How I Book Reward Flights for Our Family of Five Using Points
Forget the beginner advice about collecting points. Let’s talk about the decisions that can make a real difference when you’re trying to book flights for an entire family.
If you’ve ever tried to book five reward seats on the same flight, you’ll know that collecting the points is only half the challenge.
Actually using them well? That’s another story.
Over the years, I’ve become increasingly interested in how we can use frequent flyer points to make family travel more affordable, particularly when it comes to international flights.
And when you’re travelling with three children, every decision matters.
A difference of 20,000 points per person might not sound enormous.
But multiply that by five, and suddenly you’re looking at 100,000 points.
That’s enough to make me reconsider an entire booking!
We’re fortunate to have taken our children on some extraordinary holidays, and points have become an important part of how I plan them.
But I want to make something clear.
I’m not interested in collecting the most points. I’m interested in getting the most value from the points we have.
And those are two very different things.
Today, I’m sharing the strategies I actually use when booking flights for our family of five.
Not the usual advice about joining loyalty programmes or remembering to enter your frequent flyer number.
We’re going a little deeper.
Because understanding how to search, compare and book reward flights strategically can completely change the way you travel.
I Never Transfer Points Until I’ve Found the Flights I Want
This is probably my most important rule.
And it’s one I would encourage everyone to follow.
Many of the points we earn through credit cards and rewards programmes can be transferred into airline loyalty programmes.
For example, eligible American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred to participating airline partners.
Velocity Points can also be converted into Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles.
But here’s the catch.
Once you’ve transferred points into an airline programme, you generally can’t simply move them back.
And reward-seat availability can change.
Imagine transferring hundreds of thousands of points because you’ve spotted a fantastic business-class redemption.
Then discovering there are only two seats available.
Or finding that the seats disappear before the transfer is complete.
That’s a particularly expensive mistake when you’re travelling as a family of five.
What I do instead
Before transferring anything, I check:
- The exact flight dates and routes.
- Which reward seats are available.
- Whether there are five seats in the cabin we want.
- The total points required.
- The taxes and additional charges.
- How long the transfer is expected to take.
- The cancellation and change conditions.
Only once I’m comfortable with the booking do I consider transferring points.
And even then, I understand that availability isn’t guaranteed until the booking is confirmed.
A little tip about Velocity and KrisFlyer
If you’re an Australian traveller collecting Velocity Points, it’s worth knowing that you may be able to transfer them into KrisFlyer miles.
This can open up additional redemption opportunities.
But always check the current conversion rate.
For example, at a conversion rate of 1.55 Velocity Points to one KrisFlyer mile, transferring 155,000 Velocity Points would give you 100,000 KrisFlyer miles.
That’s a significant difference between the two balances.
I always calculate the actual conversion before deciding which programme offers better value.
You can explore the programmes here:
My rule: Find the reward seats first. Transfer the points second.
I’m Flexible About Where We Arrive
This is one of my favourite strategies.
And it’s particularly relevant to our upcoming European winter adventure.
We’re taking the children to Europe over Christmas and New Year, with plans to visit the Austrian Alps, Switzerland and Finnish Lapland.
Now, if I were booking flights purely based on convenience, I might have searched for an airport close to our first ski destination.
But that’s not how I approached it.
Instead, I searched several European arrival airports.
And that’s how Brussels became part of our itinerary.
We found a much more attractive points option flying into Brussels than some of the alternatives we’d considered.
So rather than insisting on arriving closer to the mountains, I adjusted our plans.
We’ll spend time exploring Brussels before continuing towards Austria.
And honestly?
I love that.
We get another destination to experience, and the journey becomes part of the adventure.
Why this works
When you’re booking with points, different airports can have very different reward availability.
For example, if you’re planning a European holiday, you might compare flights into Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and Amsterdam.
The best option isn’t necessarily the airport closest to your final destination.
Sometimes it’s the airport with the best combination of reward availability, taxes, onward transport and travel time.
Of course, you need to consider the cost of getting from that airport to your accommodation.
