Qantas Tours offers a variety of travel experiences via the airline’s ownership of the travel provider TripADeal.
By booking these holidays through Qantas, travellers have the option to both earn and use Qantas Points.
Qantas Tours offers travellers the opportunity to join small groups on a guided journey in various parts of the world. Cruises and other experiences are also offered.
Qantas Frequent Flyer members can pay all or part with points, and normally you get $10 value per 1,000 points used (e.g. you can cover $1000 of the cost with 100,000 points).
Until 5 August 2024, Qantas has a special promotion where you can save 33% of the points cost (e.g. 100,000 points now covers $1500 of the cost).
That’s a solid deal. It’s on par with using points for Classic Plus reward bookings in premium cabins, and much better value than using points for hotels, vouchers or pretty much anything else, other than business and first class classic reward bookings.
There are hundreds of holiday options to choose from on the site.
If you’ve been thinking about using your points for a holiday experience, this is a good opportunity.
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Qantas’ inaugural Perth-Paris flight will be touching down in the French capital in a few hours.
The new route – Qantas’ third direct from Perth to Europe – comes just in time for the 2024 Olympics and follows the success of the carrier’s nonstop flights from Perth to London and Rome.
The new year-round route will see Qantas operate to the French capital for the first time in nearly two decades, cutting around three hours off the current fastest travel time from Perth to Paris.
The 17-hour flights will initially operate four days per week during the peak European summer with the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which features economy, premium economy and business class.
Services will move to three per week from mid-August 2024.
The Dreamliner has been specially designed for long-haul travel, with all passengers benefitting from large windows, high cabin humidity and relaxing mood lighting.
Dreamliner economyDreamliner Premium EconomyDreamliner business class
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the national carrier’s return to Paris followed on from the success of its non-stop services into Europe.
“There is a lot of excitement amongst our customers and crew that Qantas is returning to Paris and that it’s a non-stop flight between Perth and Paris,” Ms Hudson said.
“In recent years we have seen a significant increase in customers wanting to fly direct on long haul routes and avoiding stop overs wherever possible. Our direct flights from Perth to London and Rome have some of the highest customer satisfaction on our international network.”
The route launch follows the recent announcement of a landmark agreement between Qantas and Perth Airport that will help unlock the airline’s western hub, with a new Terminal being built that will see Perth become Qantas’ second busiest port in the nation after Sydney.
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Both Qantas and Virgin Australia allow their frequent flyer members to buy points in order to ‘top up’ their accounts.
The airlines say this is designed to help members who are a little short of the points required to redeem a reward – but it’s also a nice way for the airlines to earn more money, as buying points is relatively expensive.
You’re generally much better off earning points with credit cards or via points partners.
However, if you need points quickly and have no other option, purchasing points outright can be a useful last resort.
In terms of Velocity Points, you’re permitted to buy up to 250,000 per year.
The more points you buy, the lower the cost per point.
Here’s the regular price table:
At the top end, buying 250k points for $5850 means you’re paying 2.34 cents per point. If you’re only buying 5,000 points however, you’re paying 3.36 cents per point. That’s a big difference.
I’ve written before about how to work out the value when weighing up opportunities to earn or buy points. Consider your options carefully and decide the best way forward.
Until 10 July, Virgin Australia is offering up to 40% discount on points purchases. Here’s how it works:
1,000 – 9,000 Points: 10% discount
10,000 – 90,000 Points: 20% discount
100,000 – 190,000 Points: 30% discount
200,000 – 240,000 Points: 35% discount
250,000 Points: 40% discount
That could be solid value if used for high value reward seats or upgrades.
To find out all the T&Cs for purchasing Velocity Points and potentially buy some, visit Virgin here.
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Customer notice: we may receive a commission from Amex if you apply for a card via a link in this article (read more in our Cards Disclosure). This income helps keep the site running, and we thank you for your support.
If you’re a business owner who loves to travel, don’t miss the opportunity to get a huge 150,000 bonus Qantas Points plus a $200 credit with Amex’s top Qantas business card: the American Express® Qantas Business Rewards Card.
That’s among the biggest bonuses we’ve seen in a while, and it’s enough to book Classic Reward seats to anywhere in the world in economy or to many destinations in business class (more on that later).
