The Best Ways To Fly to Australia With Points & Miles [Step-by-Step]

Australia is an undeniably far-flung destination for Americans. The continent is located at least 14 hours by nonstop flight from the contiguous U.S. (excluding Hawaii). But its remoteness is no doubt part of what compels many travelers to head there in the first place.

Known for its awe-inspiring nature and rich indigenous culture, Australia is one of the top tourist destinations on the planet. But, flying to Australia can be a huge logistical undertaking, especially if you don’t know where to start planning your trip.

Although using points and miles can reduce the cost of flights, you’ll definitely want to save up for business or first class if you can, simply due to the grueling nature of these ultra-long-haul flights.

Today, we’ll present the top ways to fly to Australia with points and miles, especially in premium cabin redemptions. Because some airlines are notorious for not releasing any seats for award bookings to Australia, we’ll integrate award availability into our rankings.

Nonstop Routes Between North America and Australia

Since Australia is one of the most difficult destinations to access, particularly from the U.S. and Europe, there are going to be fewer routes you can take.

There are a total of 7 airlines that operate nonstop flights from the U.S. (including Hawaii) to Australia. These are:

• Air Canada
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Brisbane (BNE)
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Sydney (SYD)
• American Airlines
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
• Delta Air Lines
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
• Hawaiian Airlines
  • Honolulu (HNL) – Sydney (SYD)
• Jetstar Airways
  • Honolulu (HNL) – Sydney (SYD)
• Qantas
  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Sydney (SYD)
  • Honolulu (HNL) – Sydney (SYD)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Brisbane (BNE)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Sydney (SYD)
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Sydney (SYD)
• United Airlines
  • Houston (IAH) – Sydney (SYD)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Sydney (SYD)

In all, there are 10 routes with nonstop service to Australia from North America.

Hot Tip: Nonstop from New York (JFK) to Sydney (SYD)? Qantas has just ordered the A350-1000 for what will be the world’s longest flight starting in 2025.

Best Programs for Booking Flights

Generally speaking, award availability, especially in business/first class is extremely difficult to find. More than ever, the importance of flexibility and being open to positioning flights can’t be overstated.

If you are flexible, you should be able to book at least a solid lie-flat business class seat to Australia using points and miles with minimal cash outlay — let’s take a look at the best ways to do so.

All Nippon Airways Mileage Club

Our top choice for flying to Australia is using All Nippon Airways’s loyalty program, ANA Mileage Club. It consistently gets rave reviews, whether it’s the amazing redemption prices or its variety of partners.

Although it’s a relatively complex program, there’s so much value to be had when redeeming ANA miles for flights to Australia. ANA offers excellent redemption rates with tons of sweet spots and an awesome stopover/open-jaw allowance. And, making it even better, there are loads of ways to earn ANA miles.

ANA has 2 main award charts:

• One for ANA-operated flights, which are subject to seasonal pricing fluctuations
• One for partner-operated flights, which are not subject to pricing seasonality

With All Nippon Airways, you can only redeem for round-trip tickets — one-way tickets are not allowed. If you can avoid booking one-way tickets, ANA offers some excellent business class pricing. Here’s the partner award chart for round-trip tickets:

The 2 main carriers offering nonstop flights that you’ll want to book to Australia using ANA miles are:

• Air Canada
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Brisbane (BNE)
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Sydney (SYD)
• United Airlines
  • Houston (IAH) – Sydney (SYD)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Sydney (SYD)

In general, Air Canada has a reputation for offering a superior premium cabin product. However, other things can factor into your decision, such as proximity to the departing airport, willingness to connect in Canada, and more.

Total taxes and fees will usually run you at around $10 to $50 for United Airlines and Air Canada, which is great.

The seats on these United Polaris-equipped flights are usually arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration. Although all the seats are 100% lie-flat, not all of them have direct aisle access, and the seats aren’t as private as the true Polaris business class. Currently, there are no United Airlines routes to Australia that feature the true Polaris business class.