There’s no point saving $1,000 on flights if you spend $1,500 on unnecessary transfers and extra hotel nights.
But when the numbers work, this strategy can be incredibly useful.
My rule: Decide which region you want to explore, but stay flexible about the airport that gets you there.
I Search One-Way Flights Instead of Automatically Booking Returns
I rarely assume that a return flight is going to be our best option.
Particularly when we’re visiting several destinations.
For our European winter holiday, we’re flying into Brussels and eventually returning to Singapore from Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, via Istanbul.
That’s a very different itinerary from flying into and out of the same city.
And it means we can make our way across Europe without having to travel all the way back to our original arrival airport.
How I search
I look at each major flight separately.
For example:
Flight one: Australia or Singapore to Europe.
Flight two: Europe to another destination, if needed.
Flight three: Our final European destination back towards Australia.
I compare the points required for each sector alongside the cash fares.
Sometimes one flight offers fantastic reward availability while another is better value when paid for with cash.
There’s no rule that says you have to book your entire holiday using points.
And there’s certainly no rule that says you have to use the same airline for every flight.
One important consideration
If you book separate tickets, be careful with connections.
If your first flight is delayed and you miss a second flight booked on a separate ticket, the second airline may not be responsible for rebooking you.
That’s why I look closely at connection times, baggage arrangements and whether flights are on the same ticket.
Sometimes paying a little more for a protected connection is absolutely worth it.
My rule: Build the itinerary around the experiences you want, not around the assumption that you need a return ticket.
I Multiply Every Points Decision by Five
This is where family travel becomes very different from travelling as a couple.
And it’s probably the reason I’ve become so particular about how we spend our points.
Let’s use a real example.
For our return from Singapore to Brisbane, I’ve been comparing economy and premium economy reward options.
The options I was looking at were:
Economy: 60,000 KrisFlyer miles per person.
Premium economy: 78,000 KrisFlyer miles per person.
At first glance, an extra 18,000 miles for premium economy might sound reasonable.
But we’re not booking one seat.
We’re booking five.
Here’s how the numbers work
Five economy seats: 300,000 miles
Five premium economy seats: 390,000 miles
Four premium economy seats and one economy seat: 372,000 miles
Choosing premium economy for everyone would require an additional 90,000 miles.
That’s a lot of points.
And it makes me ask a very important question.
Is the upgrade worth what else those points could buy us?
For an overnight long-haul flight, I might feel differently.
But for a daytime flight from Singapore to Brisbane, I’m more inclined to consider whether economy would be perfectly comfortable.
Particularly if we’ve already enjoyed business class on an earlier part of the journey.
We also looked at the possibility of splitting the family between premium economy and economy.
That’s not necessarily the most practical arrangement, especially with children, but it shows why I compare different combinations before booking.
And, of course, each option depends on reward availability and the airline’s seating arrangements.
My biggest lesson
Don’t look at the points difference for one passenger.
Look at the total cost for everyone travelling.
Then think about what you could do with the points you save.
My rule: Every upgrade needs to justify its total cost, not just its per-person price.
I Pay Attention to Airline Promotions
This is where things can get really exciting.
Airline reward promotions can sometimes offer significantly better value than standard redemptions.
And if you’re flexible about destinations or travel dates, they can be worth watching.
One of my favourite bookings for our upcoming European trip was a Turkish Airlines business-class redemption from Rovaniemi to Singapore via Istanbul.
We booked it at approximately 68,000 miles per person.
For five people, that’s approximately 340,000 miles.
Now, compare that with a hypothetical redemption costing 108,000 miles per person.
For five people, that would require 540,000 miles.
That’s a difference of 200,000 miles.
Of course, those aren’t necessarily equivalent flights or directly comparable redemption options.
But it demonstrates why I pay attention to promotional opportunities.
Sometimes a discounted redemption makes a premium cabin achievable when it otherwise wouldn’t be.
What I watch for
I keep an eye on airline promotions, including Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer offers and other programmes relevant to our travel plans.
