Turn your purchases into rewards with a credit card that directly earns flybuys points.
If you have ever shopped at Coles or filled up your car with fuel at a Coles Shell Express station before, you’ve probably also heard of the flybuys loyalty program. This Coles rewards program is easily one of Australia’s largest and most popular loyalty programs with its hybrid supermarket-slash-frequent flyer rewards program and extensive network of partners across almost every industry. The flybuys program regularly offers cross-promotions with its partners, introduces new ways to earn reward and bonus points and increases the ways you can redeem them. Best of all, it’s free to sign up. Plus, you can earn flybuys points beyond Coles and its partners if you sign up for a credit card that’s linked with the flybuys program.
If you already have a flybuys account or are considering signing up, this guide will teach you how you can earn more flybuys points with a credit card and discuss the pros and cons of using a flybuys credit card.
How can I earn flybuys on my credit card?
Currently, Coles and NAB are the only credit card issuers that offer products that let you directly earn flybuys points on your eligible everyday purchases. When you get one of these credit cards, your credit card account is linked to your flybuys account and flybuys points are directly credited for eligible transactions charged to the card. The number of flybuys points you earn per $1 spent, or your earn rate, ranges from point per $2 spent on the Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard to 2 points per $1 spent on the Coles Platinum Rewards Mastercard or Coles Rewards Mastercard. The more common and median earn rate is 1 flybuys point per $1 spent.
However, you can also earn extra (or double) flybuys points by tapping your flybuys membership card at the checkout at the same time. With your flybuys membership card, you earn 1 point per $1 spent, which means that if you use a Coles Platinum Rewards Mastercard and tap your flybuys card when making a purchase, you will earn 2 flybuys points per $1 spent.
The requirements pertaining to card membership, additional cardholders and eligible transactions differ with each credit card and card provider, so follow the individual credit card links to learn more about each card, its features and eligibility requirements.
How can I redeem my flybuys points earned with my credit card?
In the same way that you’d track and manage the flybuys points earned using a flybuys loyalty card, the flybuys points earned with your credit card can be accessed and redeemed online via the flybuys website. Simply sign in to your flybuys account, shop for your rewards and follow the prompts to finalise your redemption. You can redeem flybuys points for credit off your next shop, or for merchandise, entertainment tickets, flights and hotels, and even transfer them to partner frequent flyer programs like Etihad Guest and Velocity Frequent Flyer. Alternatively, you may request a redemption by calling the flybuys service centre at 13 11 16.
What are the pros and cons of using a flybuys credit card?
Pros
- Earn points as you spend. flybuys-linked credit card will reward your everyday credit card spending. Plus, if you’re shopping with a flybuys partner, you can earn double the flybuys points by tapping your flybuys loyalty card at the checkout as well as spending with your credit card.
- Instantly convert points to cash. With flybuys-linked Coles credit cards, you can instantly convert 2,000 flybuys points into $10 off your next shop at any Coles store.
- Free membership. Certain frequent flyer programs require that you pay a registration or annual fee, but the flybuys program doesn’t charge such a fee. Please note that your credit card may come with an annual fee, though.
- Get more than flights. You can redeem your flybuys points for more than flight rewards. You can also get gift cards, convert your points to cash, or choose from an array of merchandise.
- Convert points into frequent flyer points. If you’d prefer, you can also transfer your flybuys points to an Etihad Guest Miles or Virgin Velocity frequent flyer account.
- Enjoy bundled discounts. With attractive incentives to spend within the large network of flybuys partners, you can save money or earn multiple flybuys points by taking up exclusive partner promotions.
Cons
- Few linked credit cards. Not many cards are directly linked to the flybuys program, which limits your choices to a few card providers.
- Higher annual fee for faster earn rate. The Coles Rewards Mastercard charges an $99 p.a. annual fee to earn 2 points for every $1 spent, compared to the Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard which lets you earn points per $2 spent.
- Limited travel benefits. You may be disappointed if you’re looking for benefits like priority check-ins, travel insurance cover and lounge access. Unlike traditional frequent flyer programs, flybuys doesn’t directly offer these.
- Restrictions. flybuys customers are limited to earning points only with partner merchants, so you’ll want to make sure that their network of partner stores caters for your existing spending habits
- Expiry. flybuys points and dollars will expire if you fail to earn or redeem points for 12 consecutive months.
