Amy Finds It Difficult To Use Her Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points

Switch from your current Qantas American Express Discovery Card to an American Express card that allows you to spend your points with a number of airline loyalty programs, rather than just Qantas.

If you switch to the American Express Explorer Credit Card, you'll be able to spend your points with 11 airline loyalty programs. By using this card you'll earn American Express Membership Rewards (Gateway) points. These points can then be transferred at any time to your choice of 11 airline loyalty programs along with 2 hotel loyalty programs - refer to Pointr #1104.

The other benefit to the American Express Explorer Credit Card is that when you transfer American Express Membership Rewards (Gateway) points to most airline loyalty programs you will earn 33% more airline loyalty points than you currently earn with the Qantas American Express Discovery Card - 1 instead of 0.75.

Also, if you sign-up to a new American Express Explorer Credit Card in your partner's name, and your partner does not currently hold an American Express card, your partner will earn an American Express sign-on bonus of 50,000 American Express Membership Rewards (Gateway) points, which can be transferred to 25,000 airline loyalty program points with most airlines.

The American Express Explorer Credit Card costs $395 per year, whereas your Qantas American Express Discovery Card is free. However, the $395 is more than offset by the additional points earned per year, along with other additional benefits of the card.

With a choice of 11 airline loyalty programs you'll be able to make far better use of "Spend Less" Pointrs, another benefit of switching cards.

Meanwhile, to use your existing Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points, to increase your chances of finding reward flights book as soon as bookings open - refer to Pointr #1112. Also keep an eye out in the media for when Qantas does a bulk release of reward seats, which happens from time-to-time, and be quick to act when they do. Also consider using Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points to fly other airlines - refer to Pointr #1080. If you're still having trouble finding reward seats, you can also consider gifting points to others if they ever need additional points (and you're feeling generous!). Keep in mind that to ensure you keep your Qantas Points from expiring you'll need to earn or use Qantas Points through your account at least once every 18 months.

To switch your American Express card, please contact American Express customer service.