What new airline alliances mean for you (and your frequent flyer points)
Beyond Muscat is a heroic landscape of forts and toothy mountain ranges, where an intricate system of irrigation has created a web of startling green oases. Local tour operators offer expeditions from Muscat to take in the desert towns, the towering dunes of the Wahiba Sands and the lost-in-time landscape of the Hajar Mountains. Australian passport holders benefit from visa-free admission to the Sultanate of Oman for stays of up to 14 days.
I flew with Oman Air in March, business class return from Delhi to Cairo, and although these were relatively short flights aboard the airline's 737s, with no fully reclining seat, the aircraft, amenities, service and food and beverage were all on par with the stars of the Middle East triumvirate. An 11-hour layover at Muscat's airport was pain-free. This is arguably the best international airport in the region – quiet, calm and well supplied with relaxation areas.
This is the second airline to join the alliance this year, after Fiji Airways became a full member in April. The Fijian national airline was previously a 'Oneworld Connect' member, which allowed Qantas frequent flyers to acquire and spend points with the airline, but full membership brings extra benefits, such as admission to Oneworld lounges when travelling aboard Fiji Airways.
Ways to boost your frequent flyer points
Get a co-branded credit card
Loading
A co-branded card issued jointly by a credit card issuer and an airline is the best way to accelerate your points-earning power because they earn points with a specific airline rather than reward points, which convert to airline points at a lesser rate. For example, the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card earns 2.25 Qantas points per dollar spent on eligible Qantas products and services, and 1.25 Qantas points on everyday purchases per dollar.
The American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card comes with two Qantas points per dollar spent on Qantas products and services, 1.25 Qantas points on everyday business spend and 0.5 Qantas points on government, utilities and insurance per dollar. Both cards come with a huge points bump by way of a sign-up bonus.
Use airline shopping malls
Airlines have online shopping malls featuring preferred merchants whose merchandise ranges from fashion labels to sporting goods, technology and office supplies. You pay the same price as if you were shopping direct with the merchant, but you earn extra points, often at a rate better than one per dollar.
Bank your points with the alliance that best suits your needs
Airline alliances expand your travel opportunities. Frequent flyer points accrued with one airline can be used to buy seats or upgrades within the alliance in most cases, which gives you a far greater choice of destinations when you want to spend your loyalty points. There are also perks and privileges that apply at each alliance membership level, bringing benefits such as speedier check-in, priority luggage handling, preferential boarding and upgrades, and lounge access across the alliance member airlines.
Loading
There are three airline alliances, but for most of us, the ones that matter are Star Alliance and Oneworld. As a Oneworld member airline, Qantas allows flyers to use their points for flights on 14 other airlines including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways. While it is not a member of any alliance, Virgin Australia flyers acquire Velocity points and status credits that can be used for flights and upgrades on partner airlines including Singapore Airlines, United, ANA, Air New Zealand and Qatar Airways.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Family, racing community lead tributes for father and 'extraordinary figure' in motorsport Tim Miles killed in bus crash
A cyclist who died in a crash with a bus outside a Sydney zoo has been remembered as a "family man" and an "extraordinary figure in Australian motorsport". The cyclist, who has since been identified as businessman Tim Miles, died after he was hit by a bus on Bradleys Head Road in Mosman outside Taronga Zoo about 10.35am on Sunday. Mr Miles, a corporate advisor and father of two daughters, was well-known in the motorsport community as a former co-owner of the Triple Eight Race Engineering team. The New Zealand-born businessman also co-founded Tasman Motorsport. In a statement confirming his death, Mr Miles' family said "the world has lost the bright, shining light". "Tim was involved in a tragic and ultimately fatal accident this morning in Sydney while enjoying one of his favourite hobbies - cycling," the family said on Sunday. "His loss is keenly felt by friends and family, especially wife Tracy, and daughters Caley and Erin." Mr Miles was born in Ashburton on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. "Tim was a family man, though one who loved nothing more than stressing out his beloved Tracy about his latest motorsport-related purchase or adventure - all the while proudly telling stories of his two daughters' successes in life," his family said. "His passing will be notably impactful on his other love - a motorsport community that felt Tim's impact as a competitor, an owner, a supporter and as a businessman for more than 35 years." Mr Miles' family said he "initially chased the dream as a racing driver" before growing his successful business advisory firm named Miles Advisory Partners. "It was through his success in business that allowed him to extend his passion for motorsport and his family, the two of which often intertwined," the family said. Mr Miles once competed in one-make Porsche racing, as well as GT World Challenge Australia. He recently raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours held in France, where he paid tribute to his family friend and New Zealand motorsport driver Rod McElrea. Mr Miles' family also described him as a "key backer of the international careers" of young Australian and New Zealander stars, including Matt Campbell and Jaxon Evans. "Tim was a fantastic storyteller, a man with a brilliant sense of humour and who showed genuine interest in the lives of those around him - whether he'd known them for years or just met them," his family said. "His loss will be keenly felt by family and friends, the business community in which he worked and