Are travel disruptions turning Aussies against points programs?

Frequent flyer points are a great way to save money on travel, but not everyone has an easy time redeeming them, according to new research by Finder.

A nationally representative survey of 1,010 respondents revealed that 1 in 4 (25 per cent) Australians have tried to book a flight using points in the past 6 months.

The research revealed while 12 per cent were able to use their points, it was more expensive or difficult than they had anticipated.

The data showed only 8 per cent were able to use their points as expected and 5 per cent had a bad experience and were unable to use points

Angus Kidman, travel expert at Finder, said Australian households had bulked up their travel rewards stash during the pandemic but many were having a hard time cashing them in.

“Travel has returned and many Aussies aren’t getting as much value from their points as they had hoped.

“Award-flight availability has been unpredictable post-lockdown which can be frustrating for travellers.

“The increased demand for travel coupled with the decrease in routes means it’s much harder to get business class seats or upgrades.”

There were 968,490 international departures from Australia in July 2022 – a monthly increase of 87,630 trips, according to ABS statistics.

Aussie carriers appear to be trying to make up for the increased difficulty, with both Virgin and Qantas offering extra incentives and perks for members.

Yesterday, Virgin launched its “Velocity switch-a-roo” offering to status match gold frequent flyers who want to switch from Qantas’ loyalty program to their own.

Not to mention, Qantas’ formal apology to its loyalty members last month to address its ongoing operational challenges by offering discounts, perks, points and more.

For those who want to cash in on these new offers, Kidman said getting an upgrade is the best way to use frequent flyer points.

“Typically upgrade requests are prioritised by membership status with those on a higher status given first priority,” he said.

“If you’re on a lower status, consider booking a seat in economy instead. You’ll still get really good value for your points and your odds of finding a seat are a lot higher.”

Kidman urged consumers to always be on the lookout for how to earn frequent flyer points.

“You can accrue a significant bank of points through everyday spending and bonus points offers.

“Where you do your grocery shopping and fill up for fuel can all make a big difference to your points balance.”

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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