Travelling Free – Economy, Business & First Class FREE!

If you’ve ever wondered how people seem to be flying Business or even First Class without paying a cent, here’s the truth; it’s not luck, it’s strategy. ✈️

I’ve been flying premium cabins for over 20 years, often for free, and I’ve fine tuned the process into something anyone can follow.
Below is the short version; the quick “how it works” before we dive into the step-by-step guide further down.

1️⃣ Collect Points Like a Pro

Your golden ticket starts with points; lots of them.
But not just any points. You want to collect points that actually give you real availability when it’s time to book. There’s no point hoarding miles if you can’t find a seat when you want it.

💳 Credit Cards

The most powerful way to earn points is by using reward credit cards for as many purchases as possible, especially business expenses. (I’ll share which cards have worked best for me below.)

If you are unsure which credit card is right for you or if you’re looking to compare the latest travel credit card offers, CreditCardCompare.com.au is a useful resource.

🧾 Payment Services (for Businesses)

This one’s less obvious, but it’s a game changer. If your business accepts credit cards, some payment providers will give you the points for every customer purchase.
Yes, they pay, and you earn the points. (I’ll explain how I do this below.)

🛒 Shopping & Utilities

Everyday spending adds up too. Programs like Flybuys or Everyday Rewards are perfect for this. Link up your energy & gas accounts to earn points and don’t skip those juicy sign up bonuses.

👉 For example, Red Energy partners with Qantas, offering 2 Qantas Points per $1 spent, plus bonus points when you join.

2️⃣ Convert Points into Flights

Once you’ve built your points balance, it’s time to turn them into something exciting. Flights! Move your points into a frequent flyer program that gives you the best redemption value and real availability. That’s how you go from collecting to travelling free.

How I Travel Free (Even in Business and First Class)

Over the years, I’ve spent countless hours researching the best mix of credit cards, reward programs, and transfer partners to squeeze every last drop of value out of my points.

I even built my own miles redemption calculator to compare airlines and see where my points could take me the furthest. (It’s also further down in this post if you’d like to play with it yourself.)

So how did I manage to fly during peak season (often in Business or even First Class) without paying for the ticket? Simple. I learned how to collect smart and redeem smarter.

My Story in a Nutshell

I’ve been doing this for over 20 years; for business, leisure, and even “bleisure” trips (yes, that’s a thing). In all that time, I’ve never missed a flight, and yes, I’ve enjoyed the coveted 1A seat a few times too.

I don’t chase low SEQ boarding pass numbers or elite bragging rights anymore. For me, the reward is stepping on board, turning left, and knowing that the seat I’m sitting in didn’t cost me a dollar.

Keep Your Points Safe

Your points are valuable; treat them like currency. Make sure your frequent flyer and credit card accounts are protected with easy password to remember but hard for people to guess. Point theft is on the rise, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

The Long Version: My Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Swipe, Swipe, Swipe 💳

So, can you really get free flights with a credit card?
Absolutely.

The trick is to put as many of your existing expenses as possible on your card, not new spending, just the things you already pay for every month. It’s about turning everyday business costs into free tickets.

When I first started, my business already had all the usual expenses (rent, utilities, suppliers, insurance, office supplies, and even tax bills.) By paying those with my credit card, the points added up fast.

It felt like turning lemons into lemonade: I was paying the same bills, but now those bills were buying me flights.

Negotiating the Smart Way

I made sure I wasn’t throwing money away on surcharges. Where possible, I negotiated minimal or zero card fees with my suppliers.

My favourite strategy? Offer shorter payment terms in exchange for removing the surcharge. It worked more often than you’d think.

And one golden rule: always pay the card balance in full. The value of your points disappears the moment you start paying interest.

Play the Long Game

The key to making this work is discipline. I never bought things I didn’t need just to earn points. I simply redirected money I already had to spend (rent, stock, utilities) through a smarter channel.

That’s the difference between collecting points and collecting debt.