This card also comes with a range of ongoing perks, including two Qantas Club passes each year, triple Qantas Points when you fly, a strong earn rate on everyday business spend, up to 99 complimentary Employee Cards, comprehensive travel insurance for you and Employee Card Members, and more.
Our readers will receive a massive 150,000 bonus Qantas Points and a $200 credit when you apply online via our Amex partner link
by 1 October 2024, are approved, and spend $6,000 on your new card within the first 3 months (new Amex Card Members only, T&Cs apply).
Here’s an overview of the benefits you can enjoy.
1. Earn points on business spend and fly with top airlines
You’ll turbocharge your points balance by earning 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on everyday business purchases – one of the highest Qantas Points earn rates in Australia.
For Qantas products and services, you’ll earn 2 Qantas Points per $1 spent, while with utilities, government bodies and non-Amex issued insurance you’ll earn 0.5 points per $1 spent.
After a total of 500,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday business earn rate will change from 1.25 to 0.75 Qantas Points per $1 spent.
Hundreds of thousands of businesses accept Amex in Australia, and that number is growing, so there’s no shortage of places where you can earn points with this card.
The points will be credited to your business’ Qantas Business Rewards (QBR) account. QBR is Qantas’ loyalty program for businesses and membership is complimentary with your card.
From there, you can transfer points to any Qantas Frequent Flyer member including yourself, employees or family members.
You can use those points to fly with Qantas and an array of international partners, including top airlines like American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways and more.
With so many partners to choose from, the whole world is within reach.
2. Earn triple Qantas Points when you fly
You’ll earn Qantas Points and Status Credits like any Qantas Frequent Flyer member when you fly with Qantas.
On top of that, you’ll earn triple Qantas Points on eligible Qantas flights booked with your card, up to 4 million points per membership year.
Eligible flights are domestic or international flights with a QF flight number purchased in Australia and operated by Qantas, Emirates or American Airlines.
Triple points are earned when anyone travels on flights booked using your card.
3. Relax in a Qantas Club twice a year
Relax before your next flight in style, even if you’re flying economy.
You’ll receive two Qantas Club passes each year, which will be triggered when you pay for an eligible Qantas purchase with your card.
Eligible Qantas purchases are Qantas passenger airfares with a QF flight number purchased directly from Qantas Australia, and Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qantas Business Rewards or Qantas Club membership, joining or annual fees.
Relax in a Qantas Club twice a year
You can use the passes for yourself or a travel partner, or easily transfer them to someone else.
4. Travel securely with domestic and overseas travel insurance
You’ll receive domestic and international travel insurance cover for you, your family and Employee Card Members when the card is used to pay for return travel.
You’ll be covered for:
inconvenience costs (flight delays and cancellations, and luggage delays)
medical expenses
damaged, destroyed, lost, or stolen baggage, money and documents
trip cancellation costs
transport accidents
personal liability
COVID-related trip change and cancellation costs.
If you’re currently paying for travel insurance and this cover meets your needs, you could potentially save money by relying on it.
5. Save time and money with other features
Your business will also benefit from these features:
up to 99 complimentary Employee Cards linked to the account, which can help you earn more points while easily keeping track of expenses across the business
cashflow boost: this is a charge card, which means you have up to 51 days to pay off purchases without incurring interest, or you can choose to pay off a portion of the balance over time up to your Flexible Payment Option (FPO) limit (interest charges apply)
no pre-set spending limit: instead, you have a dynamic limit that’s based on your spending patterns, payment history, credit records, and financial resources. This gives you the power to increase your spending capacity over time
power up your business: spend with Dell Technologies, get up to $100 credit
save up to 10% on the base fare of eligible Qantas flights
use your card with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay
direct feeds into MYOB, Xero and other accounting software.
Plus a huge 150,000 bonus Qantas Points + $200 credit
Receive 150,000 bonus Qantas Points and a $200 credit when you apply online via our partner link
by 1 October 2024, are approved and spend $6,000 on your new card in the first 3 months (new Amex Card Members only).
With those points you could:
book a classic reward flight to anywhere in the world in economy return with Qantas and partner airlines (costing up to 132,400 points plus taxes and fees)
book a classic reward flight in business class one-way to anywhere in the world with Qantas (costing up to 144,600 points plus taxes and fees)
upgrade to business class multiple times – starting at 5,400 points domestically and 11,900 points on international flights, depending on distance and fare class booked. For example, an Economy to Business Class upgrade between Brisbane and Tokyo costs 54,500 points, while a Premium Economy to Business Class upgrade between Sydney and London costs 65,400 points.
