Yahoo Finance 4 steps to hack your way to a business class trip
So you’ve been locked up in your house for the past 12 months dreaming about the sunny beaches in the Maldives and full moon parties in Koh Phangan.
Even though it may be tempting to get on the first plane out of good ol’ Aus, there’s a smart way to go about it, that doesn’t involve a loan shark. A rewards credit card might just be your ticket out of here. Hack your way into a business class flight with these 4 steps.
But first, what actually is a rewards credit card?
Rewards credit cards earn you points as you spend money. These points can be cashed in for perks such as free flights, flight upgrades (business class baby!) or other products (Dyson, Dyson, Dyson).
Some rewards programs offer up to 110,000 Frequent Flyer points. That’ll get you a return flight to Matthew McConaughey’s Los Angeles pad. Now that's alright, alright, alright.
But the value of rewards points varies depending on the card’s earn rate and the rewards program, which is why it’s important to shop around and find a rewards card that’s suited to your lifestyle and spending habits.
Step 1: Understand the best deals
Just like different friends give you different advice, different cards will give you different rewards. You’ve got the upfront bonus rewards card like the St George Amplify Signature, the cards that give you gift cards when you sign up like the Citi Rewards credit card and of course the traditional low rate cards like Defence Bank’s Foundation Credit card.
But even then, you have the Qantas Frequent Flyer program and the Virgin Velocity program. Generally, each card is tied to a particular airline.
Step 2: Spend - but spend wisely
Here’s the catch: you’ve got to spend money to make money (get points). *Immediately reaches for credit card* However, this isn’t an excuse to drain your bank account *shamefully puts credit card back in wallet*
You won’t save any money to spend on your trip if you take this approach! Just like chilling is to Netflix, a reward credit card should complement and benefit your everyday spending - not dictate it.
No credit card reward is better than the reward of spending within your means.
Step 3: Plan ahead
Has your new yoga routine taught you nothing this year? Flexibility is king. And that’s the same with rewards flights.
If you’re not fussed about where you depart or arrive from, or what dates you leave, then you’ve got two options to get your bum into a business class seat. You can either plan your trip super early to get the best deals OR you run the risk by booking an extremely flexible last-minute flight.
Research is crucial as each destination and airline will have their own structure when it comes to departure times and onboard service.
Our advice is, take a page outta Liam from Tinder’s book - don’t be committed to one certain date and keep your options open. Remember, going on holiday greatly outweighs which date you go on!
Step 4: Do the math
But remember, your hot piece of plastic and its points can only get you so far. Once you touch down in London town, you’ll still need to pay for all the other things that make a holiday enjoyable like meals, activities, souvenirs and transport.
Most rewards credit cards have annual fees, ranging anywhere between $90 to $550. So do the calculations and make sure you’re getting what you want in terms of outrageously fun experiences without murdering your bank account.
Disclaimer: Flux Technologies. ABN 86 634 507 172 is an authorised representative (1283166) and a credit representative (525288) of Mozo Pty Ltd who is the holder of AFSL and ACL No 328141. Flux may be paid by product issuers for clicks on the product links in this article. If you decide to apply for a product you will be dealing directly with that provider and not with Flux. Flux recommends that you read the relevant PDS or offer documentation before taking up any financial product offer. Any product advice presented is of a general nature only, and is not to be taken as any sort of advice as it has not taken into account your personal circumstances, objectives, financial situation or needs. Check out our Financial Services and Credit Guide for more information.
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