Maximise Your Velocity Points: Booking Flights via KrisFlyer Membership

Booking Flights on Points: How We're Getting to Europe with KrisFlyer

If you read our intro blog, you’ll know we’re about to start full-time travel - so, needless to say, we’re already watching our pennies. For our upcoming flight to Europe, we decided to try to book with points. I’m just a regular traveller who’s been a Qantas Frequent Flyer since the 90s (and still Bronze, for what that’s worth). But after years of watching my points languish, I finally decided to get serious about making them work for me. Here’s how I navigated the world of points, stumbled through some roadblocks, and ended up booking our flights using Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

Qantas Bronze: Where I Started (and Stayed)

I’ve been a Qantas member for decades, but never moved past Bronze. For those unfamiliar, Bronze is the entry-level tier—free to join, but with very few perks. You can earn points on flights and everyday purchases, but unless you’re a frequent flyer, climbing the status ladder is tough. I found it hard to get enough Status Credits to move up, especially since most of my travel is sporadic.

Switching to Virgin Velocity: A Faster Climb

A few years ago, I joined Virgin’s Velocity program. Right away, it felt easier to earn points and status. The program is free to join and I found that a handful of flights and some strategic spending (especially with the right credit card) made it much quicker to reach the highest status. The perks get better as you go up—think lounge passes, bonus points, and priority services.

The Credit Card Game: Amex Velocity

The real game-changer for me was getting an American Express Velocity card. Suddenly, every dollar I spent - on groceries, bills, even coffee - was earning me points. The sign-up bonus didn’t hurt either. If you’re disciplined about paying off your balance, using the card for all eligible purchases is a fast way to boost your points balance. Just watch out for surcharges on some transactions.

The Reality Check: Reward Seat Availability

Here’s where things got tricky. When I started looking for reward flights on Virgin, I was shocked at how limited the options were, even months in advance. It wasn’t just peak dates; availability was slim across the board. I tried different routes, dates, and even considered flying via partner airlines, but it felt like a game of whack-a-mole.

Plan B: Enter Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

After some research, I discovered that Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program often has better reward seat availability, especially for international flights. The best part? You can transfer your Velocity points to KrisFlyer. I found a much wider range of flights to choose from with Krisflyer, and the transfer process was quick and easy.

What I Learned (So You Don’t Have To)

• You don’t need to be an expert to make points work for you, but a little research goes a long way.

• Velocity is currently an easy ladder to climb, especially if you have a compatible credit card and use it for everyday spending.

• Reward seat availability can be a major stumbling block so don’t be afraid to look at partner programs like KrisFlyer if you’re coming up empty.

• Transferring points between programs can open up more options, but always check availability before you transfer.

  
  

Final Thoughts

I’m still learning as I go, but booking our flights through KrisFlyer was a win. If you’re frustrated with limited options in your main frequent flyer program, consider looking at their partners and see where your points can take you. And if you have any tips or stories of your own, I’d love to hear them!

Written by Angela

Not an expert, just a travel agent who’s finally using points for something worthwhile!