Leslie Massey
Australia is a popular destination for travellers, but getting there can be expensive. Fortunately, many frequent flyer programs offer cheap flights to Australia, including United MileagePlus, American AAdvantage, Qantas Airways, and Alaska Airlines. Qantas, for example, offers a range of seat options, including cash fares and Points+Pay fares. The best value option is the 'Classic Reward' fare, which is a fixed points price. Virgin Australia also offers flights to London, with Velocity Points required per person, one way. Taxes and fees are also payable and vary by route. For those looking to fly from North America to Australia, business class is a popular way to redeem points.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Flight Route | London to Australia |
| Airlines | Qantas Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways |
| Points Required | 55,200 points for Economy, 130,500 points for Business Class |
| Points Earning Partners | Velocity, Qantas Wine, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Points, Avianca LifeMiles, KrisFlyer, ANA, Star Alliance |
| Other Options | Mixed-class awards, cash fares, Points+Pay fares, Classic Reward fares |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Qantas Frequent Flyer program
Qantas, the flag carrier of Australia, has a loyalty program called the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. It is worth considering even if you don't plan on travelling to Australia. Qantas is a founding member of the Oneworld Alliance, which means that members can earn and redeem Qantas Points on all other Oneworld Alliance members. These include American Airlines, British Airways, and Qantas' low-cost subsidiary, Jetstar, which operates mostly domestic flights around Australia and some routes to East Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Hawaii. Qantas also has several other airline partners where you can earn and redeem points, such as Air New Zealand, China Airlines, and IndiGo.
Qantas Points and Status Credits can be earned on eligible flights with a Qantas or applicable Oneworld Alliance member or partner airline flight number on your ticket. The number of points earned depends on the Fare Type or Booking Class, which will be displayed during the booking process and on your E-Ticket. Qantas Points can also be earned on cash-only purchases and the cash component of Points Plus Pay purchases on eligible products. Qantas Frequent Flyer members who are not Qantas Wine Premium members will earn 1 Qantas Point per dollar spent, while Qantas Wine Premium members will earn 3 Qantas Points per dollar spent on eligible products and services purchased through the Qantas Wine website.
Qantas Points can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, or other rewards. Classic Flight Rewards are available on Qantas, Jetstar, and partner airlines, with seats subject to capacity controls and limited availability. Classic Upgrade Rewards are available on Classic Flight Rewards in Economy and Premium Economy, as well as eligible paid and confirmed Qantas domestic and international flights with a Qantas flight number. These are also subject to capacity controls and limited availability. Points Plus Pay bookings are available on any flight with a Qantas, Jetstar, Jetstar Asia, or Jetstar Japan flight number, as well as selected partner airlines, where there is a seat available for sale.
The Qantas Frequent Flyer program also offers elite status tiers, such as Platinum One (Oneworld Emerald), which provides benefits such as the highest upgrade priority, waived change fees, and access to American Airlines lounges on domestic flights. Additionally, the program is a transfer partner of several major credit card rewards programs, including American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards, making it easy to earn points.
The Australian Taipan's Deadly Diet: What They Eat and Why
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Virgin Australia's network of partner airlines
Virgin Australia is a part of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program, which allows members to earn Velocity Points and Status Credits when flying with Virgin Australia and its partner airlines. Velocity members can earn and redeem points across Virgin Australia's network of domestic and international partner airlines.
Some of the international partner airlines include Singapore Airlines, which offers direct services from all major Australian cities to Singapore and beyond to numerous destinations throughout Asia. Another partner airline is Qatar Airways, which operates daily flights from Australia to 140 worldwide destinations, including the Middle East and Europe. Additionally, Hawaiian Airlines is a partner airline that flies from Sydney to Honolulu, with onward connections to the neighbouring islands of Hawaii.
Virgin Australia also has a partnership with ANA, which flies from Sydney and Perth directly to Tokyo, providing connections to other destinations in Japan. It is worth noting that from 23 February 2025, Virgin Australia will no longer service flights to Tokyo (Haneda), and passengers are advised to explore flights with partner airlines like ANA.
Aside from these international partnerships, Virgin Australia also has a network of domestic partner airlines within Australia, allowing members to earn and redeem Velocity Points across over 600 destinations.
Aussie-Style Roast Lamb: Carving and Serving Perfection
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Using credit card sign-up bonuses
Credit card sign-up bonuses can be a great way to earn points to fly from London to Australia. Here are some tips and strategies to maximise your bonus points:
Choose the Right Credit Card
Look for credit cards with welcome bonuses or sign-up bonus points. Some cards offer tens of thousands of frequent flyer points as a sign-up bonus, which can be more than enough for a one-way business class ticket or multiple economy round-trip tickets. Compare different credit cards and their bonus offers to find the one that best suits your needs. For example, the British Airways Visa Signature® Card offers a welcome bonus of 85,000 Avios when you spend a certain amount within the first three months of account opening.
