Author: Mark

Qantas has announced some significant changes when using Qantas Points to book Emirates reward seats. There are three parts to this rolling out over the next few months: Emirates Redemption Changes More Points Needed While the first two changes matter, the increase in the number of Qantas Points needed to book an Emirates reward seat will affect all members. Qantas will implement these increases from 31 March 2026. This change is coming about by moving Emirates onto its own rewards table. At present, Qantas and some other partners such as Emirates share a Rewards table. However, from 31 March 2026,…

Now that we’ve stepped into a new year, it feels like a good moment to look back at how things went on the hotel loyalty front, and to think about what I want to focus on this year. I’ve been meaning to write this review about where I finished the year with the hotel loyalty programs I’m part of. More specifically, this is about the programs that run on a calendar year. For me, that’s most of the programs, although I am a member of some on other periods. While that’s not every program I’m enrolled in, it covers the…

Velocity Frequent Flyer has launched a new promotion offering Velocity members the chance to earn up to 30,000 bonus Velocity Points after taking out a new Velocity Points credit card. This offer is in addition to any sign on bonus that the eligible credit cards offer. The bonus ranges between 10,000 and 30,000 points, depending on the card you apply for. All up, it means you could be in line for 180,000 bonus points on a new card. On top of that, you should check your eligibility for the current sign-up bonus. In order to get the bonus, you need…

Sometimes one ends up in a lounge they didn’t even know they had access to. Such is the case with me when I found that I could access the Koveli Lounge in Malé. The background to that is that I was departing Malé on an Emirates flight. While I had been expecting to depart from Terminal 2, a few days before the flight I received an email advising they were changing terminals. Terminal 1 is the new terminal that began opening in July 2025. Anyhow, on checking in, I was directed to the Koveli Lounge. The Koveli Lounge On entering the…

IHG is running discount offers for members that pay for the stay with either a Visa or Mastercard. Depending on which card you choose to pay with you could get a 15% or 20% discount off the Best Flexible rate. Firstly, there is an offer for those paying with a Visa. This is offering a 20% discount off the Best Flexible Rate. Secondly, those holding a Mastercard can take advantage of a separate offer if 15% off the Best Flexible Rate. In most respects, the offers are identical – the main difference being the discount on offer, depending on which…

Start the year with a world of travel at your feet. The IHG One Rewards Year of Travel Sale brings you savings across Asia Pacific, making it easier than ever to turn your dream trips into real plans. The IHG Hotels & Resorts “Year of Travel” has just launched and runs through to 4 February. The sale is valid for stays through to 31 August 2026. IHG One Rewards members get 25% off, while everyone else can still enjoy up to 20% off. It’s a nice little perk for members, but a great deal either way. Of course, membership is…

Spontaneous Escapes, a monthly offer from Krisflyer, offers 30% off the KrisFlyer miles for a range of last-minute flights. These are typically available mid-month, and right on schedule, a new batch of Spontaneous Escapes has just been released. These discounted awards can be booked between now until 31 January 2026. They are valid for travel during February 2026. Given the time of year, there is not a lot on offer for Australians this time around. Furthermore, the options that are available are all from Australia to Singapore. That said, there are some Business Class options available. While it helps fill…

Qantas Hotels is offering up to 50,000 bonus Qantas Points on new bookings at Qantas Hotels and Qantas Holidays. The offer is available for bookings made by 5 February 2026. For the current bonus, Qantas is offering points on a sliding scale. The bonus starts at 2,000 points for a spend of between $500 and $999. This then increase up to 50,000 points when you make a booking of $5,000 or more. These points are in addition to the 3 points per dollar that are normally offered. Booking through Qantas Hotels during one of these promotions can be quite rewarding.…

Hilton is out with a new Points Unlimited promotion, offering 2,000 bonus points per stay. The bonus points are available for stays between 15 January and 30 April 2026 – perfect for those doing their early-year travel planning. The offer is going under the title of “Points Unlimited” – and yes, they’ve used this name before. The name gives away that there is no limit to the number of points that you can earn during the promotion. Keep in mind that it’s a flat 2,000 bonus points per stay – it doesn’t matter which brand, how long you stay, or…

Virgin Australia Business Flyer has just kicked off a new promotion, offering the opportunity to earn up to 125 bonus Status Credits. They are offering members the opportunity to earn these status credits by making up to 6 flights by 31 March 2026. As a reminder, Virgin Australia Business Flyer is the airline’s business loyalty program for small to medium businesses. Once you are a member you can earn Velocity Points when you, or anyone else travelling for your business, flies on Virgin Australia. To earn these points, you simply need to enter your ABN while booking the flights. Key…