A Step-by-Step Guide to Earning Qantas Points on Everyday Spending in Australia


Earning Qantas Points doesn’t have to be limited to flying. In fact, savvy Australians can accumulate thousands of points each month simply by changing how they pay for everyday expenses. From groceries and petrol to utility bills and online shopping, there are numerous ways to turn your regular spending into your next holiday. This comprehensive guide will walk you through practical strategies to maximize your Qantas Points on everyday purchases, covering credit cards, shopping portals, utility providers, and more.

Why Focus on Everyday Spending?

Before diving into the methods, it’s important to understand the potential. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average Australian household spends over $2,500 per month on goods and services. If you can earn just 1 Qantas Point per dollar on half of that spending, that’s 15,000 points per year—enough for a one-way economy flight from Sydney to Melbourne or a significant contribution toward an international reward seat. By optimizing your earning rate, you can easily double or triple that figure without increasing your spending.

Qantas Points can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and products from the Qantas Store. With the Qantas Frequent Flyer program being one of the most popular loyalty programs in Australia, understanding how to earn points on daily expenses is a game-changer for travel enthusiasts.

1. Choosing the Right Qantas Points-Earning Credit Card

The most powerful tool for earning Qantas Points on everyday spending is a credit card that offers points per dollar spent. Many Australian banks and financial institutions offer Qantas-branded cards or cards that allow you to transfer points to Qantas.

Key Features to Look For

• Earn Rate: Look for cards that offer at least 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent on everyday purchases. Some premium cards offer up to 1.5 or 2 points per dollar.
• Bonus Points: Many cards offer sign-up bonuses of 50,000 to 100,000+ Qantas Points if you meet a minimum spend requirement within the first few months.
• Annual Fee: Weigh the annual fee against the points you expect to earn. Some cards waive the fee for the first year.
• Interest Rate: If you plan to carry a balance, look for a low-interest card, but ideally, pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges negating the value of points.
• Additional Perks: Some cards come with complimentary travel insurance, airport lounge passes, or Qantas Club membership discounts.

Example Card Comparison Table

Note: Rates and bonuses are indicative as of 2024. Always check the latest offers on the provider’s website.

Strategies for Maximizing Credit Card Points

• Use Your Card for Everything: From your morning coffee to your monthly rent (if accepted), put all possible expenses on your points-earning card. Ensure you pay it off in full each month to avoid interest.
• Pay Bills with Your Card: Many utility providers, insurers, and telecom companies accept credit card payments. Set up direct debits where possible.
• Take Advantage of Bonus Categories: Some cards offer higher earn rates on specific categories like dining, groceries, or travel. Use the appropriate card for each type of spending.
• Meet the Minimum Spend for Sign-Up Bonuses: Time your application around large planned purchases (e.g., insurance premiums, holiday bookings) to easily meet the minimum spend requirement.

2. Earning Points through Online Shopping Portals

Qantas operates its own online shopping portal, the Qantas Shopping platform, which allows you to earn points when you shop at hundreds of Australian and international retailers. Instead of going directly to a retailer’s website, you click through from the Qantas Shopping portal, and your purchase will earn bonus points.

How Qantas Shopping Works

1. Visit qantasshopping.com and log in with your Qantas Frequent Flyer details.
2. Browse the available retailers or search for a specific store.
3. Click the “Shop Now” button to be redirected to the retailer’s website.
4. Complete your purchase as usual. The points will be tracked and credited to your account within a few weeks.

Maximizing Portal Points

• Stack with Credit Card Points: You earn both the credit card points from your purchase and the bonus points from the portal. This double-dipping can significantly boost your earn rate.
• Look for Promotions: Qantas Shopping frequently runs bonus point promotions, such as 5x or 10x points at selected retailers. Time your purchases to coincide with these offers.
• Install the Qantas Shopping Browser Extension: The Qantas Shopping extension (available for Chrome and other browsers) alerts you when you’re on a retailer’s site that offers points, so you never miss out.
• Compare with Other Cashback Sites: Sometimes, other cashback sites may offer a better return than points. Use a points valuation (typically 1-1.5 cents per point) to compare.

Popular Retailers on Qantas Shopping

• Department Stores: Myer, David Jones, THE ICONIC
• Electronics: Apple, Dell, Harvey Norman
• Fashion: ASOS, Nike, Country Road
• Travel: Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb
• Food & Wine: Dan Murphy’s, HelloFresh, Red Balloon

3. Earning Points on Utilities and Bills

Recurring bills like electricity, gas, internet, and insurance are often overlooked as a points-earning opportunity. With the right setup, you can earn Qantas Points every month without any extra effort.

Utility Providers That Offer Qantas Points

Some energy and internet providers have partnerships with Qantas, allowing you to earn points just for paying your bills.

• Energy: Red Energy offers Qantas Points on electricity and gas plans. You can earn 2 points per $1 on your energy usage, plus bonus points for signing up and paying on time.
• Internet: Telstra Plus members can earn points on their Telstra services, though these are Telstra Points which can be converted to Qantas Points at a rate of 2:1.
• Insurance: Qantas Insurance offers health, car, home, and travel insurance, and you can earn up to 20,000 Qantas Points per year depending on the policy.

Using Third-Party Bill Payment Services

If your provider doesn’t directly offer Qantas Points, you can use a third-party bill payment service like Sniip. Sniip allows you to pay virtually any bill (including BPAY) with your credit card, earning you points on expenses that typically don’t accept credit cards, such as rent, school fees, and ATO payments.

