If you don’t have an account already, it’s free to join KrisFlyer.
Singapore Airlines has two types of award seats: “Saver”, which are less expensive and are the first to get snapped up, and “Advantage”, which are more expensive but also more readily available.
Singapore Airlines search result
Only Saver seats tend to be available to partners like Virgin Australia.
If you can only see an Advantage seat on Singapore Airlines’ website, it’s probably not bookable via Virgin Australia.
In addition, Singapore Airlines releases award seats 354 days out, while Virgin Australia’s calendar only goes out to 331 days out. That means people with Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles get a 23 day ‘head start’ to book seats – another factor to consider, especially if you want to travel during a peak period when seats get snapped up quickly.
If the seat you want is available through both airlines, compare the points required and the taxes and fees to work out the best deal.
Step 2: Compare the points, and taxes and fees
Both airlines price award seats based on distance, but they do this in slightly different ways.
You can view Virgin Australia’s points tables here and Singapore Airlines’ award chart here.
Velocity Points convert to KrisFlyer miles at a rate of 1.55:1, meaning 15,500 Velocity points converts to 10,000 KrisFlyer miles.
Because you ‘lose’ so many points by converting them, the actual points cost is likely to be lower by booking with Virgin Australia directly.
Of course, if the seat is only available through KrisFlyer, your only option will be to transfer the points across.
Taxes and fees vary, and are another factor to consider.
For example, a business class award seat from Brisbane to Singapore comes with a $236 copayment via Virgin Australia, but only $102 with Singapore Airlines – and that’s just one-way.
The difference is bigger on longer flights. For example, for Melbourne-Frankfurt, you have to fork out $456 with Virgin but only $100 with Singapore Airlines, one way. That’s a substantial difference, especially for a return trip.
Virgin Australia Melbourne-Frankfurt search result
As you can see with the prices displayed in the screenshot above, you can use Velocity Points to cover the taxes and fees when booking via Virgin Australia, but it’s a low-value use of points and not recommended unless you’re very short on cash.
Step 3: Book your seat!
If you decide to book through Singapore Airlines, it’s free and easy to convert your points from Velocity to KrisFlyer.
Simply log into your Velocity account, then click My Velocity -> Link & Transfer to link your accounts and transfer the points.
The transfer should happen very quickly (in only a few minutes, in my experience).
As always, plan well ahead, as award seats can be snapped up quickly, especially on the most popular routes during peak travel periods.
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This article was prepared in partnership with B2Bpay
Are you a savvy business owner who likes to earn reward points on business expenses?
If so, there’s a way you can pay nearly all expenses with a credit card and earn full points on the transactions – even on government payments like tax – thanks to the innovative Aussie firm B2Bpay.
Based in Sydney, B2Bpay provides a secure online payment portal that is trusted by over 25,000 Australian businesses in a wide range of industries. Any business with an ABN can join, including sole traders.
B2Bpay also lets businesses earn points when they pay expenses via their bank account, as well as when receiving payments from customers.
For many businesses, that can add up to piles of points for use on future travel.
If you’re a business owner who loves to collect points and redeem them for high-value rewards like business class flights, you’re probably keen to know more – so let’s dig into the details.
Earn full points on credit card payments
B2Bpay lets you pay invoices and bills with a credit card via its online portal, even where the supplier/biller doesn’t accept card payments directly.
The way it works is that B2Bpay charges your card and deposits funds to your biller/supplier by EFT or BPAY within 3 business days.
You can use any Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club credit, debit or charge card.
Since your card issuer treats the transaction as a purchase (not a cash advance), it earns full points, like other regular card purchases.
That means you can earn full points with government agencies, insurance companies, utilities and telco firms, which otherwise earn no or limited points on most cards.
Separately, you’ll also earn Qantas Points, thanks to B2Bpay’s partnership with Qantas Business Rewards. You’ll receive:
1 Qantas Point for every $7 paid by card for government payments
1 Qantas Point for every $10 paid by card to other suppliers.
These Qantas Points will be credited to your business’s Qantas Business Rewards account.
Qantas Business Rewards is the loyalty program built for Australian small and medium businesses. You just need an active ABN, and can join for free via B2Bpay if you’re not already a member (saving $89.50).
From your Qantas Business Rewards account, you can use points to book flights and upgrades~~ or transfer your business’ points to any Qantas Frequent Flyer account to use on hotels, car hire, wine or choose from over 20,000 products from Qantas Marketplace.>
For card payments, B2Bpay charges a processing fee of 1.2% plus GST for a standard Visa or Mastercard, 1.55% plus GST for premium / corporate Visa or Mastercard, 2.2% plus GST for American Express and 2.4% plus GST for Diners Club – all of which are tax deductible.
