Rex Flyer: How to get the most from Rex’s frequent flyer scheme

How to join Rex Flyer

Happily, Rex Flyer is free to join. You can sign up on the Rex site. You'll be sent an activation email, and you'll need to click on the link in that email to confirm your registration.

Signing up for Rex Flyer is free, but don't miss the activation step or your account won't work. Image: Rex/Supplied

Is it worth joining Rex Flyer?

Given there's no charge to join, it makes sense to sign up if you're ever going to fly with Rex. While Rex started as a regional service, it now offers competitive fares between many Australian capital cities, so it can be a useful alternative to Qantas and Virgin. In August 2023, 80% of its flights departed on time, which was higher than Qantas, Virgin or Jetstar, according to Australian government flight punctuality statistics.

How can I earn Rex Points?

Rex Points are earned when you book flights with Rex, book extra baggage or pay to select a seat. The number of points per dollar varies depending on the type of fare. More expensive and flexible fares, unsurprisingly, earn more.

Here's an example of how much you'd earn on a typical one-way Sydney–Melbourne flight (specific fares will vary of course):

Can I earn Rex Flyer points through a credit card?

Right now, Rex doesn't have any credit card partnerships to earn Rex Points. That seems unlikely to change in the near future, but we're keeping an eye on it and will update this guide if that happens.

Are there any flight extras I don't earn Rex Points for?

Rex's terms and conditions note that you won't earn any Rex Points for these flight extras:

• Rex Bid Up upgrade offers (and if you do get an upgrade, you'll earn Rex Points based on the class you originally booked)
• Casual lounge access
• Food and drink purchases on board
• In-flight Wi-Fi

When do my Rex Points expire?

According to Rex's own terms and conditions, points will expire "on a rolling 36-month basis from when they were earned if there is no ongoing activity".

Activity here means either taking a flight or redeeming a reward. So that means you need to fly with Rex at least once every 3 years to stop your points from disappearing.

That's not too onerous, though the fact you can't earn Rex Points in any other way does make the scheme more limited than its chief rivals, Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity.

Rex Flyer's online activity statement will highlight when you have Rex Points expiring soon. Image: Rex/Supplied

How can I use Rex Points?

Annoyingly, Rex Points can't be used to book flights until November 2023. (When Rex said it would launch Rex Flyer in September 2023 it waited right until the end of the month, so patience seems called for.)

Once that happens, Rex is promising 3 ways to book reward flights. You'll also be able to use points for upgrades, but that's not happening until February 2024.

Ultimate Rewards: Limited availability but low points

Ultimate Rewards will use the fewest Rex Points, but only a handful are expected to be available on each flight. If you want to change these flights, you'll have to pay 3,500 Rex Points or $33, and you have to do so before midnight the day before the flight.

The cheapest Ultimate Reward on offer is 6,900 Rex Points for short-haul Economy flights from Sydney–Gold Coast or Melbourne–Hobart. Regional routes have higher points totals (and are also likely to have fewer seats given the use of smaller aircraft on these routes).

• Full list of Rex Points Ultimate Rewards points totals: Major cities

  Route	Ultimate Business	Ultimate Economy
  Melbourne–Adelaide	17,400	7,400
  Melbourne–Brisbane	19,900	8,900
  Melbourne–Canberra	17,400	7,900
  Melbourne–Gold Coast	17,400	8,400
  Melbourne–Hobart	17,400	6,900
  Melbourne–Sydney	17,400	7,400
  Sydney–Adelaide	19,900	8,900
  Sydney–Brisbane	17,400	7,400
  Sydney–Gold Coast	17,400	6,900
  Adelaide–Brisbane	22,400	10,900