Use your points to enjoy business class comfort
This offer is only available to new American Express Card Members. That means you must not have held an American Express card in the last 18 months. However, you are eligible if you’re an Additional Card Member on someone else’s account (including a corporate account).
The card annual fee is $450, which should be tax deductible when used for business purposes.
The minimum annual business revenue to qualify is $75,000 and you need to hold a valid ABN that is registered for GST.
We’re delighted to partner with Amex to bring our readers this huge offer. It’s only available for a short time via our partner link below, so don’t miss out – you could be booking a holiday in no time!
This article is not intended to suggest that you should apply for a card. You should seek independent, professional advice and consider your personal circumstances before deciding to apply for a card.
If you apply for a card via a link in this article, we’ll receive a commission from Amex. This income helps keep our site running, and we thank you for your support. Read more in our Cards Disclosure.
Customer notice: we may receive a commission from Amex if you apply for a card via a link in this article (read more in our Cards Disclosure). This income helps keep the site running, and we thank you for your support.
The American Express Platinum Card takes pride of place at the front of my wallet, as it does for so many other card enthusiasts I know, for one simple reason: when it comes to delivering rewards and benefits, no other card on the market comes close.
From access to exclusive events and experiences, to premium travel and dining perks, a top-notch rewards program and more, the Platinum Card offers compelling value, even with its $1,450 annual fee (the value of the benefits can be triple that amount each year).
As this is a charge card, it has no pre-set spending limit. Instead, you have a dynamic limit that responds to your spending patterns over time. The balance must be paid in full each month.
For a limited time, new Amex Card Members can receive a huge 200,000 bonus Membership Rewards points with this card when you apply online via our Amex partner link by 1 October 2024, are approved and spend $5,000 on your new card within the first 3 months.
200k points can be used for a range of redemptions including $1000 back to your account or 100,000 frequent flyer points with multiple airlines including Qantas.
Here’s an overview of the card benefits you can enjoy.
Earn points quickly and enjoy flexible rewards
The card rewards program, Membership Rewards, has a stellar reputation among loyalty program experts and is my favourite for earning and spending points.
Platinum Card Members earn a very strong 2.25 Membership Rewards points per $1spent on purchases (1 point per $1 spent with government bodies), which is uncapped.
What I especially love about Membership Rewards points is that they are very easy to spend on a variety of rewards. You can use them to pay for card purchases, shop with David Jones, buy a range of gift cards or pay for travel with American Express Travel. With these redemptions, you get $50 of value per 10,000 points redeemed – which is excellent value.
You can also transfer Membership Rewards points to two hotel loyalty programs (Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors) and a range of airline frequent flyer programs, including both Qantas and Virgin Australia (a very rare feature among cards in Australia).
The full list of airline partners includes:
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Velocity Frequent Flyer
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Etihad Guest
Malaysia Airlines Enrich
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
Air New Zealand Airpoints
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
Choose from many airline transfer partners including Qantas
Experience valuable benefits with top hotels
You’ll gain elite status with major hotel loyalty programs, including:
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status – Marriott is the world’s biggest hotel group with brands such as Sheraton, Westin and Aloft
Hilton Honors Gold status – in addition to Hilton hotels, you can also enjoy perks with brands like Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and Doubletree
Radisson Rewards Premium Status with Radisson Hotel Group
Accor Elite Silver status (via your complimentary Accor Plus membership – see below) – Accor includes brands like Sofitel, Pullman and Mercure.
Elite benefits vary from program to program and can include complimentary room upgrades at check-in, early and/or late checkout, complimentary internet access, and free breakfast.
When I put my Hilton Gold status to the test during a trip to Tokyo, I scored over $1000 of complimentary benefits including an upgrade to a club room and free breakfast for two people. You can read about that experience here.
You’ll also receive complimentary Accor Plus membership valued at $399 p.a., which grants access to the most expansive hotel, dining and lifestyle membership program in Asia Pacific. Benefits include a complimentary night’s accommodation each year (including at high-end hotels like Sofitel and Fairmont, subject to availability), up to 50% off your dining bill at hotel restaurants, and more.