Step 2: Choose the Right Credit Card

There are plenty of cards that earn points, but not all points are created equal.
When it comes to turning spending into premium cabin seats, card flexibility and transfer options matter most.

Over the years, I’ve tested almost every major card program. The one that consistently gave me the best results? American Express Explorer and Platinum.

Why I Prefer AMEX

Quite simply, AMEX plays in a different league.
Here’s why it’s my go-to for earning and redeeming points smartly:

✅ Flexible Transfers
All points I earn go into Amex Membership Rewards.
From there, I can transfer them to dozens of airlines; meaning I’m not locked into one frequent flyer program. That flexibility is gold when you’re chasing last minute reward seats.

For example, AMEX doesn’t transfer directly to Turkish Airlines. But I can move my points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, then book a Turkish Airlines flight through Star Alliance. That kind of freedom is what makes AMEX unbeatable.

✅ Transfer Partners
Under Membership Rewards, I can transfer points to major airlines including:

• Emirates
• Qatar Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Thai Airways (being removed December 2025)
• Virgin Australia
• Air New Zealand
• Etihad Airways
• Malaysia Airlines

When Citibank discontinued the Emirates Skywards credit card, AMEX became my main route to Emirates redemptions; and it hasn’t let me down since.

✅ Earning Power

• 2 points per $1 spent on most purchases and $3 points per $1 on Supermarket and Fuel.
• 1 point per $1 when paying government bills (taxes, rates, etc.)

✅ Points Never Expire
As long as your card is active and in good standing, your points are safe; no expiry dates to worry about.

✅ No Caps, No Limits
You can earn as many points as your spending allows.

✅ Fast Transfers
In most cases, transfers land within minutes.

✅ Ease of Use
Their website and app make it simple to track balances, compare transfer rates, and use their built-in calculator to check how many airline miles your Amex points convert to.

Transfer Ratios and Recent Changes

Not all transfers are equal. Here are a few key ratios as of December 2025:

• Amex → Emirates: 4:1 (previously 3:1)
• Amex → Singapore KrisFlyer: 3:1
• Amex → Qatar Privilege Club: 3:1

How Many Rewards Points Can I Transfer?

It depends on the airline. As a general rule move ONLY the amount of points you need for the ticket you are booking. The remaining keep for your next trip. With Emirates there is a minimum transfer of 2000 points and a maximum of 999,000. If you are transferring over 1 million points, just do it in a couple of transfers in the same day.

Backup Cards: VISA or MasterCard

Not every retailer accepts AMEX, so having a backup is essential. I use the Virgin Money High Flyer VISA, which sends points directly to my Velocity Frequent Flyer account. This setup spreads my options and lets me top up my KrisFlyer balance when needed (though the transfer ratio isn’t 1:1, so I only use it occasionally).

⚠️ Important Update: Major Devaluation Coming December 2025

If you’re sitting on a big balance of AMEX Membership Rewards points, don’t wait too long to transfer them.
A significant devaluation is coming into effect this December 2025, affecting several key partners including Emirates Skywards, Qatar, and more.

The new transfer ratios will mean you’ll need more points for the same flight, so now is the time to lock in redemptions early while the current rates still apply.

👉 For the latest details, I’ve published a separate update here:
AMEX Points Devaluation: What It Means for Your Miles (December 2025 Update)

Step 3: Earn Points on Every Sale with Live EFTPOS Black

This is one of the best kept secrets in the points world, and one that most business owners completely overlook.

If your business accepts credit card payments, you can actually earn points on your customers’ purchases. Yes, they pay you, and you earn the points.

That’s the power of Live EFTPOS Black.

How It Works

Live EFTPOS provides your business with a payment terminal (just like any other merchant provider). The difference is that you earn Qantas Points every time a customer pays using that terminal.

Here’s what happens in practice:

• A customer makes a payment using their credit or debit card.
• You receive the payment in your business account.
• At the same time, you earn Qantas Points based on the total transaction amount.

