I need to preface this article with a couple of things…
All my knowledge is purely based around Qantas points. I can only assume other airlines and points programs are similar, but I’ve kept my focus on just the one, to maximise my points earning potential!
Also - all figures I mention were correct at the time of booking, so if you’re reading this months or years later, it’s possibly totally out-of-date! This is purely my personal experience.
And finally, I am in no way affiliated with AMEX! I just love how I’ve managed to make it work in my favour to maximise points and enjoy some pretty special travel moments. Credit cards definitely are not for everyone, and it might be worth getting professional financial advice if you’re thinking about applying for one.
Ok, housekeeping complete!
So! How do I earn points?
A common misconception I had about earning points is that you earn them by flying. That’s totally not the case…for me at least.
Looking at my points statement, most of my points have come from the following
- Qantas Business AMEX
- ANZ Qantas Business Visa Card
- Woolworths Rewards
But it all kicked off with the AMEX.
When I started traveling to Morocco on a regular basis my good friend and travel agent Ally (pictured with me in the Emirates A380 bar below!) asked if I was signed up to earn and use points. I knew I had a Qantas Frequent Flyer account, but had no idea how to use it, and it probably had little to no points in it.
This was when I discovered the AMEX referral program.
Ally explained that she could send me a referral link from her AMEX account and, if I applied for my card via her link, that I’d receive 150,000 bonus points (and she would receive 100,000 points for referring me).
Sounded like win win to me! But I still had no idea how to use the points or what their real value was for my travel journey.
[Side note – the AMEX card I’m referring to is a business card, so, from what I understand, you need to be registered for GST to apply. You would need to contact AMEX directly to find out more about your own eligibility – and discuss with your accountant.]
So, I applied, was approved, and once I spent the required amount in the first 3 months (from memory about $3,000) the 150,000 points hit my account! (if you’re interested pop me a message and I can share a similar referral link to get your points journey started)
I now use my AMEX card everywhere that will accept it, including for business expenses such as BAS and tax payments. The points you earn on purchases are nice and healthy and you’d be surprised at how quickly they can accumulate. Just don’t forget to pay it off monthly! Like any credit card, you don’t want to start accruing interest.
So, while the AMEX is my holy grail for points earning, when you combine it with something like Woolworth’s Everyday Rewards, your points earning potential gets even better. Here’s an example:
Last month my husband needed a new phone. I checked the Everyday Rewards app and Teen (pre-paid) gift cards were part of their boosted offers. This meant I would earn 20 times the normal rewards points when I purchased the gift cards…which are redeemable at JB HiFi. A similar promo often comes up on the Apple gift cards, which would work just the same.
I had to plan it out as you could only purchase a certain amount each day, but 4 x $500 gift cards later we had a new iPhone with a bonus 40,000 rewards points, which then converted to 20,000 Qantas points! Plus, I also earnt an additional 2,500 points from paying for the gift cards on my AMEX. That equates to a total of 22,500 points…which is basically an economy flight from Sydney to southeast Asia!
It can all start to sound a little confusing, but once you get your head around it (and settle into your first business class trip), it’s totally worth it.
More recently I also applied for the ANZ Qantas Visa, so that I could use it everywhere that AMEX was not accepted…therefor not missing out on ANY point opportunities!
How to book points flights
So now to put the points into context.
I’ve had my AMEX since 2022 and since then have flown Emirates First Class five times, plus numerous Business class trips. I guess my situation is a little unique, as I’m often flying solo (which makes reward seat availability a little easier to find) but if you can be flexible with dates, and take the time to research availability and options, then there’s no reason why you can’t score the same experiences!
Flying to Morocco is literally flying to the other side of the world, so there’s a ton of different routes you could take, but I have my go-to’s.
When I’m ready to book flights my first search is always for the most direct routes.
From Sydney to Morocco the ideal option is:
- Sydney to Dubai
- Dubai to Casablanca
Having said that, Sydney/Dubai direct flights can be hard to come by using points.
If you can score a business or first-class seat on the direct route from Sydney to Dubai (and vice versa coming home) then you’re winning. It’ll cost you approximately 75,000 in points and about $700 in taxes for business class, or 170,000 points plus $1200 in taxes for first class (these are approximates and always vary depending on time of year and availability).
It might sound like a lot in taxes, but when you consider a return economy airfare to Dubai is around the $2,000 mark, I know which part of the plane I’d rather be sitting (or laying flat) in!
If there’s no direct flight options, then I move onto multi-city searches.
If you’re looking to maximise comfort and reduce costs then a sneaky multi-city option I discovered is travelling via Kuala Lumpur to Dubai:
- Sydney to Kuala Lumpur (business class with Air Malaysia)
- Kuala Lumpur to Dubai (first class with Emirates)
Taxes flying out of Kuala Lumpur are super low. If you snag this option, then you’ll only be up for about $170 in taxes and 170,000 points. That’s the full Emirates first class suite and experience for just $170! When a bottle of Dom Perignon will set you back about $400, and it’s basically on tap in first class, they’re pretty much paying you to drink it, right?!
I’ve also only recently realized that points seats are still being released even in the weeks leading up to your departure date (I was previously under the impression they were released about a year out, and once they were gone, that’s it!). This has changed the game for me.
On my last trip the best option flying home I could find was Dubai to Bali (in business) then Bali to Sydney (in economy). I booked these about 9 months before my travel dates and both were points flights, but on separate tickets. Because they were on separate tickets (ie. not part of a multi-city search) I’d have to clear customs in Bali, collect my bags and then check back in again. I was dreading the whole Bali experience as I knew I’d have 3 check-in bags to wrangle!
A few weeks before my departure I just happened to check the Qantas app and there was a direct Dubai to Brisbane flight on my exact departure date – in first class! I quickly snapped it up and cancelled the Bali leg.
Yes, it costs you 6,000 points if you cancel, but you get a full refund on the taxes you’ve paid and if it’s switching out for a better flight option, then I feel it’s worth the point spend.
On my most recent trip I changed my flights only a few weeks out as well.
Literally two weeks out from departure I was playing around in the Qantas app and put Sydney to Marrakech in the search. I know there are no direct flights, but sometimes the app finds flight combos that work well based on a simple search.
(like I mentioned, it’s all about putting the time in to research and look at different flight combos…it can get a bit obsessive, like a constant treasure hunt!)
The option it presented me with was:
- Sydney to Singapore
- Singapore to London Heathrow
- London Heathrow to Marrakech
All flying British Airways and all in Business Class! It was nice and direct, with only a couple of hours layover between each flight.
Price was $713 in taxes and 159,000 points.
Needless to say, I snapped it up and cancelled my original booking.
So, while the points journey isn’t always straight forward – or predicable – it’s 110% worth the time and effort to be in the pointy, flat bed end of the plane! Having said that, once you leave economy it’s almost impossible to go back.
Wishing you safe (and luxurious) travels!
