Virgin Australia has launched a huge sale offering 30% off the points required for most award bookings.

The sale runs until 28 February for travel between 15 Mar 2018 and 9 Jan 2019.

It applies to flights operated by Virgin Australia, Virgin Atlantic, Alitalia, Delta Air Lines and Air New Zealand (Trans Tasman only), in all classes of service.

For example, I just booked a Christmas period flight from Melbourne to Perth in Virgin Australia’s excellent A330 business class for just 24,800 points (normally 35,500) plus $20 per person.

Here’s a premium economy example: Melbourne to Los Angeles in August for just 50,100 points (usually 71,700) plus $106 one way.

Economy is just 31,300 points (usually 44,800) plus $133.94 on this route.

This is a fantastic opportunity to save points on flight bookings, if you have a trip in mind.

Happy flight shopping!

To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

Singapore Airlines is offering 1,000 bonus miles to new members of its frequent flyer program, KrisFlyer.

KrisFlyer is one of my favourite frequent flyer programs, thanks to Singapore Airlines’ excellent network, top-notch service, and membership of the global Star Alliance.

KrisFlyer is also a transfer partner for several credit cards I love, including the American Express Explorer Credit Card.

To take advantage of this offer, you need to sign up for a KrisFlyer account here and enter the promo code, JOINKFSQ. 

The offer ends on 31 March 2018 and the points should land in your account within 4-6 weeks.

To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

Qantas has brought back its popular double status credit promotion, offering twice the number of status credits on domestic and international flights for a limited time.

This is a fantastic opportunity to fast-track your rise through the status tiers and enjoy more perks when you fly, especially with gold status and above.

You can earn double status credits on all Qantas marketed and operated flights with a QF flight number, where the booking is made by 23:59 AEDT this Monday 5 February 2018. You must register for the promotion first: simply go to this link.

Travel must occur between 12 February 2018 and 20 January 2019. 

You can enjoy this offer on an unlimited number of eligible flights booked during this promotion.

Here’s how many status credits you need for each tier:

• silver – 300 to qualify the first time, 250 to keep each year after that
• gold – 700 to qualify, 600 to keep
• platinum – 1400 to qualify, 1200 to keep
• platinum one – 3,600 to qualify and keep (with at least 2,700 on Qantas marketed flights).

To calculate how many status credits you earn on a flight, use the handy calculator on Qantas’ website (and then double the amount for the current promotion).

The double status credits don’t count towards the 500 you need to attain a loyalty bonus of an extra 50 status credits, so take that into account.

If you don’t have any specific trips in mind and want to get the most status credits for the lowest cost (known as a “status run”):

• check out the current sale fares at qantas.com
• look at business class fares on cheaper routes (like the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Bali and New Zealand) to maximise status credit earn
• follow the adage, “why fly direct when you can connect” – choose a route that requires a connection (for example, Melbourne-Sydney-Gold Coast), as you’ll earn more status credits, often for little or no extra cost.

We may not see this promotion again in 2018, so if you’re thinking about flying with Qantas in the year ahead, this is a great opportunity!

To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

Back in November 2017 I wrote about how Qantas and the financial trading firm IG have partnered to allow IG customers to earn Qantas Points on share trades.

At the time they also launched an offer allowing new IG customers to pick up a bonus 10,000 Qantas Points by opening a share trading account and making one trade.

That bonus offer is still running – and it continues to be a relatively easy way to pick up 10,000 Qantas Points … if you know what you’re doing!

The bonus points are available to new IG customers only, who must be individuals (not companies or other organisations).

To take advantage of this offer, you need to open a share trading account via this link, deposit some money into your account (from what I can tell, at least $450 if paying by credit card or paypal; no minimum if depositing by bank transfer) and make a trade. I can’t see anything in the T&Cs that specifies a minimum trade size, so it appears even a tiny trade qualifies for the bonus.

Note that you’ll incur fees of $16 for the transaction (or 0.1% of the trade size if it’s a larger trade) plus you’ll have a profit or loss on the trade itself.

There are risks involved with share trading, of course, especially if you’re new to it – so take the time to consider if this is right for you before taking the plunge.

To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

The well-regarded Taiwanese airline China Airlines has amazing fares available right now from Australia (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) to Europe and the USA, starting at a crazy ~$1500 for premium economy return or ~$3950 for business class return.

What makes this sale even better is that availability is wide open in 2018, even during the peak northern summer travel period.

I found fares at the above prices to Amsterdam, Rome and Frankfurt in Europe, and New York City in the USA.

The only downside is that on some routes there is a long layover in Taipei, though you can look at this as an opportunity to explore the city or a travel agent might be able to extend this into a multi-day stopover for you.

The layover length varies from route to route, so you’ll have to explore what works for you. On the Sydney to Frankfurt route, for example, I found an itinerary without a long layover.

You can search for fares on China Airlines’ website, here.

The airline flies the advanced A350 to Australia, with spacious, fully-flat seats in business class arranged in a 1-2-1 layout…

China Airlines A350 business class

While premium economy has seats arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, with 20 inches of width and a decent 39 inch pitch (seat-back to seat-back distance).

China Airlines A350 premium economy

In terms of service, China Airlines has a very good reputation among frequent flyers (unlike its rivals in mainland China).

The airline is also a member of the SkyTeam alliance.

I’m not sure how long these fares will last, so if you’re interested, don’t delay!

To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

In December, Qantas announced that it would launch the new Melbourne-San Francisco route with one of its shiny, new Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Qantas already flies direct from Sydney to San Francisco, and it has added flights from Melbourne in response to strong demand from both tourists and business travellers.

Qantas began selling tickets on the route today, which launches on 1 September 2018.

Qantas has today also released a decent amount of award seats, including in premium economy and business class, which Qantas Frequent Flyers can book with their Qantas Points.

If you were thinking of travelling to the USA later this year, this is a great chance to use your points to fly in style.

Business class features Qantas’ highly regarded business suite arranged in a 1-2-1 layout …

Qantas 787 business class

… while premium economy also sports new seats in a 2-3-2 layout, though without as much leg room as many of us hoped.

Qantas’ new premium economy seat

Here are the dates in September where at least two seats are available departing from Melbourne (yellow is premium economy and gold is business class).

And here is the availability in September on the return leg.

You’ll need 72,000 Qantas Points to book a premium economy seat, while business class costs 96,000 points (plus taxes and fees, of course).

These seats will be snapped up quickly, so if you’re interested, don’t delay!

To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

Qatar Airways has extended its big ‘Global Travel Boutique’ sale until this Friday, 19 January, offering flights to Europe starting at $999 return ex Perth, or a bit more from other capitals.

You may even be able to get an extra discount by using the promo code QRGTB2018 when booking on Qatar Airways’ website.

Other destinations are also on sale, like Africa and even the east coast of the USA (if you want to go the long way via Doha).

The sale also includes business class fares, with extra discounts available if you travel with a companion. Families with children can also enjoy discounts with a kids special offer.

You can view all the offers and key info here. The sale ends on Friday, and is valid for travel to 10 December 2018 (some blackout dates will apply on certain routes).

Qatar Airways flights can be credited to Qantas Frequent Flyer, allowing you to earn both Qantas Points and status credits for your trip. Alternatively, you can earn double the usual points in Qatar Airways’ own frequent flyer program.

This is a great opportunity to grab a cheap fare with a world-class airline, so if you’re interested, don’t delay!

To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter: