Flying to London on points: programmes, airports and lounges

London is one of the most heavily served destinations in the world, and that works in the favour of anyone holding a balance of frequent flyer points in Australia. Almost every major programme an Australian traveller is likely to hold — Qantas Frequent Flyer, Velocity Frequent Flyer, KrisFlyer and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club among them — can put you on a flight to the United Kingdom. The catch is that each programme reaches London by a different set of partners, at a different price, and with different quirks. This guide sets out the practical options, then covers what happens once you land.

Using Qantas Points

Qantas flies to London with its own aircraft and has a wide set of partners that connect Australia to the UK in a single stop. Rates below are per person, one way. Taxes, fees and carrier charges are payable on top and vary considerably by route and airline.

Several caveats apply. Qantas Premium Economy and Qantas First are not available on the Brisbane and Perth legs to Singapore, and Emirates Premium Economy cannot be redeemed at all. From Perth, First Class is only offered on Emirates. In the bottom band, Premium Economy exists only on British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines and Japan Airlines, while First is limited to British Airways and Japan Airlines.

You are not confined to these combinations. Changing airlines at the transit point opens up far more: Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong connecting to British Airways onwards, for instance. More adventurous travellers sometimes fly Japan Airlines into Tokyo Narita and, with a generous connection, move themselves and their bags across to Haneda for the onward flight.

Using Velocity Points

Virgin Australia's partner network also reaches London, mainly through United Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and a handful of Asian and Canadian carriers.

Premium Economy in that last band is only bookable on Singapore Airlines from Sydney and Melbourne, and First only on Qatar Airways from Sydney. The Qatar Airways rates also cover the flights Qatar operates on Virgin Australia's behalf under a wet lease arrangement.

One option that does not appear on the website is Virgin Atlantic. It no longer serves Australia but does fly from several of the airports above, and the Velocity call centre can sometimes construct an itinerary such as United to Los Angeles or San Francisco, then Virgin Atlantic across the Atlantic.

Using KrisFlyer miles

Singapore Airlines' own programme opens the same Singapore Airlines flights you could book with Velocity Points, plus the wider Star Alliance network. KrisFlyer increased its rates on 1 November 2025; the figures below are the current ones.

Premium Economy and First/Suites are restricted to selected Sydney and Melbourne services. Beyond the one-stop options listed, two-stop routings exist — EVA Air via Taipei, or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul — and they are worth considering when availability is thin.

Velocity Points convert into KrisFlyer miles at 1.55:1, which means some flights can be priced in both programmes. Compare the two before transferring. The important constraint is expiry: KrisFlyer miles lapse three years after they are earned unless you hold senior status. For that reason many travellers only convert once they have found and can immediately book a reward seat.

Using Virgin Points from Flying Club

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is a separate programme from Velocity, and points cannot be moved between the two. It is worth knowing for London because Flying Club prices several partners keenly.

Premium Economy reward seats are not sold on China Eastern. The ranges on Delta and Korean Air exist because Flying Club prices those two per segment rather than by total distance flown, and Delta applies peak and off-peak pricing on the transatlantic leg. American Express Membership Rewards points convert to Flying Club at 2:1, and buying points outright is often cost-effective relative to the cash fares those points unlock — the ANA redemptions in particular.

Heathrow, and London's other airports

Heathrow has four operating terminals, numbered 2, 3, 4 and 5. Terminal 1 closed permanently to make room for the expansion of Terminal 2. Australian passport holders can use the automated processing lanes on arrival without any prior registration. On departure, fast track security lanes are open to premium cabin passengers and to eligible elite frequent flyers, subject to the operating airline's policy. Into the city, the Piccadilly Line and the Elizabeth Line both serve Heathrow, with the Heathrow Express faster but considerably dearer.

Heathrow's lounges are extensive, but you cannot move airside between terminals, so your options are fixed by where you depart. oneworld Sapphire members (including Qantas Gold) can use the British Airways Galleries Club lounges in Terminals 3 and 5, the Qantas International London Lounge and the Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge in Terminal 3, and the American Airlines Admirals Club. oneworld Emerald adds the Galleries First lounges, the Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge and the American Airlines International First Class Lounge. Star Alliance Gold is concentrated in Terminal 2: Air Canada's Maple Leaf Lounge, the Lufthansa Business and Senator lounges, the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Class Lounge and the United Club. Velocity Gold and above unlock a similar Terminal 2 set when flying the relevant partner, plus the Qatar Airways lounge in Terminal 4. Priority Pass members have Plaza Premium locations across Terminals 2, 4 and 5, Club Aspire in Terminal 5, and No1 and My Lounge sites in Terminals 2 and 3.

London is served by five airports in total. Gatwick is the main alternative, a secondary British Airways hub also served by Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines. London City is small, has no lounges, and suits anyone heading to the financial district. Luton is the base for EasyJet and Wizz Air and a secondary Ryanair hub, while Stansted is Ryanair's London hub and also sees Emirates. Some airlines serve more than one: British Airways operates from Heathrow, Gatwick and City. When searching for reward seats, check all of them — a seat may exist at Gatwick when Heathrow is closed out.

Hotels and a few closing tips

Booking directly with a hotel is usually the better move. It earns points in the chain's own programme, counts towards elite status, and ensures any status benefits you already hold are actually honoured. Accor Live Limitless, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Radisson Rewards and Shangri-La Circle all have a substantial London presence, and points redemptions on well-located properties can be strong value against cash rates in a city where accommodation is expensive. Where you have no loyalty interest in the chain, third-party platforms such as Qantas Hotels, Virgin Australia's Hopper-powered booking engine and Rocketmiles let you earn transferable rewards instead.

Two structural points are worth planning around. The UK charges Air Passenger Duty on departures, and it is highest on long-haul flights in premium cabins — so if London sits inside a multi-city trip, consider flying home from another country and leaving the UK on a short European hop, where the duty is minimal. And once you are in the city, contactless payment works on the Tube and buses; just tap on and off with the same card or device for every journey.

Frequently asked questions

Which programme gets me to London for the fewest points? It depends on the cabin and your departure city, but Virgin Atlantic Flying Club's ANA Business Class pricing from Sydney via Tokyo Haneda is among the lowest listed here at 112,500 points one way.

Can I transfer Velocity Points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club? No. Velocity Frequent Flyer and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club are entirely separate programmes with no direct transfer between them, despite the shared Virgin branding.

Do KrisFlyer miles expire? Yes, three years after they are earned, unless you hold high-level status in the programme. Many travellers only convert points into KrisFlyer once they have a specific booking in mind.

Why do Delta and Korean Air redemptions cost a range of points? Flying Club prices those two partners per segment rather than by total distance, and Delta additionally applies peak and off-peak pricing on the flight between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Can I move between Heathrow terminals to use a better lounge? Not airside. Heathrow has inter-terminal transfers for connecting passengers, but you cannot roam freely between terminals, so plan around the lounges in your departure terminal.

Is it worth flying into an airport other than Heathrow? Often, yes. Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and City all serve London, and reward availability or fares can be better at one of them. Weigh the ground transfer time against your final destination in the city.

This information is general in nature. It does not take your personal circumstances into account.