Air Canada’s product consists of reverse herringbone seats in a clean, airy cabin. If possible, we’d recommend you book Air Canada’s business class product over United’s in this scenario.

Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

• Houston (IAH) – Sydney (SYD)
  • Round-trip in United Airlines business class for 120,000 ANA miles + $40 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • Round-trip in United Airlines economy for 75,000 ANA miles + $40 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Melbourne (MEL); Sydney (SYD) – San Francisco (SFO)
  • With an open-jaw in Melbourne in United Airlines business class for 120,000 ANA miles + $40 in taxes and fees
• Vancouver (YVR) – Melbourne (MEL); Brisbane (BNE) – Vancouver (YVR)
  • With an open-jaw in Melbourne in Air Canada business class for 120,000 ANA miles + $40 in taxes and fees

To book any of these itineraries, follow these steps:

1. Go to ANA’s homepage.
2. Click ANA Mileage Club on the top-right side of the homepage.
3. Find the Flight Awards section on the left side of the page. Click International, and then Award Reservation.
4. Log in using your ANA Mileage Club account number and password.
5. Type in your route pairing, travel dates, number of passengers, cabin class, and then click Search.
6. Transfer your points to ANA. You might have luck holding awards when calling 800-235-9262, but this is the exception rather than the norm.
7. After the points are deposited into your account, confirm your reservation by paying for taxes and fees.

Earning ANA Mileage Club Miles

As we mentioned above, earning ANA miles is super easy. ANA is an Amex transfer partner and a Marriott Bonvoy transfer partner, so there are many options for earning credit card points and transferring them to ANA.

Amex transfers at a 1:1 ratio, whereas Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.

There can be a bit of a delay when transferring to ANA. Amex usually takes around 3 business days to process transfers, while Marriott Bonvoy takes around 7 business days.

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Bottom Line: ANA provides access to 2 carriers that operate nonstop flights to Australia, Air Canada and United Airlines, and offers attractive redemption rates, particularly in business class. 

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

One of the best ways to book nonstop flights to Australia is to redeem Alaska Airlines miles. Although Alaska itself doesn’t operate flights to Australia, it has some great partnerships that can be instrumental in economically getting you to Australia in style, 2 of which are particularly noteworthy for nonstop flights to Australia:

• American Airlines
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
• Qantas
  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Sydney (SYD)
  • Honolulu (HNL) – Sydney (SYD)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Brisbane (BNE)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Sydney (SYD)
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Sydney (SYD)

Qantas is the flag carrier of Australia, but we’ll be the first to mention that travelers usually have a love-hate relationship with the airline.

Qantas first class is one of the most aspirational products out there. With such a tight grip on award inventory, booking Qantas first class is very elusive, which likely contributes to the intense interest surrounding the product.

Here’s the award chart for the 2 airlines for one-way flights between the U.S. and Australia:

As you can see, Alaska Airlines redemptions for Qantas business or first class are incredibly lucrative. If you couple this with the stopover allowance on one-way flights, there’s simply too much value to pass up.

There is 1 massive catch, however: Qantas is extremely stingy with award availability. It has gotten to a point where most of the time, you won’t see award space on any of the nonstop routes for the entire year. It’s almost as if booking Qantas is impossible.

You wouldn’t be wrong in most cases. Periodically, Qantas will dump an obscene amount of inventory in business/first class into the system. This is typically done for flights in January through March.

Other than that, you’re going to have a very difficult time nabbing these flights. If you do, however, you won’t be disappointed — Qantas makes an appearance on our rankings of the best international first class airlines in the world.

Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Sydney (SYD) – Perth (PER)
  • One-way in Qantas first class for 70,000 Alaska miles + ~$26 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Brisbane (BNE) – Darwin (DRW)
  • One-way in Qantas business class for 55,000 Alaska miles + ~$26 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL) – Alice Springs (ASP)
  • One-way in Qantas first class for 70,000 Alaska miles + ~$26 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD) – Hobart (HBA)
  • One-way in Qantas first class for 70,000 Alaska miles + ~$26 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Sydney (SYD) – Cairns (CNS)
  • One-way in Qantas business class for 55,000 Alaska miles + ~$26 in taxes and fees

The process for booking Qantas and American Airlines flights using Alaska miles is easy:

1. Go to Alaska Airlines’ website.
2. Sign in using your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Number and Password.
3. Search for your route pairing, dates, and number of passengers on the homepage (check off the box that says Use Miles).
4. Select your flight and click Add To Cart.
5. Complete your booking by paying with miles and for any taxes and fees using a credit card.

Earning Alaska Airlines Miles

Alaska Airlines’ only transfer partner is Marriott Bonvoy. The transfer ratio is 3:1 with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred. Transfers usually take around 2 business days to complete.

There are also several different ways to earn Alaska miles, including opening the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature^® Credit Card or buying Alaska Airlines miles when there’s a big sale.

The biggest sales have featured a 60% bonus on all purchased miles, which is a big deal. This can effectively get you a Qantas first class flight, which typically retails for $15,000+, for only $1,000 to $2,000!

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Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points)
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
• 15 Elite Night Credits per year
• 1,000 bonus points per paid stay
• 1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
• No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

• $250 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit

Card Highlights

• Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
• Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• With complimentary Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy^® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card^® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Plan It^® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
• $250 Annual Fee.
• Terms apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Hotel Credit Cards

More Reads

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• Best Credit Cards for Marriott Loyalists
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Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

95,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$665

Annual Fee

$650

APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
• 25 Elite Night Credits each year
• Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
• Annual Free Night Award after card renewal
• Complimentary Platinum Elite status

Cons

• Steep annual fee of $650 (rates and fees)
• 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

Card Highlights

• Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
• Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy^® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

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• Best Sign Up Bonuses

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

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Bottom Line: Redeeming Alaska Airlines miles for Qantas or American Airlines flights is a great way to fly to Australia, as long as you can find award availability. 

United Airlines MileagePlus

Award flights booked through United Airlines MileagePlus are priced dynamically.

Here’s the approximate award chart for one-way flights between North America and Australia:

Using United miles rarely represents the absolute best value for your points. However, using MileagePlus to book your awards has the following benefits:

• Miles are easy to earn, particularly for Chase loyalists
• Easy booking process
• No fuel surcharges on most flights
• Star Alliance network of routes

There are 3 airlines on which you can book nonstop flights to Australia:

• Air Canada
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Brisbane (BNE)
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Sydney (SYD)
• Hawaiian Airlines
  • Honolulu (HNL) – Sydney (SYD)
• United Airlines
  • Houston (IAH) – Sydney (SYD)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Sydney (SYD)

Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

• Honolulu (HNL) – Brisbane (BNE)
  • One-way in Hawaiian Airlines first/business class for 60,000 United miles + ~$65 in taxes and fees
• Honolulu (HNL) – Sydney (SYD)
  • One-way in Hawaiian Airlines economy class for 38,500 United miles + ~$65 in taxes and fees
• Houston (IAH) – Sydney (SYD)
  • One-way in United Airlines business class from 80,000 United miles (saver award) + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Vancouver (YVR) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • One-way in Air Canada business class for 99,000 United miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees

To book using United miles, follow these simple steps:

1. Visit United Airlines’ homepage.
2. On the homepage, there’s a search box. Type in the city pairs, travel dates, number of travelers, and cabin class you’re booking.
3. Click Find flights.
4. Log in using your MileagePlus Number and Password.
5. Locate your flights, and pay with miles. Pay for taxes and fees using any credit card to finish confirming your reservation.

Earning United MileagePlus Miles

There are so many different ways to earn United miles. The primary way is going to be transferring from Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy.

Bilt Rewards points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio instantly, while Marriott Bonvoy points transfer within 2 business days at a 3:1.1 ratio with a 5,500-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.

You can also use Chase’s co-branded United credit cards to earn United miles directly.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
• 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
• Excellent travel and car rental insurance
• 10% annual bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
• Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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• Best Sign Up Bonuses

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
• 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• 5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
• 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit
• Priority Pass airport lounge access
• TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
• Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
• Rental car elite status with National and Avis

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards^® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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SPECIAL OFFER

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

Welcome Offer

SPECIAL OFFER: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned at the end of your first year! There is no limit to how much cash back you can earn.

Matched Cash Back

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited^® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1.5% back on all other purchases
• No annual fee
• Earn big on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Everyday bonus on dining and drugstores
• Straightforward cash-back on all other purchases
• Ability to pool points

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fee

Card Highlights

• SPECIAL OFFER: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned! There is no limit to how much you can earn. Every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match.
• Unlimited 1.5% cash back is just the beginning of what you can earn. You’ll enjoy 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24%.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited^® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

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Chase Freedom Flex℠

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.

Welcome Offer

Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.

The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
• Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
• No annual fee
• Excellent cell phone insurance
• Ability to pool points
• Mastercard World Elite benefits

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars

Card Highlights

• Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
• No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
• Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Business Owner? Read our article on the best Chase business cards that earn Ultimate Rewards.

Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca is a Star Alliance airline with plenty of transfer partners, and its frequent flyer program is called LifeMiles. Using LifeMiles is attractive due to the reasonable redemption rates and the plentiful ways to earn LifeMiles.

With LifeMiles, you’ll enjoy instant mileage transfers, lots of transfer partners, no fuel surcharges, and an easy online booking process.

There are several great ways to redeem Avianca LifeMiles for maximum value, and this is definitely one of them. Here’s the award chart for one-way flights from North America to Australia:

The 2 airlines you’ll want to book flights on are:

• Air Canada
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Brisbane (BNE)
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Sydney (SYD)
• United Airlines
  • Houston (IAH) – Sydney (SYD)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Sydney (SYD)

Here are some great examples of redemptions:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • One-way in United business class for 80,000 LifeMiles + ~$31 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Sydney (SYD)
  • One-way in United economy for 40,000 LifeMiles + $31 in taxes and fees
• Vancouver (YVR) – Melbourne (MEL), Sydney (SYD), or Brisbane (BNE)
  • One-way in Air Canada business class for 80,000 LifeMiles + $31 in taxes and fees

Once you’ve solidified your travel plans, here’s how you can book your flight using Avianca LifeMiles:

1. Go to the LifeMiles website.
2. Click the flag icon in the top-right corner and choose English.
3. Click Log in at the top-right side of the page.
4. Enter your LifeMiles number and password.
5. Click Fly at the top banner to search flights.
6. Enter your route pairing, number of passengers, and cabin class. Click Find Flights.
7. Click your flight date(s).
8. Find your flights and pay with LifeMiles and for any taxes and fees using a credit card.

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

As we mentioned above, LifeMiles has transfer partnerships with a number of transferable currencies: American Express Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex, Brex, Capital One, and Citi points transfer at a 1:1 ratio instantly, while Marriott Bonvoy points transfer in around 1 to 2 business days at a 3:1 ratio.

Amex and Citi have both offered transfer bonuses of up to 35% in the past, so be sure to hold out for transfers until you see one of these, if possible. Capital One’s transfer bonuses, when offered, have usually been around 20% to 25%.

You can also buy LifeMiles — Avianca is known to offer giant sales with up to a 200% bonus on purchased miles, so you’ll absolutely want to wait for the right time to buy LifeMiles.

Recommended Capital One Cards

TOP PICK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
• Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• 10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
• Add authorized users for no additional annual fee
• No foreign transaction fees

 

Cons

• $395 annual fee
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

 

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Sign Up Bonuses

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

More Reads

• Benefits of the Capital One Venture X Card
• Best Ways to Use Venture X Points
• Capital One Venture X Credit Score and Approval Odds
• Capital One Venture X Lounge Access
• Capital One Venture X Travel Insurance Benefits
• Capital One Venture vs Venture X
• Capital One Venture X vs Amex Platinum
• Capital One Venture X vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
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• Best High Limit Credit Cards
• Choice Privileges Loyalty Program Review

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• 2 complimentary visits to a Capital One Lounge or Plaza Premium Lounges each year
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
• Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

• $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Limited elite benefits

Card Highlights

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase – or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Sign Up Bonuses

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

More Reads

• How To Find the 75k or 100k Bonus for the Capital One Venture
• Travel Insurance Benefits of the Capital One Venture
• Capital One Venture vs Venture X
• Capital One Venture Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Card [Detailed Comparison]
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• Recommended Minimum Requirements for Capital One Credit Cards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Welcome Offer

Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.

20,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$360

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, the no-annual-fee version of the more popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fees
• Ability to use transfer partners
• Access to Capital One Dining

Cons

• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits

Card Highlights

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• No Annual Fee Cards

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

More Reads

• Benefits of the Capital One VentureOne Card
• Capital One Venture X Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Card [Detailed Comparison]
• Capital One Platinum Card vs. VentureOne and Venture Cards [Detailed Comparison]
• Capital One Venture Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Card [Detailed Comparison]
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• Best Virtual Credit Cards
• Best Instant Approval Credit Cards
• Capital One Transfer Partners
• easyJet Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, & More
• The 5 Best First Credit Cards For Beginners [December 2023]

Qantas Frequent Flyer

If your points budget is unlimited and you just want the highest probability of landing Qantas’ first or business class, the best way to accomplish this is by using Qantas’ own frequent flyer program: Qantas Frequent Flyer.

Qantas first class is arguably the greatest unicorn in points travel. In our guide covering when airlines release award seats, we outline why booking Qantas first class is much more probable using Qantas Frequent Flyer.

Chiefly, Qantas first and business class is easier to book for 2 reasons:

• Qantas releases award seats exclusive to Qantas Frequent Flyer members redeeming Qantas Frequent Flyer points
• Qantas’ schedule opens up 353 days in advance, compared to Alaska’s 330 days and AAdvantage’s 331 days, effectively giving you a 22- to 23-day head-start

If you’re wondering why Alaska miles are so hard to redeem for Qantas first class, it’s because all of the availability is gobbled up by Qantas members, 22 to 23 days in advance. By the time Alaska or American Airlines have access to this award space, all of the very few seats are already taken.

There are 3 airlines on which you can redeem Qantas points for nonstop flights to Australia:

• American Airlines
• Jetstar 
• Qantas

Here’s the award chart for flights between Australia and the U.S.:

Here’s the award chart for flights on Jetstar:

Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

• Honolulu (HNL) – Sydney (SYD)
  • One-way in Qantas business class for 82,000 Qantas points + ~$60 in taxes and fees
• Honolulu (HNL) – Sydney (SYD)
  • One-way in Jetstar economy for 26,000 Qantas points + ~$60 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL)
  • One-way in Qantas first class for 162,800 Qantas points + ~$60 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
  • One-way in Qantas first class for 162,800 Qantas points + ~$60 in taxes and fees

Again, you’d really only want to use Qantas points if you desperately need award availability to show up, at the expense of paying more points. Follow these steps to book your flight online:

1. Visit Qantas’ website.
2. In the top-right corner, log into your account using your Qantas Frequent Flyer number, last name, and PIN number.
3. In the flight search box, enter your city and date pairings, number of passengers, and click the button that says Use points.
4. Click Search flights.
5. Click the date(s) that works for you.
6. Select your flights and click Continue.
7. Pay using points and for any taxes/fees using a credit card.

Earning Qantas Frequent Flyer Points

There are numerous ways to earn Qantas points. If you’d like to transfer points, Qantas has transfer relationships with American Express Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex, Brex, Capital One, and Citi points transfer at a 1:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.

Amex transfers almost instantly to Qantas, Brex takes up to 1 business day, Capital One takes around 36 hours, and Citi takes around 2 business days. Marriott Bonvoy takes the longest at around 6 business days.

