Helpful habits of frequent flyers
FREQUENT flyer point collectors have revealed the top habits that help them earn more than 100,000 points a year to fly wherever they want for free.
A new study by Pointhacks.com.au of more than 1600 successful frequent flyers shows the majority of points are now earned by spending money on credit cards rather than hopping on a plane.
Point Hacks spokesman Daniel Sciberras said point collecting had changed dramatically since the early 2000s and today “most people are frequent buyers rather than frequent flyers”.
The analysis found:
• Almost 95 per cent of successful frequent flyers use credit cards to collect points, and three-quarters have more than one points-earning credit card. • Three-quarters multiply their points using other reward programs such as flybuys or Woolworths Rewards.
• Half of them research new offers and rewards fortnightly, and almost two in five switch to a new card – often with generous sign-on bonuses – at least annually.
• They don’t mind paying annual fees for the right rewards credit card, and they aim for one point per dollar spent on Visa and Mastercard or 1.5 points per dollar spent on American Express.
Mr Sciberras said frequent flyer specialists bought groceries, fuel and alcohol at certain stores to maximise their points, and were members of several airline programs and other reward programs.
“Some people go to the extreme and have 35 different airline programs but the problem with that is you have points spread everywhere and not enough points to travel anywhere,” he said.
Points advice website iflyflat.com.au’s CEO, Steve Hui, said successful frequent flyers were always on the lookout for ways to earn points.
“They are using their credit card for every transaction, even for coffee, so with every single dollar they earn points,” he said.
They also had a points goal – such as a trip with a partner or family – to help motivate their effort, Mr Hui said.
“If you go out for dinner with friends and they like to pay with cash, you take their cash and you pay for the whole dinner on your card – then you’re earning points with other people’s money,” he said.