• Full list of Rex Points Ultimate Rewards points totals: Regional

  Route	Ultimate Economy
  Sydney–Albury	12,500
  Sydney–Armidale	12,200
  Sydney–Broken Hill	21,400
  Sydney–Coffs Harbour	11,400
  Sydney–Dubbo	12,600
  Dubbo–Broken Hill	17,100
  Sydney–Griffith	13,200
  Sydney–Merimbula	13,200
  Sydney–Moruya	10,700
  Sydney–Narrandera	12,700
  Sydney–Orange	12,500
  Sydney–Parkes	11,900
  Sydney–Port Macquarie	12,400
  Sydney–Wagga Wagga	12,500
  Melbourne–Broken Hill	18,200
  Broken Hill–Mildura	10,600
  Melbourne–Burnie	12,400
  Melbourne–King Island	11,500
  Burnie–King Island	12,200
  Melbourne–Devonport	12,000
  Melbourne–Mount Gambier	13,000
  Melbourne–Merimbula	13,000
  Melbourne–Mildura	12,400
  Melbourne–Wagga Wagga	12,900
  Adelaide–Broken Hill	12,800
  Adelaide–Ceduna	13,100
  Adelaide–Coober Pedy	17,500
  Adelaide–Mildura	12,000
  Adelaide–Mount Gambier	12,900
  Adelaide–Port Lincoln	11,300
  Adelaide–Whyalla	11,400
  Cairns–Bamaga	17,400
  Cairns–Mount Isa	15,400
  Townsville–Cairns	10,400
  Perth–Albany	11,300
  Perth–Carnavon	13,300
  Perth–Esperance	11,900
  Perth–Monkey Mia	11,400
  Brisbane–Charleville	11,700
  Brisbane–Roma	10,400
  Roma–Charleville	-
  Brisbane–Wellcamp	8,400
  Brisbane–St George	12,000
  Brisbane–Cunnamulla	14,200
  Brisbane–Thargomindah	15,300
  Cunnamulla–Thargomindah	6,300
  St George–Cunnamulla	6,300
  St George–Thargomindah	8,800
  Wellcamp–Cunnamulla	9,900
  Wellcamp–St George	6,800
  Wellcamp–Thargomindah	11,800
  Brisbane–Wellcamp	8,400
  Brisbane–Charleville	11,700
  Brisbane–Quilpie	14,200
  Brisbane–Windorah	16,700
  Brisbane–Birdsville	19,100
  Brisbane–Bedourie	19,700
  Brisbane–Boulia	20,200
  Brisbane–Mount Isa	21,900
  Wellcamp–Bedourie	16,500
  Wellcamp–Boulia	16,700
  Wellcamp–Birdsville	16,200
  Wellcamp–Charleville	11,200
  Wellcamp–Mount Isa	19,200
  Wellcamp–Quilpie	11,800
  Wellcamp–Windorah	13,200
  Charleville–Bedourie	13,400
  Charleville–Boulia	13,700
  Charleville–Birdsville	12,000
  Charleville–Mount Isa	17,800
  Charleville–Quilpie	6,200
  Charleville–Windorah	9,300
  Quilpie–Bedourie	10,400
  Quilpie–Boulia	11,000
  Quilpie–Birdsville	9,300
  Quilpie–Mount Isa	15,100
  Quilpie–Windorah	6,200
  Windorah–Bedourie	6,300
  Windorah–Boulia	6,600
  Windorah–Birdsville	6,500
  Windorah–Mount Isa	13,100
  Birdsville–Bedourie	6,200
  Birdsville–Boulia	6,500
  Birdsville–Mount Isa	12,600
  Bedourie–Boulia	5,500
  Bedourie–Mount Isa	9,600
  Boulia–Mount Isa	7,100
  Burketown–Doomadgee	7,100
  Burketown–Mount Isa	12,300
  Cairns–Burketown	17,600
  Cairns–Doomadgee	17,800
  Cairns–Mount Isa	15,400
  Cairns–Karumba	15,200
  Cairns–Normanton	15,200
  Cairns–Mornington Island	17,600
  Mount Isa–Doomadgee	11,500
  Mount Isa–Karumba	13,500
  Mount Isa–Normanton	13,500
  Mount Isa–Mornington Island	14,300
  Normanton–Burketown	7,800
  Karumba–Burketown	7,800
  Normanton–Doomadgee	10,000
  Karumba–Doomadgee	10,000
  Normanton–Karumba	-
  Mornington Island–Burketown	7,700
  Mornington Island–Doomadgee	7,700
  Mornington Island–Normanton	10,000
  Mornington Island–Karumba	10,000
  Townsville–Winton	11,000
  Townsville–Longreach	13,200
  Winton–Longreach	6,100
  Townsville–Hughenden	8,800
  Townsville–Richmond	10,200
  Townsville–Julia Creek	12,200
  Townsville–Mount Isa	16,500
  Hughenden–Richmond	-
  Hughenden–Julia Creek	-
  Hughenden–Mount Isa	10,700
  Richmond–Julia Creek	-
  Richmond–Mount Isa	-
  Julia Creek–Mount Isa	-

