Oceania: How to Use Points and Miles for Your Trip

Travelling to Oceania using your points requires a bit of strategy, as direct flights are often rare unless you’re from Western Canada, and distances are long from the East. Several options are available to you, depending on the programs you have available and your travel preferences.

Travelling to Oceania with Aeroplan points is an interesting strategy for saving on long-haul travel, which can otherwise be very expensive. Thanks to its many Star Alliance partners, Aeroplan offers access to a variety of itineraries toAustralia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, even though Air Canada does not serve all these regions directly.

The cost of a one-way economy flight to Oceania generally ranges from 60,000 Aeroplan points from Montreal to 50,000 points from Vancouver, depending on itinerary, season and availability.

For a flight in business class, you’ll need to budget at least 87,500 points from Eastern Canada. That said, some routes offer better value for money: for example, from Western Canada, a flight between Vancouver and Auckland with Air New Zealand can cost as little as 75,000 points in business class, a real Aeroplan “sweet spot” to watch out for.

Since prices are dynamic with Air Canada and United Airlines, and availability is limited on flights operated by partners such as Air New Zealand, we strongly recommend planning your trip several months in advance. This is especially important if you’re traveling during the holiday season or the austral summer, from December to March, when demand is particularly high.

Once there, your Aeroplan points can also be put to good use exploring the region.Oceania, with its many archipelagos and isolated territories, lends itself particularly well to air travel.

Air New Zealand is Aeroplan’s main partner for intra-Oceania flights. It offers numerous domestic routes within New Zealand, as well as international connections to Australia, Fiji, Samoa, the Cook Islands and more.

These flights can easily be integrated into a multi-city itinerary from hubs such as Auckland or Sydney. Then there’s Virgin Australia, allowing you to travel anywhere on the Australian continent.

Since Aeroplan’s fare structure is based in part on distance flown, these short flights cost relatively few points, while enabling travelers to visit regions that would otherwise be difficult to access.

It’s also possible to use your points to take the Island Hopper operated by United Airlines, a series of legendary flights linking several isolated Pacific islands, such as Chuuk, Kosrae or Pohnpei. This type of itinerary can be a unique adventure, while putting your Aeroplan points to good use in under-served regions.

To optimize your stay in Oceania, consider incorporating an extended stopover in a city like Auckland or Sydney into your initial booking from Canada. This gives you the flexibility to visit several places without adding costly segments to your itinerary.

For example, it ‘s a good idea to stop off in Auckland to explore the North Island, then book a domestic flight to Queenstown to discover the South Island. My colleague Alexandrine used this little trick on her trip to Oceania last winter.

A flight from Montreal to New Zealand costs 60,000 Aeroplan points. So, with the stopover, it costs 65,000 points:

This domestic route can cost as little as 5,000 Aeroplan points, making it a great way to enhance your New Zealand experience at a lower cost. The fare for the same flight is 8,000 Aeroplan points if booked separately:

To quickly accumulate the points you need for a flight to Oceania, credit cards often offer particularly generous welcome bonuses. These offers can earn you enough points for a full round-trip in economy class, or a nice discount on a business-class ticket. Here are the best offers at the moment:

Avios points are an essential currency for flying to Australia or New Zealand with points. Thanks to the many partners in the oneworld program, you have access to several convenient itineraries, including Qatar Airways, Qantas and Japan Airlines.

Qatar Airways, which also uses the Avios currency, is often the most advantageous strategy for travel to Oceania. And you can book with both British Airways Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.

Here are the typical costs for a one-way ticket between Montreal and Auckland (or Sydney), via Doha:

• 60,000 Avios in economy class
• 120,000 Avios in business class

Taxes and fees are generally around $300 CAD, which is reasonable for such a long flight. While this may seem high, the value for money is excellent, especially for those who wish to travel comfortably to the other side of the world.

By accumulating approximately 120,000 American Express Membership Rewards points (transferable 1:1 to Avios), you will have enough to book a round-trip economy flight to Australia or New Zealand with Qatar Airways.

For those who dream of luxury and intimacy, Qatar Airways’ famous Qsuite, a private suite in business class, is often considered the best product in the industry. At 120,000 Avios one-way, it’s a great use of your points, especially if you’re going on a long trip or a special occasion.

For travelers who want to turn their journey to Oceania into a multi-destination adventure, Oneworld’s multi-partner chart can offer excellent value.

This table applies as soon as you combine at least two Oneworld member airlines (excluding British Airways) on a single ticket. The price is then calculated according to the total distance traveled, rather than by segment. You can find all the details in this detailed article:

It’s really for intra-Oceania flights that Avios points stand out, both for their flexibility and their value. Thanks to a fare structure based on distance flown, many short to medium-haul routes can be booked at very good prices, particularly with Qantas, Australia’s leading airline and a member of the Oneworld alliance.

