Choosing the right points program for you

There's no single answer here

When deciding which frequent flyer program to choose, several factors should be considered.
But most importantly, this is a personal decision or preference. It is not a maths problem where, for example, there is only one correct answer.

The decision revolves around your specific goals. Several factors should be considered when selecting a program that aligns with your goals. These include:

• Ease of earning and redeeming points

• Does the airline and its airline partners fly to the destinations that you frequent?

• Are you seeking the best reward seat availability and pricing, or do you have a favourite airline that you prefer to fly?

• Are you seeking elite Status with a particular airline?

These factors should all inform your decision on which program to choose.

Delving into the considerations further

Your program of choice should be one that you can easily engage with. Therefore, the ability to earn and redeem points should be easy, and the rewards available should be those that appeal to you. Otherwise, what’s the point?

For example, let’s say your business requires you to travel to the Dallas-Fort Worth area frequently. In this case, you may wish to skew your program preference to Qantas Frequent Flyer. Why? Qantas flies directly to DFW from Sydney and Melbourne. Similarly, its joint venture and oneworld partner, American Airlines, also does so. As such, there are numerous opportunities to earn and redeem points for flights that cater to your travel needs.

However, let’s say your business requires you to frequently travel between Sydney and San Francisco. In this case, Velocity Frequent Flyer may be your pick. Why? Because United Airlines flies directly between these two cities and is a major airline codeshare partner of Velocity Frequent Flyer. Qantas or its airline partners do not offer direct flights. Again, this allows you to earn and redeem points on flights that revolve around your business travel needs.

Join a flexible points program

If your goal(s) are:

1. Increase the chances of finding a reward seat when desired

2. The ability to take advantage of better pricing for the same flight

Then you should look to earn points in one (or preferably both) of the following flexible rewards programs – American Express Membership Rewards and PayRewards. Choosing a specific, non-flexible frequent flyer program will deny you the opportunity to gain from the above benefits.

Naturally, the decision of choosing a specific frequent flyer program will come at the time you finalise your travel plans and transfer your flexible points to the most relevant airline program.

Don't forget about Status

Nearly all frequent flyer programs nowadays offer different Status levels, with more benefits the higher

you climb the ‘Status ladder’. These can include:

However, each airline program provides different benefits to its elite members. As such, benefits that apply to a top-tier member of one airline program may differ from those received by a top-tier member of a different program.

For example, Qantas Platinum provides First Class lounge access to nearly all Qantas and oneworld lounges worldwide, whereas Velocity Platinum doesn’t. However, Velocity Platinum offers a complimentary elite Status for one year to one of two hotels and one of two car rental companies, whereas Qantas Platinum doesn’t.

Therefore, if you are seeking the Status benefits of a particular airline program that suits your needs, you may wish to skew your decision to that airline program.

But what if you're unsure of your travel goals

We’ve discussed factors to consider when you’ve got a goal in mind and are looking to find a rewards program that aligns with those goals. But what if you’re unsure of your travel goals? What if you’re earning frequent flyer points on your business expenses without having put much thought into what you’re looking to redeem them on?

Well, that’s absolutely fine! But it does entail a shift in strategy from considering the factors above. If this is you, the best course of action is to store your points in a flexible rewards program. Why? By not locking yourself into a points currency that may not be suitable, you can decide what to use your Points on when the time comes. This way, when you do finalise your travel plans or goals, you can transfer your flexible rewards points to the airline partner that makes the most sense for your chosen travel needs.

Key takeouts

• There is no universal answer to which frequent flyer program a person should choose. Everyone values rewards differently and has different travel goals, which will affect what program may be best suited for you.

• Factors to consider when assessing which frequent flyer program is best for you include:

  • Ease of earning and redeeming points

  • Does the airline and its airline partners fly to the destinations that you frequent?

  • Are you seeking the best reward seat availability and pricing, or do you have a favourite airline that you prefer to fly?

  • Are you seeking elite Status with a particular airline?

• If you are unsure of your travel goals, it is best to join a flexible rewards program, such as PayRewards or American Express Membership Rewards, and store your points in that program until your travel goals and plans are finalised.

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