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How to get to Thailand with reward points
Cash in your reward points for a flight to Thailand and save your money to spend when you’re there.
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Be it for sightseeing, shopping or pure relaxation, exotic Thailand is an easy vacation choice for many Australians. With a range of flights connecting major Australian cities to Thai cities, the cost of flying there can be under $500 with budget airlines and under $1,000 via major airlines. However, with reward points, you could get there without forking out a cent, giving you more cash to spend on your trip.
From the Qantas and Velocity frequent flyer programs to credit card rewards, here you can find out how many points you’d need for a reward flight to Thailand with six of the most popular programs in Australia. Because the cost changes for different destinations, we’ve focused on flights leaving major Australian capital cities that land in the busiest Thai international airport in the capital city of Bangkok – Suvarnabhumi Airport.
I want to know how many points I need with
How to fly to Thailand with Qantas Points
For Qantas Frequent Flyer program members, Classic Flight Rewards usually offer the most value for redeeming flights with Qantas Points. You may book a redemption flight under this category 353 days in advance, and it is advisable that you book early since allocated seats in the category are limited.
Classic Flight Rewards
While the number of Qantas Points required for each Classic Flight Reward will vary by date, flight carrier, flight combination and number of stops, this table represents the lowest number of points you would need to fly from capital cities in Australia to Bangkok with either Qantas or Jetstar. These points prices are based on information from the Qantas website on 20 April 2018. Please use this information as a guide and make sure you check out the Qantas website for the most up-to-date points costs.
| Departure city | One-way economy flight | Return economy flight | One-way business class flight | Return business class flight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart | 35,000 points | 70,000 points | 72,000 points | 144,000 points |
| Darwin, Perth | 40,000 points | 80,000 points | 84,000 points | 168,000 points |
| Melbourne | 24,000 points | 48,000 points | 48,000 points | 96,000 points |
| Sydney | 28,000 points | 52,000 points | 60,000 points | 120,000 points |
What else do I need to know?
Here are some other essential details to be aware of when using Qantas Points for your trip to Thailand.
- Fees and taxes. Taxes, fees and carrier charges may apply to your booking.
- Cancellation or change fee. A points penalty may apply in the event you wish to change or cancel your reward flight.
- Limited availability. Classic Flight Rewards are limited to availability, so you should book early. You may also need to be a little more flexible when choosing your flight dates and times.
- Airline availability. The limited availability for Classic Flight Rewards means you also need to be flexible about the airline and/or fare class. For example, in the table above, the business class option from Melbourne to Bangkok is actually with Jetstar, so you'd be flying in StarClass – which is very different to the business class options you'd get if you were able to book with Qantas.
- Points Plus Pay. You can usually pay for Qantas flights using a combination of cash and points, but not when you’re redeeming a Classic Flight Reward. If you want to do this, you can choose a Points Plus Pay flight with Qantas and partner airlines.
- Flight upgrades. You may also purchase a flight upgrade with points by requesting a domestic or international Classic Upgrade Reward. Conditions may apply.
Compare Qantas Frequent Flyer credit cards
Velocity Frequent Flyer
Velocity frequent flyer members have two options when deciding how to redeem their points for flights:
Reward Seat. These seats are available exclusively for Velocity members who wish to fly using points. Reward seats offer the highest redemption value, and are limited and subject to availability.
Any Seat. With this option, you can use your points to pay for any seat booked with Virgin Australia or eligible partner airlines. This option costs more but allows greater booking flexibility.
Velocity Reward Seat point estimates
These figures are based on the points tables on the Velocity website, using the estimated miles for direct flight routes. As such, it details the minimum points required and is correct at the time of writing on 20 April 2018. In some cases, there may not be a direct flight available, which means your Reward Seat booking could include additional miles or sectors that add to the point costs.
| Departure city | One-way economy flight | Return economy flight | One-way business class flight | Return business class flight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne | 27,800 points | 55,600 points | 59,500 points | 119,000 points |
| Hobart | 34,800 points | 69,600 points | 71,500 points | 143,000 points |
| Darwin, Perth | 22,300 points | 44,600 points | 49,500 points | 99,000 points |
Velocity Any Seat point estimates
The number of points you’ll need for an Any Seat reward will depend on the commercial cost and the fare class of the flight. For example, a one-way economy (Elevate) flight from Sydney to Bangkok on 31 October 2018 at 9:05am would cost 102,400 points or $613.96 if you purchased it. In comparison, a similar flight on 27 December 2018 would cost you 141,400 points or $847.96. This is based on a flight search on the Velocity website on 20 April 2018.