Qantas serves most of Australia’s major cities, as well as more remote destinations such as Darwin, Broome and Kangaroo Island. It also offers flights to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and certain Pacific islands.

These fares are particularly attractive when compared to cash prices, which are often high, even for domestic flights within Australia. By combining low-cost Avios with low taxes, you can maximize the value of your points for exploring the region.

Here are two examples of very interesting Avios fares for flights operated by Qantas :

The great strength of the program is that these flights, sometimes very costly to purchase, remain accessible in points, even at the last minute. And because fees are low, each Avios point used offers high value. In fact, one Avios point is used for 2.39¢ in this example of a flight between Sydney and Darwin. That’s far more than Milesopedia estimates.

There are several Canadian credit cards that allow you to quickly accumulate Avios, either directly or by transferring points.

American Express cards with Membership Rewards points (such as the American Express^MD Gold Rewards Card or American Express^MD Platinum Card^®) are particularly attractive, as their Membership Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 rate to Avios. These cards also regularly offer generous welcome offers.

RBC Avion family cards allow you to transfer RBC Avion points to Avios, also at a 1:1 rate. Once or twice a year, RBC offers 30% bonus transfer promotions, making it an excellent tool for planning a big itinerary.

Finally, the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite card allows you to earn Avios directly.

Travel points accumulated with credit cards such as American Express Membership Rewards, RBC Rewards, CIBC Aventura, NBC Rewards and Scene+ offer great flexibility when booking flights toOceania. You can use them to reimburse a travel expense directly, no matter which airline or booking agency you use.

The key advantage is that you buy the ticket with your credit card, then apply your points as a statement credit, giving you maximum freedom. You can book tickets on Google Flights, SkyScanner, or even directly on an airline’s website. In this way, you can either reduce the cost of your trip or cover it entirely with points, depending on your ability to accumulate them.

That said, cash fares to Oceania are often quite high, especially for business class flights. As a result, using travel points to cover 100% of the ticket can be costly in travel points. For example, a $7,500 CAD flight will require around 750,000 points (at 1 cent/pt), which is often more than you can earn through an airline rewards program like Aeroplan or Avios.

In fact, it’s easier to earn 185,000 RBC Rewards points and transfer them to Avios during a 30% transfer promotion to earn 240,000 Avios points for flying Qsuite than it is to earn 750,000 RBC Rewards points and use them as statement credit at 1 cent per point.

To maximize the value of your travel points, it’s often best to transfer them to Aeroplan or British Airways Club (Avios), when these programs are compatible with your points. These options often give you access to sweet spots, particularly in business class, thanks to advantageous fixed or dynamic rates.

However, there are some interesting exceptions, such as if you find a reasonably priced economy ticket (e.g. $1,300), you can purchase it with your card and then reimburse the expense with 130,000 NBC Rewards points. Realistically, however, you can expect to pay more than $1,500 from Vancouver and $2,000 from Montreal.

Finally, although some low-cost airlines like Jetstar offer low-cost flights within the intra-Oceania region, their extra charges for baggage, meals and seat selection can quickly add up. In these cases, booking a domestic flight with Qantas using your Avios points is often a more comfortable and cost-effective alternative.

The best points program for Oceania depends on several factors: your accumulation habits, the flexibility of your dates… and above all, what’s actually available at the time of booking.

In theory, Aeroplan and Avios often offer the best value for money. Aeroplan is convenient for long-haul flights from Canada, while Avios shines for intra-Oceania flights, especially with Qantas (few points required and minimal taxes). Transferring your travel points to one or the other is often more cost-effective than using them directly as statement credit.

But in practice, it’s not always that simple. If at the time of booking there is no availability on Aeroplan or Avios, but a flight via Flying Blue or another program is available at a good price, then theory fades in the face of reality.

That’s why it’s essential to remain flexible and use tools such as Roame, AwardFares or Seats.Aero to quickly identify the best options in points, whatever the company. Availability often takes precedence over the “ideal” program.

Finally, the best program for you will also be the one you can easily get. For example, if it’s easier for you to accumulate points via RBC Avion, which can be transferred to Avios, this program naturally becomes more accessible and therefore more relevant to your projects.

Accommodation in Oceania can represent a significant part of the travel budget, especially in popular destinations such as French Polynesia, Australia and New Zealand.

Fortunately, it’s possible to use your reward points to significantly reduce your lodging expenses, whether at international chain hotels, an AirBnB or independent accommodations. Here’s how to make the most of your points.

The Marriott Bonvoy program offers excellent coverage in major cities and some South Pacific islands, with several attractive options for travelers wishing to use their points.

Here are a few examples:

• Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort
• Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park
• Sheraton New Caledonia Deva Spa & Golf Resort
• Le Méridien Nouméa Resort & Spa

With the fifth night free when you book five nights with your points, you can maximize the value of your Bonvoy balance, especially if you stay several days in the same city.

