The biggest question you’ll face when deciding to dive deeper into points is where to start with loyalty programs and frequent flyer points. After all, you’ll get far more value from being a member of multiple programs (and earning various points) than just one.

Here’s our quick reference to all the various programs worth signing up for. They’re free to join, one way or another. We also have beginner’s guides for the following key programs:

For the more expert readers who already know this, you can probably skip this guide! But everyone has to start somewhere, so when you get asked the inevitable questions, point them this way.

The top three essential programs to join first

To get started, let’s register with the following ‘local’ programs that are the most dominant in this region.

1. Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas Frequent Flyer membership has a standard cost of $99.50. However, this is easily circumvented by using a free membership sign-up link. It’s relatively easy to earn Qantas Points through a wide range of sources. Redeeming them can be tricky if you want Business or First Class, but it’s not impossible.

Qantas Frequent Flyer is Australia’s biggest airline loyalty program.

The appeal of Qantas Points is that they can be used on many partner airlines. You’ll be able to earn and redeem points with airlines like Emirates, Cathay Pacific, American Airlines, and many non-airline partners.

2. Velocity Frequent Flyer

Virgin Australia’s Velocity program provides many opportunities to earn points for use on Virgin Australia flights, as well as flights with a diverse range of international partners. These include Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad, United, and Air Canada.

Once you’ve signed up, consider pooling your eligible family members’ points (who live at the same address as you) to you. It’ll help you consolidate your points and also potentially reach a higher status tier, faster.

Virgin Australia and Velocity have a small, but useful range of airline partners.

3. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer has great value redemptions on Singapore Airlines flights. Points can be transferred from many credit card partners in Australia, such as American Express Membership Rewards and ANZ Rewards. We rate KrisFlyer as one of the easiest programs to book Business awards with in advance.

KrisFlyer and Velocity also have a special partnership through which you can transfer points back and forth, though at a 1.55 to 1 rate in either direction.

Singapore Airlines A380
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is a popular program for Australians.
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Thinking about levelling up? Join these next

4. Air Canada Aeroplan

Aeroplan boasts some insanely great-value redemptions, such as Business Class from Australia to South East Asia for 45,000 points and stopovers for an additional 5,000 points.

If you’re not looking to sign up for credit cards to earn points, you could also potentially buy Aeroplan points on sale and redeem them for some great value flight redemptions. Alternatively, you can transfer points from programs like PayRewards or the HSBC Star Alliance Card to Aeroplan.

Air Canada Aeroplan to PayRewards
You can even book Emirates flights through Aeroplan without those stratospheric carrier charges.

5. British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club

We’re combining these two programs because signing up for one without the other is like adopting only one puppy out of a pair. They’re just better together. Both programs share the points currency, Avios, and you can freely exchange them at a 1:1 ratio between the two.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club is the gateway to Avios for Australians as you can transfer them from PayRewards and American Express Membership Rewards. The program also offers a fabulous 90,000 Avios Business Class fare between Australia and Europe, though seats are very limited at that price (we’re talking maybe a handful a week, off-peak).

Qatar Airways Business Class passengers can enjoy caviar on flights to Sydney and Melbourne.

British Airways Executive Club is great for booking short-haul flights in Economy and Business Class, such as Qantas domestic flights or British Airways and Finnair connections throughout Europe, where cash prices may be high.

6. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Alaska Airlines is a partner of Qantas, American Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, amongst others. Despite being somewhat of a niche carrier, Alaska Airlines actually has a wide range of destinations you can fly to with miles, thanks to its connections with equally niche (but solid) partners such as Icelandair and Starlux.

Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is an intriguing airline partner.

Like most US-based programs, you won’t be able to easily earn miles in Australia unless you credit Qantas flights to it. But as of September 2024, there is a new roundabout way to transfer American Express Membership Rewards Points to Alaska Airlines via Hawaiian Airlines.

Finally, consider these programs in your arsenal

7. Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles program is good for long-haul flight redemptions on Cathay Pacific and its oneworld alliance partners like Qantas. Its rates for most reward flights are generally lower than Qantas would charge in Qantas Points.

Asia Miles can be transferred from many Australian credit card partners. However, this list isn’t as expansive as Velocity or KrisFlyer, so earning Asia Miles may not be easy for some.

8. American Airlines AAdvantage

AAdvantage offers one of the best redemption rates on oneworld and partner airlines. It’s easy to buy miles, especially when special deals are on.

You can use it for flat-rate Qantas domestic flights or great-value travel to Europe and the USA. For example, it only costs 25,000 miles to fly Business Class between Australia and New Zealand, even if you’re coming from Perth!

Unfortunately, it’s otherwise not easy to earn AAdvantage miles in Australia. Apart from buying miles, you can accumulate miles by crediting flights to AAdvantage. If you’re on a high-value paid ticket (such as Premium Economy or Business Class to Europe or USA), you could earn a decent chunk of miles for a future flight.

American Airlines Staff

9. Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca is another intriguing Star Alliance partner. It often offers unbelievable bonus miles deals for purchases, albeit slightly less lucrative than pre-COVID times. You can then use those miles towards premium flight redemptions with Star Alliance airlines, such as Singapore Airlines, United, and Thai Airways.

With the proper promos, it’s possible to effectively ‘buy’ a one-way Business Class flight from Tokyo to Sydney for around A$900, including the cost of the miles and taxes. We’ve used Lifemiles before to do just that.

Avianca Plane, Life Miles logo

However, Lifemiles is a tricky program to deal with if things go wrong because English-speaking support agents aren’t always available. It’s certainly not a program for beginners.

Summing up

By being a member of these programs, you’ll be well-positioned to take advantage of various offers and earning opportunities as they come around.

Many of the promotions where you can buy miles at a discount will require you to have an account set up for a minimum amount of time, (e.g. 30 or 90 days) before purchasing points.

Spending a few minutes to join each frequent flyer program now is worth the effort. You’ll also start to understand the ins and outs of the various frequent flyer programs and airlines as you go.

Which other frequent flyer programs do you recommend travellers in Australia join? Share in the comments below.

This article was previously written by Matt Moffit.

The 9 best frequent flyer programs to join when you’re starting out was last modified: October 17th, 2024 by Brandon Loo