Live EFTPOS automatically transfers those points to your Qantas Business Rewards account. (If you’re not already a member, registration is quick and free.)

Is It Worth It?

In my experience, absolutely.
While Live EFTPOS fees can be slightly higher than traditional merchant providers, the trade off is often a Business Class ticket (or two) every year.

For me, that made it a no brainer.

✅ I earned points passively from every customer sale.
✅ Those points went straight into Qantas Business Rewards.
✅ I redeemed them for premium cabin flights with Qantas and partner airlines.

A Few Things to Know

• Fees: Expect slightly higher rates than standard EFTPOS terminals.
• Availability: Reward seats on Qantas can be limited, so plan ahead or stay flexible with dates and destinations.
• Redemptions: Premium cabin seats (Business and First) go fast; check award seat release windows to increase your chances.
• Qantas Business Rewards: You can later transfer these points to individual Qantas Frequent Flyer accounts to make bookings.

I’ve only managed to redeem a few premium tickets with Qantas due to availability, but when it works, it’s gold.

Step 4: Pick the Right Frequent Flyer Programs ✈️

Once you’ve earned all those points, the next big question is:
Where should you transfer them?

Not all frequent flyer programs are equal. Some have great availability but poor value; others have high redemption rates but flexible rules.

I’ve tested almost all of them over the years, and these are my top three programs for getting the best mix of availability, value, and experience.

✈️ My Frequent Flyer Program Checklist

Before transferring any points, I always ask one question:
Is this program going to get me in the seat I want, when I want it?

Over the years, I’ve learned to judge a frequent flyer program by more than just its name or sign up bonus. Here’s my personal checklist for finding the right one; and it’s never steered me wrong.

✅ Availability
Can I actually find a seat when I need one, even at short notice?
Some programs make you plan months ahead; others let you book business or first-class seats a week before departure.

✅ Extra Fees & Surcharges
Are there hidden costs like fuel surcharges or carrier-imposed fees?
Can I pay them with miles if I want to? (Most of the time, that’s not great value, but it’s nice to have the option.)

✅ Transfer Speed from AMEX
When I move points, how fast do they land?
Emirates says “one business day,” but in my experience, transfers are often instant; a big win when seats disappear fast.

✅ Transfer Ratio
Transfer ratios vary widely these days, so it’s all about finding what gives you the best value. A 2:1 conversion rate (two reward points for one frequent flyer mile) is generally fair in the current market, while anything higher starts to dilute your value.
The key is to compare the number of points required for the same route across different programs; that’s where you’ll spot the real bargains.

✅ Lounges & Partners
Lounges matter. A true premium experience starts before take off.
If the airline doesn’t have its own lounge at major airports, I check who they partner with; it makes a big difference on long-haul trips.

✅ Customer Service & Flexibility
Good customer service can save your trip when plans change. I always check how easy it is to modify or cancel a booking.

✅ Added Perks
Extras like chauffeur transfers, fast-track security, and priority boarding are nice to have; especially when you’ve earned them through points.

✅ Miles Expiry & Caps
Do miles expire? Is there a cap on how many I can earn or transfer? You don’t want your hard earned balance to vanish overnight.

✅ Aircraft & Cabin Type
Yes, I’m that person who checks which aircraft is operating the route before booking.
The right aircraft can mean the difference between a recliner and a lie-flat bed; or even a shower at 40,000 feet.

For all these reasons, I narrowed it down to a few stand out programs; the ones that consistently deliver value, flexibility, and availability.

Here are my top picks:

🏆 1. Emirates Skywards

Best for: Premium cabins, great availability, and a luxury experience from start to finish.

Emirates isn’t part of any major alliance, but it partners with several airlines, and that’s part of its charm. It’s independent, but powerful.

When does Emirates release it’s award tickets?

Emirates opens reward seats 331 days before departure.
You can even use my date calculator to find out exactly when your preferred flight will open.

One of the reasons I’ve remained loyal to Emirates is that they also release extra seats close to departure; sometimes within two weeks of the flight. Perfect for last minute travellers like me.