Directly Earn Miles with Co-branded Airline Credit Cards
You can earn miles directly by signing up for co-branded airline credit cards. For instance, the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Credit Card allows you to earn miles that can be redeemed for flights to Australia.
Transferable Points Credit Cards
Consider getting credit cards that offer transferable points. These cards, such as those associated with Chase Ultimate Rewards®, American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou, allow you to transfer your points to a variety of airline partners. This provides flexibility and opens up more options for booking award flights.
Maximise Bonus Points
To maximise bonus point offers, you can apply for multiple credit cards, a strategy known as "churning" credit cards. However, be sure to read the fine print, as some banks only offer sign-up bonus points to new customers who have not had a credit card with that bank for a certain period, usually 12-18 months. Additionally, some banks require a minimum spend on the card within the first few months to qualify for the bonus points.
Qantas Frequent Flyer Program
If you're looking to fly between the U.S. and Australia, the Qantas Frequent Flyer program is worth considering. Qantas offers a range of seat options, including Classic Reward fares, which are fixed-point prices and provide good value.
Other Strategies
Keep an eye out for last-minute award availability, as sometimes seats become available at around 75,000 to 87,500 points. Additionally, consider connecting flights if direct flights are too expensive, as they can sometimes offer better value.
By utilising these strategies and staying informed about credit card sign-up bonuses, you can significantly reduce the cost of flying from London to Australia.
Flying Ants or Termites? What Australians Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Flying from Sydney or Melbourne
London is approximately 17,000 kilometres from Sydney and Melbourne, and the flight time is around 22 to 25 hours. The best time to visit London is between March and May, when the weather is mild and the parks are green and blooming. July and August are also pleasant, but it is one of the busiest times to visit.
Flights from Sydney to London depart from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), which is located 8 km south of the Sydney central business district, in the suburb of Mascot.
When flying from Sydney or Melbourne, you can expect to pay around 55,200 points for a one-way Economy ticket, and 130,500 points for a one-way Business Class ticket.
If you are a member of a frequent flyer program, such as Qantas Frequent Flyer, you may be able to redeem points for your flight. Qantas offers a range of seat options, including Classic Reward fares, which are a fixed points price and offer the best value.
Other airlines that offer direct flights from Sydney to London include Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways, with an average flight time of 25 hours and 35 minutes, including a stopover in Doha.
When booking your flight, it is important to consider the availability of award seats, as some airlines have limited availability, especially when booking in advance. You may be able to find last-minute flights at a lower points cost, but these can be rare and difficult to predict.
Additionally, some airlines, such as Air Canada, offer indirect flights to London via Vancouver, which may be a more affordable option when redeeming points.
When flying from Sydney or Melbourne to London, it is important to plan ahead, be flexible with your travel dates, and compare different airlines to find the best value for your points.
Once you've arrived in London, there are plenty of things to see and do. You can visit iconic landmarks such as the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben, as well as modern attractions like the Shard and the Sky Garden. Explore the diverse neighbourhoods of Notting Hill, Camden, and the West End, and take a stroll along the South Bank of the Thames. Don't forget to try some of London's unique pubs and diverse food offerings!
Feral Deer: Australia's Unwanted Wildlife Problem
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Flying via North America
Qantas and United Airlines offer the most options for flying between North America and Australia. Qantas has a frequent flyer program, Qantas Frequent Flyer, which is considered one of the best programs for booking flights.
If you are a Star Alliance Gold member, you can upgrade to Business First Class for free with your Gold frequent flyer card on airlines such as United Airlines, Air Canada, and Lufthansa. Air Canada, Canada's largest airline, operates direct flights to Australia from its hub in Vancouver, with services to Sydney, Brisbane, and previously Melbourne.
United Airlines offers Polaris business class, which can be booked for 87,500 points. This option includes perks such as cocktails, à la carte dining, and showers at Polaris Lounges in Los Angeles or San Francisco.
If you are looking for a more indirect route, Air Mauritius became a partner with Aeroplan in 2022 and offers a back-door route to Australia. This option requires you to get yourself to Paris or London first, and then you can enjoy a single connection to Perth via Mauritius.
Indian Rupees to Australian Dollars: Quick Currency Conversion
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Qantas Points are easy to earn in Australia and can be earned through bonus points offers on products and services. The number of points required to fly from London to Australia may vary depending on the current timetable and the most direct route available. Qantas Points can be used for Classic Flight Rewards, which are subject to availability. Taxes, fees, and carrier charges are payable in addition to the points required.
From Sydney or Melbourne, you’ll need 130,500 points to fly one-way in business class.
You’ll need 55,200 points to fly one-way in economy from Sydney or Melbourne.
Various frequent flyer programs offer cheap flights to Australia, including United MileagePlus, American AAdvantage, Qantas Frequent Flyer, and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.
ANA offers a round-trip first-class flight between the US and Australia for 225,000 miles.