Earn Qantas Points on payments from your bank account
To earn even more Qantas Points, you can take advantage of B2Bpay’s new Bank Accelerator Plus
feature, which lets you earn Qantas Points on every payment from your bank account (with a 1.87% fee).
The earn rate is an impressive 1 Qantas Point per $1 paid, with no caps or limits.
Bank Accelerator Plus gives you an alternative to paying bills with a credit card – perhaps because you may earn more points this way, or because you’ve reached your card limit or monthly points earning cap.
It’s also a handy way to earn points when paying off your monthly business credit card bill.
In addition, you can earn up to 3 Qantas Points per $1.50 paid to businesses that are registered as B2Bpay Bonus Billers.
Other benefits of making payments via B2Bpay
As well as building your points balance faster, other benefits include:
improved cash-flow when paying by card, since you have up to 55 days to pay off the card without incurring interest
saving time: you can connect to Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks to autoload bills, then make one off, bulk automatic or future dated payments, with fast and simple reconciliation.
Earn Qantas Points when customers pay you
You can also use B2Bpay to accept payments from customers and earn Qantas Points in the process.
It’s free and easy to become a B2Bpay Biller and start accepting payments.
Once your branded payment page is set up on B2Bpay’s website, simply include the link in the payment info section of your invoices.
Your customers can follow the link to pay you by card, with funds transferred to you by EFT or BPAY within 3 business days.
You’ll earn 1 Qantas Point for every $20 paid to you by Visa or Mastercard (there’s no points earned for American Express or Diners Club).
There’s no cost to you unless you choose to absorb the payment processing fee that your customers will be charged (1.2 – 2.4% plus GST depending on the card they use).
As well as earning points, accepting payments from customers via B2Bpay can help you get paid faster and saves you time thanks to automatic reconciliation with Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks.
How could Qantas Points give your business a boost?
Let’s say you earn 150,000 Qantas Points through a combination of making payments by credit card and bank account and receiving payments from customers via B2Bpay (fees apply).
With 150,000 Qantas Points, you could:
fly Premium Economy on Classic Rewards from Sydney to Singapore return (at a cost of 102,600 points plus taxes and fees)+
book a two-night stay in Singapore’s iconic The Fullerton Hotel (145,471 points)*
power your business with a 10.2-inch Apple iPad on Qantas Marketplace (121,270 points).±
Use points towards upgrading your next flight
Summing up
If you’re a business owner who loves to earn points on business expenses, B2Bpay solves several problems.
It lets you earn full points on credit card transactions like government payments and use your card to pay suppliers who don’t accept cards directly.
On top of that, you can also earn Qantas Points on bank account payments and when customers pay you.
That can add up to a lot of points, which in turn could help fund work trips or holidays.
To find out more about all these benefits and sign-up, visit B2Bpay here.
Important Information
~~ A business can redeem Qantas Points directly from their Qantas Business Rewards account on Classic Flight Rewards or Points Plus Pay flights, paid seat selection and additional baggage allowance (when purchased at time of flight booking).
> In order to transfer Qantas Points from a Qantas Business Rewards account to an individual’s Qantas Frequent Flyer account, the business account must have a balance of at least 3,000 Qantas Points. You must be a Qantas Frequent Flyer member to earn and redeem Qantas Points. A joining fee may apply. Membership and Qantas Points are subject to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program Terms and Conditions. We recommend you consult your accountant or tax adviser to ensure you understand possible tax implications, for example fringe benefits tax (if applicable).
+ A business can redeem Qantas Points directly from their Qantas Business Rewards account on Classic Flight Rewards. Classic Flight Rewards are available on Qantas, Jetstar and partner airlines. Classic Flight Reward seats are subject to capacity controls, availability is limited and some flights may not have any Classic Flight Rewards available. The Qantas Points stated are accurate as at 1 November 2023 based on return flight from Sydney to Singapore departing 2 May 2024, and returning 6 May 2024, but may vary at the time of booking. Taxes, fees and carrier charges are payable in addition to points required for Classic Flight Rewards. Status Credits and Qantas Points will not be earned on Classic Flight Rewards. Visit Classic Flight Rewards for more information.