Why I Love It

• Excellent award availability
• Instant transfers from AMEX Membership Rewards (usually within minutes)
• World class lounges, service, and aircraft

Things to Watch

• High carrier charges. You can use miles to offset them, but the redemption rate isn’t ideal.
• Partner bookings: If you book an Emirates flight through another airline’s program (like Qantas), you might lose access to perks like chauffeur service or upgrades.

TIP 1: Compare aircraft features that you prefer. For example, their new Boeing 777 – Game Changer has floor-to-ceiling private suites with unbelievable features and only six first-class suites in the cabin. Their A380, on the other hand, has first-class suites which are not floor to ceiling but still provide you with privacy and have the additional features of a shower and bar on board.

TIP 2: Opt-in for an upgrade email. Emirates will notify you last minute of any seat or class upgrade. These are usually great bargains. I did an upgrade on many occasions. You can also ask at the check-in counter.

TIP 3: Always make sure you get the best value for your points using my miles redemption calculator

🌏 2. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Best for: Star Alliance redemptions and high-quality Business Class experiences. Singapore Airlines is part of the Star Alliance, which gives you access to an enormous global network, plus a few extra non alliance partners.

When does Singapore release it’s award tickets?

Singapore Airlines is a Star Alliance member and also has partnerships with airlines that are not members of any alliance. It releases its award seats 355 days from departure. You can use my date calculator to figure out what date that might be.

That’s not to say it doesn’t have availability at short notice. It does, but it may mean being flexible with your departure and arrival cities. It’s worth the time and effort as they have a spectacular product. KrisFlyer also allows you to transfer your miles over to the Virgin Velocity Program, though the ratio (currently 1.55:1) isn’t ideal, it’s better as a top-up option.

KrisFlyer is known to restrict most of its business and first-class long-haul award tickets to its members. This means you may have difficulty securing one of these tickets through its partner airlines (such as Virgin Velocity). It pays to become a member directly with their Frequent Flyer program (KrisFlyer). You get access to seats on airlines that are part of the Star Alliance. For example I have secured tickets on Aegean through the KrisFlyer program.

Their availability for reward tickets is good.

TIP 1: Don’t rely on their waitlist – it never cleared for me.

TIP 2: Always make sure you get the best value for your points using my miles redemption calculator

Cons: Very difficult to get a saver ticket on short notice – they are forever waitlisted. Their Business advantage is easier but will cost more miles.

🇦🇺 3. Virgin Australia Velocity

Best for: Domestic flights and simple redemptions. Virgin Velocity is fantastic for Australian domestic travel and shorter international flights.
They’ve also rebuilt strong partnerships with Singapore Airlines, Etihad, and Qatar Airways, giving you good reach internationally.

When does Virgin Australia release it’s award tickets?

Virgin Australia is not currently part of an alliance but has partnerships with several other airlines, notably Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Qatar.

Virgin releases its award seats 330 days from departure. You can use my date calculator to figure out what date that might be.

Why I Love It

• Great availability on domestic routes.
• Excellent customer service and easy redemptions.
• Lounges across Australia with consistent quality.

Things to Watch

• International redemptions can be hit and miss. Here is the best way to find a reward seat on an international flight with Virgin.
• Taxes and fees are higher on long-haul flights.
• KrisFlyer transfers are handy but costly in miles.

TIP 1: You can transfer Velocity points to the Kris Flyer program if you are struggling to find availability for a long-haul (international) flight. The only downside is the conversion ratio. It currently sits at 1.55:1. It is not something I would do as a strategy, but is definitely something to consider if you would like to top up your points in the KrisFlyer FFP.

TIP 2 : Always make sure you get the best value for your points using my miles redemption calculator

Step 5: Other Frequent Flyer Programs Worth a Look 👀

While Emirates Skywards, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Velocity are my go-tos, there are several other programs worth keeping on your radar, especially if you like to mix up routes or chase niche redemptions.

