We’ve previously covered how flying is just one of the many ways to earn frequent flyer points. But did you know that many Point Hacks readers earn the bulk of their points on the ground? Loyalty programs are so well connected these days that you can earn points with partners in pretty much any industry.

If you need some inspiration, here are 10 interesting ways you can boost your Qantas or Velocity points balances with day-to-day purchases and common expenses.

Earn more points with ground travel

Fuel: Head to BP to earn Qantas Points, or to Ampol Woolworths outlets to earn Everyday Rewards points that can be converted to Qantas. If you prefer Velocity Points, then consider fuelling up at 7-Eleven, or earn Flybuys Points from Coles Express outlets. See our comparison on earning points from fuel.

Hotels: Qantas Hotels is a great starting point for your next holiday, with luxury offers packing a punch if all-inclusive packages are your thing. If your favourite property is on Expedia, then booking through Virgin Australia will earn you three Velocity Points per dollar.

Car hire: Velocity frequent flyers are rewarded with three points per dollar (or more) with Hertz, Thrifty and Europcar. Or if you book with Qantas, then enjoy at least four points per dollar with Avis and Budget.

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Earn more points with shopping and food

Who doesn’t love a shopping spree? But at Point Hacks, we love shopping sprees that also come with a healthy serving of points. Both Velocity and Qantas have online ‘shopping malls’ where you earn bonus points on purchases across many retailers.

Online malls: Visit the Qantas Shopping or Velocity e-Store online malls to get started. Click through to participating merchants and complete the transaction as usual. Your bonus points will usually credit within 90 days.

Meal delivery: Busy workers and lazy cooks will love meal delivery services. Qantas Points can be earned on a few HelloFresh boxes, while Velocity Points are being offered on Youfoodz orders.

Supermarkets: Our major competing supermarkets are both affiliated with a major airline as well. Shop at Coles to earn Flybuys Points, which convert to Velocity Frequent Flyer. Or head to Woolworths to collect Everyday Rewards points, which can automatically sweep across to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account.

Alcohol: Wine, wine, wine – the fuel of frequent flyers worldwide. Get your fix with Qantas Wine, which is known for generous bonus points offers (up to 25,000 points on a case). The Velocity Wine Store is also a great destination for those wanting to fly with Virgin and its partners.

25,000 bonus Qantas Points with a $262 case of a dozen wines is a pretty good deal.

Earn more points with financial partners

Utilities and insurance can be a bit boring. Luckily, you can snag more than tens of thousands of bonus points under the right conditions, which makes life a bit more fun.

Health insurance: This industry is huge and very competitive. If you play your cards right, you can easily snag a sign-up bonus or two in a year. Right now, Medibank is a partner of Velocity Frequent Flyer, while Qantas has its own insurance arm that deals with health cover.

Utilities: Unfortunately, Virgin Australia doesn’t have a utility partner just now. But if Red Energy services your area with electricity or gas, you could walk away with up to 15,000 bonus Qantas Points.

Credit cards: Arguably the most important weapon in a Point Hacks reader’s arsenal, credit card sign-up bonuses are often the fastest way to add more than 100,000 frequent flyer points to your account. See our latest Velocity Frequent Flyer and Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards card sign-up offers.

Summing up

Our beginner’s guide simply scratches the surface of how you can earn points without flying. If you run a business, you have a lot more options open as well, from business loans to payment processors when it’s ATO time. To see the full breadth of what’s available, browse all the partners for Velocity and Qantas.

Saving up for a big reward, such as two Business Class flights to Europe, usually requires a multi-faceted strategy. For example, you might start by picking up a rewards-earning credit card. Then be sure to use that card whenever you’re able to.

Scan your supermarket loyalty card for groceries, but don’t forget to look for bonus offers. A popular Flybuys example is a recurring four-week challenge, which rewards you with 10,000 bonus points if you pass.

If you’re happy to switch your utilities or insurance providers once in a while, that’s another great way to mop up another hefty sign-up bonus. You’ll be point hacking your way to Business or First Class in no time.

Still learning? Level up your points game in 2022 with our beginner guides:

This article was previously written by Sam Hemphill.

Earning frequent flyer points on the ground was last modified: June 7th, 2022 by Brandon Loo