Savvy credit card consumers have long
known the art of maximising their
frequent flyer points to the extent
where they got the most bang for
their buck. Meanwhile the rest of
the population was left wondering
what to do to score those coveted
free flights and upgrades.
Admittedly it does take a bit of
insider knowledge to make the
most of any rewards scheme and
the fastest way to do so is with a
business credit card.

Author: The Frank Team.

Digging for the truth behind the frequent flyer points myth:
I'm sure you are not alone having wondered how some people manage to score a free overseas flight or an upgrade into business class while you just can't seem to do the same. For most consumers it is a nightmare trying to get flight freebies because of the regulations.

Because of the complications experienced most people end up giving up; they simply can't be bothered with the hassles of trying to maximise their frequent flyer points in return for facing a wall of restrictions.

Tip #1: Make the most of online tools:

Both the Frequent Flyer Club and Frequent Flyer websites offer you free tools to calculate and redeem your points for your next trip. You should make the most of these websites because they are free to use. Unless you know how much your points are worth it will be very hard to plan for a trip thinking you could or could not do it with free points.

Both of the above sites can help you demystify your points status - leaving you in charge of your destination at all times.

Another bonus of being a member of these sites is the ability for you to receive valuable insider tips on how to maximise your frequent flyer points with the help of your business credit card. Plus, there is also a handy booking service that can assist you in planning your next trip.

Tip # 2: Status matters for once:

Not all business cards are equal. In fact, some cards give you way more rewards than others and you are well advised to shop around for the card with the best deal. It is a known fact that Platinum Business Credit Cards give you more frequent flyer points per dollar spent than say a basic card does.

As a bonus these type of business cards often thrown free travel insurance and other freebies your way.

The trick to making the most of your frequent flyer business card is to use it for everything you buy; shopping, utility bills, travel, accommodation, living expenses and so on. The card must be 55 days interest-free to give you interest free shopping, saving you money in the process (provided you pay off the card in full each month.)

Around 60 per cent of all earned frequent flyer points are done so with the use of credit cards. By maximising your card usage you can ramp up your points. Some cards like American Express and the Westpac Altitude even allow you to transfer your points to rewards programs of other airlines, whereas the Commonwealth Bank's awards points can be redeemed for Flight Centre vouchers.

Tip # 4: Convert!

What many people don't realise is the fact that you can convert most Australian rewards points to Qantas Frequent Flyer points. While this is a great news you should also be aware that it isn't always providing you with the best value as over time you could actually lose value by making a transfer.

Tip # 5: Focus on REAL value:

If a credit card sounds good be sure to check the true (real) value of the rewards offered.

If for example you are asked to spend too many of your frequent flyer points for a short-distance flight you might be better of paying for it instead.

As a guide, keep this in mind: To buy a flight worth $200 you need to accumulate around 40,000 frequent flyer points first.

If the trade sounds too expensive consider using your points for free class upgrades or other freebies instead.

This article was written by Jeremy Cabral who is a regular writer and part of the team at Credit Card Finder, a 100% free Australian credit card comparison and application service. Visit the Credit Card Finder website for more information on the available Frequent Flyer Credit Cards, or subscribe to their RSS feed for more practical articles.

 

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