You also get access to the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program, which provides complimentary benefits at over 1,300 five-star properties worldwide, including daily breakfast for two people, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, room upgrades when available, a special amenity at each property, and more. These benefits offer an average value of over $800 for a two-night stay. When I tried this out during a trip to Vienna, my family scored over 600 Euros of benefits.
Enjoy complimentary room upgrades and other benefits at stylish hotels
Finally, the Amex Hotel Collection includes more than 500 properties in over 30 countries, including brands like Hyatt and Hilton. Every time you book a two-night stay you’ll receive a hotel credit worth up to US$100 to spend on dining, spa and resort activities, as well as a complimentary room upgrade at check-in when available.
Enjoy airport lounge access in Australia and overseas
Start your trip in style with access to over 1,400 airport lounges in more than 140 countries, including unlimited entries to:
Virgin Australia Lounges – located at select domestic terminals around Australia (you can bring in one guest for free)
The Centurion Lounge – Amex’s flagship lounges in Sydney, Melbourne and more than 40 locations around the world (two guests permitted)
Priority Pass Lounges – Priority Pass is the world’s biggest lounge network, with a presence in more than 500 cities. Membership is complimentary for you and one Additional Card Member (you may bring in one guest each at no charge)
Plaza Premium Lounges – Plaza Premium is an independent lounge operator with a strong presence in Asia. Access is complimentary for you and an Additional Card Member (you may bring up to 2 guests in each at no charge)
Escape Lounges – located across the USA (two guests permitted)
Delta Sky Club Lounges when flying Delta (guest access rules vary).
Enjoy many other lifestyle benefits
There are plenty of other perks to take advantage of – too many to list in full here – but the ones I like most are:
a $450 Travel Credit each year which is redeemable for flights, hotels or car hire through American Express Travel
up to $400 back each calendar year until 31 Dec 2024 when you dine at a curated collection of over 1,400 restaurants: up to $200 in Australia and up to $200 overseas (enrolment required)
up to $84 back per calendar year until 31 Dec 2025 for your monthly or annual Amazon Prime subscription (enrolment required)
up to 4 complimentary Additional Cards for family members or friends
smartphone screen cover, with up to $500 available twice a year for screen repairs (with a 10% excess)
complimentary domestic and overseas travel insurance cover for you and your family (includes COVID cover)
complimentary digital subscription to The Australian Premium, including full digital access to The Australian and The Wall Street Journal
invites to specially curated experiences that are not open to the general public – from sporting to fashion and dining
opportunities to access sought-after events like music, theatre and film, including via pre-sale tickets, and exclusive lounges at selected events
cash back and bonus points with top brands via Amex Offers
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and Avis Preferred memberships: enjoy savings on car rentals worldwide and complimentary upgrades when available
up to 20% discount on First and Business Class fares with some of the world’s leading airlines
compatibility with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay
the Amex Experiences App, which gives Platinum Card Members access to information about their benefits, travel offers, events and recommended merchants all from the palm of their hand.
And finally, I do have to mention that the card looks great – it’s all-metal, and you’ll love the feeling of whipping it out!
The stylish all-metal Platinum Card
Plus 200,000 bonus points
Receive a huge 200,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you apply online via our partner link
by 1 October 2024, are approved and spend $5,000 on your new card within the first 3 months (new Amex Card Members only).
Those points can be converted to 100,000 frequent flyer points with almost all partner airlines or $1000 of credit on your card account, as well as other uses.
This offer is only available to new American Express Card Members. That means you must not have held a card issued directly by American Express Australia in the last 18 months. However, you are still eligible for this offer if you’re an Additional Card Member on someone else’s account.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get a top-quality card and a huge bonus.
Important: This article is not intended to suggest that you should apply for a credit product. You should seek independent, professional advice and consider your personal circumstances before deciding to apply for a credit product.
If you apply for a card via a link in this article, we may receive a commission from Amex. This income helps keep our site running, and we thank you for your support.
Qantas Frequent Flyers can earn a hefty 9 Qantas Points per A$1 spent on hotels worldwide booked via Qantas Hotels until this Sunday 30 June 2024.
That’s triple the usual earn rate of 3 points per dollar.
This is a great opportunity to boost your points balance if you have a trip coming up.
Qantas Hotels features thousands of properties, from lush tropical getaways to elegant city breaks.
