Simplifying the world of points
Point Hacks has a vast range of guides to help you earn more rewards points, and use them with methods and tactics to get the most value from them – it’s at the core of what the site is about. We have a range of how-to’s relating to frequent flyer programs, bank rewards programs and hotel loyalty programs.
Beginners Guides
Earning Points – Getting Started
- Introduction to this series
- Get started with frequent flyer programs
- The factors to consider when choosing a frequent flyer program.
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- The factors to consider when choosing a frequent flyer program.
- Earning points from flying
- The obvious way of earning points – but definitely not the only one.
- The obvious way of earning points – but definitely not the only one.
- Buying points and miles
- Many overseas frequent flyer programs will let you buy points – this is why it’s worth considering.
- Many overseas frequent flyer programs will let you buy points – this is why it’s worth considering.
- Earning points from Credit Cards
- The main way most people earn points – by using frequent flyer-linked credit cards to earn points from everyday spend.
- The main way most people earn points – by using frequent flyer-linked credit cards to earn points from everyday spend.
- Earning from Offers & Partners
- Figure out the partners and offers that make sense for you to pick up bonus points.
- Figure out the partners and offers that make sense for you to pick up bonus points.
- Join the Point Hacks NZ ‘Earn More Points’ email course
Using Points – Getting Started
- Who, What, When, Where and How?
- Figure out some of the key constraints and goals you have when it comes to using your points.
- Figure out some of the key constraints and goals you have when it comes to using your points.
- Planning
- Why and how planning ahead in using your points is important.
- Why and how planning ahead in using your points is important.
- Flexibility
- The easiest way to start your planning is to look at the flights you want. Where do you want to go, and when? Flexibility is key.
- The easiest way to start your planning is to look at the flights you want. Where do you want to go, and when? Flexibility is key.
- Tools
- Finding out which rewards are available can sometimes be the most difficult part of using your points – these are the tools that can help.
- Finding out which rewards are available can sometimes be the most difficult part of using your points – these are the tools that can help.
- Flexible points programs
- Understand flexible points currencies and why they are great for award redemptions.
- Understand flexible points currencies and why they are great for award redemptions.
- Search using flexible dates
- See how you can save time by searching for award seats across multiple dates at the same time.
- See how you can save time by searching for award seats across multiple dates at the same time.
Frequent Flyer Program Guides
Air New Zealand Airpoints
Earning Air New Zealand Airpoints
- An introduction to Air New Zealand Airpoints
- Guide to Air New Zealand Airpoints Mall
- Earning Airpoints Dollars with Air NZ and Expedia
- Earning Airpoints Dollars from car rentals
- Guide to earning Airpoints on stays with Anantara and Oaks
- How to earn Air New Zealand Airpoints Dollars from hotel stays
- Using the Air New Zealand Onesmart travel / debit card to earn Airpoints Dollars
- Earn Air NZ Airpoints Dollars with Mercury Energy
- Guide to earning bonus points on Hilton stays
- Earn Airpoints Dollars at Z Fuel
- How to earn Airpoints Dollars with Mercury
- Earn Airpoints Dollars in the Cook Islands
- Guide to earning points with Sudima Hotels and Resorts
- Earning Airpoints Dollars with Oaks Hotels & Resorts
- Earning Airpoints Dollars with Tower Insurance
- Earning Airpoints Dollars at Harvey Norman
- Earning bonus Airpoints Dollars on MoleMap skin checks
- Earn Airpoints Dollars or Fly Buys points at New World
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Earning Qantas Points
- Earn Qantas Points with Hotel stays
- Earn Qantas points with Airbnb stays
- Our guide to Qantas bonus points promotions
- Guide to bonus point offers from Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Guide to Qantas Cash
- Guide to earning points with Sudima Hotels and Resorts
- Guide to earning Qantas Points with Uber
- Earning Qantas Points from car rentals
- Earn points by shopping online using Qantas Online Mall
Using Qantas Points
- Best uses of Qantas Points
- How to maximise 100,000 Qantas Points
- Use Qantas oneworld Classic Rewards for good value around the world flights
- Using Qantas points for flights with Qantas partners for beginners
- Using Qantas points for flights to the USA
- Basics of using points: get to know Air NZ, Virgin and Qantas’ key partners
- How to get to Bali using Qantas points
- How to redeem Qantas Points for Jetstar flights
- How Qantas upgrades work
- Using Qantas Points for Emirates flights
- Using Qantas Points to redeem award flights with WestJet
Velocity Frequent Flyer
Earning Velocity Points
Using Velocity Points
- How to and why to transfer your points between Velocity and KrisFlyer
- Use Velocity points for upgrades on Virgin Australia
- How to search for award seats on Virgin Australia and Velocity ‘award’ booking tips
- How to redeem Velocity points for Business & First Class flights to the USA from Australia
- Guide to using Velocity points on flights to Hong Kong and Mainland China
- How to use Velocity Points to book Virgin Atlantic award flights
- Velocity Frequent Flyer redemption bonuses guide
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Earning Asia Miles
Using Asia Miles
- Guide to using Asia Miles & Krisflyer Miles
- Tips for booking Asia Miles points redemptions, award holds and pricing
- Tips on using Asia Miles
- Using Asia Miles for around the world redemptions (RTW)
- Using Asia Miles for flights to the USA
- Using Qantas Points or Asia Miles for flights to the US & Europe flights
- Using frequent flyer points on Cathay Pacific flights
- Redeem Asia Miles for Cathay Pacific Lounge Access
