How to transfer points to airline programs in Australia

A points transfer changes the currency you hold. It does not reserve a flight. Start with a bookable itinerary and work backwards through the transfer ratio, existing balance, minimum amount and posting time.

Your transfer worksheet

1. Record the official award quote for all travellers and both directions.
2. Subtract the usable balance already in that program.
3. Convert the shortfall into source points using your account edition's current ratio.
4. Round up to the published minimum and increment.
5. Check names, account eligibility, transfer time and any promotion's dates.
6. Confirm the final amount before submitting and retain the reference.

For example, a hypothetical 10,000-mile shortfall at 3:1 needs 30,000 source points. A genuine 20% transfer bonus reduces the mathematical requirement to 25,000, but a 1,500-point increment raises that to 25,500. A bonus that posts after your booking deadline may not help fund the ticket.

Try the transfer path finder for backward calculations or the transfer calculator for a balance you already hold. Each hop costs points; routing through another currency is not automatically a saving.

Date changes matter

Westpac has announced changes effective 30 September 2026. NAB's Velocity page announces its October change. Use a transfer-date scenario rather than assuming today's ratio will still apply after your next statement.

The calculator applies recorded dated changes and only includes a transfer bonus inside its documented validity period. No bonus shown means no current promotion has been encoded; it does not prove none exists for your account.

Match the account, not just the bank

An Australian card can have several rewards editions. Direct Qantas earn, direct Velocity earn and a bank-points account are different products even where the issuer name matches. Do not apply a premium-card ratio to a basic card without confirmation.

Amex provides official instructions for linking and transferring. Complete sensitive steps yourself on the issuer's site. TravelHacker never needs your password or membership number.

If something goes wrong

Check whether the transfer is pending, rejected or credited under the destination account's transaction history. Keep the original reference and contact the issuer or program through its official support route. Do not repeat a transfer solely because the balance has not refreshed.

If the flight disappears, your new airline balance may remain even if you abandon the trip. Check reversibility before submitting; a booking refund and a bank-transfer reversal are separate processes.