Qantas members will earn 9 Qantas Points per A$1 value on all hotels booked through qantas.com/hotels except Classic Hotel Rewards, Airbnb, and holiday packages, for travel until 29 June 2025.
Bookings made for Accor hotel offers will also earn 9 Qantas Points per A$1 value instead of the usual 4 Qantas Points.
On top of all that, Points Club members will earn 25% more Qantas Points, and Points Club Plus members will earn 50% more Qantas Points.
Love Qantas Points? Don’t miss the huge offer of up to 90,000 bonus points plus airport lounge passes, an annual $450 travel credit and more with our favourite Qantas card, the Qantas Amex Ultimate Card!
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Both Qantas and Virgin Australia allow their frequent flyer members to buy points in order to ‘top up’ their accounts.
The airlines say this is designed to help members who are a little short of the points required to redeem a reward – but it’s also a nice way for the airlines to earn more money, as buying points is relatively expensive.
You’re generally much better off earning points with credit cards or via points partners.
However, if you need points quickly and have no other option, purchasing points outright can be a useful last resort.
In terms of Qantas Points, you can purchase a minimum of 1,000 up to a maximum of 150,000 points, up to 4 times in any 12 month period.
The more points you buy, the lower the cost per point. For example, purchasing 1,000 points usually costs $56 (=5.6 cents per point) while buying 150,000 points sets you back $3999 (=2.6 cents per point). That’s a big difference.
I’ve written before about how to work out the value you’ll get from points when weighing up opportunities to earn or buy them. Consider your options carefully and work out the best way forward for you.
Until this Sunday 30 June 2024, Qantas is running promo offering extra points, as follows:
25% bonus Qantas Points on purchases of 10,000 – 55,000 points
50% bonus Qantas Points on purchases of 60,000 – 150,000.
If you go for the maximum purchase of 150,000 points, you’ll receive an extra 75,000, for a total of 225,000 points at a cost of $3999 (=1.8 cents per point).
That’s only a good deal if you use those points to book a business or first class reward seat that would otherwise be much more expensive.
You must be a Qantas Frequent Flyer member for at least 30 days before purchasing.
To find out all the T&Cs for purchasing points and potentially buy some, visit Qantas here.
Want some easy Qantas Points? Get up to 90,000 bonus points plus a $450 travel credit and lounge passes with our favourite credit card: the Qantas Amex Ultimate Card!
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Qantas passengers traveling through Adelaide Airport are poised to enjoy an enhanced airport experience with the announcement that the lounge precinct redevelopment is set to begin this month.
The redevelopment project will introduce a brand-new Domestic Business Lounge inspired by the natural beauty of Kangaroo Island’s Flinders Chase National Park. Additionally, the existing Qantas Club and Chairman’s Lounge will undergo comprehensive refurbishments.
The first phase of this project involves the fit-out of the Qantas Club, scheduled to open in mid-November.
New Adelaide Qantas Club
The new Domestic Business Lounge is expected to welcome its first guests by mid-2025.
New Adelaide Business Lounge
Although the lounge space footprint will remain unchanged, the redesign will optimise currently under-utilised areas, resulting in a more than 10% increase in total seating capacity.
The new lounge interiors will celebrate South Australia’s stunning landscapes, rich culture, and culinary delights.
The lounges will feature South Australian-sourced furniture, lighting, and natural materials, alongside fittings curated by the Jam Factory and artwork created by local Indigenous artists.
This redevelopment is part of Qantas’s broader $100 million investment aimed at upgrading and enhancing its global lounge network.
According to Phil Capps, Qantas Executive Manager for Product and Service, the lounge upgrades are designed to meet the needs of customers flying from Adelaide while showcasing South Australian architectural and interior design excellence.
“Our local design philosophy means the new Adelaide Lounge Precinct will celebrate the best of South Australia. From the furnishing and artworks through to the premium food and beverages, we want to give our customers a taste of South Australia every time they fly with us. Our customers can also expect to see more of the features they’ve told us they value the most,” said Capps.
“We’re installing extra seating throughout the precinct to provide more space to work, and around 80% of seats will have access to power stations and device ports so customers can easily charge up before their flight.”
During the construction phase, the existing Qantas Club will continue to operate for eligible customers from one hour prior to the first Qantas-operated service until the last departure.
Additionally, a ‘Grab and Go’ service with premium breakfast options and barista coffee will be available during busy morning peak travel times if the lounges reach capacity.
