Go further with your credit card points by transferring them to your frequent flyer program.
There are a number of rewards credit cards that let you transfer the reward points you earn to different frequent flyer programs. These cards are otherwise known as indirect rewards credit cards. The process for transferring frequent flyer points from a rewards credit card varies depending on the credit card provider and the frequent flyer program. This guide looks at the different credit card providers that offer this service and how it works so that you can make your credit card and frequent flyer rewards go further.
How do I transfer my credit card rewards to a frequent flyer program?
The following section provides details of the transfer process for individual credit card providers and airline loyalty programs, so that you know exactly what steps you need to take.
American Express Membership Rewards
If you have an American Express credit card that earns Membership Rewards, you can transfer points to a wide range of frequent flyer programs using the following steps:
- Log into your account.
- Link your frequent flyer membership number to your Membership Rewards account.
- Select the ‘redeem’ option.
- Follow the prompts to transfer your Membership Reward points to your chosen frequent flyer program.
American Express offers Membership Rewards on a wide range of its personal and business cards. Depending on your circumstances, you could choose from any of the cards below:
| Frequent flyer program | Transfer requirements | Points rates |
|---|---|---|
Air New Zealand Airpoint |
| 100 Membership Rewards = 1 Airpoints Dollar |
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles |
| 1 Membership Rewards = 1 Asia Mile |
Emirates Skyward |
| 4 Membership Rewards points = 3 Skywards miles |
| Etihad Guest |
| 1 Membership Reward point = 1 Etihad Guest mile |
| Malaysia Airlines Enrich |
| 1 Membership Rewards point = 1 Enrich mile |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer* |
| 1 Membership Rewards point = 0.5 Qantas Points |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer |
| 1 Membership Rewards point = 1 KrisFlyer mile |
| Thai Royal Orchid Plus |
| 1 Membership Rewards point = 1 Royal Orchid Plus mile |
| Virgin Australia Velocity |
| 1 Membership Rewards point = 1 Velocity Point |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club |
Not available as an Airline Transfer Partner in the Gateway program | 1 Membership Rewards point = 1 Flying Club mile |
American Express also notes that points transferred to frequent flyer programs are not reversible and are subject to the terms and conditions of both Membership Rewards and the partner program. So you may want to double-check details before transferring points from your Membership Rewards card.
Compare American Express credit cards here
Back to top
ANZ Rewards
The following credit cards that are linked to the ANZ Rewards program allow you to transfer points to frequent flyer programs:
| Frequent flyer program | Transfer requirements | Points rates |
|---|---|---|
| Air New Zealand Airpoints |
| 3,000 Reward Points = 15 Airpoints Dollars |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles |
| 3,000 Reward Points = 1,000 Asia Miles |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer |
| 6,000 Reward Points = 2,000 KrisFlyer Miles |
| Virgin Australia Velocity |
| 2 Reward Points = 1 Velocity Point |
ANZ Business Rewards
| Frequent flyer program | Transfer requirements | Transfer points rates |
|---|---|---|
| Qantas Frequent Flyer |
| 2 Reward Points for 1 Qantas Frequent Flyer point |
| Air New Zealand |
| Redeem 3,000 Reward Points for 15 Airpoints Dollars |
| Asia Miles |
| Redeem an initial minimum of 3,000 Reward Points for Asia Mile, additional multiples of 1,500 Reward Points thereafter |
| Velocity Frequent Flyer |
| Redeem multiples of 2,250 Reward Points |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles |
| Redeem multiples of 3,000 Reward Points for 1,500 KrisFlyer Miles |
Citibank Rewards
Citibank offers points transfer options for the following credit cards:
| Frequent flyer program | Transfer requirements | Points rates |
|---|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles |
| 2 Citi Rewards = 1 Asia Mile |
| Emirates Skywards |
| 2 Citi Rewards = 1 Skywards Mile |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer |
| 2 Citi Rewards = 1 KrisFlyer Mile |
| Virgin Australia Velocity |
| 2 Citi Rewards = 1 Velocity Point |
While most Citi Rewards credit cards only give you a few transfer options, the Citi Prestige card includes Points Transfers to the following airline loyalty programs, at a rate of 2 Citi Rewards for every frequent flyer point:
- Delta Skymiles
- Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- Qatar Privilege Club
- Thai Airways Royal Orchid
- Etihad Guest
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue
- Garuda Frequent Flyer
- Eva Air Infinity MileageLands
- Hilton HHonors
- IHG Rewards
- Club Carlson
Compare Citi credit cards here
Back to top
Commonwealth Bank Awards
The CommBank Awards program gives you two options for earning frequent flyer rewards based on the airline program you choose. To transfer points, you will need to have one of the following cards:
| Frequent flyer program | Transfer requirements | Points rates |
|---|---|---|
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | You have to opt into Qantas Frequent Flyer Direct through your Awards account. Then all future CommBank Awards points earned will be automatically transferred to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account on a monthly basis.There is a $30 annual charge for this service. | 1 Qantas Point = 2.5 Awards points |
| Virgin Australia Velocity | A minimum of 3,600 Awards points must be redeemed for Velocity Points.Additional points must be in increments of 1,000 points.
