Spread your wings:How to make the most of frequent flyer schemes

Money Editor

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If there’s one thing better than actually getting an amazing bargain,it’s telling people about said amazing bargain after the fact. These shoes? Just $20 from the op shop! These meals? Two-for-one. And so on and so forth.

For some reason this effect is amplified when it comes to talking about flights. Case in point:I recently got back from Japan,where I’d managed to snag return flights for just shy of $200,an anecdote that had my fellow travellers awestruck and me feeling like King of the Deals.

Anyone who belongs to an airline loyalty scheme knows the satisfaction of some rewards points wizardry.

Anyone who belongs to an airline loyalty scheme knows the satisfaction of some rewards points wizardry.Aresna Villanueva

In reality,these almost offensively cheap flights were due to some very good luck and – for the most part – rewards points wizardry. Frequent flyer points have been around since the ’80s,and it has boomed into a massive,and very lucrative,business. In Australia,there areas many airline loyalty memberships as there are people.

What’s the problem?

Sadly,these deals have become progressively less valuable,with one airline point worth between 0.3 to 0.8 cents. It’s also become more difficult to redeem points,according to some research,meaning snagging (and bragging about) amazing flight deals is becoming less and less likely.

What you can do about it

However,there are some ways to still make the most of your points:

Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making any financial decisions.

Dominic Powell is the Money Editor for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

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