SAVVY ESCAPE
When it comes to maintaining your frequent flyer stash, all is not lost, writes Mercedes Maguire
It’s true, you don’t often get something for nothing these days. But that’s not entirely true when it comes to frequent flyer points, and particularly during Covid-19 where points are working a little harder for you.
While the pandemic grounded flights and travel for much of 2020, making it impossible to use or accrue points for flights, Qantas and Virgin responded by extending certain frequent flyer memberships. But what else do you need to know?
Savvy tip 1
While airlines extended the status of some memberships for 12 months, it’s a case of use it or lose it, Canstar’s Effie Zahos says. “To maintain your membership status through 2021, you’ll need to book and pay for an eligible flight and travel before the end of March 2021 for Virgin or before the end of the year for Qantas.”
Savvy tip 2
Do you use your points now or save them for a big overseas trip post-Covid? Daniel Sciberras of Point Hacks says points have the best value when used for international premium flights, so saving them is the value-for-money option.
Savvy tip 3
Know your expiry rules, Sciberras warns. “Both Qantas and Velocity have ‘soft’ expiry dates, which means your points won’t be lost as long as you keep your card active,” he says.
Savvy tip 4
Don’t waste them on kettles and toasters. “There’s more value in travel,” says Zahos. And Sciberras adds, “The best use of points domestically includes domestic business class flights or stays at luxurious hotels such as the Park Hyatt in Sydney.”
Savvy tip 5
If you’re not confident about flying, credit cards are one of the best ways to amass points, says Finder’s Angus Kidman. A recent Finder survey found 38 per cent of people were lured to get a credit card by the offer of points. “If you use a credit card regularly, it can be worth switching to a card that earns points as you spend,” he says.
CALL me anti-progress, but I don’t want the proposed new political donation laws to be the best money can buy (“Donation reform pledge”, Mercury, February 17). Stephen Jeffery
Sandy Bay