How I got a Business Class Flight for Free (And you can too!)
It was August of 2018 when I first sat in a Business Class seat, onboard an Emirates A380. Slight (Alright major) disclaimer- the flight was not actually travelling anywhere. I was working as a travel consultant at the time and was doing an aircraft inspection and, alas, I did not jet off into the sky in such luxury.
However, it was by physically sitting in one of these seats that I realised Business Class really is the way to go. A lie-flat bed and fancy champagne at 35,000 feet? Yes please! One tiny problem with this realisation- money. A return business class flight to Europe is usually several thousands of dollars more than a seat in economy. I for one do not have this kind of money to splash on an airfare. I would much rather save that to put towards several flights in economy class, and get multiple trips out of my cash.
Enter frequent flyer points.
These babies allowed me to book an actual flight to London in business class… For. Free.
Flying for free, business class or otherwise, sounds like something you’d like to do? Now is the perfect time to start stockpiling those points yourself- here’s how.
AIRLINE LOYALTY & PARTNERSHIPS
First up is the obvious one- flying. Although planes are currently grounded worldwide, this is an important tip to keep in mind when booking travel in the future. A lot of the time we (myself included) simply book the cheapest available flight, regardless of who the carrier is. When working towards a points goal, it is advisable to be loyal to your chosen airline. A flight might cost a few dollars extra, however it could mean the difference between flying in cattle class versus a premium seat further down the track.
Along with this, do your research into airline partners and alliances, or chat to your travel agent about them. Your preferred carrier may not fly to the destination you’re visiting, however you may be able to earn points on a partner airline. A classic example of this is Qantas Frequent Flyer members being able to earn points on Emirates operated flights.
SHOP UP A STORM
Woolworths Rewards and Flybuys both offer programs that allow you to convert points earned through your grocery shop into Frequent Flyer points. These points can take a while to start to stack up, however for something that we all purchase it doesn’t hurt to link your Frequent Flyer number to your chosen supermarket’s rewards program.
On top of your groceries, you can also earn points with online shopping- which I know a lot of people are doing during this pandemic. Think all the big staple sites such as The Iconic, Apple and ASOS. For this one, you simply need to log in to your Frequent Flyer account and find the button to shop online to earn points. Here you will find a list of participating retailers. You will need to click on the link provided by your Frequent Flyer company (instead of going directly to the chosen site) to ensure you earn these points. Try and keep this tip in mind next time you go to purchase big ticket items such as electronics.
Other everyday items you can earn points on include petrol, insurance and, the most important essential of all, wine!
The Iconic is just one of many retailers you can earn Qantas Points with. (qantas.com/shopping)
CREDIT CARDS
Before getting into this tip, it should go without saying that credit cards are certainly not for everyone, and a lot of thought should be put into signing up for one. In saying that, it is arguably the quickest way to accumulate Frequent Flyer points.
Most of the big banks offer cards that allow you to earn points, and they often come with sign-up bonuses. I would definitely keep an eye out for one of these promotions before committing to one, as it is usually tens of thousands (sometimes hundreds of thousands) of bonus points. These alone can be enough for a free flight in a premium seat.
Once you’re all set up, you will earn points per dollar spent on eligible purchases. The rate of points earned vary between banks and card types. The annual fees on these cards are often high, however if they allow you to travel for free on a flight that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars, it can be easy to justify.
OTHER TRAVEL BOOKINGS
As well as flights themselves, other parts of your holiday could potentially be eligible for earning points including tours, hotels, car hire and travel insurance. When booking your next trip, make sure to check with your agent if you are eligible to earn points on any other components of your holiday.
On top of this, consider your method of payment for your getaway. If you do have a credit card that earns you points, pay with this! Travel can often cost us thousands of dollars, and by using your card you will be watching your points balance boom.
BONUS TIPS
Some airlines offer the ability to bid for an upgrade on an existing ticket using points. For example, if you have purchased an economy ticket with cash you may be able to make an offer of your points to upgrade your seat to a higher class.
Similarly, many loyalty programs allow you to combine cash and points to purchase a ticket if you are just short of the required frequent flyer miles.
Book your flights as far as possible in advance. Airlines only release a limited number of points “reward” seats, so if you see one that works for you, make sure you lock it in!
I hope you found these tips helpful, and that I’ve inspired you to work towards a points goal of your own.