*Qantas Points rate is correct as at 1 November 2023 based on a check in date of 25 April 2024 in a Premier Courtyard Room for 2 nights for 2 adults. Points required are subject to change. Availability may be limited. Qantas Classic Hotel Rewards must be booked using Qantas Points only. Members cannot redeem points for additional hotel charges for extras (including cots, breakfasts and other incidentals) on check-in or check-out (as applicable). Qantas Points cannot be earned on Classic Hotel Rewards. Read the full terms and conditions.
±Points required are correct as at 1 November 2023. While stocks last.
Members of Rex’s frequent flyer program Rex Flyer can now use their points to book flights with the airline.
Rex today confirmed the second phase of the program’s staggered rollout had been completed, enabling members to use their points to redeem flights with three flight reward options – Anytime, Getaway and Ultimate, each with varying points cost and seat availability (the easiest available option will also cost the most).
The Rex Flyer program sees all unsold seats progressively available at the cheapest reward redemption rate (Ultimate) from 48 hours before a departure.
Since the program was launched on 2 October, Rex Flyer members have been earning up to seven points for every dollar spent every time they’ve flown and up to five points for each dollar spent on selected Rex Extras such as additional baggage and seat selection.
More than 60,000 travellers have become registered Rex Flyer members in the last seven weeks. The program is free to join.
Until 2 January every new member receives a 5000-point sign-on bonus while all bookings before the New Year will earn double reward points regardless of the date of travel.
In term of status, customers will earn one status point per dollar, with the goal of reaching one of three levels – Sapphire, Emerald and Diamond.
Tier benefits are set to launch in early 2024 and will include such things as free business class upgrades, extra legroom economy seating, lounge access, priority check-in and boarding, and higher baggage allowances.
It’s expected the airline will offer a status match for Virgin and Qantas elites.
“The program with its superior benefits means we can at last reward our passengers for the loyalty they have shown us over many years as we have fought hard – often against almost impossible odds – to provide them with safe, affordable and reliable air services,” Rex Deputy Chairman, the Hon John Sharp AM, said.
The staggered rollout of Rex Flyer will also be accompanied by new airport lounges planned for Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with construction commencing imminently.
Full details of the of the Rex Flyer program and details of how to register to become a member can be found at rex.com.au.
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Qantas Frequent Flyer members will be able to earn and use Qantas Points when booking live events and experiences, enjoy special pre-sales, and access new ticket and travel packages as part of a new partnership between Qantas and Ticketek.
From March 2024, frequent flyers will be able to use Qantas Points towards select Ticketek events and experiences, with the ability to earn Qantas Points on select Ticketek products following shortly after.
From today, members will receive access to exclusive pre-sales and special offers, as well as new entertainment packages that combine event tickets with flights and hotels.
The new ticket and travel packages are designed to make event experiences more seamless for the millions of people who travel to events every year.
To mark the announcement of the partnership, Ticketek and Qantas Frequent Flyer have today released three entertainment packages, available exclusively at Qantas Experiences.
The newly announced Jerry Seinfeld Live – Third Sydney Show, Qudos Bank Arena, Sunday 16 June 2024 (including exclusive pre-sale access from 11am today)
Australia vs West Indies Cricket Test Series, The Gabba, 25 – 29 January 2024
Lightscape Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens, 14 June – 4 August 2024
Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth said the partnership with Ticketek would expand the ways that Qantas Frequent Flyer could reward its members.
“Making it easier for our members to enjoy special moments and memorable events has always been a key part of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, and this partnership is going to make more of those experiences possible,” said Ms Wirth.
“With more than 20,000 live events each year across entertainment, sport and theatre, partnering with Ticketek opens up significant opportunities for Frequent Flyers to get even more value from their membership and their Qantas Points.
“We know that live events are a big driver of travel so we’ve worked with Ticketek to curate packages for our members that bundle tickets, flights and accommodation for an all-inclusive and seamless experience.”
Stay tuned for more info about earning and using points next year.
Love Qantas Points? Score 60,000 bonus points, a $450 travel credit and lounge passes with our favourite Qantas card: the Qantas Amex Ultimate Card!
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In a move that will surely please most travellers in economy, Qantas is now serving complimentary beer and wine on shorter domestic flights departing from midday instead of 4pm.
Longer flights (over two and a half hours) will continue to see a beverage service from 9 am.
In its latest email newsletter, the airline states: “Happy hour now starts at midday – As we continue to focus on improving your flight experience, complimentary beer and wine on domestic flights will now start from 12 noon instead of 4pm.#
#Beverage offerings vary between flights and cabins. Changes to beer and wine service timing excludes select domestic flights that are more than two and a half hours in duration, which offer service on flights departing from 9.00am.”
This is a welcome step in Qantas’ efforts to improve relations with customers, following a horror year.