Any Seat covers all eligible Virgin Australia and codeshare partner flights. For instance, both of the flights in the example above are operated by Singapore Airlines.
What else do I need to know?
From fees to other reward options, consider these other factors before you redeem your Velocity Points for a trip to Bangkok:
- Fees and taxes. Additional airport and airfare fees, charges and taxes may apply to your booking.
- Booking fee. If you make your booking by calling the Guest Contact Centre, you’ll be charged a booking fee of $70.
- Limited availability. Reward Seats are subject to availability and may not be available on certain dates or times.
- Points+Pay. If you don’t have enough Velocity Points for your chosen reward, you can use cash to cover the rest of the cost.
- Flight upgrades. If you already have your tickets to Thailand, you could look at using points to upgrade to a higher fare class. While flight upgrades are subject to availability, they can offer you competitive value for your points.
Compare Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards
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American Express Membership Rewards
If you have an American Express credit card that is linked to the Membership Rewards program, you can redeem your Membership Rewards points to book flights via American Express Travel and partnered travel agents. You can also exchange your Membership Rewards for points with select frequent flyer programs.
Using points for direct bookings
You can use your Membership Rewards to book flights through American Express Travel, Webjet or at selected Helloworld locations. With this option, the amount of points you’ll need depends on the retail cost of the fare.
The value of your points also varies depending on the Membership Rewards stream you’re enrolled in. However, as an example, the Membership Rewards website shows that 10,000 points equals $100 of your travel booking. With that in mind, here’s a table to show how that looks based on examples of the prices you might pay for one-way and return fares to Thailand:
| Fare cost | Membership Rewards points needed |
|---|---|
| $600 | 60,000 points |
| $700 | 70,000 points |
| $800 | 80,000 points |
| $1,000 | 100,000 points |
| $1,500 | 150,000 points |
*Costs are accurate as of 20 April 2018
Transferring Membership Rewards points to a frequent flyer program
If you already belong to a frequent flyer program, you can also exchange your Membership Rewards for points with partnered airline programs including Velocity, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Emirates Skywards and Etihad Guest.
The exchange rate between Membership Rewards and frequent flyer points will also depend on the Membership Rewards stream you belong to. As a general guide, the Membership Rewards website lists a 1:1 transfer rate for the Ascent stream. However, other streams, such as Gateway, may offer less favourable transfer rates.
How many American Express Rewards points would I need for a trip to Bangkok?
Say you have 100,000 Membership Rewards on an American Express Platinum Edge, which is linked to the Membership Rewards Ascent program. With this option, you could transfer your Membership Rewards points to 100,000 Velocity Points.
That's enough to get you a return Economy flight from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne to Bangkok (from 55,600 points) or a one-way Business class flight for the same route (from 59,500 points). Alternatively, you could save up an extra 19,000 Velocity Points to fly return in business class (from 119,000 points), or fly one-way in economy and one-way in business class from 87,300 points.
What else do I need to know?
Before you book your flights to Thailand courtesy of your Membership Rewards, consider the following factors:
- Additional fees. Booking sites and services may add extra fees that increase the cost of your flights.
- Transfer times. If you transfer Membership Rewards points to a frequent flyer program, keep in mind that it may be 1–5 business days before the points appear in your account.
- Points plus pay. If you don’t have enough Membership Rewards points to redeem your reward, you can use a combination of points and cash or buy more points. Please note that this option won’t always be available if you’ve transferred your points to a frequent flyer program.
- Complimentary insurance. If your Amex card also comes with complimentary credit card travel insurance, you can activate the insurance cover when you use your Membership Rewards points to pay for some or all of your flight.
