How to Use Credit Card Points to Fly Business Class (Without Getting into Debt)

By Molly Benjamin, Founder of Ladies Finance Club

Listen to the full podcast here.

Flying business class is often framed as a luxury reserved for celebrities, executives, or people willing to spend eye-watering amounts on flights. But in this episode of Get Rich, I wanted to flip that narrative. Because when you strip it back, flying business class isn’t about spending more or being “fancy”, it’s about systems, strategy, and understanding how rewards actually work.

That’s why I sat down with Steve Hu, founder of iFLY Flat, who hasn’t paid for a flight in over a decade. Not because he earns outrageously more than everyone else, but because he treats credit cards as a payment mechanism, not a source of debt.

Before we dive in, it’s important to be crystal clear about one thing.

Who this episode is (and isn’t) for

Credit card points can be powerful, but only when the foundations are already solid. If you’re currently carrying credit card debt, struggling to pay balances off in full, or using credit to get through the month, this strategy is not for you right now. And that’s not a judgment, it’s reality.

Used poorly, credit cards cost you freedom. Used well, they can be a tool. This conversation is for people who already have discipline over their spending and pay their cards off in full, every time. The goal here is optimisation, not overspending.

How Steve discovered the “points system”

Steve’s entry into the world of points came from a moment many people can relate to, flying business class for the first time on a work trip. His employer paid for the ticket, but the frequent flyer points landed in his own account. After enough trips, he realised those points alone were enough to book his own business class flight.

That’s when the penny dropped. Points weren’t a perk, they were a repeatable system.

As Steve put it, if credit cards handed out rubber chickens instead of points, and you could swap them for business class flights, he’d be collecting rubber chickens without hesitation. The reward itself matters less than the system behind it.

The biggest beginner mistake: starting with a credit card

Most people think the first step is choosing the “best” credit card. According to Steve, that’s backwards.

The real starting point is deciding where you want to go.

Pick a destination. Decide how many people are travelling. Decide what class you want to fly. Once you know that, you can look up how many points the flight actually costs using airline calculators. Only then does it make sense to ask, “How long will it take me to earn those points based on what I already spend?”

This shift alone changes everything. Points work exactly like money goals. If you know the target, you can build a realistic plan to get there.

How many points can a “normal” person earn?

One of the biggest myths around points is that you need to be a high-roller to earn anything meaningful. In reality, someone with a typical corporate income can often earn between 20,000 and 50,000 points a year without changing their lifestyle.

Every dollar you already spend on groceries, petrol, utilities, subscriptions, and day-to-day expenses can earn points. The effort is minimal, but the return on effort can be significant if you use those points wisely.

That’s why Steve emphasises that this isn’t about spending more. It’s about redirecting existing spending through a smarter system.

Credit cards as a payment system, not debt

A key theme of the episode was reframing how we think about credit cards. Steve doesn’t see them as “credit” at all. To him, they’re just a payment method that happens to offer rewards.

But this only works if you never pay interest.

Most interest charges don’t happen because people intend to carry debt, they happen because of forgetfulness or poor systems. That’s why automation matters so much. Setting up automatic repayments for the full balance, or paying the card weekly, removes the risk of slipping into interest without noticing.

If you’re paying interest, the rewards will never outweigh the cost. Full stop.

Free points vs paid points (and why it matters)

Not all points are created equal. Steve made a clear distinction between “free” points and “paid” points.

Free points come from everyday spending where there’s no surcharge, like groceries or online shopping. Paid points come from situations where you’re charged a fee to use a credit card, like paying rent or school fees through third-party platforms.

Paid points aren’t automatically bad, but you need to understand the maths. If you’re paying two cents per point and then using those points for economy flights where they’re only worth one cent, you’re losing money. If you use those same points for business class flights where they can be worth four or five cents each, you’re coming out ahead.

The strategy is simple, earn points as cheaply as possible and redeem them where the value is highest.

Why business class delivers the best value

Airlines allocate unsold premium seats to their frequent flyer programs. That’s why points can unlock extraordinary value on flights, especially during peak periods like school holidays or major events.

Unlike cash prices, which surge during busy periods, reward flights usually cost the same number of points year-round. This makes points incredibly powerful for travel that would otherwise feel unaffordable.

Hotels and car hire don’t offer the same value because airlines have to pay cash to third parties for those bookings. Flights are where points shine.

Should you focus on one airline or many?

If your spending is relatively modest, Steve recommends sticking with one airline program. Points aren’t useful until you have enough to book a flight, and spreading small balances across multiple programs can leave you stuck.

Once you’re earning points consistently and at scale, diversification makes sense. Having points across multiple airlines gives you more flexibility when reward seats open up.

Like everything in money, the strategy changes as your capacity grows.

When to book and whether points expire

One of the biggest surprises for many people is that reward flights don’t fluctuate in price the way cash flights do. A seat costs the same number of points whether you book early or close to departure.

That said, booking early gives you the best chance of securing reward seats, especially in premium cabins.

Most major Australian airline points don’t expire as long as there’s account activity. Even earning or using a small number of points within the expiry window can reset the clock.

The bigger lesson behind points

This episode wasn’t really about flying business class. It was about understanding systems, consumer behaviour, and how small strategic decisions can create outsized returns.

Credit card points are a classic example of high return on effort, but only when they’re layered on top of strong money habits. If the foundations aren’t there yet, that’s the work to focus on first.

Because real wealth isn’t about perks. It’s about freedom, choice, and control. The flights are just a bonus.

P.S. If you are currently struggling with credit card debt or feeling out of control with money, there is absolutely no shame in that. Support can make a huge difference. You can reach out to the National Debt Helpline, Good Shepherd, or Moneycare Australia. These are free, confidential financial counselling services, and a really good place to start.

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