How to Collect Over 200,000 Velocity Points a Year Using Flybuys
Flybuys is the key to unlocking Velocity and Krisflyer.
Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there. Blissfully unaware, redeeming thousands of hard-earned Flybuys points for $10 off our grocery bill here and there, thinking we were getting a decent deal. But then you stumbled upon The World of Points and all of a sudden realised the power of converting those points into Velocity Points to get your holiday fix, everything changes. With the right strategy, those same Flybuys points can take you to the skies every single year. Ready to level up your points game? Here’s how.
1. Maximise the Flybuys 4-Week Shopping Challenge
The Flybuys 4-week shopping challenge is one of the most lucrative and consistent ways to rack up Flybuys points. It usually runs every 6 - 8 weeks and rewards you with 10,000 Flybuys points when you meet a spending target over four weeks. That’s 5,000 Velocity Points each time.
How do you know if you’ve received this challenge? Simply check your Flybuys account under the “collect” tab/menu.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Flybuys often sets a lower initial spending target e.g. $50 each week for 4 weeks to encourage you to develop a shopping habit with them. If you dump your entire week’s groceries into one big transaction, which for most multi-person households easily exceeds $200 these days, Flybuys’ algorithm picks up on your high spending power and starts increasing your future spending targets. That’s exactly what we want to avoid.
The Hack: If you have multiple Flybuys accounts in your household, spread your shopping across them.
Stop scanning your Flybuys card as soon as you hit the spending target for that account.
Finalise the transaction and start a new one, scanning a different Flybuys card.
Repeat this process across your household’s accounts.
For example, if you have three Flybuys accounts in your household and each one earns the 10,000-point bonus 8 - 10 times a year, you’re looking at 240,000 - 300,000 Flybuys points annually. A household with four Flybuys accounts could collect up to 400,000 Flybuys points. That’s 200,000 Velocity Points just from groceries.
On top of that, you’ll often see bonus points offers on specific items, and these offers are personalised based on your purchase history. By trying different brands and categories, you’ll keep the offers coming and maximise your bonus opportunities.
Another rookie mistake that you may make when trying to complete this challenge include:
Not paying attention to the exact offer dates of each week, so you end up not qualifying for the bonus points. The first week always covers the first two weekends, so if you tend to do your shopping on the weekends, you may end up thinking you’ve done the first two weeks when in fact it has only been 1 week.
Not reaching the target amount in 1 shop. Woolies’ shopping challenge often gives you a target total over a whole week, whilst Coles’ challenge requires you to meet 1 target in 1 shop each week.
2. Leverage Prepaid Mastercard and Other Gift Card Offers
Every couple of months, Coles runs promotions on prepaid Mastercards, offering 2,000 Flybuys points per $100 or $250 card. You can usually buy up to five cards per Flybuys account, and the trickiest part is actually finding the $100 cards. They fly off the shelves quickly. Sometimes it’s worth asking a staff member if they have any stashed in the back, though that’s hit or miss.
If you’re someone with larger expenses and can easily burn through the $250 cards, this method becomes even more powerful. These prepaid cards can often be used to pay bills like ATO payments, council rates, and other big-ticket expenses.
But it’s not just prepaid Mastercards. Coles often runs 20x Flybuys points promotions on other types of gift cards, like Apple gift cards. These offers can give you an incredible boost to your points balance. Just be cautious when buying high-value gift cards and always check for signs of tampering, as gift card fraud can be an issue.
The Numbers:
5 x $250 cards per Flybuys account = 10,000 Flybuys points
2 Flybuys accounts = 20,000 Flybuys points every two months
If you manage this every two months, that’s an extra 120,000 Flybuys points a year or 60,000 Velocity Points.
3. Take Advantage of Utility and Service Provider Bonuses
Flybuys often partners with energy companies, health insurers, and internet providers to offer massive sign-up bonuses. For example, HCF recently offered 130,000 Flybuys points for staying with them for 10 months.
Switching providers can be a powerful way to boost your points balance, especially if you’re already considering a change. Just make sure you weigh up the total cost and benefits, while the points haul can be huge, it’s important that the service still meets your needs and budget.
Final Thoughts and Disclaimers
This strategy is all about maximising your points potential for premium travel, flying business or first class for far less than the cash price. It’s not necessarily about getting the absolute cheapest groceries or utility bills, so if savings are your primary goal, you’ll need to weigh those trade-offs.
Compared to other well-known methods like credit card points or purchasing points directly, these Flybuys hacks offer an incredible return on your everyday spending, especially when you multiply them across a household.
Ready to turn your weekly shop into business class flights? Start stacking those Flybuys points today.
Have difficulty collecting or redeeming Flybuys points for flights? Check out our Points World Support Services. From 1:1 strategy sessions to custom redemption support, we're here to help you maximise every point you earn.