How to transfer credit card points to a partnered frequent flyer program
Compare American Express Membership Rewards cards
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CommBank Awards
If you own a CommBank credit card that is linked to the CommBank Awards rewards program, you can use your points to book flights to Thailand through a partnered travel agency or by exchanging them for frequent flyer points.
Using points for a Thailand flight booking with Flight Centre
You can use your CommBank Awards points to book flights to Bangkok through partnered travel agencies including Flight Centre, Escape Travel, Student Flights and Travel Associates by showing your eligible card in-store and asking to pay with points. You can also opt to use a combination of points and cash to cover the cost, but you must use a minimum of 2,500 points.
CommBank doesn’t openly list the number of points you’ll need to book through a partnered travel agency. Instead, you can log in to your CommBank Awards account to check your balance and redemption options, visit a participating travel agent or call the CommBank Awards Centre on 13 16 61.
Transferring CommBank Awards points to frequent flyer programs
If you’re already a Velocity or Qantas frequent flyer member, you can exchange your CommBank Awards for points with either of these programs when you meet the transfer requirements. The number of frequent flyer points you’ll get will vary depending on the card you have, so we’ve outlined the details for each program below.
Qantas Frequent Flyer
If you want to transfer your CommBank Awards points to Qantas Points, you need to opt-in to the CommBank Awards Qantas Frequent Flyer Direct program. This attracts an annual fee of $30. Your points are then regularly transferred to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account at the following rate:
2.5 CommBank Awards points = 1 Qantas Frequent Flyer point
Based on this transfer rate, you’d need 130,000 CommBank Awards to get the 52,000 Qantas Points you’d need to redeem a return economy flight from Sydney to Bangkok.
Velocity Frequent Flyer
You can redeem your points to Velocity at any time, as long as you transfer a minimum of 3,600 Awards points. The transfer rate is different depending on your CommBank Awards account level (standard, gold, platinum or diamond), with the following conversions:
Awards and Gold: 2.5 CommBank Awards points = 1 Velocity Point
Platinum and Diamond: 2 CommBank Awards points = 1 Velocity Point
If you have a Platinum or Diamond CommBank Awards card, you’d need 111,200 CommBank Awards points to get the 55,600 points required for an Economy return flight from Sydney to Bangkok.
What else do I need to know?
Consider these factors before using your CommBank Awards to book flights to Thailand:
- Additional fees. Booking through a travel agency may attract additional fees.
- Points plus pay. If you don’t have enough CommBank Awards points for a travel booking, you can make up the difference with cash.
- Subject to availability. All travel products and offers from Flight Centre are subject to availability. The same applies to flights you book through a frequent flyer rewards program after transferring your points.
- Frequent flyer point transfers. Once you’ve transferred your points to Qantas or Velocity Frequent Flyer, you cannot reverse the transaction. You can also only transfer CommBank Awards points to a frequent flyer account that is under the same name on your CommBank credit card.
- Complimentary insurance. If you have a CommBank Awards card that also includes travel insurance, you can access the cover by logging into your NetBank account and activating it before your trip. No minimum spend is required for this insurance, but make sure to read the insurance policy document first.
NAB Rewards
If you own a NAB Rewards credit card, you can use your points to redeem flights via Webjet or transfer them to a frequent flyer account with Velocity, Asia Miles or Air New Zealand Airpoints.
Using NAB Rewards for flights with Webjet
If you want to book your flights to Bangkok through Webjet, you can use NAB Rewards to pay for it. While NAB Rewards doesn’t list a fixed value for paying with points in this way, as a guide, a $500 Webjet gift card would cost 96,150 points. Based on this, here are some examples of the points you’d need for a flight to Bangkok:
| Fare cost | NAB Rewards points needed |
|---|---|
| $500 | 96,150 points |
| $1,000 | 192,300 points |
| $1,500 | 288,450 points |
| $2,000 | 384,600 points |
*Costs sourced from NAB Rewards website on 20 April 2018
Transferring NAB Rewards to a frequent flyer program
You can also transfer a minimum of 3,000 NAB Rewards to a frequent flyer account with the following programs and transfer rates:
Velocity. 3,000 NAB Rewards points = 1,500 Velocity Points
Asia Miles. 3,000 NAB Rewards points = 1,000 Asia Miles
Air New Zealand Airpoints. 3,000 NAB Rewards points = 45 Airpoints Dollars
Based on this, if you wanted to book a return Velocity Rewards economy flight from Melbourne to Bangkok (55,600 points), you'd need to transfer 111,200 NAB Rewards points. In comparison, you’d need around 45,000 Asia Miles for a return economy flight from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne. That works out to be 135,000 NAB Rewards points.
