Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is a highly sought-after destination for many travellers, with its awe-inspiring nature and rich indigenous culture. However, due to its remoteness, flying there can be a logistical challenge and an expensive affair. Using points and miles can significantly reduce the cost of flights, with several airline options offering competitive pricing. Delta SkyMiles, for example, offers flash sales with rates as low as 51,000 SkyMiles round trip. Qantas, Australia's flagship carrier, also offers competitive rates and easy credit card point transfers. American Airlines provides another great option, with one-way economy flights starting at 40,000 miles and business class flights from 55,000 miles. For those seeking a more luxurious experience, first-class cabins generally start at 223,000 miles but can go up to 490,000 miles on peak travel dates.
Flying to Australia Using Miles and Points
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of SkyMiles required for a round trip in economy | 200,000 |
| Number of SkyMiles required for a round trip | 51,000 |
| Number of SkyMiles required for a one-way flight from the continental US | 40,000 |
| Number of SkyMiles required for a one-way flight from Honolulu | 32,000 |
| Number of SkyMiles required for a one-way flight from San Francisco to Brisbane | 72,880 |
| Number of Virgin Red miles required for a one-way flight from the US | 45,000 |
| Number of Virgin Red miles required for a one-way Upper Class business class flight | 165,000 |
| Number of American Airlines AAdvantage miles required for a one-way economy flight | 40,000 |
| Number of American Airlines AAdvantage miles required for a one-way business class flight | 55,000-80,000 |
| Number of American Airlines AAdvantage miles required for a one-way first-class flight | 223,000-490,000 |
| Number of Qantas miles required for a one-way business class flight | 55,000 |
| Number of ANA miles required for a round trip in first class | 225,000 |
| Number of United miles required for a one-way economy flight | 40,000 |
| Number of United miles required for a one-way business flight | 80,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Qantas Frequent Flyer Program
Qantas Frequent Flyer is a loyalty program that rewards members with Qantas Points. Qantas is Australia's flagship carrier and operates the most routes to the country. Qantas Frequent Flyer members can earn Qantas Points by booking flights with Qantas or any of its partner airlines, which include over 30 oneworld member and partner airlines and their affiliates, flying to over 1,200 destinations globally. Members can also earn Qantas Points through airline partners, accommodation, car hire, activities, and everyday purchases at select retailers.
Qantas Points can be redeemed for flight rewards, upgrades, hotels, car hire, and more. The more flights a member takes, the faster they move from bronze to platinum status. Higher status means extra benefits such as priority check-in and lounge access. Qantas also has 1:1 transfer partnerships with Citi ThankYou, Capital One, or American Express Membership Rewards, making it accessible to those with plenty of credit card points but few frequent flyer miles.
Qantas First Class is considered one of the best first-class products in the sky. For those looking to fly between the US and Australia in Qantas' first or business class, the Qantas Frequent Flyer program is the best option. However, it is important to note that award availability, especially in business or first class, can be extremely difficult to find.
There are alternative options for those looking to fly to Australia using miles and points. Delta SkyMiles, for example, offers an award travel discount for credit cardholders, and Virgin Red can help book Delta-operated partner flights for as low as 45,000 miles one-way from the US to Australia. American Airlines also offers variable pricing, with some one-way flights in the main cabin starting at 28,000 miles.
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Delta SkyMiles
There is no fixed number of SkyMiles required to fly to Australia, as Delta does not publish an award chart. This means that the number of miles required for a flight can vary depending on factors such as demand and availability. However, based on data tracked by AwardWallet, the maximum SkyMiles award pricing for a one-way flight is generally 495,000 SkyMiles. This high rate is sometimes even charged for one-way economy awards.
In addition to redeeming miles for flights, Delta SkyMiles members can also use their miles for other experiences. This includes booking different cabin classes for outbound and return flights, such as Delta Comfort+ on the outbound journey and Delta One for a more comfortable return. Members can also follow #SkyMilesLife on Instagram to explore real experiences from fellow SkyMiles members and get inspired for their next adventure.