In general, the flybuys program offers a competitive way to be rewarded for your daily expenses. Using a flybuys credit card on top of that can double or triple your earn rate to maximise your rewards. However, make sure that you compare your options and ensure that the costs of the card don’t outweigh the flybuys perks before you apply.
I belong to Virgin Velocity and also Coles Flybuys and I would like to know how I transfer points from Flybuys to Virgin, thanks.
Hi Janice,
Thanks for your question.
To convert your Flybuys points to Velocity Frequent Flyer points, you need to link your memberships through this page.
Once successfully linked, you can already transfer your Flybuys points to Velocity Points by visiting the rewards section on the Flybuys website.
Cheers,
Anndy
Who can I book a plane flight with that accepts Fly Buy points as payment,no longer available with Webjet
Hi Allan,
Thanks for your question.
You can redeem your flybuys points for flights with Etihad Airways.
For more information on how you can do this, please see this guide.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Sally
Can I transfer my fly buyers point to my husband Qantas frequent flyers card
Hi Colleen, thanks for your inquiry!
Unfortunately transferring flybuys points is not a supported feature.
Cheers,
Jonathan
How do I t/f points into money off my next Coles bill. Can you do this for me?
Hi Tess,
Thanks for your question.
Just to confirm, you have come through to finder.com.au, not Coles or flybuys. As such, we’re unable to access or manage your flybuys account.
You can get money off your next Coles shop by following these instructions:
1. Make sure you are signed into your account before turning your points into flybuys Dollars.
2. Once you’re logged in to your online account, click ‘Redeem Now’ and complete the requested info – including your 4-digit PIN.
3. Select how many points you want to convert into flybuys Dollars.
4. Present your flybuys card when you’re next at Coles, let the team member at the checkout know you’d like to pay with flybuys Dollars. Enter the amount of flybuys Dollars you’d like to spend, swipe your card and enter your PIN.
I’ve sent you an email with the link to the flybuys sign in page.
I hope this has helped answer your question.
Thanks,
Sally
Can I pay part debit and part flybuy points through webjet or Travelworld for flights?
Hi Tiara, thanks for your inquiry!
Part payments with flybuys points and card are eligible with Webjet. It would be best to contact Travelworld directly as transactions/ flight bookings are made through a travel agent.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Good afternoon. Is it possible for flybuys to be donated to a charity of one’s choice? Can the charity then redeem them for cash?
Kind regards
Geoffrey
Hi Geoffrey, thanks for your inquiry!
Flybuys has a range of charity partners who you can donate points to by entering the flybuys Rewards website, pressing ‘Money off shop’ and then ‘Help Our Charity Partners’.
Cheers,
Jonathan
1.Can I convert my flybuys points I gained using an ANZ visa credit card to Qantas frequent flyer points? If so, how?
2. If I want to donate my flybuys points to charity, how do I do this?
Thanks!
Hi Pip, thanks for your inquiry!
Unfortunately Flybuys points do not currently convert to Qantas Frequent Flyer points, although Flybuys points can be converted to flights by booking them through Webjet. Flybuys has a range of charity partners who you can donate points to by going through the flybuys Rewards website, entering ‘Money off shop’ and then ‘Help Our Charity Partners’.
Cheers,
Jonathan
How do I link my flybuys card to my Qantas frequent flyer account?
Hi Daniel, thanks for your inquiry!
Unfortunately the flybuys program currently does not have a partnership link with Qantas Frequent Flyers. For a list of Qantas Frequent Flyer cards please see this page.
Cheers,
Jonathan
how many flybuys do I need to fly return to melbourne From cairns
Hi Christine, thanks for your inquiry!
The flybuys points required for a return flight to Melbourne from Cairns varies from approximately 30,000 points economy to 280,000 points for business flights. It would be best to check on the Webjet Travel website, who is the official flight partner with flybuys. On the website you can enter your desired flight and have the fares displayed in flybuys points.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Can you use coles supermarket fly buy points to travel to fiji?
Hi Deborah, thanks for your inquiry!
Flybuys points can be redeemed through its flight partner Webjet. Flights to Fiji are eligible.
Cheers,
Jonathan