One promising feature: Rex says any unsold seats on its flights will be made available as Ultimate Reward seats ahead of flight departure. That could make it a solid option for booking last-minute flights, when fares across all airlines are often higher.

However, the details here are fiddly. 2 days prior to the flight, all but 5 Economy seats on a service will be available as Ultimate Rewards. 1 day prior, all but 2 Business Seats will be released. And then at 00:01am on the day of departure, any remaining unsold seats will be released as Ultimate Rewards.

Getaway Rewards: Better flexibility and higher points

Rex has ramped up its competition with Qantas and Virgin. Image: Angus Kidman/Finder

Getaway Rewards promise a little more flexibility, but require more Rex Points. On capital city routes, they require an average of 1.3 times the number of Rex Points for Economy or Business compared to Ultimate Rewards.

Economy Getaway Rewards bookings can be changed or cancelled free of charge up to 14 days before flying and for Business you can do so up to 7 days before. After that, you'll have to pay $33 or use 3,500 Rex Points to cancel (the same conditions as Ultimate Rewards).

• Full list of Rex Points Getaway Rewards points totals: Major cities

  Route	Getaway Business	Getaway Economy
  Melbourne–Adelaide	22,600	9,600
  Melbourne–Brisbane	25,900	11,600
  Melbourne–Canberra	22,600	10,300
  Melbourne–Gold Coast	22,600	10,900
  Melbourne–Hobart	22,600	9,000
  Melbourne–Sydney	22,600	9,600
  Sydney–Adelaide	25,900	11,600
  Sydney–Brisbane	22,600	9,600
  Sydney–Gold Coast	22,600	9,000
  Adelaide–Brisbane	29,100	14,200