Recommended Citi Cards

Citi Premier^® Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Premier^® Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou^® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$960

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Premier^® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• Annual hotel credit
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou^® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou^® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Sign Up Bonuses

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

More Reads

• Benefits of the Citi Premier
• Authorized User Benefits of the Citi Premier
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Citi Premier Card [Detailed Comparison]
• Best Citi Credit Cards
• Best Credit Card Sign Up Bonuses
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Groceries and Supermarkets
• Best Virtual Credit Cards

Citi Rewards+^® Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Rewards+^® Card

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.

Welcome Offer

Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $250 in gift cards at thankyou.com.

20,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$320

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-840)

Card Highlights

• Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
• Plus, for a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel(SM) portal through June 30, 2024.
• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% – 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
• Earn 2X ThankYou^® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou^® Points on All Other Purchases.
• The Citi Rewards+^® Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
• No Annual Fee

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• No Annual Fee Cards

More Reads

• Best Citi Credit Cards
• Citi Transfer Partners

Citi Double Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Double Cash^® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Double Cash^® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
• Flexible redemption options
• No annual fee

Cons

• No bonus categories
• 3% foreign transaction fees
• Lack of premium travel benefits

Card Highlights

• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
• To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Cash Back Credit Cards
• No Annual Fee Cards

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

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• The 8 Best 2% Cash-back Credit Cards [2023]
• Best 0% Interest Credit Cards
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• Best Everyday Credit Cards
• Citi Transfer Partners

Citi Custom Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Custom Cash^® Card

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!

Welcome Offer

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Custom Cash^® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, without an annual fee.

Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
• No annual fee
• Multiple redemption options
• No redemption minimums

Cons

• Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
• Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category

Card Highlights

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
• No Annual Fee
• Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash^® Card account per person.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Cash Back Credit Cards
• No Annual Fee Cards

More Reads

• Citi Custom Cash Card Launches [Earn 5% Back on Your Top Purchases]
• Best Citi Credit Cards

Bottom Line: Qantas Frequent Flyer offers 1 advantage: more award availability. Using this method can dramatically increase your chances of booking Qantas first/business class. However, you’re going to pay more points. 

American Airlines AAdvantage

Our second-to-last method to book nonstop flights to Australia is by using American Airlines AAdvantage. American miles are great for booking flights on these airlines:

• American Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Qantas

Here’s the award chart for one-way flights from the U.S. to Australia:

Here are some great example routes you can take:

• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Sydney (SYD)
  • One-way in Qantas business class for 80,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$40 in taxes and fees
• Honolulu (HNL) – Sydney (SYD)
  • One-way in Hawaiian Airlines business/first class for 65,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$20 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Brisbane (BNE)
  • One-way in Qantas business class for 80,000 AAdvantage miles + ~$40 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
  • One-way in American Airlines Flagship First Class from 110,000 AAdvantage miles (saver availability) + ~$11 in taxes and fees

To book your AAdvantage award, follow these steps:

1. Perform an award search using Alaska Airlines’ search engine (method outlined in the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan section). For Hawaiian Airlines, you may need to use a search tool such as ExpertFlyer.
2. Call AAdvantage at 800-433-7300 and tell them your flight numbers, dates, number of passengers, and class of service.
3. Pay using AAdvantage miles and a credit card for the taxes and fees to ticket your reservation.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage miles is easy. Whether it’s using the Citi or Barclays co-branded AAdvantage credit cards or transferring from Marriott Bonvoy or Bilt Rewards, there are plenty of ways to earn AA miles quickly.

Marriott Bonvoy is a 3:1 transfer partner, and transfers from Marriott Bonvoy take around 2 business days to complete. Bilt Rewards is a 1:1 transfer partner, and transfers from Bilt take around 1 business day.

Bottom Line: Using AAdvantage miles is an excellent way to book nonstop flights to Australia. Whether it’s for flights with American Airlines, Qantas, or Hawaiian Airlines, you’ll definitely find a great way to use AA miles. 

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Virgin Atlantic has partnerships with 2 important airlines:

• Delta Air Lines
• Hawaiian Airlines

Virgin Atlantic’s frequent flyer program, known as Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, has been ruthlessly devalued in the context of long-haul Delta flights.