I also look at the travel dates covered by the promotion, which routes are included, whether enough reward seats are available, taxes and additional charges, and change or cancellation restrictions.
A promotional redemption isn’t necessarily a bargain if it takes you somewhere you weren’t planning to go.
And I certainly wouldn’t recommend transferring a large points balance simply because a promotion looks exciting.
My rule: Use airline promotions to improve a holiday you’re already planning, rather than letting a promotion dictate your entire holiday.
I Don’t Assume All Five Reward Seats Will Appear in One Search
This is something that’s worth understanding if you’re booking for a larger family.
When you search for five passengers, the results can look very different from when you search for one or two.
That’s because airlines don’t necessarily release the same number of reward seats in every cabin.
You might find two business-class reward seats available but not five.
Or you might find a combination of economy and premium economy availability.
How I approach this
I’ll sometimes search using different passenger numbers to understand what might be available.
One passenger.
Two passengers.
Three passengers.
Five passengers.
This can help me understand whether a flight has limited reward availability or whether the airline is offering seats in different cabins.
But there’s an important catch.
Finding two seats and three seats in separate searches doesn’t mean five seats are available.
And making separate bookings can introduce complications, particularly when travelling with children.
I never assume that searching in smaller groups guarantees a solution.
Instead, I use it as a research tool.
It helps me decide whether to look at another date, another flight or another cabin.
Sometimes the best strategy is simply being flexible enough to travel a day earlier or later.
My rule: Search creatively, but don’t confuse what appears in a search with seats you’ve actually secured.
I Compare Different Types of Reward Seats
If you’ve searched for Singapore Airlines reward flights, you’ll probably have noticed that not all redemptions cost the same number of miles.
Different reward categories can require very different amounts.
For example, KrisFlyer offers reward options with different pricing and conditions.
The lowest-mileage option isn’t always available.
And even when it is, the rules around changes, cancellations and availability may differ.
Why I pay attention
Imagine you’re searching for business-class flights.
One option requires significantly fewer miles, but the flight time isn’t ideal.
Another costs more miles but fits perfectly with your itinerary.
Which one should you choose?
For me, the answer depends on the whole journey.
If we’re travelling with three children and have a connecting flight or accommodation booking to consider, the more convenient option may genuinely be worth extra points.
But I don’t automatically spend more simply because the alternative looks slightly better.
I calculate the total difference for all five passengers.
And I check the rules before booking.
My rule: Compare the mileage, conditions and convenience before deciding which reward category offers the best value.
I Calculate What My Points Are Actually Worth
This is probably the most overlooked part of using points.
People get excited about booking a flight without paying the full cash fare.
And I completely understand why.
But just because you’re using points doesn’t mean you’re getting good value.
Points are a currency.
And I like to know what I’m getting in return.
Here’s a simple example
Imagine a flight costs $900 in cash.
Or you can book it for 60,000 points plus $100 in taxes and charges.
The value you’re receiving is approximately:
$900 minus $100 = $800.
$800 divided by 60,000 points = 1.33 cents per point.
Now imagine a business-class flight costs $3,500 in cash.
And you can book it for 100,000 points plus $150 in taxes and charges.
The calculation becomes:
$3,500 minus $150 = $3,350.
$3,350 divided by 100,000 points = 3.35 cents per point.
On paper, the second redemption offers much better value.
But there’s another question I always ask.
Would I actually have paid $3,500 for that flight?
Because if I would never have considered buying that business-class ticket at its advertised price, the calculation doesn’t necessarily reflect the money I’ve saved.
It still might be an incredible use of points.
But I think it’s important to be realistic.
What I consider good value
I don’t have one fixed number that every redemption needs to achieve.
Instead, I consider the cash fare I would realistically pay, the points required, taxes and charges, the comfort and convenience of the flight, and how easily I can earn those points again.
For our family, sometimes economy is the smartest use of points.
Sometimes premium economy makes sense.
And occasionally, business class offers such good value that it’s worth using a larger balance.
My rule: Don’t spend points just because you can. Spend them when the redemption makes sense.