| 1 Velocity Point = 2.5 Award points for Classic and Gold cardsOR2 Award points for Platinum and Diamond cards |
Compare Commonwealth Bank credit cards here
Back to top
Diners Club Rewards
The Diners Club Rewards program gives you the ability to transfer your reward points to a number of frequent flyer programs. Just log in online or call Diners Club and follow these steps:
- Select the participating travel loyalty program you want to transfer points to.
- Select the number of points to transfer.
- Confirm and accept the terms and conditions.
Diners Club offers the following range of charge cards for individuals and businesses:
| Frequent flyer program | Transfer requirements | Points rates |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Rewards must be redeemed by the primary cardholder and the frequent flyer account must be in their name.
| 2 Rewards points = 1 Aeroplan point |
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | Rewards must be redeemed by the primary cardholder and the frequent flyer account must be in their name.
| 2 Rewards points = 1 Mileage Plan point |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Rewards must be redeemed by the primary cardholder and the frequent flyer account must be in their name.
| 2 Rewards points = 1 AAdvantage point |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | Rewards must be redeemed by the primary cardholder and the frequent flyer account must be in their name.
| 2 Rewards points = 1 Asia Mile |
| Delta SkyMiles | Subject to frequent flyer program terms and conditions | 2 Rewards points = 1 Delta SkyMile |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | Subject to frequent flyer program terms and conditions | 3 Rewards points = 1 Infinity MileageLands Mile |
| Emirates Skywards | Subject to frequent flyer program terms and conditions | 2.5 Rewards points = 1 Skywards Mile |
| Etihad Guest | Subject to frequent flyer program terms and conditions | 2 Rewards points = 1 Guest Mile |
| EL AL Israel Airlines Matmid Club | Rewards must be redeemed by the primary cardholder and the frequent flyer account must be in their name.
| 2 Rewards points = 1 Matmid Point |
| Flying Blue(Air France and KLM) | Subject to frequent flyer program terms and conditions | 2 Rewards points = 1 Flying Blue Award Mile |
| Frontier Airlines Early Returns | Subject to frequent flyer program terms and conditions | 2 Rewards points = 1 EarlyReturns Mile |
| Garuda Indonesia Frequent Flyer | Subject to frequent flyer program terms and conditions | 2 Rewards points = 1 Garuda Frequent Flyer Mile |
| Hawaiian Miles | Rewards must be redeemed by the primary cardholder and the frequent flyer account must be in their name.
| 2 Rewards points = 1 Hawaiian Mile |
| Malaysia Airlines Enrich | Subject to frequent flyer program terms and conditions | 2 Rewards points = 1 Enrich Mile |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | Subject to frequent flyer program terms and conditions | 2 Rewards points = 1 Qmile |
| SAS EuroBonus | Rewards must be redeemed by the primary cardholder and the frequent flyer account must be in their name.
| 2 Rewards points = 1 EuroBonus Point |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Subject to frequent flyer program terms and conditions | 2 Rewards points = 1 KrisFlyer Mile |
| South African Airways Voyager | Rewards must be redeemed by the primary cardholder and the frequent flyer account must be in their name.
| 2 Rewards points = 1 Voyager Mile |
| Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards | Rewards must be redeemed by the primary cardholder and the frequent flyer account must be in their name.
