Picture being driven into Albert Park along the Melbourne Walk like you own the place and heading straight into the McLaren hospitality suite. Now imagine none of that was paid for with cash. In Ep71 of the Away We Go Podcast, I sit down with Chris Chamberlin. Chris is a brilliant freelance travel journalist and frequent flyer points expert who helps travellers land in pole position, which in the aviation world means Seat 1A. We unpack exactly how to play the points game well enough to make travel and race weekends feel almost free.
How does one become a frequent flyer points expert?
Chris first developed his fascination with points when he was 17 years old working in hospitality at Brisbane Airport. He watched people hand over gold and platinum credit cards adorned with frequent flyer logos, earning rewards on money they were already spending.
On his eighteenth birthday, he applied for his very first credit card and began to study how airlines reward loyalty. Today, his golden rule is remarkably simple. He does not use cash unless absolutely necessary. Everything goes on a point-earning credit card because every dollar spent is an opportunity to earn points.
Boosting your points balance
The real secret to building a massive balance lies in leveraging partnerships. Chris recommends linking your accounts to double up on rewards.
If you link your Accor Live Limitless hotel account with your Qantas Frequent Flyer account, you earn three Qantas points per dollar on hotels in the Asia Pacific region on top of all the regular Accor rewards. You book directly with Accor and earn points towards a future stay and a future flight simultaneously.
You can also add everyday spending into the mix, such as linking DIDI rideshares with Velocity to earn points on your way to the airport. You can click through an airline’s online shopping portal when buying from department stores to track your session and earn rewards. Even your petrol and supermarket shopping can steadily build up your frequent flyer balance over time. He believes it is very achievable for anyone to earn a free flight every year without going out of their way.
Redeeming points
When it comes time to booking flights, many travellers buy an economy ticket and spend those hard-earned points crossing their fingers for an upgrade. Chris prefers booking the exact flight he wants using points. He puts the effort in upfront to secure his seat so he knows he will have a comfortable flight without sweating it out at the boarding gate.
His personal redemptions are spectacular. He recently flew Emirates First Class from Dubai to Kuwait for only 29,000 Qantas points and about $400 in taxes. The retail price for that ticket was around $4,000. The crew even brought out a bottle of Dom Perignon P2 for him to enjoy while they waited out a slight delay at the gate.
For longer routes, he highlights Qatar Airways Privilege Club. You can fly business class between Europe and Australia for only 90,000 Avios points. He also praises Singapore Airlines for regularly making reward seats available to travellers.
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Using points for Formula 1 experiences
For race fans, the biggest revelation from our chat is spending points on top-tier Grand Prix access. Hilton Honors sponsors McLaren and offers F1 packages through points auctions.
Chris was invited to the Melbourne Grand Prix in the Podium Club so he could experience their offering. Hilton auction off the experience, the winning bid was 660,000 Hilton points for two people. That package included a two-night hotel stay, getting driven straight into the Grand Prix circuit in a VIP car along the Melbourne Walk, and exclusive access to the McLaren Suite right above the pit lane. He hung out in the American Express lounge with Delta Goodrem and was treated to top-tier hospitality in the air conditioning. The group was even taken into the team garage to see the FIA scrutineers and mechanics dismantling the cars after qualifying. Regular race day hospitality tickets can cost upwards of $7,000. Securing this VIP experience for points is an unbelievable travel hack.
The Jet Base? Please explain
We also spend time chatting about the Jet Base at Melbourne Airport. This hidden private terminal is where F1 drivers, team principals, and celebrities like Taylor Swift fly in and out in complete secrecy.
It is located down in no man’s land next to a maintenance facility. The multi-story building features a secluded entrance, private customs processing, and hotel rooms. Travellers board their plane in a closed-off hangar before to take off. Most of us will not be flying private anytime soon, but mastering the points game with Chris’s advice gets you significantly closer to that level of luxury.
Chris sums up the magic of the points game perfectly. He says there is a great joy when you board that plane, sit in seat 1A, and know you have not paid full price while looking around the cabin at how much everyone else has spent.
Listen to the full interview in Ep71 of the Away We Go Podcast to hear exactly how Chris pieces together massive multi-airline itineraries. You will also discover his surprising top pick for an F1 holiday destination.
If you’d like to connect with Chris Chamberlin, find him on Instagram or book a time with him on Calendly.
Thank you for having us in your ears and your inboxes. Until next week, and until lights out.
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