• Full list of Rex Points Getaway Rewards points totals: Regional

  Route	Getaway Economy
  Sydney–Albury	16,300
  Sydney–Armidale	15,900
  Sydney–Broken Hill	27,800
  Sydney–Coffs Harbour	14,800
  Sydney–Dubbo	16,400
  Dubbo–Broken Hill	22,300
  Sydney–Griffith	17,200
  Sydney–Merimbula	17,100
  Sydney–Moruya	13,900
  Sydney–Narrandera	16,500
  Sydney–Orange	16,300
  Sydney–Parkes	15,500
  Sydney–Port Macquarie	16,100
  Sydney–Wagga Wagga	16,300
  Melbourne–Broken Hill	23,700
  Broken Hill–Mildura	13,800
  Melbourne–Burnie	16,100
  Melbourne–King Island	14,900
  Burnie–King Island	15,800
  Melbourne–Devonport	15,600
  Melbourne–Mount Gambier	16,900
  Melbourne–Merimbula	17,000
  Melbourne–Mildura	16,200
  Melbourne–Wagga Wagga	16,800
  Adelaide–Broken Hill	16,600
  Adelaide–Ceduna	17,000
  Adelaide–Coober Pedy	22,800
  Adelaide–Mildura	15,600
  Adelaide–Mount Gambier	16,800
  Adelaide–Port Lincoln	14,700
  Adelaide–Whyalla	14,800
  Cairns–Bamaga	22,600
  Cairns–Mount Isa	20,000
  Townsville–Cairns	13,600
  Perth–Albany	14,700
  Perth–Carnavon	17,300
  Perth–Esperance	15,500
  Perth–Monkey Mia	14,800
  Brisbane–Charleville	15,200
  Brisbane–Roma	13,500
  Roma–Charleville	-
  Brisbane–Wellcamp	11,000
  Brisbane–St George	15,600
  Brisbane–Cunnamulla	18,400
  Brisbane–Thargomindah	19,900
  Cunnamulla–Thargomindah	8,200
  St George–Cunnamulla	8,200
  St George–Thargomindah	11,400
  Wellcamp–Cunnamulla	12,900
  Wellcamp–St George	8,800
  Wellcamp–Thargomindah	15,400
  Brisbane–Wellcamp	11,000
  Brisbane–Charleville	15,200
  Brisbane–Quilpie	18,400
  Brisbane–Windorah	21,700
  Brisbane–Birdsville	24,900
  Brisbane–Bedourie	25,600
  Brisbane–Boulia	26,300
  Brisbane–Mount Isa	28,400
  Wellcamp–Bedourie	21,400
  Wellcamp–Boulia	21,800
  Wellcamp–Birdsville	21,100
  Wellcamp–Charleville	14,600
  Wellcamp–Mount Isa	25,000
  Wellcamp–Quilpie	15,400
  Wellcamp–Windorah	17,100
  Charleville–Bedourie	17,400
  Charleville–Boulia	17,800
  Charleville–Birdsville	15,600
  Charleville–Mount Isa	23,100
  Charleville–Quilpie	8,100
  Charleville–Windorah	12,100
  Quilpie–Bedourie	13,500
  Quilpie–Boulia	14,300
  Quilpie–Birdsville	12,100
  Quilpie–Mount Isa	19,600
  Quilpie–Windorah	8,000
  Windorah–Bedourie	8,200
  Windorah–Boulia	8,500
  Windorah–Birdsville	8,500
  Windorah–Mount Isa	17,100
  Birdsville–Bedourie	8,000
  Birdsville–Boulia	8,500
  Birdsville–Mount Isa	16,400
  Bedourie–Boulia	7,100
  Bedourie–Mount Isa	12,500
  Boulia–Mount Isa	9,200
  Burketown–Doomadgee	9,200
  Burketown–Mount Isa	16,000
  Cairns–Burketown	22,800
  Cairns–Doomadgee	23,200
  Cairns–Mount Isa	20,000
  Cairns–Karumba	19,800
  Cairns–Normanton	19,800
  Cairns–Mornington Island	22,900
  Mount Isa–Doomadgee	15,000
  Mount Isa–Karumba	17,600
  Mount Isa–Normanton	17,600
  Mount Isa–Mornington Island	18,600
  Normanton–Burketown	10,100
  Karumba–Burketown	10,100
  Normanton–Doomadgee	13,000
  Karumba–Doomadgee	13,000
  Normanton–Karumba	-
  Mornington Island–Burketown	10,000
  Mornington Island–Doomadgee	10,000
  Mornington Island–Normanton	13,000
  Mornington Island–Karumba	13,000
  Townsville–Winton	14,300
  Townsville–Longreach	17,200
  Winton–Longreach	7,900
  Townsville–Hughenden	11,400
  Townsville–Richmond	13,200
  Townsville–Julia Creek	15,900
  Townsville–Mount Isa	21,400
  Hughenden–Richmond	-
  Hughenden–Julia Creek	-
  Hughenden–Mount Isa	13,900
  Richmond–Julia Creek	-
  Richmond–Mount Isa	-
  Julia Creek–Mount Isa	-

Anytime Rewards: Widely available but high points

Any available seat on a flight can be purchased as an Anytime Reward. For Economy, the number of Rex Points needed is an average of 3.7 times more than for Ultimate Rewards on capital city routes. For Business, it's a slightly less punishing 1.8 times higher.

A handful of "Queensland Regulated Routes" only offer Anytime Rewards, with no Ultimate or Getaway options.