| 2 Rewards points = 1 Rapid Rewards Point |
| Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus | Subject to frequent flyer program terms and conditions | 2 Rewards points = 1 Royal Orchid Plus Mile |
| Virgin Australia Velocity | Subject to frequent flyer program terms and conditions | 1.5 Rewards points = 1 Velocity Point |
Compare Diners Club charge cards
Back to top
HSBC Rewards Plus
If you have an HSBC credit card enrolled in Rewards Plus, you can transfer your points to three different frequent flyer programs. Just provide your frequent flyer membership number to HSBC and login to your account to redeem your reward points for the selected frequent flyer miles. There are two HSBC credit cards that offer Rewards Plus:
| Frequent flyer program | Transfer requirements | Points rates |
|---|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles |
| 1 HSBC Premier Reward Points = 0.5 Asia Miles |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer |
| 1 HSBC Premier Reward Points = 0.5 KrisFlyer Miles |
| Virgin Australia Velocity |
| 1 HSBC Premier Reward Points = 0.5 Velocity Points |
Compare HSBC credit cards here
Back to top
St.George Amplify Rewards
With a St.George credit card that earns Amplify Rewards, you can transfer your points to three different frequent flyer programs. You can get Amplify Rewards with any of the following St.George credit cards:
| Frequent flyer program | Transfer requirements | Points rates |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia Airlines Enrich | Points can only be redeemed in multiples of 500 and you must be a member of the selected frequent flyer program. | 500 Amplify points = 250 frequent flyer points |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | ||
| Virgin Australia Velocity |
Compare St.George Credit cards here
Back to top
Suncorp Bank Rewards
Suncorp’s Points Transfer option is only available on Suncorp Platinum and Business Clear Options credit card accounts enrolled in Suncorp Bank Rewards.
| Frequent flyer program | Transfer requirements | Points rates |
|---|---|---|
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | Suncorp Platinum: You have to opt into Qantas Frequent Flyer Direct through your Suncorp credit card account. Then all future points earned will be automatically transferred to your Qantas Frequent Flyer.There is a $49 annual charge for this service. |
|
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer |
| 2.5 Reward points = 1 KrisFlyer Mile |
| Virgin Australia Velocity |
| 1 HSBC Premier Reward Points = 0.5 Velocity Points |
Compare Suncorp credit cards here
Back to top
Westpac Altitude Rewards
The Westpac Altitude Rewards program lets you convert your points to a selection of major international airline frequent flyer programs.You must have earned at least 3,000 points before you can claim any rewards. There are three personal Westpac Altitude cards to choose from and two business options:
| Frequent flyer program | Transfer requirements | Points rates |
|---|---|---|
| Air New Zealand Airpoints |
| 160 Altitude Points = 1 Airpoints dollar |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | A minimum conversion requirement applies per redemption. | 2 Altitude Points = 1 Asia Miles point |
| Malaysia Airlines Enrich |
| 2 Altitude Points = 1 Enrich Mile |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer |
| 3,000 Altitude points = 1,500 KrisFlyer Miles |
| Virgin Australia Velocity |
| 2 Altitude Points = 1 Velocity Point |
Compare Westpac credit cards here
Back to topHow to get the most out of your points
Consider the following factors before transferring your credit card reward points to a frequent flyer program to make sure it is worth it.
- Frequent flyer membership. You must be a member of the frequent flyer program before you request a point transfer from your credit card. Keep in mind this could lead to an additional membership cost.
- Participating frequent flyer programs. Some credit card providers let you transfer points to a wide range of airline loyalty programs, while others may only offer one or two frequent flyer transfer options.
- The number of points required. There may be a minimum or maximum amount of credit card rewards you can transfer to a frequent flyer program.
- The points rate. The amount of credit card rewards you need to get frequent flyer points varies. For example, 1 credit card reward point may equal 0.5 frequent flyer points.
- The transfer time. After you transfer your credit card rewards to a frequent flyer program, it could be up to a month or even longer before they are credited to your frequent flyer account.
- Credit card fees. If you get a rewards credit card and want to transfer points to frequent flyer programs, make sure you consider the annual fee, interest rates and other potential costs so that you know it is an affordable option for your needs.
- Program changes. Most credit card issuers reserve the right to change their reward program options and redemptions at any time. The same is true for frequent flyer programs, so it’s important to get up-to-date information on your reward options before you transfer points to an airline loyalty program.
Whether you’re a member of several different frequent flyer programs or just want to find other ways to use your credit card rewards, by learning about point transfers you can choose exactly where your points go and how you use them.
Back to top
How do I transfer points earned on my Westpac card to my Qantas FF account? Is this automatic? If so, what is the cycle/frequency this transfers? If it is manual, how do I manually move these points? I want to book a flight that is short a couple of hundred points so I have been using my card for everything to gain these points, but none have been added.
Hi Shaal,
Thank you for your question.
May I know what Westpac credit card you currently hold?
