How to Earn More Frequent Flyer Points Without Spending More

1. Firstly, if you haven’t already, join Velocity Rewards.

It’s free. You should join even if you don’t fly with Virgin Australia – you’ll see why soon.

2. Link Flybuys to Velocity

This is one of the easiest points wins in Australia. When you link your Flybuys account to Velocity, you can convert 1,000 Flybuys points into 500 Velocity Points. You can also switch on Auto Transfer so your Flybuys points automatically move across in 1,000-point increments. That means your Coles shop can quietly help fund your next holiday. Not bad for buying groceries you were already going to buy.

3. Boost Every Flybuys Offer

Do not just scan your Flybuys card and hope for the best. Open the app. Check your emails. Boost every relevant offer. Flybuys regularly runs promotions where you can earn bonus points for spending a certain amount over a few weeks. My tip?
If you are offered money off or bonus points, I ALWAYS choose the points.

4. Join OnePass

OnePass can be useful if you already shop at Kmart, Target, Bunnings Warehouse or Officeworks. Current OnePass benefits include 5x Flybuys points for every $1 spent in-store and via Click & Collect at Kmart, Target, Bunnings Warehouse and Officeworks, plus other perks such as eligible free delivery. This is not a reason to buy things you do not need. But if you are already buying school supplies, homewares, office items, DIY supplies or gifts, it can be a clever way to collect more Flybuys – and then convert them to Velocity points.

5. Look at Velocity Credit Card Sign-On Bonuses

Credit card sign-on bonuses are still one of the fastest ways to build a large points balance. Some cards offer tens of thousands of Velocity Points when you meet the minimum spend in the first few months. But please be sensible.

Only consider this if you can pay your card off in full each month. Interest charges can wipe out the value of your points very quickly. Also check:

• annual fee
• minimum income requirement
• minimum spend requirement
• points earned per $1
• whether government payments, utilities or insurance earn points
• whether the card suits your actual spending habits

Points are only worth chasing if the numbers make sense.

Don’t worry if you already have a credit card and are not looking to change. You will miss out on the bonus points, but many of them allow you to convert the points to Velocity. In fact, Velocity usually runs a points transfer promotion every 6 months or so with most bank partners.

6. Use Velocity’s Online Shopping Partners

Before buying online, check whether the store is part of Velocity’s shopping network. You may be able to earn points on purchases you were already going to make. This is especially useful for:

• fashion
• homewares
• technology
• wine
• gifts
• travel bookings
• subscriptions

The trick is to build the habit. Search first. Shop second.

Install the Velocity Shop & Earn Chrome extension on your laptop for seamless point accumulation. Just click on the V icon while shopping online and ensure you’re logged in to earn points.

7. Use Gift Card Promotions Carefully

Gift card promotions can be powerful. Coles regularly run bonus points promotions on selected gift cards. Sometimes you’ll see offers like 10x or 20x points. Used well, this can be a brilliant strategy. For example, if you know you are about to buy something from a particular retailer, you may be able to buy a gift card first, earn bonus points, then use the gift card to pay.

Just be careful. Only buy gift cards you are genuinely going to use.
Check expiry dates.
Check exclusions.
Do not tie up money unnecessarily.

Now, let’s talk about redeeming your Velocity points.

While Virgin Australia primarily covers domestic routes, you’ll extract greater value by redeeming points for international flights. As of mid-2026, Virgin Australia flies internationally to: Queenstown (NZ), Bali, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Japan

You can also earn and redeem Velocity points with airline partners, including Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, and now Qatar Airways (giving you access to Doha and onward to Europe, the Middle East and beyond). Note that the Etihad and Virgin Atlantic partnerships are being scaled back following the Qatar deal, so check current availability carefully.

1. Join Everyday Rewards

Qantas Frequent Flyer membership has a joining fee, but there are often ways to join for free through partners, including Everyday Rewards. So before you pay to join Qantas Frequent Flyer join Everyday Rewards if you haven’t already.

2. Convert Everyday Rewards to Qantas Points

Everyday Rewards currently allows you to choose $10 off a future shop or 1,000 Qantas Points every time you reach 2,000 Everyday Rewards points. If your goal is travel, choose Qantas Points. A $10 discount is nice. But 1,000 Qantas Points can be worth 2-8 times more when used well. Especially for flights.

3. Join Everyday Extra if the Numbers Work

Everyday Extra currently costs $7 per month or $70 per year and includes 10% off one Woolworths shop each month, 2x Everyday Rewards points at Woolworths and BIG W, and subscriber-only perks. This can be excellent value if you do a decent monthly grocery shop. For example, if you spend $300 in one shop and use your 10% discount, you save $30 that month. But do the maths for your household. If you are not using the discount, it may not be worth it.

