Frequent flyer & loyalty programs

Qantas Frequent Flyer is the default loyalty program for most Australians, and for good reason: it is the easiest currency to earn at scale here, and its Classic Flight Reward chart is a fixed, published distance-zone table so you can see the points price before you commit.

Asia Miles is Cathay Pacific's loyalty currency and a oneworld stalwart.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club uses Avios and consistently ranks among the best business-class experiences in the world thanks to the Qsuite.

American Airlines AAdvantage is a powerhouse for one reason Australians care about: its partner award access.

British Airways Club (the rebranded Executive Club) runs on Avios and prices reward flights on a distance-based chart.

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank is a long-standing oneworld sweet-spot program.

Finnair Plus moved to the Avios ecosystem, making it another way to hold and spend Avios across the oneworld network.

Alaska Mileage Plan built its reputation on distance-based partner award charts that delivered some of the best premium-cabin value in the world, and on generous stopover rules.

Malaysia Airlines Enrich is a oneworld program with regional Asian value.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is the program serious points collectors gravitate toward.

Air New Zealand Airpoints is a different animal: it's value-based, not miles-based.

United MileagePlus is one of the largest Star Alliance programs, but it abandoned its published award chart — pricing is now fully dynamic on both own-metal and partner awards.

Air Canada Aeroplan is a flexible-points favourite.

ANA Mileage Club is prized for premium-cabin value on its region-based partner award chart, where round-trip first and business class can price remarkably low.

Lufthansa Miles & More is Europe's largest frequent-flyer program, spanning the Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian and more).

Thai Royal Orchid Plus is a Star Alliance program with regional value from Asia.

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles is a Star Alliance program famous among points enthusiasts for outsized sweet spots — notably low rates on certain partner and US domestic awards.

EVA Air Infinity MileageLands is the program of Taiwan's EVA Air, a Star Alliance carrier with a well-regarded business class.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue is the SkyTeam program most useful to Australians, thanks to broad transfer-partner access and its monthly Promo Rewards — rotating discounts of up to half off selected routes.

Delta SkyMiles is fully dynamic with no published award chart — the mileage price tracks the cash fare.

Korean Air SKYPASS is a SkyTeam program that still publishes a region-based award chart — increasingly rare among major programs.

Velocity is Virgin Australia's program and the natural second currency for Australian flyers — the one that keeps Qantas honest.

Emirates Skywards is the currency of the A380 superjumbo and one of the most recognisable premium products in the world.

Etihad Guest is the independent program of Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club uses Virgin Points and is beloved by points enthusiasts for specific partner sweet spots — historically outstanding rates on ANA first and business class, and strong value on Delta One.