- Using Asia Miles on Air Canada domestic routes
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Earning Krisflyer
Other Key Frequent Flyer Programs
American Airlines AAdvantage
Etihad Guest Miles
Buying Points & Miles
Getting Started Buying Points or Miles
- Basics of buying airline and hotel points or miles
- Reality of buying points and miles from online brokers
Hotels
Airlines
- How to buy Asia Miles and top up an account
- Buy Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles for cheap Delta, American, Qantas & Cathay Pacific redemptions
- Buy AAdvantage miles for oneworld airline redemption
- Buy Avianca Lifemiles for Star Alliance Business & First Class flights
- Guide to buying Etihad Miles
- Buy British Airways or Iberia Avios for oneworld airline redemptions
- Buy United MileagePlus miles for cheap Star Alliance Business & First Class redemptions
- Buying Velocity points
Hotel, Supermarket & Other Loyalty Program Guides
Hotels & Hotel Programs
- Get started with hotel loyalty programs
- Everything you need to know to start earning points from your hotel stays
- Introduction to the Hilton Honors program
- Earn credits and points with Airbnb
- Introduction to the Shangri-La Golden Circle program
- Introduction to Club Carlson
- Introduction to 1865, Langham’s loyalty program
- Guide to earning bonus points on Hilton stays
- Guide to Hotels.com Rewards program
- Guide to IHG Reward’s Accelerate quarterly points challenge
- InterContinental Ambassador Membership Kit
- Earning bonus points at new hotels with AccorHotels
- Accor Plus – the Accor Hotels membership program with a free hotel night
- Guide to IHG Rewards Pointbreaks
- Quick intro to Small Luxury Hotels
- Earn bonus points or miles on hotel stays with Agoda PointsMax
- Earn Velocity Points for hotel stays
- How to earn Cathay Pacific Asia Miles from hotel stays
- Guide to Le Club AccorHotels program
Starwood Preferred Guest
- Introduction to Starwood Preferred Guest
- Starwood Preferred Guest buying points guide
- Starwood Gold and Platinum Elite status guide
- Bonus Starpoints by declining housekeeping with ‘Make a Green Choice’
- Starwood Gold status after one stay with World MasterCards
- Guide to Starwood properties in Australia and the Pacific Islands
- Our comprehensive list of Starwood bonus points and discount offers
Other Loyalty Program
Car Rental
Credit Card Rewards Guides
American Express & Membership Rewards
- New Zealand American Express Membership Rewards Ultimate Guide
- Where can you use your American Express Card
- Earning Membership Rewards on dining
- Earn Amex Membership Rewards points with AT HOP in Auckland
- How to know if you’re qualified for an American Express sign-up bonus
- Complete guide to American Express Offers and Benefits
- How to use Amex Travel for bonus Membership Rewards points
- Guide to transferring Amex Membership Rewards points to Airpoints
American Express Platinum Charge
- New Zealand American Express Platinum Charge full guide
- Definitive guide to the American Express Lounge network
- Priority Pass Lounge guide
- Smartphone screen insurance included with eligible American Express cards
American Express Platinum Edge
Other Credit Card Programs
Using & Managing Credit Cards
Deeper Case Studies, Analysis, Comparisons & Tools
Earning Points Case Studies
Using Points Case Studies
- How to fly to New Zealand from Perth & Western Australia using frequent flyer points
- Using your points to get to Australia (East Coast & South Australia)
- How to use points to fly direct to the US
- Why I always use my points for travel – and for Economy flights
- Bevan’s Case study: Using 280,000 Qantas Points to Europe, Japan and Hong Kong in Business Class (Part I)
- Bevan’s Case study: How I booked my oneworld Classic Flight Reward (Part 2)
- Bevan’s Case study: How Qantas, Finnair and British Airways’ Business Class products compare (Part 3)
Analysis & Comparisons
- How and why to value your points
- When can a bank rewards or frequent flyer program kick you out and take all of your points?
- How major frequent flyer programs can make changes to their terms and potentially screw points-collectors in the process
- Comparison of award cancellation policies across key frequent flyer programs
- Comparison of frequent flyer and rewards point expiry policies
- Comparison of pricing between Velocity and KrisFlyer
- When can a bank rewards or frequent flyer program kick you out and take all of your points?
Earning & Managing Points Resources & Services
- How to use ‘Where to Credit’ to calculate how many points your flight can earn
- Earn more points or miles on hotel bookings with Kaligo
- When and why to consider Expedia+ rewards to earn points for travel bookings
- Best apps and websites for tracking your points
- Guide to the Legroom for Google Flights Chrome extension
- List of frequent flyer program phone details for faster research and booking
- Using ExpertFlyer alerts for award availability
- How to avoid crowds at major tourist attractions
- Comprehensive directory of award charts for key frequent flyer programs
- Guide to AwardAce: an award pricing comparison tool
- Earning bonus frequent flyer points with Rocketmiles
Using Points – Destination Guides
USA & Central America
- Using points to Hawaii
- Mexico: How to get to Mexico using your frequent flyer points
- Mexico: Destination Guide
Africa
Targeting Specific Airlines, Hotels & Lounges
Qantas
Virgin Australia
Singapore Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Frequent Flyer, Hotel & Car Rental Status
Frequent Flyer Status
Maximising Points or Discounts from Purchases and Spend
Earning Points from Spend
- How to boost your Amex Rewards points with gift cards
- Earn Airpoints Dollars at Z Fuel
- Earn Amex Membership Rewards points with AT HOP in Auckland
- Earning Fly Buys points with Torpedo7
- Earning points and cashback with Cashrewards
- Earning Fly Buys points with Genesis
- Earning Airpoints Dollars with Mercury
- Earning Airpoints Dollars with Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry
- Earning points on Duty Free with JR/Vantage