More information about onboard dining is available here.
Love Qantas Points? Score 60,000 bonus points, a $450 travel credit and lounge passes with our favourite Qantas card: the Qantas Amex Ultimate Card!
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Qantas Frequent Flyers have a new way to earn and use points with the announcement of a partnership with Accent Group.
Accent Group owns a number of well-known footwear and apparel brands covered by this partnership, including:
The Athlete’s Foot
Platypus
Skechers
Hype DC
UGG
Dr Martens
Subtype
Stylerunner
Vans
CAT
The Trybe
Timberland
Merrell
Hoka
Saucony.
From today, members can earn two Qantas Points per dollar spent by scanning their digital card at more than 670 stores around Australia.
By mid-2024, frequent flyers will also be able to redeem their Qantas Points when shopping instore, as well as earning and using points when shopping online across an expanded range of Accent Group retail brands.
Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth said Qantas Frequent Flyer was continuing to invest in more ways for members to earn and use points everyday as well as when travelling.
“This partnership with Accent Group opens up new opportunities for our frequent flyers when they’re shopping at hundreds of retail stores across Australia,” said Ms Wirth.
“Members have told us that they value being rewarded for their everyday spend and using Qantas Points to save cash when shopping, and we’ve seen this in the success of our other partnerships.
“Expanding the retail options for our members to earn and use Qantas Points is one of the ways that we can offer more value, particularly when consumers are more conscious of their spending.”
Stay tuned for this partnership to expand further in 2024.
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Qantas has launched a comprehensive travel management tool, tailored specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises in Australia.
This tool is part of the Qantas Business Rewards program and is designed to simplify and optimize the travel management process for businesses.
The key features are:
One-Stop Booking Tool: This feature allows businesses to book and manage various travel elements like flights, hotels, and car hires through a single platform.
Manage Trip Feature: It provides flexibility in managing individual or comprehensive travel plans, enhancing the overall travel planning experience.
Business Travel Policies: Businesses can establish their own travel policies and automatically apply them to bookings. This not only improves efficiency but also provides travel managers with better visibility of booking behaviors.
Data Reporting and Analytics: The tool offers real-time access to detailed data reporting and analytics. This feature aids in identifying trends, managing travel costs, and preparing and exporting expense reports.
Qantas Business Rewards Benefits Management: Users can easily manage benefits from the Qantas Business Rewards program and access exclusive partner offers.
Manage Trips feature
The development of this new tool is a direct response to feedback from members of Qantas Business Rewards. They expressed the need for a more streamlined approach to managing business travel, especially as the industry rebounds to pre-COVID levels.
After a successful trial period in August, Qantas is now extending this service to over 480,000 program members.
Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth said that Qantas was responding to direct feedback from businesses about the demands and costs involved in managing travel requirements.
“We’ve been listening to our Qantas Business Rewards members who have told us that making it easier to manage their business travel will add more value to the program,” said Ms Wirth.
“The investment we’re making in Qantas Business Rewards will provide Australian businesses with a one-stop platform to manage their business travel needs and make the most of their rewards.
“One in five Australian small and medium sized businesses are Qantas Business Rewards members and this new booking experience adds to the benefits they already enjoy, including flight discounts and earning Qantas Points on travel and everyday business expenses.”
To encourage more businesses to benefit from this new tool, Qantas is waiving the $89.50 fee to join Qantas Business Rewards until 8 December 2023.
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Uluru has scored a tourism win with Virgin Australia today announcing two new direct services from Melbourne and Brisbane to be introduced in 2024.
Launched in partnership with the Northern Territory Government and Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia (operators of Ayers Rock Resort), the new services will add more than 62,000 seats per year to the Red Centre.
The flights from Melbourne and Brisbane will start on 6 June and 7 June 2024 respectively.
Flights between Brisbane – Uluru will operate three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while Melbourne – Uluru services will operate up to four times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
To celebrate its return to Uluru, Virgin Australia is offering a sale on flights from as low as $129 one-way in economy for travel on select dates from 6 June 2024 to 12 September 2024.
Ayers Rock Resort has also released a celebratory Welcome Offer for Uluru stays from $150 per night.
Virgin Australia CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, said Uluru is somewhere everyone should visit for its cultural significance and natural beauty.
“Uluru is a special place in Australia and a cultural landmark that identifies this wonderful country to the world. We look forward to once again connecting Australians and international tourists alike, to the spiritual heartland of Australia,” said Ms Hrdlicka.
Velocity Frequent Flyer members can earn and redeem points on the new flights.
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