobile plans. But if you’re keen on racking up frequent flyer points with your weekly grocery shop, Woolworths and Coles have some great options to check out.

At Woolworths, you can convert your Everyday Rewards points into Qantas Points at a 2-to-1 exchange rate (2,000 Everyday Rewards for 1,000 Qantas Points). 

Meanwhile, at Coles, you can earn Flybuys Points every time you shop, which can convert to Flybuys Travel rewards later or Velocity Points (again, 2-to-1 with 1,000 Flybuys Points netting you 500 Velocity Points). You can redeem Flybuys Travel rewards for flights, hotels, hire cars, cruises, and more. 

Subscribing to Coles Plus could double your Flybuys points with every purchase, too, though be sure to read the terms and conditions before signing up.

2. Utilities

Collage of a woman walking along a green power cord connected to a leaf.

Your energy provider could earn frequent flyer points, depending on the plan.

For Qantas Points, providers Red Energy and Solargain offer rewards with their plans (T&Cs apply).

For Velocity Points or Flybuys Travel rewards, natural gas provider Kleenheat offers 1 Flybuys Point per $1 spent on your gas bill (with conditions). Remember, Flybuys can be converted to Velocity Points or used on their own.

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3. Insurance

Collage of people sitting in their insured homes, comparing insurance policies.

Different insurance policies can sometimes come with frequent flyer offers. Generally, for every dollar you spend on your premium, you can earn up to a certain amount of points. Just make sure you read the product disclosure statement to see if the amount of coverage suits your needs before purchasing a policy based on the rewards alone.

Currently, Coles Pet Insurance has a Flybuys offer for new customers who sign up by 31 October 2022. For every $1 spent on pet products at Coles, eligible customers could receive 50 times the amount of Flybuys, up to 5,000 Points per month in the first twelve months of coverage (conditions apply). You can redeem these points for Flybuys Travel or Velocity Points.

Coles took home Pet Insurance Provider of the Year at the 2022 Mozo Expert’s Choice Pet Insurance Awards

Qantas Home Insurance has a Qantas Points offer for new customers. If you join or switch to a new home & contents policy, you could nab up to 20,000 bonus Qantas Points in the first year (minimum spend and conditions apply). 

Virgin Money, another 2022 Mozo Experts Choice award-winner, has a similar home & contents policy offer. New eligible purchases by 30 November 2022 could receive up to 10,000 Velocity Points (with conditions). 

As for travel insurance, 2022 Mozo Experts Choice award-winner Cover-more has a Velocity Points offer when you cover your next holiday, earning 3 points per $1 spent on your policy (T&Cs apply).

4. Credit cards

Collage of a hand swiping a credit card...IN SPAAACE. And earning frequent flyer points.

Plenty of credit cards come with frequent flyer points, such as Qantas Points and Velocity Points. 

Cards from Westpac come with Altitude Points, which can be used on services such as gift cards or travel bookings or converted to partner points with Qantas or Virgin (subject to terms and conditions). 

Just read the fine print before signing up for a new credit card – it has to tick all the boxes!

5. Mobile plans

Collage of a woman grinning at hands holding smartphones with comments and likes.

Mobile plans have quickly become necessities of life. But besides data limits, network coverage, download speeds, international roaming, and more to consider, there are also frequent flyer points on offer. 

Optus has both Qantas and Flybuys Points (which can convert into Velocity Points) offers available through its monthly postpaid mobile plans. 

If you’re a bit wary because of the recent news, here’s what we know about the Optus data breach. However, it’s important to note that Optus won several 2022 Mozo Experts Choice Mobile Awards, so the major telco is still worth checking out, especially its 5G mobile plans.

Not keen on a big network? Plans from MVNOs (smaller providers piggybacking off the big networks) can run far cheaper and sometimes offer similar rewards, such as Kogan Mobile (which has an ongoing 1 Qantas Point per $2 spent on your plan, with conditions), Coles Mobile, or Virgin Mobile.

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Last updated 7 October 2024

6. Home loans

Collage of a woman with shopping backs full of frequent flyer points behind a city where she probably owns an investment property or two.

Buying a home is one of life’s major financial decisions, so choosing a home loan best suited for your needs and financial situation is essential. 

Among the many features to consider when comparing home loans, one small one can be frequent flyer points. 

Not many lenders have offers at the moment. Still, a notable exception is multiple 2022 Mozo Experts Choice Awards winner Qudos Bank, which has a Qantas Points bonus offer for eligible home loans.

Virgin Money has removed its Velocity Points offer from all new home loans. However, borrowers who applied before 25 May 2020 and settled by 31 August 2020 will still earn eligible points on an ongoing, upfront, and anniversary basis.

More and more ideas...

Collage of a woman stretching and jumping for joy because she has frequent flyer points.

7. Petrol stations

Petrol prices right now are heartbreaking. But if you still need to visit the pump, why not get frequent flyer points (and fuel discounts) while you’re at it? 

