In Travel Pointers Episode 7, Matt and Wilson explain how to find reward flight availability in 2025 - especially if you want to redeem your frequent flyer points for Business Class tickets. The pair discuss the latest reward flight trends, the airlines and routes which have the most reward seats, and the strategies you need to find them.

Over recent years, airlines have drastically changed the way they release reward seats. So the approach you need to take has changed as well!

Each episode begins with a discussion about recent Australian travel and frequent flyer news. In this episode:

• Qantas Relaunches Seasonal Sapporo Flights
• Singapore Airlines Adds Garuda, Ends Virgin Atlantic Partnership
• Hilton Honors Status Match Challenge

Here’s where you can find more information about other topics discussed in this episode:

• Australian Frequent Flyer webinars
• AFF member trip report: A super short and roundabout trip to Tokyo via the Middle East and Europe in (mostly) F
• Learn more about Frequent Flyer Concierge

Welcome to a new year of the Travel Pointers podcast! After a break over the summer holidays, we’re back with not just a new episode, but also a new format.

From 2025, Travel Pointers is becoming an Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) podcast. Of course, we’ll still share lots of tips to help you make the most of your frequent flyer points, tell lots of entertaining travel stories, and interview guests from the travel industry.

With the change of format also comes a new co-host. From this episode, AFF Editor Matt Graham will be joined by AFF content writer and senior Frequent Flyer Concierge consultant Wilson McTaggart. Wilson shares Matt’s passion for travel and is an expert in frequent flyer programs.

In Episode 6 of the Travel Pointers podcast, Matt and Wilson discuss their thoughts on the recent changes announced to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.

They also talk in depth about Qatar Airways, from the history of the “World’s Best Airline”, to its fight for more traffic rights into Australia, to its on-board products and services. Both Matt and Wilson have recently flown with Qatar Airways. They talk about the unusual ways they each booked their tickets, as well as their (excellent) experiences on board.

Finally, you'll hear about the epic delivery flights from Canada to Australia of QantasLink’s newest Dash 8 planes.

Here’s where you can find more information about other topics discussed in this episode:

• Overview of the 2025 Qantas Frequent Flyer program changes
• Australian Frequent Flyer Training courses
• Qantas receives first of 14 Dash 8s from WestJet
• The AFF 2025 annual member gathering in Melbourne (21-23 November 2025)
• Virgin Australia launching flights to Doha
• Wilson’s Qatar Airways Boeing 777 Qsuite review (Doha-Manila)

In episode 5 of the Travel Pointers podcast, Velocity Frequent Flyer CEO Nick Rohrlach joins Matt and Chris to talk about the recent changes to Virgin Australia's loyalty program.

In this interview, find out why Velocity is making status harder to earn, why Velocity is launching a Forever Gold tier, what the enhanced partnership with Qatar Airways means for frequent flyers, and lots more!

Also in this episode, find out why next year could be the ideal time to visit Mongolia. It's not a country many people really consider travelling to, but it's an up-and-coming destination with lots to offer tourists. Plus, until the end of 2025, Australians don't need a visa to travel there.

Each episode begins with a discussion about recent Australian travel and frequent flyer news. In this episode:

• Virgin Australia slashes Economy Flex airfares
• Virgin and Etihad are ending their partnership in 2025
• Etihad status match for Australian Velocity members
• Qantas status match for New Zealand residents
• You can now transfer Altitude and Amplify points to Everyday Rewards (and then Qantas)
• Fiji Airways will fly to Cairns

Here’s where you can also find more information about other topics discussed in this episode:

• Learn more about AFF memberships
• Subscribe to the Point Hacks reward seat alerts newsletter
• Read a review of Matt's flight on a MIAT Mongolian Airlines Boeing 767