If your card lets you earn Qantas points on eligible purchases, then those points are automatically added to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. Otherwise, please contact Altitude Rewards customer service team.
To use your Qantas points for booking a flight, please visit Qantas website and log in to your FF account.
Cheers,
May
I was wondering how to link my altitude black points to the Qanats frequent flyer program instead of the altitude program.
Hi Jenny,
Thanks for your inquiry.
If you wish to opt into Altitude Qantas from Altitude Rewards, you would need to contact Westpac’s Card Customer Service Centre and request the switch of points. I’ve sent to your email their contact details for your convenience.
Please also note that you may switch between Altitude Qantas and Altitude Rewards programs at any time and any number of times. You should allow at least 10 business days for your request to switch to be processed or as advised at the time of your request.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May
Our velocity frequent flyer has a family membership where points go into one account,can my altitude points be transferred into my husbands velocity account.
Hi Tina,
Thanks for your question.
You should be able to transfer Altitude Points to your husband’s Velocity account if you’re all linked under the one account. You can transfer the points via the Westpac website. You’ll just need to link the Velocity account to the Altitude rewards account.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Sally
I want to fly Canadian Airways from Sydney to Vancouver.
How do I transfer my Altitude points to Canadian Airways frequent Flyer points that I may use sometime in the future.
Since I’ve changed banking credit cards, I need to use the Altitude Points before the end of June.
Hello,
Thanks for your question.
Just to confirm, are you referring to Westpac Altitude rewards or Canadian Airways Altitude frequent flyer rewards? If you are referring to a Westpac credit card with Altitude rewards, please note that Westpac isn’t partnered with Canadian Airways, so you’d be unable to transfer your points to that airline.
Otherwise, if you’re referring to Canadian Airways Altitude points, then they should automatically appear in your frequent flyer account which you can then use to redeem a flight with Canadian Airways.
I hope this has helped, but please do not hesitate to follow up if you need further clarification.
Cheers,
Sally
Hi,
How can I transfer points from my westpac altitude card to Qantas frequent flyers program?
Hello Ky713,
Thanks for your question.
Unless you have a Westpac card that’s directly linked to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account, you can’t transfer your Westpac Altitude points to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.
If you’d like to earn Qantas Points on everyday spending, you can start comparing Qantas Frequent Flyer credit cards here.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Sally
Hello,
First, can I transfer Altitude points to Qantas Frequent Flyer directly? If not, is there anything else I can do like transferring it to another program which can convert to Qantas points?
Thanks,
Gary
Hi Gary,
Thanks for your question.
With Westpac Altitude Credit Card, you can convert/transfer your Altitude points to Qantas and/or Velocity FF programs. Your Altitude points are equivalent to:
1. For $1 spent on AMEX = 1 Qantas point; for $1 spent on Visa = 0.5 Qantas point
2. For 2 Altitude Points = 1 Velocity point
For further information about transferring your Altitude points to Qantas and Velocity FF programs, please refer to the links I’ve forwarded to your email.
I hope this is helpful.
Cheers,
May
How can I exchange Velocity points to Altitude points?
Hi Gerry,
Thanks for your question.
Unfortunately, exchanging your Velocity points to Altitude points is not possible. But you can transfer your Altitude points to your Velocity FF account. You can transfer 2 Altitude points and convert that to 1 Velocity point. You have to transfer a minimum of 3,000 points and follow it up with increments of 500 points. Transferring of your Altitude points to your Velocity FF account can be done at the Velocity website. I have sent to your email the link of the page.
Cheers,
May
Trying to work the conversion between ANZ rewards to Qantas frequent flyers.
If i had say 100,000 ANZ rewards what would that convert to in Qantas frequent flyers?
Hi Sam,
Thanks for your question.
This will depend on the card you’re using. If you could please let us know, we’ll be able to provide you with more information.
Cheers,
Sally
ANZ Business one.
Hi Sam,
Thanks for confirming this information.
If you have an ANZ Business card, you can redeem 2 Reward Points for 1 Qantas Frequent Flyer point.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Sally
I want to transfer my Commonwealth Bank rewards points to Qantas frequent flyer as I need to travel overseas, what is the procedure?
Hi Oscar,
Thanks for your question.
If you want to transfer your Commonwealth Bank Awards points to Qantas Frequent Flyer points, you’ll need to opt into the Qantas Frequent Flyer program by calling 13 16 61.
You can only convert CBA Awards points into Qantas Points that have been earned after you opted into the Qantas program.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Sally