Tried utilizing frequent flyer factors to ebook air journey these days? In a latest Finder survey of flyers who have been capable of ebook a flight previously 6 months utilizing frequent flyer factors, 60 per cent mentioned it was dearer or harder than anticipated.

There is a notion that frequent flyer factors ain’t what they as soon as have been. In line with Traveller reader Alan Thomas of Hawthorn, Victoria, “Possibly you have observed that Qantas reward factors are simpler to get as of late and also you solely want to take a look at bank card purposes, medical insurance and way more. Why? As a result of they’re much less rewarding than they was.”

Delta, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic have all upped the factors required to ebook a few of their seats. From mid-2022 Singapore Airways devalued its KrisFlyer factors by between 8-15 per cent, relying on the flight.

Simply as urgent is the problem of utilizing these factors for flights as a result of the provision of reward seats is being strangled proper now. Airways are beset by constraints that stop them from getting all their plane again within the air however demand for seats is excessive, particularly on worldwide routes. If the airline can fill a seat with a fare paying passenger, why would they provide it to somebody for factors?

That does not imply reward seats are non-existent. You would fly from Melbourne to Darwin utilizing Qantas factors in two weeks’ time. You would even fly Qantas to Europe on factors – offered you ebook a great distance forward. Flying Sydney to London on the finish of August 2023, returning in early September would price 325,800 factors in economic system. You would even fly enterprise on these dates, at only a snitch over 1.6 million factors.

It is survival of the quickest. There are many flyers sitting on a pyramid of factors that has grown during the last couple of years and now they’re eager to make use of them to journey, appetites sharpened by the excessive greenback value of flight tickets. Should you count on to compete for the reward seats which can be obtainable, it is advisable be in your sport.

Reserving far upfront is vital. Qantas’ reward seats are in demand and as soon as they’re gone the variety of factors you want for a seat heads skywards. If you wish to fly from Melbourne to Adelaide return with Qantas in per week’s time, the most affordable factors fare will price 60,800 factors, since there are not any Traditional Reward seats left. Ebook the identical route for six months’ time and you’ll shoehorn your self right into a Traditional Reward seat on the identical journey for simply 16,000 factors.

You’ve got received a significantly better probability of scoring reward seats on home flights moderately than worldwide. For abroad journey, it is crucial to ebook as far forward as potential. Qantas Frequent Flyer members can entry reward seats 350 days earlier than the date of journey. That additionally applies to Qantas’ Oneworld accomplice airways.

Look out for offers

Factors bonuses, two-for-one offers and factors incentives from retailers put wings in your factors steadiness. Maintaining with all the most recent affords is tedious however the Level Hacks web site mans the watchtower for avid factors harvesters. Click on on “Offers” or make it straightforward on your self and join the Level Hacks electronic mail feed.

From time-to-time Qantas affords so-called “Factors Planes”, flights the place each obtainable seat could be booked as a Traditional Flight Reward. Vanuatu was one such latest vacation spot after the nation re-opened to worldwide travellers on July 1, 2022, however it is advisable be in your toes to get on board.

Different makes use of for frequent flyer factors

Film tickets, wine and eating out are simply among the methods you may redeem frequent flyer factors and present playing cards make it potential to alternate factors for digital money that you should use nearly wherever. A $100 Apple present card prices 19,330 factors, a worth of 193 factors per greenback, and that is pretty typical of the worth retailers provide for Qantas factors. That features lodging suppliers akin to Accor Lodges and Airbnb. Staying throughout the travelsphere, resort stays and automobile rent are among the finest methods to squeeze worth out of your factors.

Lodges

Hyatt Regency Sydney. 

Fancy utilizing Qantas factors for an extended weekend in Sydney in October? A king room on the sensible Hyatt Regency on Darling Harbour begins at 128,989 factors. Money value for a similar room on the Qantas web site begins at $1155, which values these factors at about 112 factors per greenback.

On the ultra-cool Little Nationwide Resort halfway between town centre and the Barangaroo waterfront precinct, a double room begins at 93,000 factors, barely much less worth for at round 92 factors to the greenback.

In Port Douglas subsequent Might, 5 nights on the Mantra PortSea begins at 185,006 factors, however the bargains are even higher abroad.

A resort keep in Bangkok subsequent Might? Three nights on the Millennium Bangkok may price as little as 68,759 factors, or the identical three nights on the swanky, statuesque Shangri-La Bangkok, proper on the Chao Phraya River from 95,406 factors.

Might can be prime time in Bali the place 5 nights at The Westin Resort in Nusa Dua prices simply 141,437 factors. Or possibly those self same nights with buddies or household at Villa Santi, a deluxe five-bedroom villa in Ubud with a personal pool for 455,519 factors.

You too can use these Qantas factors to pay for resort and resort stays from Luxurious Escapes, a curated meeting of among the most luscious and fascinating properties within the Asia-Pacific area.

Automotive rent

The price of automobile rent continues to be excessive at many home places however utilizing factors to pay represents respectable worth. A one-week rent of a Toyota Corolla hatchback from Avis in November, pick-up and return at Hobart Airport, prices 92,050 factors. That places the worth of these factors at 118 per greenback. Far north Queensland has additionally seen a giant rise in car-hire costs and that very same Corolla hatch for per week in November will price you 106,100 factors, equal to 105 factors per greenback.