The right program often depends on where you’re flying, how flexible you are, and which airlines you enjoy.

Here are a few that regularly offer solid value or unique opportunities:

💠 Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific)

A strong program for travellers heading through Asia or Europe.
Asia Miles often has better availability than Qantas for the same oneworld routes, and its award chart can deliver good value on long-haul Business Class flights.

✈️ Example: I’ve redeemed Asia Miles for Business Class to Europe. An excellent experience on the new Cathay Pacific A350-1000, which easily sits in my top five aircraft for comfort and style.

💎 Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Since joining the Avios ecosystem, Qatar’s Privilege Club has become far more appealing. The Qsuite product remains one of the best in the sky, and reward availability is generally decent if you book early.

Step 6: When Airlines Release Award Seats ✈️

Timing is everything in the points game.
Every airline has a specific window when it releases reward seats, and knowing those windows can make the difference between snagging a Business Class suite or missing out completely.

Here is a list of some of the major airlines and when they approximately open up their award seats.

🕓 Quick Takeaway

• Book early: Between 330–360 days out is your sweet spot for long-haul Business and First Class.
• Elite status matters: Airlines like Qantas and Singapore open seats earlier for higher-status members.
• Check daily: New seats can drop overnight; I’ve seen Emirates open extra space two weeks before departure.

Step 7: Scoring Last-Minute Reward Seats

Not a planner? You’re in good company.
Many premium airlines quietly release extra reward seats within 14 days of departure; especially in Business and First Class.

👉 Being a member of their frequent flyer program helps.
Members are often the first to access these late drops, while partner programs might not see them at all.
That’s why I always recommend joining your favourite airlines directly; it can make the difference between snagging a seat or missing out entirely.

Here are the ones that most often do:

🟩 Emirates – Frequently releases First Class space close to departure.
🟩 Cathay Pacific – Often adds availability 1–2 weeks before take-off.
🟩 Lufthansa & Swiss – Known for First Class releases inside 14 days.
🟩 ANA & Japan Airlines – Excellent last-minute options if you’re flexible.
🟩 Etihad & Qatar – Occasional surprise releases on high-demand routes.
🟩 United & Austrian – Good Business Class availability in the final week.

If you’re spontaneous or travel for business, these “late drops” can work in your favour; just keep a small points balance ready to transfer.

💡 Pro Tip

Always use your date calculator (linked below) to find the exact date your preferred flight opens for booking. A little planning upfront saves a lot of frustration later.

Step 8: How to Calculate the Best Value for Your Points 💰

Collecting points is one thing; using them wisely is another.
Once you’ve got a healthy balance, the real trick is to make sure you’re getting maximum value when redeeming them.

That’s where my Miles Redemption Calculator comes in. It helps you compare different flight options to see which gives you the best return on your hard-earned points.

Why You Should Calculate Redemption Value

Quite simply because you would not want to use 100,000 points to get something to the value of $100 if you can get something to the value of $1000. My miles redemption calculator will give you your redemption value. The higher the number, the better the deal.

Go ahead and have a play with the calculator – it’s heaps of fun, and you may be pleasantly surprised by your findings.

How to use this calculator:

How to Use It

1. Go to your frequent flyer program and pick a flight.
2. Enter the cash price of that ticket.
3. Add how many miles you need to redeem for it.
4. Include any extra fees (taxes, surcharges, etc.).
5. The calculator will show you your redemption value in cents per mile.

The higher the number, the better the deal.

You can use the below calculator to check the value of other rewards available such as hotels, car rentals, appliances etc – same rules apply, anything above 3.0 cents I consider to be good value.

MILES Redemption CALCULATOR

Let’s try an example together:

Cash Ticket Price is AUD $ 6011.93 (includes taxes, fees & carrier imposed charges)
Its reward price is 105,000 Miles + AUD $ 925.13 (taxes, fees & carrier imposed charges)

If we enter this information into our calculator above, we will see that the redemption value of our mile is 4.8 cents.

