How Everyday Spending Becomes Free Flights

The average Australian household spends $150-$200/week on groceries alone. Add fuel, insurance, streaming, and bills — that is $1,200-$1,500/month going through your bank account. With the right credit card, every dollar earns points toward flights.

Here is the math: Bankwest Zero Platinum earns 1.25 Qantas points per dollar. At $1,500/month spending, that is 1,875 points/month — or 22,500 points in a year from groceries alone. Add other spending and you hit 50,000+ points/year. A domestic return flight costs 16,000 points. That is 3 free flights per year from money you were already spending.

The Three Paths to Free Flights

Path 1: Qantas points — Best for domestic flights and Oneworld international partners. Bankwest Zero Platinum (1.25 pts/$1) or Westpac Altitude Qantas Black (1 pt/$1 on Mastercard).

Path 2: Velocity points — Best for Virgin Australia domestic and Singapore Airlines international. Westpac Altitude Black earns 1.25 Velocity pts/$1.

Path 3: Flexible points — Transfer to either airline. CommBank Ultimate Awards (1.5 pts/$1) transfers to both Qantas and Velocity.

What About the Annual Fee?

Premium cards charge $180-$450/yr. But the Bankwest Zero Platinum gives you a $450 Qantas travel credit — effectively making it $0 net cost. The sign-up bonus alone (100,000 points = ~$1,500 in flights) pays for 3+ years of fees.

If you do not want to pay any fee, the no-fee cards still earn points — just at lower rates. Or use a cashback card to get money back instead of flights.

Next Steps

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to fly a lot to benefit from a points card?

No — you earn points from everyday spending (groceries, bills, fuel). You only need to fly when you want to redeem. Points do not expire on most programs.

What if I carry a balance?

Points cards have high interest rates (20%+). Only use one if you pay in full every month. If you carry a balance, a low-rate card saves you more than points ever will.

Can I earn points on rent?

Some landlords accept credit card payments (usually via a service with a 1-2% fee). If the fee is less than the point value, it is worth it. Otherwise, focus on other spending.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Points values are estimates — actual redemption value varies by route and availability.