A golfer’s guide to booking flights and securing upgrades when you didn’t know you could.
At iFLYflat, we’ve been helping individuals and business owners fly business class on points, saying goodbye to economy for good.
Credit card and frequent flyer programs can be complex, so it’s no surprise that most business owners – and many of you who go on overseas golf trips – still fly economy when you could be flying business class.
Below, I’ve done my best to answer the most common questions people have when it comes to purposefully using your points to unlock the ultimate travel and lifestyle advantage. Read on to discover how to use points smarter to travel in style for your golf trips.
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Which is the best credit card for earning points that can take me to my next golf getaway?
The best credit card for earning points to fund your next golf getaway depends on several factors. Surprisingly, choosing the best card comes last – after understanding your spending habits. For example, if you run a business with significant expenses, focus on a card that maximises points per dollar.
Another key consideration is the frequent flyer program you want to earn points with. Some cards lock you into a single program, like Qantas or Virgin. However, the most versatile option is a rewards card that allows you to earn points and later transfer them to programs like Qantas, Virgin, Singapore Airlines or Qatar Airways. This flexibility ensures you’re not stuck with one airline, giving you more options to book business class flights for your next golf adventure.
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Should I focus on earning Qantas points or Velocity points to maximise my chances of flying business class to golf destinations?
To decide which airline program to focus on, consider a few key factors. First, think about your travel habits – if you’re flying with Virgin or Qantas often for work, it might make sense to align your points strategy with the airline you use most.
Second, ask yourself if Qantas or Virgin points can actually get you to your desired golf destinations. Does the airline or its partners service those locations well? Finally, compare the points cost. Some destinations might require fewer points with one program, making it cheaper to fly.
Choosing the right program ensures your points take you exactly where you want to go – ideally, business class to your next golf getaway!
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Is it smarter to use points to upgrade my seat or book a full business class ticket outright?
The thing about upgrades is that they’re entirely controlled by the airline. It’s like trying to get a table at the hottest restaurant in town – you’re essentially putting in a request and hoping for the best. Whether you’re successful depends on several factors, including your loyalty status (are you gold, platinum, or higher?), the class of your ticket (economy or premium economy), and even the type of fare you purchased (discounted or fully flexible).
Upgrades are never guaranteed, and you typically won’t know if your request is successful until about 48 hours before departure. On the other hand, using points to book a full business class ticket outright is a much smarter move. The points cost is often similar, but you’ll have a confirmed seat in business class from the moment you book. This removes all the uncertainty and ensures you’re flying in style to your next golf destination.
Finding and booking these business class seats with points is exactly what iFLYflat specialises in, so you can relax and focus on your golf game instead of worrying about flight upgrades.
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How far in advance should I book business class flights to secure the best deals for my golf trips?
When using points to book a flight, you can technically book anywhere from up to 350 days before departure to as close as four hours before takeoff. Finding points seats is a bit like fishing – the availability changes every day. If you don’t find a seat today, one might pop up tomorrow, or even next week.
The best time to book is when you’re ready to commit. If you have your travel dates locked in, start searching right away. Looking too far in advance without being ready to book can lead to frustration if you find seats but can’t secure them.
At iFLYflat, we specialise in helping you navigate this process, ensuring you find and secure the best business class seats for your next golf trip.
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How many points are needed to fly to Europe, Asia, or the USA in business class for a golf holiday?
Different airlines require varying numbers of points for business class flights to the same destination. Let’s break it down by region:
For a return business class flight from Sydney to Europe:
- Qantas: 318,000 points
- Singapore Airlines: 308,000 points
- Virgin Australia (via partners): 278,000 points
- Qatar Airways: up to 380,000 points
For Asia:
- Qantas to Singapore: 136,800 points
- Singapore Airlines to Singapore: 137,000 points
- Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong: 116,000 points
For the USA:
- Qantas to Los Angeles: 216,800 points
- Virgin to Los Angeles: 191,000 points
These numbers give you an idea of the points cost, but availability and routing can vary significantly depending on the airline and booking time.
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I’ve got lots of Qantas points, but I can’t find seats. How can I use them?
The challenge with using Qantas points lies in a major mismatch between supply and demand. With more than 16 million Qantas members holding points and competing for the same limited seats, finding availability can feel nearly impossible. Qantas also tightly controls the number of points seats offered on its own flights and through its airline partners.
The secret to unlocking business class flights with points is diversification. By earning and holding points across multiple airline programs, you can access a wider range of seat availability at different times. This flexibility increases your chances of securing the flights you need, when you need them.
At iFLYflat, we offer two services to solve these challenges. Our Points Flight Booking Concierge specialises in finding and securing business class seats using your points, so you don’t have to stress over availability. Additionally, our one-to-one Points Travel Strategy helps you earn the right points, ensuring you can fly business class at low cost – forever.
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How does the Points Flight Bookings Concierge help?
Finding points seats is more complex than ever. With Qantas introducing tiers like Classic Rewards and Classic Plus, adding more airline partners, and constantly tweaking their points schemes, many people are left confused about how to use their points effectively. As a result, points often go unused or wasted.
That’s where iFLYflat’s Points Flight Bookings Concierge comes in. With our expert knowledge of the system, we find the lowest-cost points seats and ensure you get maximum value for your points. On average, we save our clients between $5,000 and $10,000 per ticket compared to retail prices.
More than just booking flights, we transform how our clients think about travel. Once you realise that using points is the smartest and cheapest way to fly, it changes everything – including how you experience your golf trips, work travel and beyond.
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What’s an example of what you do?
For example, let’s say you have a golf trip to the USA and want to fly via Los Angeles or San Francisco. Rather than paying $10,000 to $12,000 for a retail business class ticket, we can help you secure confirmed seats using 216,800 Qantas Points or 191,000 Virgin Velocity Points.
We’ll handle the entire booking process for you, ensuring you secure your tickets hassle-free. iFLYflat charges a success booking fee of $1,900, plus ticket taxes of about $500. This means for less than $2,500, you can fly return business class instead of paying $10,000 to $12,000 at retail prices.
With a confirmed business class seat, you’ll enjoy extra baggage allowance, a spacious and comfortable cabin, and the ability to sleep on your flight. You’ll arrive refreshed and ready to hit the ground running for your golf trip. On the return leg, you can rest and recover, ensuring no time is wasted.
Steve Hui is the chief executive of iFLYflat – the Points Whisperer, Australia’s No.1 points travel expert. With deep knowledge of how the system works and more than a billion points successfully booked, they take the stress out of finding and securing those coveted seats. See iflyflat.com.au for more.