4. Boost Your Everyday Rewards Offers

Like Flybuys, Everyday Rewards works best when you actively use it. Open the app. Boost your offers. Check your emails.
Plan your larger shops at Woolworths and Big W around useful promotions. This is where people leave a lot of points behind. They scan their card but forget to boost.

They will frequently invite you to claim $$ off your shop or bonus points if you spend over a certain amount – usually 2-4 weeks in a row. Always choose the points. The amount you have to spend to get the points varies, but it appears that the more often you shop at Woolworths the more you need to spend to qualify, so we usually mix it up with Coles.

5. Use Qantas Shopping Before Buying Online

Qantas Shopping lets you earn Qantas Points when you shop online with participating retailers. The key is remembering to click through from Qantas Shopping before you buy. You can also install the Qantas Shopping Points Prompter browser extension so you are reminded when points are available. It is such a simple habit – and it adds up.

6. Look at Qantas Credit Card Sign-On Bonuses

Qantas credit card sign-on bonuses can be very generous. Again, only consider this if:

• you can pay the card off in full
• you meet the income requirements
• you can comfortably meet the minimum spend
• the annual fee makes sense
• the bonus points are useful for your travel goals

Do not get dazzled by the points. Look at the full picture. A high annual fee can still be worth it if the points get you a valuable flight. But it is not worth it if you pay interest, overspend or choose a card that does not suit you.

7. Check Qantas Partners You Already Use

You may be able to earn Qantas Points through things you already pay for, including:

• BP
• Red Energy
• Qantas Wine
• Qantas Insurance
• Qantas Hotels
• Uber
• Health insurance partners
• Qantas Wellbeing app
• Qantas Marketplace
• Selected travel partners

The best points strategy is not always about adding more spending. It is often about making your existing spending work harder. There are probably stores/services that you‘re using already, where you can simply add your QFF number.

Check out more offers on Freepoints, including gift card promotions (look out for 20x points) at Woolworths.

Classic Rewards vs Classic Plus vs Points Plus Pay

This is where many people accidentally waste points.

Classic Rewards

These are usually the best-value Qantas flight redemptions. They have fixed points pricing, but limited availability. For example, Sydney to London is currently 63,500 points for one-way for 1 passenger in Economy. Look for the red ribbon when searching.

Classic Plus

Classic Plus gives you more availability, but the number of points required can change because it is linked more closely to the cash fare. The points required fluctuate like a commercial fare and appear with a blue reward ribbon. Sometimes Classic Plus may be useful. But compare carefully. It can require a lot more points than Classic Rewards. For example, Sydney to London one-way for 1 passenger in Economy can be five times as many points as a Classic Reward ticket.

Points Plus Pay

This is usually poor value. It lets you use points towards the cash price of a fare, but the value per point is much lower.

My rule? Use Classic Rewards first. Check Classic Plus only if you need flexibility. Avoid Points Plus Pay unless you really understand the value you are getting.

Flights are usually the best use of points.

Especially international flights.

Products from points stores – like toasters, coffee machines, appliances or gift cards – are usually poor value.

This is one of my favourite examples.

Do not use your points to buy the toaster.

Buy the toaster with a points-earning card instead.
Earn points on the toaster.
Save your points for the flight.

That is the mindset shift.

Qantas stay active as long as you earn or use Qantas Points at least once within 18 months. While Velocity Points stay active as long as you earn or use Velocity Points at least once within two years.

Easy ways to keep your account active include:

• Scanning Everyday Rewards and FlyBuys
• Using Qantas and Velocity Shopping
• Downloading the Qantas Wellbeing app and gain points just for walking and sleeping!
• Earning points through a partner

Do not lose points because you forgot to keep the account active. That hurts.

Honestly? It depends.

I usually find Qantas Points generally easier to earn. But Velocity much easier to redeem, especially on international routes.

Both Qantas and Velocity have excellent airline partners, including Emirates and British Airways for Qantas and Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand for Velocity. Qatar Airways is in a unique position as you can use both reward programs to book flights with this airline.

For many Australians, the smartest strategy is not choosing one. It is using both. Because they each have different strengths and between them cover most places you will shop. Use whichever gives you the better redemption.

You may end up flying one way using Qantas points and the return journey Velocity points. Or Australia to Asia with Velocity and Asia to Europe with Qantas. Or Qantas for domestic and Velocity for international.

That is exactly the kind of flexibility that makes points so powerful.

Here is the simple version. Do this:

• Join Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity
• Link Everyday Rewards to Qantas
• Link Flybuys to Velocity
• Boost every relevant offer
• Use Everyday Extra if it suits your grocery spend
• Use OnePass if you already shop at eligible retailers
• Check Qantas Shopping or Velocity partners before buying online
• Look out for gift card bonus point promotions
• Use a points-earning credit card wisely
• Never pay interest for the sake of points
• Search reward flights flexibly
• Use points for flights, not appliances

This is how points grow quietly in the background.

No extra spending required.