the motorsport community in which he lived." Supercars said it extends its "deepest condolences" to Mr Miles' family, friends and colleagues during this time. "Tim was an extraordinary figure in Australian motorsport - not just for his work behind the wheel, but for the immense influence he had off the track across more than two decades," the motorsport body said in a statement. "As a corporate advisor and former team owner, Tim played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sport." The motorsport body said Mr Miles, through his company Miles Advisory Partners, was "instrumental" in the sale of Supercars to Archer Capital in 2011. "Our thoughts are with Tim's loved ones during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed by the entire Supercars community," Supercars said. Supercars noted Mr Miles competed this year in the Melbourne Performance Centre and Audi alongside New Zealander racing driver Brendon Leitch. On Sunday, NSW Police said the bus driver was not injured in the crash and qA taken to hospital for mandatory testing. Four passengers on board the bus at the time were also not injured. A crime scene was established, with specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit called to analyse the area on Sunday. Police will prepare a report for the coroner. Anyone with relevant CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage of the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online as investigations continue.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Nurses in bins, beds duties strike
Queensland hospitals are bracing for disruption as nurses escalate their campaign for a pay rise, with a new phase of industrial action actions to begin on Tuesday. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union (QNMU) has confirmed Stage 2 of its protected industrial action will commence from 7am on Tuesday, July 8, intensifying its campaign for better pay and working conditions. While union officials have stressed patient safety will remain a priority, the latest action is expected to have a broader operational impact across Queensland Health facilities, with thousands of workers refusing to perform various non-clinical tasks, including making beds, delivering meals and emptying bins. Queensland hospitals are bracing for disruption as nurses escalate their industrial campaign, with a new phase of industrial action actions to begin tomorrow. NCA NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia It follows the union's rejection of the government's latest wage offer of an 11 per cent pay rise over three years, in favour of a 13 per cent increase over the same period. The government's proposal includes staged increases of 3 per cent in April 2025, 2.5 per cent in both April 2026 and April 2027, with a final 3 per cent in December 2027. Health Minister Tim Nicholls has described it as a 'nation-leading' package that includes an 'Australian-first double-time-for-overtime care package'. However, QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman said the deal would strip Queensland's nurses and midwives of their status as the highest paid in the country, a position they've held for 15 years. 'We will not be gaslit, or taken for fools,' Ms Beaman said. QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman said the Queensland Government's deal would strip Queensland's nurses and midwives of their status as the highest paid in the country, a position they've held for 15 years. Richard Walker Credit: News Corp Australia Stage 2 of the protected action, legally permitted under the Fair Work Act 2009, will see union members refuse overtime without at least four hours' notice, take their full meal and rest breaks, and step back from administrative duties including filing, data entry, stock replenishment, and internal meetings unrelated to patient care. Other disruptions include a refusal to clean beds, move furniture, handle non-clinical waste, or participate in Medicare admissions documentation. In mental health services, formal national reporting tools will be paused, although clinical observations will continue to be recorded. The first stage of industrial action began on June 5 with low-level visibility activities such as staff wearing pink or promotional shirts and email signature updates. While this initially led to two weeks of renewed bargaining, the union says negotiations broke down when the government 'pulled the rug out' on perceived progress. Health Minister Tim Nicholls described the governments offer as a 'nation-leading' package that includes an 'Australian-first double-time-for-overtime care package.' NewsWire/Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia Although wages are the headline issue, the industrial action highlights a string of longstanding grievances within Queensland's healthcare system. Nurses cite burnout, poor nurse-to-patient ratios, staff shortages, especially in regional areas, and broken promises from Covid-era commitments. Surveys have found that over 58 per cent of Australian nurses report burnout, and 71 per cent say they are asked to do more than they can manage. Almost half of QNMU members surveyed said they were considering leaving the profession. The union is also calling for improved minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, claiming current workloads are unsafe and compromise patient outcomes. Nurses cite burnout, poor nurse-to-patient ratios, staff shortages, especially in regional areas, and broken promises from Covid-era commitments. NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled Credit: News Corp Australia A 2024 report from the Nurses Professional Association of Queensland (NPAQ) also raised concerns about centralised bureaucracy, with one administrator for every two nurses in Queensland, compared to a 1:5 to 1:7 ratio in Germany and Scandinavia, as well as a culture of fear, bullying and punished whistleblowing. The suicides of two midwives, one a new graduate and the other senior, at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in 2015 and 2023 were cited as tragic examples of this toxic environment. Midwife Jackie Pulleine alleged she faced retribution after raising concerns about patient safety at Redcliffe Hospital. QNMU says increasing waitlists, chronic overcrowding in emergency departments, and the death of Baby Benson amid neonatal bed shortages are all symptoms of a broken system. The state government has now referred the dispute to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation. Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the government remains committed to delivering a 'nation-leading wages deal' as part of a record $33 billion investment in the state's health system. That includes hiring 4,500 additional health workers over the next year, he said. However, the QNMU argues this investment must also be reflected in frontline wages. 'The funding necessary to recruit and retain skilled humans to care for Queensland has not been appropriately allocated,' Ms Beaman said. 'Multibillion-dollar health facilities without skilled staff are like a car without an engine.' With protected action escalating Tuesday and no resolution in sight, the QNMU warns the dispute 'could escalate if demands are not met'.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Albanese government under pressure over lack of Trump meeting as deadline on tariff exemption looms
The Trump administration has extended its tariff freeze by three weeks, but pressure is mounting in Canberra amid fears Australia could still be targeted in Washington's sweeping trade reset. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Sunday that the next phase of Donald Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs' will kick in on August 1, with dozens of countries facing a sharp increase unless they secure deals with the United States before then. Australia's tariff inclusion, which is currently subject to a 10 per cent blanket tariff and select duties on steel and aluminium, is raising alarm in both government and opposition ranks. 'We don't know yet (if Australia will receive a letter), that will be announced this week, but Australia is opposed to the reciprocal tariffs that have been foreshadowed for our nation,' Assistant Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Matt Thistlethwaite told Sky News. 'There has been a pause on them, and that pause ends this week. We've said that this is not the actions of a friend.' The Albanese government has desperately attempted to gain an exemption from the basline tariffs but to no avail. 'When negotiating we're going to try to have those tariffs removed, but our expectation is that they will remain,' Mr Thistlethwaite said. 'Australia has fared better than any other nation in the world. There's no nation that has done better than Australia, we've got the minimum level at 10 per cent, we're hopeful that will be removed and we're negotiating that.' Liberal Senator Maria Kovacic, however, blamed a lack of engagement from the Prime Minister, warning that Australia's favourable position was not guaranteed. 'We don't know what we're getting because the Prime Minister hasn't had the conversations with the US President, and it is a big problem to assume we're just going to get the 10 per cent and not get a letter. That's not good enough,' she said. 'The Opposition has been encouraging the government and supporting the government to actually have constructive conversations with the US President, and for some reason, it's been 45 days since his election, and there's been no conversation between Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump.' 'I think it's vindication that the existing relationship has assured that we're protected from any high tariffs but don't for a moment assume that it's from any effort from this government because it's clear, and everyone can see that there's something wrong with that relationship.' Mr Albanese repeated his government's line last weekend, saying that the US tariffs were 'an act of economic self-harm' and that he would continue to make the case for an Australian exemption. 'We continue to be engaged with our American friends, but they have a different position on tariffs,' he said. 'If you look at what the impact has been so far, our beef exports are up, our exports in a range of other products are up as well. Lamb's down a little bit, steel and aluminium have been impacted, but not hugely. 'We are in a position where on July 9, that won't really have an impact on us because that's about other countries who have higher rates overnight.' Back in Washington, the Treasury Secretary warned that any nation not already in an advanced stage of negotiations could expect notification of the increased tariffs to arrive shortly. 'President Trump's going to be sending letters to some of our trading partners saying that if you don't move things along, then on August 1, you will boomerang back to your April 2 tariff level,' Mr Bessent told CNN's State of the Union. 'We are saying this is when it's happening, if you want to speed things up, have at it, if you want to go back to the old rate that's your choice.' He insisted August 1 was not a new deadline, but simply the implementation date that followed the earlier 90-day pause. Trump originally unveiled the tariff plan in early April before pressing pause to allow countries time to negotiate. Bessent revealed that Washington would likely issue around 100 letters - mostly to smaller trading partners already hit with the 10 per cent base rate - unless significant progress was made. 'The playbook is to apply maximum pressure,' he said, pointing to Europe's shift in tone after Trump threatened 50 per cent tariffs last month. 'Three weeks ago, on Friday morning, President Trump threatened 50 per cent tariffs, and, within a few hours, five of the European national leaders had called him and Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the EU, was on the phone, and the EU is making very good progress. They were off to a slow start.' Trump himself has doubled down on the move, confirming letters will be issued next week. 'They'll start to pay on August 1. The money will start to come into the United States on August 1, in pretty much all cases,' he said on Friday. Australia has not yet received any such letter, but Thistlethwaite warned that the economic logic of the tariffs remains unclear. 'We've had a trade surplus with the United States, so, it doesn't make sense and ultimately it will be American consumers who will pay more for Australian goods,' he said. Still, he stressed that of all America's trading partners, 'Australia has done the best and that is a symbol of the strength between the nations.'
