Nosotros've been asked by diverse readers in our Customs section well-nigh how to change a frequent flyer number on your ticket. Maybe you purchased with one airline and used that membership initially, but at present yous'd similar to credit the points and condition to a unlike airline partner.

Once a booking is locked in, this tin can seem like a daunting chore but, don't worry, y'all have a number of opportunities to alter the frequent flyer number on your booking!

This is a beginner's guide for those learning nigh the wonderful globe of frequent flyer points.

Before your flying

i. Go to Manage My Booking

The kickoff pace is to endeavor to access your booking online through the airline's website. This normally requires your booking reference/confirmation number and final proper noun.

From here, you can check the rider details and see if you lot're able to change the attached frequent flyer program and number.

Even so, some airlines such as Qantas don't allow you to alter the frequent flyer number online once it's been inputted. If this is the case, then yous'll mostly have to employ ane of the other options in this guide.

Our hack for managing oneworld bookings

In that location is an unusual workaround for some bookings on a oneworld fellow member airline, including Qantas. Head to the Finnair website and enter your booking details there, even if you aren't flying Finnair.

In many cases, it'll all the same work considering these airline systems are all linked. And then click on 'Update your Details'. On the following page, scroll downwardly to 'Additional Information' and modify your frequent flyer details there.

Qantas Change FF Number Finnair
Unusually, Finnair's website tin can often help change frequent flyer numbers.

Some airlines are really tech-savvy and will reply to booking requests through Twitter.

Nosotros've used this method successfully with Qantas, Virgin Australia, American Airlines and numerous other airlines. You tin modify frequent flyer numbers, request seats that you tin can't alter online and organise special meals.

Qantas Twitter page
Click on the envelope to send a private message through Twitter

You can too search for the airline on Facebook and some permit yous to message them there. But make sure that the airline shows the Message role. If not, do not post your sensitive information to the airline's public Twitter or Facebook page.

3. Phone, email or live conversation with the airline

If you are not worried about time and desire a sure-burn way of making sure you get the correct number on your booking, yous can telephone the airline.

However, sometimes airline telephone call centres are under the pump due to COVID-19 related disruptions. In that case, you could also search for an electronic mail address or live chat function on the airline's website.

On the day of your flying

Information technology'due south the solar day of departure and y'all've been reading our guide to where to credit your points on your fashion to the airport. You lot've realised that you'd get more points by crediting to a different program. Well, yous have 4 more than chances before y'all board the airplane. DOn't waste material them!

4. At bank check-in

Yous can change your frequent flyer number when checking in, which is easiest with an agent rather than at a self-service kiosk. Make certain that the new number is reflected correctly on your boarding pass.

Check-in

However, if you want to use the lounge admission perks of ane membership before changing it to another for earning points, you might not desire to make this change as well early.

5. At the lounge

If you miss that step and have access to an airline-operated lounge with a service desk, then you might be able to alter the number with a lounge agent. Information technology probably won't work at a third-political party lounge such as those in the Priority Pass network.

6. At a customer service desk

If it is a hub airport for an airline, like Dubai for Emirates, Los Angeles for Delta and Hong Kong for Mainland china Pacific, and so they volition probably have a slew of service desks scattered around the airport. Airline employees here can fulfil this request for yous.

7. At the gate

Finally, you can change the number with a gate agent before boarding. Just make certain to practice this before they commence boarding. That's considering they probably won't be likewise happy with y'all if they are pulled abroad from really getting passengers onto the plane.

Qantas Perth to Auckland Boarding Gate

Waiting until your at the gate to change your number when you are flight with an airline or partner with whom y'all have elite status is an option that many advanced frequent flyers follow.

For instance, if you're flying with American Airlines and accept Gold status with Qantas, so you may want to access priority check-in, priority security screening and the lounge using your Qantas status.

But if yous can earn more points with Alaska Airlines, then you could wait until you're at the gate to change your number.

After your flight

8. Retroactive credit

Worse comes to worst and you lot didn't have any frequent flyer number on your booking or boarding pass at all. Then you can oft retroactively claim points earn up to 1-12 months afterwards your flight (depending on the airline and program). Here are the links to exercise that for Qantas and Velocity.

However, if y'all already had another program'southward number on your booking, and so you won't exist able to change information technology after your flight, because it will have already credited to that other plan.

Brand sure to keep your boarding laissez passer if yous are pursuing this method. If you are relaying your frequent flyer number to an airline employee over the telephone or in person, information technology is best to confirm that they know the two-grapheme airline code for the frequent flyer program you want to credit to.

Summing up

There are numerous opportunities to update your frequent flyer number later making a booking. If it'southward a unproblematic example of adding it in or switching to a dissimilar program before you wing, so try to apply online-based methods.

Notation that with many airline partnership and alliances, you're able to access aristocracy perks such equally lounge access simply by showing your eligible membership card, while having a different frequent flyer number on the booking.

Simply sometimes this rule is open to interpretation by lounge agents and could consequence in denied entry, which is why many frequent flyers continue to switch frequent flyer numbers at the drome.

Finally, if there was no number entered in the first identify, you may be able to retroactively earn points after your flying. This is best to do within xxx days of taking your flight, with your boarding pass kept as proof.

Make sure you are maximising your points earn by learning where to credit your next flight.

This commodity was originally written by Matt Moffit.