Let’s take a look at what happens when we select a different airline:

Cash Ticket Price is AUD $ 4081.95 (includes taxes, fees & carrier imposed charges)
It’s reward price is 180,000 Miles + AUD $ 100.41 (taxes, fees & carrier imposed charges)

If we enter this information into our calculator above, we will see that the redemption value of our mile is 2.1 cents.

What That Means

The Emirates option gives better value on paper; fewer miles for a higher cash equivalent. But redemption value is also personal.

For instance, I might still choose Singapore Airlines if I already had a large KrisFlyer balance or preferred to avoid Emirates’ high surcharges.
Miles can devalue over time, so sometimes it’s smarter to use them sooner rather than later.

My General Tips

✅ Watch for expiry dates. Don’t let points go stale.
✅ Don’t pay taxes or carrier fees with points. This is very bad value.
✅ Be flexible. Flying into a nearby city (like Manchester instead of London) can save miles.
✅ Check for changes in FFP policies
✅ Avoid “miles plus cash” deals. They rarely offer good value.
✅ Use points for flights, not toasters. Upgrades and premium seats almost always return the best bang for your points.
✅ Remember: The best deal is the one that feels right for you; value isn’t just maths; it’s what you get out of the experience.

Below is the STEP BY STEP Process on how to make a reward booking (including screenshots)

Once you’ve chosen your airline and built up your points, here’s exactly how to turn them into a free (or nearly free) flight.

🪜 Step 1: Search and Compare Flights

Login to your frequent flyer program and search for flights and availability. Compare miles needed + carrier-imposed fees. Then choose between them.

Let’s take a look at an example. I will be comparing between Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

➡️ Search Flights – Enter your Departure & Arrival Airports and Dates. Ensure you check off the box of ➡️ My Dates are Flexible and the Box of ➡️ Classic Rewards. (see screenshot below):

➡️ Once you have selected your dates lets move to the next screen to see what is available from either business or first class. (see screenshot below):

➡️ So our outbound and inbound options are now displayed. I am showing you the outbound in this example. The basic information we need to see here is the following:

• The Miles required for the specific class
• I have two flight options to choose from
• The carrier imposed fees
• The flight times including layovers
• The aircraft we are flying – as this determines the cabin and its features.

➡️ Let’s now make a choice and move on.

➡️ I have selected both outbound and inbound to be First Class and can now see the following information:

• I will require 197,500 miles for a return First Class Ticket or 105,000 for a Business Class Ticket
• The carrier imposed fees are coming in at approximately $925 Australian Dollars
• I will be flying a Boeing 777 aircraft from Dubai to Singapore
• I will be flying an A380 Airbus from Singapore to Dubai
• My flight time is approximately 7.5 hours each way with no stop-overs. 

I can pretty much see from this whole process that i will be able to find a first class ticket on this particular destination. Either by opting for a different time or date. It’s unlikely that in 24 hours all of this will be unavailable. It’s a calculated risk that I am willing to take. In a worst case scenario, the First Class gets booked out, but i can still get business class.

The next thing i do is head on over to Singapore Airlines to see what they have on offer for around about the same time.

➡️ Search Flights – Enter your Departure & Arrival Airports and Dates. Ensure you check off the Box of ➡️ Redeem Flights. Select First Class/Suites as your first choice.

You can see here that there are no available seats in First Class to redeem. In this instance you can either keep trying to find something on a different date or move straight to business class. You can see in that screenshot that the whole week pretty much has no availability in First Class.

➡️ Let’s move on to Business Class.

➡️ So we can now clearly see that top row showing us a fair bit of availability on different dates in business class. Im going to stick to my original dates and make a selection so i can see what its going to cost me.

➡️ So here we have it. I am looking for that same information as i previously did with Emirates.

• I will require 139,000 miles for a return Business Class Ticket
• The carrier imposed fees are coming in at approximately $105 Australian Dollars (Arab Emirate Dirhams 275)
• If i click on the “more details” blue button, it lets me know that I will be flying a Boeing 777 300ER aircraft both outbound and inbound.