• Full list of Rex Points Anytime Rewards points totals: Major cities

  Route	Anytime Business	Anytime Economy
  Melbourne–Adelaide	32,400	27,400
  Melbourne–Brisbane	34,900	33,400
  Melbourne–Canberra	32,400	29,900
  Melbourne–Gold Coast	34,900	32,900
  Melbourne–Hobart	29,900	27,400
  Melbourne–Sydney	34,900	30,900
  Sydney–Adelaide	32,400	29,900
  Sydney–Brisbane	32,400	29,900
  Sydney–Gold Coast	29,900	27,400
  Adelaide–Brisbane	37,400	34,900

• Full list of Rex Points Anytime Rewards points totals: Regional

  Route	Anytime Economy
  Sydney–Albury	36,400
  Sydney–Armidale	33,900
  Sydney–Broken Hill	42,400
  Sydney–Coffs Harbour	34,900
  Sydney–Dubbo	34,400
  Dubbo–Broken Hill	32,400
  Sydney–Griffith	35,000
  Sydney–Merimbula	33,000
  Sydney–Moruya	28,900
  Sydney–Narrandera	34,400
  Sydney–Orange	33,000
  Sydney–Parkes	31,900
  Sydney–Port Macquarie	34,900
  Sydney–Wagga Wagga	35,000
  Melbourne–Broken Hill	39,100
  Broken Hill–Mildura	20,700
  Melbourne–Burnie	34,900
  Melbourne–King Island	29,900
  Burnie–King Island	29,900
  Melbourne–Devonport	34,900
  Melbourne–Mount Gambier	34,900
  Melbourne–Merimbula	33,000
  Melbourne–Mildura	34,900
  Melbourne–Wagga Wagga	33,000
  Adelaide–Broken Hill	32,400
  Adelaide–Ceduna	32,400
  Adelaide–Coober Pedy	34,900
  Adelaide–Mildura	32,500
  Adelaide–Mount Gambier	34,900
  Adelaide–Port Lincoln	30,400
  Adelaide–Whyalla	30,200
  Cairns–Bamaga	37,400
  Cairns–Mount Isa	34,900
  Townsville–Cairns	32,400
  Perth–Albany	19,500
  Perth–Carnavon	28,300
  Perth–Esperance	21,400
  Perth–Monkey Mia	27,000
  Brisbane–Charleville	28,200
  Brisbane–Roma	25,700
  Roma–Charleville	10,600
  Brisbane–Wellcamp	18,600
  Brisbane–St George	19,400
  Brisbane–Cunnamulla	26,400
  Brisbane–Thargomindah	32,300
  Cunnamulla–Thargomindah	9,600
  St George–Cunnamulla	13,200
  St George–Thargomindah	20,600
  Wellcamp–Cunnamulla	22,000
  Wellcamp–St George	16,100
  Wellcamp–Thargomindah	27,900
  Brisbane–Wellcamp	18,600
  Brisbane–Charleville	28,200
  Brisbane–Quilpie	30,700
  Brisbane–Windorah	35,300
  Brisbane–Birdsville	36,600
  Brisbane–Bedourie	40,600
  Brisbane–Boulia	44,500
  Brisbane–Mount Isa	46,600
  Wellcamp–Bedourie	37,100
  Wellcamp–Boulia	41,200
  Wellcamp–Birdsville	32,800
  Wellcamp–Charleville	20,600
  Wellcamp–Mount Isa	39,400
  Wellcamp–Quilpie	26,800
  Wellcamp–Windorah	32,000
  Charleville–Bedourie	27,500
  Charleville–Boulia	28,300
  Charleville–Birdsville	24,000
  Charleville–Mount Isa	34,500
  Charleville–Quilpie	7,100
  Charleville–Windorah	17,000
  Quilpie–Bedourie	22,400
  Quilpie–Boulia	23,100
  Quilpie–Birdsville	20,300
  Quilpie–Mount Isa	31,100
  Quilpie–Windorah	8,300
  Windorah–Bedourie	16,800
  Windorah–Boulia	18,200
  Windorah–Birdsville	9,300
  Windorah–Mount Isa	25,800
  Birdsville–Bedourie	6,800
  Birdsville–Boulia	14,700
  Birdsville–Mount Isa	24,900
  Bedourie–Boulia	6,800
  Bedourie–Mount Isa	20,300
  Boulia–Mount Isa	9,700
  Burketown–Doomadgee	7,900
  Burketown–Mount Isa	17,200
  Cairns–Burketown	26,800
  Cairns–Doomadgee	28,300
  Cairns–Mount Isa	34,800
  Cairns–Karumba	21,900
  Cairns–Normanton	21,900
  Cairns–Mornington Island	28,200
  Mount Isa–Doomadgee	17,600
  Mount Isa–Karumba	20,200
  Mount Isa–Normanton	20,200
  Mount Isa–Mornington Island	21,100
  Normanton–Burketown	11,800
  Karumba–Burketown	11,800
  Normanton–Doomadgee	16,000
  Karumba–Doomadgee	16,000
  Normanton–Karumba	8,100
  Mornington Island–Burketown	10,000
  Mornington Island–Doomadgee	10,800
  Mornington Island–Normanton	13,500
  Mornington Island–Karumba	13,500
  Townsville–Winton	21,300
  Townsville–Longreach	21,600
  Winton–Longreach	6,400
  Townsville–Hughenden	15,000
  Townsville–Richmond	18,300
  Townsville–Julia Creek	20,200
  Townsville–Mount Isa	34,900
  Hughenden–Richmond	4,400
  Hughenden–Julia Creek	6,600
  Hughenden–Mount Isa	18,300
  Richmond–Julia Creek	5,200
  Richmond–Mount Isa	8,000
  Julia Creek–Mount Isa	6,800

