Quick answer
Neither Qantas nor Virgin Australia flies to Egypt, so you redeem points on partner airlines, most usefully Emirates or Qatar Airways with Qantas Points and Qatar Airways or Etihad with Velocity Points, connecting in the Gulf to Cairo. Reward seats, especially in business class, are limited, so book as early as the airline's schedule allows, stay flexible on dates, and consider using points for the long sector and paying cash for the short hop to Cairo. Partner deals and point prices change, so check current terms before you transfer points.
Can you fly to Egypt on frequent flyer points?
Yes, but always on a partner airline: there are no flights from Australia or New Zealand to Egypt on Qantas, Virgin Australia or Air New Zealand, so points bookings use Gulf, Asian or European carriers that connect to Cairo. The good news is that the main Gulf airlines are partners of Australian programmes, and their one-stop routings are the same ones most cash passengers use. Our guide to flights from Australia to Egypt covers routes and journey times; this guide is about paying with points.
Everything below describes partnerships at the time of writing. Airline alliances and loyalty deals shift, sometimes with little notice, so confirm on your programme's website that a partner is bookable before moving points from a credit card, because transfers usually cannot be reversed.
How do you use Qantas Points to get to Egypt?
With Qantas Points the usual choices are Emirates via Dubai and Qatar Airways via Doha, both of which fly to Cairo, with Classic Reward seats bookable on the Qantas website or by phone.
- Emirates: a long-standing Qantas partner flying from several Australian cities to Dubai, with frequent Dubai–Cairo services. Partner reward taxes and carrier charges on Emirates have historically been noticeably higher than on some other airlines, so check the cash component before you commit.
- Qatar Airways: a fellow oneworld member, flying from several Australian cities and from Auckland to Doha, then on to Cairo.
- Other oneworld routings: via London on British Airways or via Amman on Royal Jordanian, useful if you are combining Egypt with Europe or Jordan but longer overall.
Qantas has also offered Points Plus Pay and other ways to mix cash and points; compare the value per point against Classic Rewards, which are usually better value. The number of points needed depends on the cabin and distance and changes over time, so check the current reward calculator.
How do you use Velocity Points to get to Egypt?
Velocity members usually look first at Qatar Airways, which has a strategic partnership with Virgin Australia, and at Etihad via Abu Dhabi, subject to the partnerships in force when you book. Virgin Australia's long-haul flights to Doha, operated with Qatar Airways, give Velocity members a straightforward way to reach the Gulf, with Qatar Airways continuing to Cairo. Etihad has been a long-standing Velocity partner with Abu Dhabi–Cairo connections. Singapore Airlines is also a Velocity partner, but you would still need another airline from Singapore to Egypt.
Partner award space on Velocity is released by the operating airline and can be thin in business class, so search across a wide date range. As with Qantas, the cash component varies by airline and route.
Which programme suits which traveller?
Use the programme where you already have the most points, then pick the airline with the best availability on your dates; a split booking is often the best result.
| Programme | Main partners to Egypt | Hub | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | Emirates, Qatar Airways (plus other oneworld airlines) | Dubai, Doha | Most Australian cities; the widest choice of flights |
| Velocity Frequent Flyer | Qatar Airways, Etihad (check current partners) | Doha, Abu Dhabi | Credit card points earners and Virgin Australia flyers |
| Air New Zealand Airpoints | Star Alliance partners, including EgyptAir | Singapore, Istanbul and others | New Zealanders with Airpoints Dollars |
| Other programmes via card transfers | KrisFlyer, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, Qatar Privilege Club, depending on your card | Varies | Flexible points holders comparing value |
EgyptAir is a Star Alliance member, so Star programmes can sometimes book it for the final sector into Cairo or for domestic flights within Egypt.
What are the best routings on points?
The simplest is one reward ticket all the way to Cairo via Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi; when that isn't available, use points to the Gulf hub and buy the short three-to-four-hour sector to Cairo separately. The long sector from Australia is where points save the most, especially in business class, while Gulf–Cairo fares are often modest in economy.
- Split tickets: on separate tickets the airline will not rebook you if the first flight is late, so leave a generous gap, or better, spend a night in the hub. A stopover in Dubai or Doha breaks the journey neatly.
- Open jaw: fly into Cairo and home from Luxor or Hurghada if award space allows, saving a domestic flight at the end of a Nile or Red Sea trip.
- One-ways: book each direction as availability appears rather than waiting for a perfect return.
- From New Zealand: at the time of writing Emirates and Qatar Airways fly non-stop from Auckland to their Gulf hubs; see Egypt tours from New Zealand.
How hard is it to find reward seats to Egypt?
Economy reward seats appear reasonably often; business-class seats for two on the same flight are scarce, and peak dates go first. Egypt's best touring weather, from October to April, overlaps the Christmas and January school holidays when Australians travel in large numbers, so December and January rewards to the Gulf are the hardest to find. October, November, February and March are generally easier and are excellent months in Egypt; see the best time to visit Egypt.
Practical tactics: search as soon as the schedule opens, which for many programmes is around 11–12 months ahead; check again in the final weeks, when airlines sometimes release unsold seats; be flexible by a few days either side; and consider flying out of a different capital. Travelling as a couple, search for one seat first to see where space exists, then look for two.
Are points flights to Egypt good value?
Points flights are usually best value in premium cabins, where the cash fare is high; in economy, after taxes and carrier charges, a sale fare may beat using points. Every reward ticket carries taxes and charges, including Australian passenger movement charge and Egyptian and transit airport taxes, plus any carrier charges the airline adds, so a reward ticket is never free. Work out the cents per point you are getting by comparing the cash fare with the points and cash cost; if the value is poor, keep the points and pay cash. Also remember reward tickets often earn no or reduced status credits.
Upgrades are another option: using points to upgrade a paid fare can work on some partner flights, but eligibility depends on the fare type, so read the conditions. For an overall budget, see our cost of an Egypt trip from Australia guide.
Can Noble Travel work with my points flights?
Yes: you book the reward seats in your frequent flyer account, and we build the private touring, hotels, Nile cruise and transfers in Egypt around your flight times. Send us your arrival and departure details through plan my trip, ideally before you lock in reward seats if your dates are flexible, so we can check cruise departures and hotel availability for the same window. If you land in Cairo late at night, plan a private transfer straight to your hotel and an easy first morning. For a short first visit timed around award space, the Cairo and pyramids stopover fits almost any arrival day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Qantas Points to fly to Cairo?
Yes, on partner airlines. Emirates via Dubai and Qatar Airways via Doha are the usual choices, bookable as Classic Rewards when seats are available.
Can I use Velocity Points to fly to Egypt?
Yes, on partners such as Qatar Airways and Etihad at the time of writing. Check Velocity's current partner list before transferring points.
How many points does it cost to fly to Egypt?
It depends on the programme, cabin, partner airline and distance, and reward prices change, so use your programme's current reward calculator rather than relying on published examples.
When should I book reward seats to Egypt?
As soon as the reward calendar opens, often around 11–12 months ahead, especially for business class or travel in December and January.
Is it worth flying business class on points to Egypt?
Often yes. Business class is where points give the best value on a 20-plus hour journey, and arriving rested matters on an Egypt itinerary with early starts.