Servo chains, in particular, often have special frequent flyer rewards. 7-Eleven offers Velocity Points, while BP flies with Qantas

Sick of paying for petrol? Rideshare services can also come with frequent flyer points. Qantas Points are available through Uber on eligible trips to and from the airport, while Ola can nab you some Velocity Points no matter where you want to go (with conditions, of course).

Remember, conditions apply, so check the fine print before swiping your card. 

8. Shopping at your favourite retailers

We’re used to earning rewards through online shopping, but frequent flyer points can be an underappreciated bonus. 

Countless retailers offer opportunities for Qantas Points, Velocity Points, and Flybuys Travel – from clothing stores to home goods – so look out for offers and check the fine print. 

9. Movies and streaming

Even where you watch your favourite movies and series can be an unexpected source of frequent flyer points. 

For streaming, points usually come as a sign-up bonus or regular points for keeping your subscription active. Other memberships typically work on a points-per-dollar system, much like Flybuys. 

Qantas Points can come through Binge, Kayo Sports, and Hoyts Rewards

Optus broadband plans can also come with Flybuys points, which convert into Flybuys Travel rewards or Velocity Points.

10. Getting healthy

Keeping up with your steps? Frequent flyer points can come through health-conscious services, such as the Qantas Wellbeing app, which earns – big shock – Qantas Points, or through an eligible Medibank health insurance policy (Velocity Points).

11. Food and wine

Specific wine and spirits retailers, grocery stores (see above), reservation apps, and even home meal kit subscriptions can earn frequent flyer points. This includes Qantas, Velocity, and Flybuys points. 

12. Hotels

Flights aren’t the only booking we make on vacation. Staying with specific hotels, even local Aussie ones for domestic trips, can also net you some quick frequent flyer points.

Are frequent flyer points worth it?

Collage of a cool dude surrounded by travel and internet icons. He probably has frequent flyer points.

While it depends on what you have and how you use it, frequent flyer points can make a meaningful difference to the price of modern travel. Whether it’s discounts on flights or hotels or even simple rewards for everyday living, these programs can be a great way to save some money.

Ultimately, however, the best discount must make sense for you and your lifestyle. Much like fuel membership rewards, what makes these options cost-effective is the frequency you use them (pun intended). 

Combining one or more of these services and using them often can rack up frequent flyer points quickly, but pay attention to any terms and conditions and how much money you spend to access them. No sense blowing your budget on “free” rewards!

It also matters how you redeem the points. If you use 2,000 points and only get a $5 discount on flights or hotels, the points probably weren’t worth all the money or effort. Optimising your ways of earning points – then using them effectively – is the ticket.

FAQs about frequent flyer points

What can you use frequent flyer points for?

Depending on the frequent flyer program, points can be redeemed for discounts on flights, hotels, rideshare or rental car services, and more, such as in-flight services or retail shopping.

Are Qantas Points or Velocity Points better?

Qantas and Velocity Points can come with great rewards, so it’s not a fair comparison. The better question is, which program is better for you? 

For instance, opt for a program that earns points for services you like and use, such as through specific credit cards, mobile plans, or home insurance policies. It will also depend on which airline you prefer. 

Otherwise, the two frequent flyer programs are similar in terms of quality.

What are the frequent flyer programs in Australia?

Australia's three main frequent flyer programs are Qantas Points, Velocity Points from Virgin, and Flybuys Travel.

Do you have to fly to earn frequent flyer points?

Not at all! You can acquire frequent flyer points through goods and services on the ground as much as in the sky. This includes any of the above ideas and more. Optimising your points collection before booking flights can help get you the biggest bang for your buck if you fly a lot for business or pleasure. 

Just check the terms and conditions before signing up for a new service, and ensure it works for you outside the points.

Is Flybuys Travel a frequent flyer points program?

Functionally, yes. Flybuys Travel rewards can be used on various travel-related expenses, from flights, hotels, rideshares, and experiences. But Flybuys Travel comes from a different rewards program, Flybuys, which can be used for non-airline services such as grocery shopping or pet insurance. 

You can also convert Flybuys Points to Virgin Velocity Points, subject to terms and conditions.

Can you convert Flybuys Points to Velocity Points?

Yes! Eligible Flybuys Points can be converted to Velocity Points at a 2-to-1 ratio (1,000 Flybuys for 500 Velocity Points), though with conditions. You must be signed up for both services to take advantage of the savings and link your accounts.

This can be done online through your Flybuys account or the partner Velocity points page. You can also set up an auto-transfer to change 1,000 Flybuys into 500 Velocity Points, or manually do it whenever you hit 1,000 Flybuys.

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Evlin DuBose
Evlin DuBose
RG146
Senior Money Writer

Evlin, RG146 Generic Knowledge certified and a UTS Communications graduate, is a leading voice in finance news. As Mozo's go-to writer for RBA and interest rates, her work regularly features in Google's Top Stories and major publications like News.com.au.


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