Using Rex Points for flight upgrades

Upgrades will start being offered from February 2024. As Rex only operates Business on its capital city/major city routes, those are the only times where you can use your Rex Points for an upgrade from Economy to Business.

As you'd expect, you'll need to use more points if you've booked a cheaper Promo or Saver fare. Here's how many points you'll need for each route and fare type.

What's the best way to use my Rex Points?

Rex wants to encourage checking in and making changes online, especially for reward flights. Image: Angus Kidman/Finder

We can't do a really full analysis until Rex actually launches its upgrade options and we see what availability looks like. However, as with other Australian airlines, you'll get the most value from your points by choosing the Ultimate Rewards option – the one with limited availability but which uses the fewest points.

Upgrades are also likely to be solid value, but the limited number of Business seats on Rex services will make these challenging to score. That also won't be an option for regional services.

The flexible Anytime Rewards are likely to give a very poor value for your points (the same is true of Qantas Points Plus Pay and Virgin Any Seat).

What traps should I watch out for when booking Rex Points rewards?

You can book and change reward flights for free on the Rex site. However, if you book or make changes by phone, you'll have to pay $33 or 2,500 Rex Points. That won't apply if you're a Diamond flyer, but that's not going to be most people. Those fees are in addition to any change or cancellation fees that apply to changing the actual flight.

If you apply for an upgrade and want to cancel it, you have to do it by phone, and you'll have to pay either $33 or 3,500 Rex Points to do so.

One other trap: if you die, your account is immediately cancelled and closed. That's not unusual for frequent flyer schemes, but it still seems a little inflexible.

Which membership tiers does Rex Flyer offer?

Diamond Rex Flyers get free lounge access, but you'll need to fly a lot to reach that tier. Image: Angus Kidman/Finder

Rex says it will officially launch its membership tiers in February 2024. There are 4, in ascending order of benefits:

• Opal (the starter level where everyone begins)
• Sapphire
• Emerald
• Diamond

You climb tiers and retain them by earning Status Points or taking Status Flights. Right now, you earn 1 Status Point per $1 spent on flights, regardless of class. A Status Flight is any non-reward flight on Rex.

Status Points expire 12 months after you earn them, which is similar to Qantas and Velocity Frequent Flyer. So you would need to earn the required Status Points in a year to reach or maintain a higher membership tier.

Here's a summary of the additional tiers, what you need to do to reach them and keep them and the main benefits they offer. Diamond fliers also get free Rex Lounge membership.

Broadly speaking, if you're not flying Rex at least monthly, you won't be hitting any of these tiers.