• Sniip: Earn full credit card points on BPAY bills. There is a small surcharge (around 1.5% for Amex, 0.85% for Visa/Mastercard), so you’ll need to ensure the points value exceeds the fee.

Tips for Utility Points

• Review Your Providers: Check if your current providers offer Qantas Points. If not, consider switching to one that does, but ensure the rates are competitive.
• Bundle Services: Some providers offer bonus points for bundling multiple services (e.g., electricity and gas).
• Automate Payments: Set up direct debit with your points-earning credit card to ensure you never miss a payment and always earn points.

4. Everyday Spending: Groceries, Fuel, and Dining

Your weekly grocery shop and fuel fill-ups are prime opportunities to earn Qantas Points. Many supermarkets and petrol stations have loyalty programs that link to Qantas.

Woolworths Everyday Rewards

Woolworths’ Everyday Rewards program allows you to earn Qantas Points on your grocery shopping. You can choose to convert your Everyday Rewards points to Qantas Points at a rate of 2,000 Everyday Rewards points = 1,000 Qantas Points.

• Earn Rate: Typically 1 point per $1 spent at Woolworths, but you can boost this with targeted offers in the Everyday Rewards app.
• Boosters: Activate boosters in the app to earn extra points on specific products or categories.
• Transfer: Points are automatically converted to Qantas Points each quarter if you’ve selected Qantas Points as your reward option.

Coles Flybuys

Coles’ Flybuys program also partners with Qantas, though the conversion rate is less favorable: 2,000 Flybuys points = 1,000 Qantas Points. However, Flybuys can still be a good earner if you take advantage of bonus offers.

• Earn Rate: 1 point per $1 at Coles, plus bonus points on docket deals and in-app offers.
• Transfer: You can manually transfer Flybuys points to Qantas Points in blocks of 2,000.

Fuel

• BP: BP Rewards members can earn Qantas Points on fuel and in-store purchases. You earn 1 point per litre of premium fuel or 1 point per $1 spent in-store.
• Caltex/Ampol: Link your Everyday Rewards card to earn points on fuel purchases.

Dining

• Qantas Wellbeing App: The Qantas Wellbeing app rewards you with points for staying active, but it also has a dining component. Link your credit card and earn points when you dine at participating restaurants.
• Entertainment Book: The Entertainment Book often has promotions where you can earn bonus Qantas Points on dining purchases.

5. Other Everyday Earning Opportunities

Beyond the major categories, there are several other ways to earn Qantas Points on daily life.

Qantas Wellbeing App

This app tracks your steps and other activities, rewarding you with points for meeting daily and weekly goals. You can earn up to 15 points per day, which may seem small but adds up to over 5,000 points per year for simply staying active.

Qantas Wine

If you enjoy wine, Qantas Wine offers regular deals where you can earn thousands of points per case. Sometimes you can earn more points value than the cost of the wine, making it a points-positive purchase.

Qantas Hotels and Airbnb

Book accommodation through Qantas Hotels to earn up to 10 points per $1 spent. For Airbnb, you can earn 1 point per $1 by booking through the Qantas Airbnb portal.

Qantas Cars and Car Hire

Renting a car through Qantas Cars or partner rental companies like Avis, Budget, and Hertz can earn you points. Often there are bonus point promotions.

Gift Cards

Purchase gift cards through Qantas Shopping or at supermarkets (using your points-earning credit card) for retailers you frequent. You’ll earn points on the gift card purchase and then again when you spend the gift card if the retailer is part of a loyalty program.

Qantas Business Rewards

If you own a small business, Qantas Business Rewards allows you to earn points on business expenses like office supplies, travel, and more.

6. Tracking and Managing Your Points

With multiple earning streams, it’s crucial to track your points and ensure they are credited correctly.

• Use a Points Tracker: Apps like AwardWallet or a simple spreadsheet can help you monitor your balances and expiration dates.
• Check Statements: Regularly review your Qantas Frequent Flyer statement to ensure all expected points have been posted.
• Understand Expiry: Qantas Points expire if you don’t earn or redeem points for 18 months. Keep your account active by earning at least one point every 18 months through any activity.

FAQ

Can I earn Qantas Points on rent payments?

Yes, you can earn Qantas Points on rent by using a third-party bill payment service like Sniip, which allows you to pay your rent via BPAY with a credit card. You’ll earn credit card points on the transaction, though you’ll need to factor in the surcharge. Some landlords may also accept direct credit card payments, but this is rare.

Is it worth paying an annual fee for a Qantas Points credit card?

It depends on your spending habits. If you spend enough to earn points that outweigh the annual fee, it can be worthwhile. For example, if a card has a $300 annual fee but you earn 50,000 points per year (valued at around $500-$750 in flights), the net benefit is positive. Always calculate your expected earn based on your monthly spending.

How can I earn Qantas Points without a credit card?

You can earn Qantas Points without a credit card through shopping portals, utility providers, the Qantas Wellbeing app, and by linking your Everyday Rewards or Flybuys accounts. While credit cards are the most efficient earners, these methods can still accumulate points over time.

References

• Qantas Frequent Flyer Program Terms and Conditions
• Australian Bureau of Statistics - Household Expenditure Survey
• Qantas Shopping Portal
• Sniip Bill Payments
• Woolworths Everyday Rewards
• Coles Flybuys

Disclaimer: Points earn rates and offers are subject to change. Always verify current terms on the official websites before making financial decisions.