FlyBuys master: The Aussie using points for free accommodation, iPhones
Tessa is one of many Aussies taking advantage of Flybuys and other loyalty programs so she doesn’t have to go without holidays and other nice-to-haves as the cost of living soars.
She has even managed to rack up enough Flybuys points to buy the new iPhone 13 Pro outright.
“In this day and age, there's no way I could ever afford that [without using points],” Tessa said.
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She has also used points to pay for accommodation for her upcoming trip to Scotland.
She said many people were baffled by how she managed to get enough points to pay for those sorts of things.
“It takes a little bit of planning,” Tessa said.
She recommended downloading the Flybuys app.
The app shows bonus offers, such as weekly spend offers - where if you spend $100 every week for four weeks, you’ll get 10,000 bonus points - for example.
“So, by making sure that you've activated those offers before you do your shopping, that definitely helps get the points ramped up really quickly,” she said.
Tessa’s husband is also linked to the Flybuys account, as are her parents.
“So, every time they go shopping, I get the points,” she said.
She said her parents weren’t the most tech-savvy people but were happy to scan a card every time they went shopping.
“So, thanks, Mum and Dad,” Tessa said.
“And my husband, of course … he benefits from the points as well, such as the accommodation.”
Tessa also takes advantage of other loyalty programs at places she shops regularly, such as Bonds and The Body Shop.
Loyal to loyalty programs
Australians love a loyalty scheme.
Close to 80 per cent of Australians are members of at least one loyalty scheme, according to a report commissioned by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Alongside Everyday Rewards, Flybuys is one of the two big rewards alliances currently in Australia.
Everyday Rewards partners include Woolworths, Caltex, BWS, Big W, Bupa and Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Flybuys partners include Coles, Liquorland, Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks and Target.
Several other major retailers, like IGA and Myer, have their own rewards programs.
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