Ben Squires
Money & Banking

Clever trick to save 40 per cent on flights

We hate to break it to you, but odds are your last flight was more expensive than it had to be. A travel expert has outlined ways Australian travellers can use the frequent flyer programs of their favourite carriers to save a whopping 40 per cent.

According to iFLYflat.com.au’s Steve Hui, it all comes down to being strategic, and making sure you’re selecting the right route and membership programs.

Hui, also known as The Points Whisperer, told News.com.au, “Pick your travel destinations to decide which frequent flyer program works the best for you. Most people jump in too fast into collecting points but are collecting the wrong points.

“Different programs require a different number of points to fly to the same destination. Pick your desired destination, and then choose the most appropriate program. Getting it right at the start can save you over 33 per cent.”

In the News.com.au report, Hui cites the Sydney to London route as a classic example. Economy flights from Sydney to London cost 120,000 Qantas points or 128,000 Virgin Velocity points. But if you’re flying with Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program you’ll only need 80,750 points to make the same journey, a neat 33 per cent saving.

The savings are even bigger if you fly business, with the trip costing 256,000 and 278,000 points on Qantas and Virgin respectively, but just 161,500 points if you’re using Singapore’s KrisFlyer program – a whopping 40 per cent saving!

Hui also cautions against hoarding frequent flyer points, saying, “Frequent flyer points are made to fly, so the key with collecting them is to use them to book your holiday.”

Do you think you’ll use these tips?

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Tags:
finance, save, Flights, Money & Banking