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ANA Mileage Club
The ANA Mileage Club allows members to earn and redeem miles in several ways. Firstly, by flying, members can calculate their earned miles by multiplying the basic sector mileage (distance flown) by the accrual rate for the booking class. The accrual rates for domestic flights range from 50% to 150%, while for international flights, they range from 30% to 150%, excluding certain fare classes.
Secondly, the ANA Mileage Club is a transfer partner of American Express (AmEx). This allows members to transfer their AmEx points directly to their ANA Mileage Club account at a 1:1 ratio to book award flights on Star Alliance airlines. New cardmembers can benefit from promotions like bonus miles on their first purchase and additional miles per dollar spent.
Thirdly, the ANA Mileage Club offers international flight awards, allowing members to redeem flights with as few as 12,000 miles. However, it's important to note that these awards cannot be used for codeshare flights with ANA flight numbers operated by other airlines, except for domestic flights. Additionally, blackout dates apply to domestic flights included in international flight itineraries, and these dates are subject to change.
Lastly, the ANA Mileage Club provides benefits such as priority check-in on international flights and lower requirements for elite status. Family members can also combine their miles to redeem awards by registering for the ANA Card Family Miles or the ANA Mileage Club Family Account (AFA) Service. Overall, the ANA Mileage Club offers a valuable opportunity to earn and redeem miles, especially for those looking to fly to Australia with a Star Alliance member airline.
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American Airlines
If you are flying from Los Angeles to Sydney, a one-way economy flight will cost 40,000 to 41,900 miles, while a premium economy seat is 81,300 miles. For business class, you are looking at 55,000 to 108,400 miles, and first class starts at 110,000 miles, with some award pricing as high as 432,500 miles. If you are flying from Honolulu, a one-way business class seat will cost 75,000 miles.
You can also use Alaska Airlines miles to book American Airlines flights to Australia. Alaska Airlines is a member of the Oneworld Alliance, and its Mileage Plan allows you to use your miles on American Airlines. A one-way economy flight with Alaska Airlines miles costs 40,000 miles, and business class starts at 55,000 miles.
It is worth noting that award availability is limited, and booking in advance is recommended. Additionally, you can explore alliance partner availability to potentially find a cheaper rate.
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Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
As a member of the Flying Club, you can earn points every time you travel with Virgin Atlantic or one of its partners. Virgin Atlantic is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, so you can also earn points when flying with Delta, Air France-KLM, and more. The number of points earned depends on the flight distance, booking class, and whether you hold Flying Club elite status. You can use the airline's earning calculator to easily calculate your points.
If you've flown a Virgin Atlantic-operated flight, you can use Flying Club's Points Booster to score extra points for cheap. You can also earn points through hotel stays, car rentals, train trips across Great Britain, and shopping or parking at London's Heathrow Airport.
If you're looking to fly to Australia using points and miles, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club can help you book Delta-operated partner flights for 45,000 miles one-way from the United States. "Upper Class" business class flights require 165,000 miles one-way, which is cheaper than booking directly through Delta.
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Frequently asked questions
Flights to Australia can regularly top 200,000 SkyMiles round trip in economy. However, Delta SkyMiles credit cardholders can be eligible for an award travel discount, and the airline regularly hosts flash sales with deals as low as 51,000 SkyMiles round trip.
You’ll need at least 40,000 points for a free one-way flight to Australia from the continental US or at least 32,000 points from Honolulu.
The best credit cards for travelling to Australia with points are co-branded airline credit cards for the major legacy carriers. Popular cards include the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, the Capital One Venture X, and the American Express Platinum Card.
Virgin Red can help you book Delta-operated partner flights for 45,000 miles one-way from the United States to Australia. You can also fly to Australia with miles and points with American Airlines, which offers one-way flights in the main cabin for as few as 28,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles.
The cheapest way to fly to Australia is to leverage points and miles to pay for your flight, so you only need to pay for taxes and fees.