🪜 Step 2: Compare the Options

Now is the time to weigh it all up and make that comparison. In this example, Emirates is coming in with fewer miles required for the business class cabin, but you are paying heaps more in carrier-imposed fees.

Ask yourself:
💭 Do I want to save miles, or save cash?
💭 Is it worth spending a few extra points for a better seat or cabin experience?

Then there’s the option of just wanting to fly first class! Emirates has availability in this case and not Singapore. Do you have enough miles, and do you think it’s worth it?

I would generally make use of first class cabins for really long haul flights like Melbourne to Dubai 14 hours +.

A sector like dubai to singapore is only 7 hrs or so, and business class is just as exquisite. But these are personal preferences and the choice is yours to make.

🪜 Step 3: Check the Aircraft and Seat Map

Finally, it’s worth taking a look at the cabin features. You need to enjoy to the fullest what you are getting. So if you are going to spend the miles, get as much benefit as you can.

There is a new game changer 777-300ER that Emirates flies to specific destinations only, and its first-class cabin has only six seats. They are complete suites from ground to ceiling. It is an absolute game-changer, as they call it. Then again, the A380-800 has a shower on board and a bar.

🪜 Step 4: Transfer Your Points

➡️ Now that you have decided who you want to fly with, head on over to your Amex Membership Rewards (unless you already have enough points in your FFP).

➡️ Convert the amount of rewards points to miles and send over those points to your FFP. Wait 1-3 business days depending on the FFP. (They get into my Emirates FF programme in 5 minutes)

🪜 Step 5: Finalise Your Booking

➡️ Log back into to your FFP. Ensure your points have landed.

➡️ Repeat that step 1 again and now complete your booking using your points and pay for any surcharges that you need to. *Some airlines offer you to pay for your surcharges and carrier imposed fees with your points (I didn’t find much value in doing so though.)

🪜 Step 6: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Don’t forget your Travel Insurance! You may have it complimentary with your credit card, but I always take out a separate, comprehensive top cover. Allianz Travel Insurance has always been my choice for this. Straight forward, easy to read and understand and well priced.

➡️ If you are heading over to Europe, familiarise yourself with the new rules on Entry and Exit which have begun in October 2025 and the new ETIAS which will commence in 2026. Here’s the complete guide to EES and ETIAS.

🪜 Step 7: Enjoy the Journey

Enjoy your trip – you’ve worked hard for it, and remember to protect yourself and never share your boarding pass on social media.

Final Thoughts: Work Smart, Travel Smarter 🌍

Earning and flying free isn’t about luck; it’s about knowing how to play the game.
Every point you collect and every mile you redeem is a small reward for the work you’ve already done.

When I first started, it felt complicated. But once I cracked the formula (the right cards, the right programs, and a bit of patience) it became second nature. Now, I book flights that used to cost thousands, for next to nothing.

So start small. Pick one card, one program, and one goal (maybe your next holiday, or a dream Business Class seat.)
You’ll be surprised how quickly those points add up.

✈️ Collect smart. Redeem smarter. Travel free.
And if you ever get stuck or want a second opinion, you know where to find me.

✍️ About The Author

From building a thriving company to mastering the frequent flyer game, Cranky Boss has learned that in both business and travel, the journey teaches more than the destination. A Melbourne Business Awards finalist with a knack for building strong teams and keeping things real, Cranky Boss shares the wins, the mishaps, and the occasional “OMG” moments along the way.

Today, Cranky Boss brings real stories, sharp insights, and a grounded perspective from the boardroom to the boarding gate.
Read more about Cranky Boss →

✍️ Quick Facts

Miles flown: Closing in on one million | Hidden talent: Turning frequent flyer points into first class tickets | Coffee strength: Dangerously high | Office pet peeve: Speakerphone calls | Business mantra: Culture first, profit follows | Superpower: Understanding people before they speak.