How We Earn Points for Family Travel
Now that I’ve explained how I use points, I want to share some of the programmes and cards that form part of our strategy.
Because while finding reward seats is incredibly important, you obviously need points to book them in the first place.
Over the years, I’ve become much more intentional about how we earn points through eligible spending.
I don’t believe in spending extra money simply to earn rewards.
But I do believe in understanding how expenses you’re already paying can contribute towards future travel.
And when you’re booking flights for five people, those points can make a meaningful difference.
American Express Platinum
One of the cards I use is the American Express Platinum Card.
It allows me to earn Membership Rewards points on eligible spending, which can be transferred to participating airline loyalty programmes.
I particularly like having flexibility when it comes to choosing where to transfer points.
Rather than being locked into one airline from the beginning, I can research our next trip and consider the most suitable transfer option.
Of course, the Platinum Card comes with a significant annual fee.
So it’s important to consider whether the travel benefits, rewards and other features justify that cost for your circumstances.
Learn more: American Express Platinum Card
American Express Explorer
I also use the American Express Explorer Card.
Like Platinum, it earns Membership Rewards points on eligible purchases.
The cards have different fees, earning structures and benefits, so it’s worth comparing them carefully rather than assuming one is automatically better.
Learn more: American Express Explorer Card
Pay.com.au — Earning Points Through Business Expenses
This is another part of our points strategy.
We have business expenses, and I’ve spent time researching how eligible payments can contribute towards our travel rewards.
One platform I’ve used is Pay.com.au.
Depending on the payment method and programme conditions, eligible business payments may earn rewards.
The important thing is understanding the total cost.
Payment fees can be significant.
So before using a platform like this, I calculate whether the value of the points we’re earning justifies the additional fees.
And I consider the points we might earn through the payment method as well as any rewards offered by the platform.
Why it interests me
When you’re dealing with substantial business expenses, points can accumulate much faster than they might through ordinary household spending alone.
That can make a difference when you’re trying to build a balance large enough for multiple international flights.
But I would never recommend paying unnecessary fees without understanding the maths.
My Pay.com.au referral code: 489652
If you’re a business owner considering signing up, you can check whether my referral code is eligible for an offer during registration.
Referral benefits and qualifying requirements can change, so always review the current conditions.
Velocity Frequent Flyer
Velocity is another programme I use.
For Australian travellers, one of the useful features is the ability to explore redemption options through its airline partnerships.
I also pay attention to the option of transferring eligible Velocity Points into KrisFlyer miles.
But I always compare the transfer rate and the number of miles required before making a decision.
It’s not necessarily better to move points from one programme into another.
Sometimes booking directly through the original programme may be better value.
My tip: Before transferring Velocity Points to KrisFlyer, search both programmes and compare the full points cost, taxes and conditions.
Explore Velocity Frequent Flyer
KrisFlyer
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is one of the programmes I pay particular attention to.
We’ve used Singapore Airlines for family travel, and I regularly research KrisFlyer reward options.
I love the possibility of using miles for premium cabins, but I also think economy redemptions can be incredibly useful.
Particularly when you’re trying to book five people.
My approach is to consider the total points cost for the family rather than focusing on the experience of flying in the highest possible cabin.
Explore Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
A Bonus Travel Tool I Use: Wise
While Wise isn’t a points-earning programme, it’s another tool I’ve been using when organising overseas travel.
For our European winter trip, we’ve had to arrange various payments relating to activities, transfers and other travel expenses.
And sometimes, providers ask to be paid directly in another currency.
When that happens, I want to understand three things before confirming a payment.
The exchange rate.
The fee.
How much the recipient is expected to receive.
With Wise, I can review these details before sending money, along with the estimated arrival time.
Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate and shows its fees separately.
That helps me understand the cost of an international transfer before confirming it.
My Wise referral link
Check out Wise using my personal link
You can use my link to view any referral offer currently available to you.
Wise isn’t a substitute for comparing exchange rates and fees, but it’s one of the tools I consider when organising overseas payments.