What’s more, if you hold the Marriott Bonvoy^MD American Express^MD* Card or the Marriott Bonvoy^MD Business American Express^®* Card, you’ll receive a free night certificate every year. This certificate is redeemable at hotels up to 35,000 points (or even more with points top-up), and often saves several hundred dollars, a value far greater than the cost of the card.

Both Marriott Bonvoy cards from American Express are currently offering generous welcome bonuses, perfect for booking your accommodations in Oceania. Check out the latest offers here :

In Oceania, especially in the Pacific islands, small coastal towns or rural areas of New Zealand and Australia, chain hotels are often absent. This is where travel points come into their own.

With credit card programs such as Scene+, American Express Membership Rewards, RBC Avion Rewards, CIBC Aventura or TD Rewards, etc., you can use your points to reimburse purchases coded “travel”. This includes not only independent hotels booked directly or via Scene+ Travel by Expedia or Expedia for TD, but also platforms such as Airbnb or Vrbo.

For example, if you rent a beachfront villa in Rarotonga, an ecolodge in the New Zealand mountains or an apartment in Sydney on Airbnb, you can pay with your card and then apply your points as statement credit, directly reducing your bill.

Once you’ve paid for your flights and accommodation with your points, all that’s left to do is enjoy Oceania to the max. And good news: many credit cards also allow you to save on activities, excursions and guided tours during your stay, which can quickly add up!

Looking for an extraordinary adventure? G Adventures offers guided tours in small groups all over Oceania, such as a trek in the New Zealand Alps, or a van trip along the Australian coast.

G Adventures packages are eligible as travel purchases with most travel points programs (e.g. Scene+, Membership Rewards, CIBC Aventura, NBC Rewards, etc.). So you can book with your card, then apply your points as a Statement credit, reducing the cost of the experience.

For one-day activities, whether solo, as a couple or with the family, platforms like Civitatis or GetYourGuide are a must for hassle-free discovery ofOceania.

These sites bring together hundreds of options for excursions, workshops and guided tours, often available in French, with flexible cancellation policies. What makes them particularly interesting? Their purchases are usually coded “travel” too, so you can use your travel points as statement credit with most credit cards.

Here are a few examples of activities I’ve already done:

• A diving excursion to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns: equipment included, expert guide, meals on board… and an unforgettable memory.
• A helicopter flight over the Australian reefs: a slightly more expensive activity, but one for which a good portion of your points can be reimbursed, perfect for an awe-inspiring experience without putting too much of a strain on the budget.
• A “Lord of the Rings”-themed day in New Zealand, with visits to filming locations, production anecdotes and breathtaking scenery (especially near Queenstown and Matamata).

These experiences can easily be booked before departure or on the spot, depending on your itinerary. And since they’re often flexible and highly rated, it’s a great way to enhance your trip while maximizing the value of your points.

Travelling to Oceania, whether to Australia, New Zealand or the many islands of the Pacific, is an unforgettable adventure. However, this remote region comes with its own risks: often costly medical care, emergency repatriation, trip cancellation or interruption, or incidents linked to outdoor activities (diving, hiking, extreme sports).

Did you know that there are a large number of deadly spiders in Australia? No kidding, I’ve already strongly considered the possibility of being bitten by something poisonous when I went camping in the Australian Outback… So it’s essential to store around for travel insurance to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Many credit cards for travelers offer built-in travel insurance, a very practical benefit when planning a trip away from home.

Among the protections often included are :

• Emergency medical care: hospitalization, consultations, medication.
• Trip cancellation and interruption: reimbursement if you have to cancel or shorten your trip for a covered reason.
• Baggage protection: in the event of loss, theft or damage.
• Flight delay insurance: to tide you over if you’re stuck with a hotel and meals to pay for

That said, each card has its own specific features, including coverage ceilings, maximum length of stay covered (often 15 to 30 days), and exclusions linked to certain activities. So it’s important to read the conditions carefully before you leave.

For a trip to Oceania, where medical care can be very expensive, especially in Australia and New Zealand, having solid medical insurance is important. Also check whether your card covers the specific activities you plan to engage in, such as scuba diving, trekking or helicopter tours, as certain exclusions may apply.

To complement the protection offered by your cards, or if you prefer more personalized coverage, SoNomad is an excellent on-demand travel insurance option designed for travelers. This is particularly interesting if you are faced with exclusions and limitations in your credit card insurance.

What sets SoNomad apart is its transparent pricing, which is often more economical than traditional insurance, while offering a user-friendly mobile app and responsive customer service. You can choose the exact duration of your trip and the coverage that suits your profile, without paying for unnecessary options.

SoNomad is also very practical for travelers wishing to spend longer in Oceania, as credit cards often impose a maximum coverage limit of one or two months, whereas SoNomad allows you to buy insurance for several months if required.