There are still tons of ways to redeem Virgin Points for maximum value, but this redemption falls to the bottom of our list.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club prices out awards with different award charts for each partner. Therefore, the same flights on different carriers will inevitably cost different amounts of Virgin Points.

For Delta Air Lines redemptions, you can follow this award chart for one-way flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD):

Fortunately, Delta Air Lines’ sole Australia route (Los Angeles to Sydney) features Delta One Suites, the airline’s best business class product. In fact, Delta One Suites is at the top of our list of best international business class products, so you know you’re in for a treat. It boasts sliding doors, excellent food, comfortable bedding, and fully lie-flat seats.

Best of all, taxes and fees are minimal, which will reduce your out-of-pocket cost.

Of the 2 partners listed above, Delta has better award availability, in addition to offering a fantastic business class product. You’ll definitely need to be flexible, but that flexibility can really pay off.

Award availability is best in advance, but seats often open up after the holiday season or if there’s a lot less demand than expected.

Finally, Virgin Atlantic is partners with Hawaiian Airlines, which can be useful for those based in the Hawaiian Islands. Here’s the award chart for one-way Hawaiian Airlines flights:

This pricing is decent, especially if you’re already planning on flying out of Hawaii. All the seats are lie-flat, though not all of them have direct aisle access. Nevertheless, for a ~10-hour flight, 65,000 miles in business is a decent deal.

Let’s put all of this together and show you some great example redemptions you can make:

• Honolulu (HNL) – Sydney (SYD)
  • One-way in Hawaiian Airlines business/first class for 65,000 Virgin Points + ~$65 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD)
  • One-way in Delta One Suites for 165,000 Virgin Points + $5.60 in taxes and fees

Once you’ve decided on which flight you want to take, follow these steps to book your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club award flight online:

1. Visit Virgin Atlantic’s homepage.
2. Change the region by scrolling to the bottom of the page. Click the globe icon at the bottom of the page that says United States – English. Change it to United Kingdom – English. 
3. Once redirected to the new page, type in your flight details into the top banner of the homepage. Enter in your departure and destination cities, flight type, number of passengers, and travel dates.
4. Click the button that says Advanced Search towards the bottom-right of the banner. Click Miles and select Upper Class to search for business class award space.
5. Click the arrow to perform the search. If there’s no award availability, scroll down and select Show flights for Within 5 weeks. Redo the search.
6. You may need to play around with dates to find availability. Once located, click Next Step.
   • Although transferring points to Virgin Atlantic is normally instant, you can also request 5-day award holds by calling Virgin Atlantic at 800-365-9500.
7. Log into your Flying Club account.
8. Complete your booking by paying the miles and paying for taxes and fees.

Booking Delta awards is completely doable online. However, you may need to call to book Hawaiian Airlines flights if there’s no online award availability showing up.

Hot Tip: Want to monitor flight award availability without checking every day? Read our ExpertFlyer guide to learn how to set up automatic flight alerts for your desired cabin and flight! 

Earning Virgin Points

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is transfer partners with American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy. As you can probably imagine, there are tons of ways to earn Virgin Points.

American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards transfer instantaneously at a 1:1 ratio.

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio, usually within 1 business day. Also, when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll earn a 5,000-mile bonus to Virgin Atlantic, resulting in a total of 25,000 miles.

Best of all, American Express and Citi are both known for offering generous transfer bonuses ranging from 15% to 35%. This means you could get a huge bonus by timing your transfers properly. A 35% transfer bonus means you could get 165,000 Virgin Points by transferring just 123,000 points!

Final Thoughts

There are so many different ways to fly to Australia using points and miles, but we’ve focused primarily on the best ways to book nonstop flights. With a number of nonstop routes offering great inflight products, there’s no reason to book a connecting flight! When you book nonstop flights, you can arrive well-rested and ready to hit the ground running exploring Australia. Happy travels!

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The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

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