A Real-Life Example: Planning Our European Winter Holiday
I thought I’d finish by showing you how all of these strategies come together.
Because our upcoming Christmas holiday is a perfect example of why I spend so much time researching flights.
We’re taking our three children on a European winter adventure.
Our itinerary includes Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Finnish Lapland.
We’re planning to experience skiing in the Alps, beautiful European towns and the magic of Lapland.
And we’re finishing the journey with a flight via Istanbul.
It’s a big trip.
And with five people, the flight costs alone could be enormous.
How I’ve approached the bookings
First, I researched alternative European arrival airports.
Rather than insisting on flying into the airport closest to our first ski destination, I looked at which routes offered the best reward options.
That led us to Brussels.
Next, I considered the journey as a series of flights rather than one return booking.
We’re travelling through several countries, so flying into one city and out of another makes much more sense.
Then, I watched for suitable redemption opportunities.
We secured a Turkish Airlines business-class redemption from Rovaniemi to Singapore via Istanbul at approximately 68,000 miles per person.
Finally, I compared our options for getting home to Brisbane.
Rather than automatically booking premium economy, I’ve been considering whether economy might be a better use of our remaining miles.
And that’s really the point.
There isn’t one single trick that makes an expensive family holiday suddenly affordable.
It’s a combination of decisions.
Being flexible about airports.
Searching different dates.
Comparing cabins.
Watching for promotions.
Understanding transfer rates.
And making sure we’re using points where they offer genuine value.
Each decision might save a relatively small amount.
But multiply those decisions across five people and several international flights, and the difference can be substantial.
My Points Booking Checklist
Before booking a reward flight, I always ask myself:
- Have I searched alternative dates?
Sometimes travelling one day earlier or later can make an enormous difference.
- Have I checked other nearby airports?
The best redemption might not be into the city I originally had in mind.
- Have I compared one-way and return options?
Particularly for multi-destination trips.
- Have I calculated the total points required for everyone?
Not just the per-person cost.
- Have I checked how many reward seats are actually available?
Finding one seat isn’t particularly helpful when you need five.
- Have I compared different cabins?
Economy, premium economy and business class can offer very different value.
- Have I checked the taxes and additional charges?
A low-mileage redemption can still have significant cash costs.
- Have I checked the transfer rate?
The balance in one rewards programme doesn’t necessarily convert one-for-one into another.
- Have I checked the change and cancellation rules?
Particularly important when booking for children.
- Am I getting genuine value from these points?
Or am I simply excited about making a booking without paying the full cash fare?
The Biggest Thing I’ve Learnt About Points
I think there’s a misconception that travel hacking is all about flying business class.
And don’t get me wrong.
I absolutely love a beautiful business-class experience.
But that’s not what points are really about for me.
For our family, points are about creating opportunities.
They’re about making incredible destinations more accessible.
They’re about being able to take our three children to places we might otherwise think twice about visiting.
And they’re about making the money we’re already spending work harder.
Sometimes that means using points for business class.
Sometimes it means choosing economy and saving hundreds of thousands of miles.
Sometimes it means flying into a completely different city because the redemption is better.
And sometimes it means paying cash because the points simply aren’t offering good value.
The smartest booking isn’t always the most luxurious one.
It’s the one that helps you travel the way you want, without unnecessarily using money or points you could save for your next adventure.
Because for me, the goal has never been to take one extraordinary holiday.
It’s to keep creating extraordinary memories with my family, year after year.
And if being a little more strategic with our points helps us do that?
Then every hour I’ve spent researching flights has been worth it.
Love,
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Disclosure and Important Information
This article reflects my personal experience booking travel and using rewards programmes.
Some links and codes may be referral links, which means I may receive a benefit if you use them. Any available offers are subject to the provider’s current terms and eligibility requirements.
Credit cards and payment platforms can involve fees, interest and other charges. Points are not worth accumulating if the cost of earning them outweighs their value.
Airline redemption rates, transfer ratios, reward-seat availability and booking conditions can change without notice.
This article contains general information and does not constitute personal financial advice.