What else do I need to know?
Before using your NAB Rewards to pay for your Thailand holiday, consider the following:
- Points plus pay. If you don’t have enough NAB Rewards points to book a flight, you can use cash to make up the difference.
- Additional fees. You may be charged extra fees when you’re using NAB Rewards points to make bookings through Webjet or when you’ve transferred them to your frequent flyer account and then use them to book a flight.
- Point transfers. If you’re transferring your NAB Rewards points to Velocity, Asia Miles or Air New Zealand Airpoints, it could take several business days for the points to appear in your frequent flyer account.
- Complimentary insurance. If you have a NAB Rewards credit card that offers complimentary travel insurance, any reward points you use to pay for travel won’t count towards activating the cover. This means you’ll still have to use your card to spend at least $500 on eligible prepaid travel costs to get cover for your trip.
Compare NAB Rewards cards
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Flybuys
If you belong to the Flybuys program, you can use your points to book flights through Flybuys Travel or transfer them to your Velocity Frequent Flyer account.
Using Flybuys points for Flybuys travel bookings
You can use Flybuys travel to earn points on travel bookings or to redeem points for flights, holiday packages and car rentals. When booking flights, you can choose a range of airlines including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Etihad, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.
With Flybuys travel, each point you earn is worth 0.5 cents towards the dollar value of your flight booking. As the retail cost of flights to Bangkok varies depending on when you book (among other things), here are some examples of the points you’d need for different one-way fares.
| Fare cost | Flybuys points needed |
|---|---|
| $600 | 120,000 points |
| $800 | 160,000 points |
| $1,000 | 200,000 points |
| $1,500 | 300,000 points |
| $2,000 | 400,000 points |
Transferring Flybuys points to Velocity
You can also transfer your Flybuys points to help redeem flights to Thailand through Velocity, with a minimum of 2,000 Flybuys points equalling 870 Velocity Points. Based on this transfer rate, if you wanted to book a one-way economy Reward Seat from Sydney to Bangkok with Virgin Australia (from 27,800 Velocity Points), you’d need to transfer approximately 63,960 Flybuys points.
Want to know your points potential? You can use our calculator to see how many Velocity Points you could earn on your weekly Coles shopping trip.
How can I transfer Flybuys points to Velocity?
Here are the basic steps you can take to use Flybuys points to get to Thailand through one of these frequent flyer programs:
- Go to Flybuys.com.au/velocity and click on the "Transfer now" button.
- Enter the details of your transfer and follow the prompts to confirm the transfer.
If you haven't signed in to your account, you'll also be prompted to include these details and if you haven't redeemed Flybuys points for frequent flyer rewards, you will also be asked to link your accounts by entering your frequent flyer membership details.
What else do I need to know?
If you want to redeem your Flybuys to help you reach your trip to Thailand, consider these factors before spending your points:
- Points plus pay. If you don’t have enough Flybuys points to redeem your flights, you can use a combination of cash and points to cover the cost.
- Additional fees. You could be charged additional fees when you’re using Flybuys points to make bookings through Flybuys travel or when you redeem them after transferring them to a frequent flyer rewards program.
- Point transfers. If you’ve decided to transfer your Flybuys points to Velocity, remember that a minimum transfer amount of 2,000 Flybuys points applies.
If you belong to a frequent flyer or credit card loyalty program, there are plenty of ways you can use your points to help cut the cost of your next holiday. Once you’ve saved up enough points, make sure to weigh up your options and calculate which one offers the most value for your points before you book your flights.
If you have enough points for that trip to Thailand, you can use our Thailand travel money guide to organise how you’ll handle your cash on holiday. You can also use our Thailand travel guide for tips on the best places to stay, what to do and to compare cheap travel deals.
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