How Much Is An AirAsia BIG Point Really Worth?
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AirAsia’s encouraging tagline, “Now everyone can fly!” may not be true anymore. With the rising cost of living, vacations are more of a luxury. We’re all looking for ways to cut down on expenses and save money, just to survive in today’s economic climate.
Of course, everybody needs a break once in a while. But with rising petrol prices, the days of scoring cheap flights are rare. Which is why more savvy consumers are going the Miles way, by accumulating Miles points through their various purchases in the hope of redeeming a flight ticket for free.
With the AirAsia BIG Loyalty Programme, consumers can spend and accumulate BIG Points to fly for free to any AirAsia destination. To make the most of this programme, you must know how it works:
How can I earn AirAsia BIG Points?
First of all, to earn AirAsia BIG Points, you’ll need to be a BIG Member. It’s free to sign up online. Once that’s done, there are a few ways you can earn BIG Points:
- Fly with AirAsia
To earn BIG Points when you fly with AirAsia, add your BIG Member ID when you book your flight. You will earn points based on:
- Your base fare
- Any add-on services (meals, baggage, travel insurance, etc.)
- Your membership status (Red, Gold, Platinum, Black)
- Your fare selections (Low Fare, Premium Flex, Premium Flat Bed)
This calculator is useful for estimating the number of points you’ll earn for each flight.
- Use the BigPay e-wallet
When you use the BigPay e-wallet (and its accompanying prepaid Mastercard), you’ll get 1 BIG Point for every RM10 spent.
You can use BigPay for the same things as a regular credit card. This means being able to earn points on groceries, dining, online purchases, etc.
- Use the AirAsia Credit Card from Hong Leong Bank
If e-wallets aren’t your thing, then there is the AirAsia Credit Card from Hong Leong Bank. This credit card allows you to earn BIG Points at a better rate than the e-wallet with:
- Every RM1 AirAsia spend = 6 BIG Points
- Every RM2 overseas spend = 1 BIG Point
- Every RM3 local spend on Platinum Card = 1 BIG Point
- Every RM5 local spend on Gold Card = 1 BIG Point
Plus, when you sign up and hit the minimum spend, you’ll get up to 25,000 BIG Points.
- Convert your bank and other loyalty points
Own a credit card or use petrol loyalty programmes? You can convert your loyalty points into BIG Points. Here’s how much you’ll need for 1,000 BIG Points.
| Bank/partner | Points needed for 1,000 AirAsia BIG Points |
|---|---|
| Alliance Bank Malaysia | 3,000 Timeless Bonus Points |
| Rakuten Trade | 1,000 Rakuten Trade Point |
| Citibank Malaysia | 15,000 Reward points |
| Hilton Honors | 5,000 Hilton Honors Points |
| AmBank | 7,000 AmBonus Points |
| CIMB Malaysia | 8,000 Bonus Points |
| Maybank | 7,000 TreatsPoints |
| Mydin | 4,000 MERIAH Points |
| Petron | 2,000 PETRON MILES Points |
| Public Bank Berhad | 5,000 Reward Points |
| RHB Bank Berhad | 6,000 Rewards Points |
| RHB TradeSmart | 3,000 SmartPoints |
| Standard Chartered | WorldMiles Card: 2,000 Rewards Points Visa Infinite: 7,000 Rewards Points Other cards: 10,000 Rewards Points |
| UOB Malaysia | 7,000 UNIRinggit Reward Points |
| Toluna | 44,000 points |
| Tune Talk | 1,000 Tune Talk BIG Points |
| Affin Bank Berhad | World Mastercard: 6,000 Affin Rewards Points Other cards: 10,000 Affin Rewards Points |
| BSN Malaysia | 7,500 Happy Points |
| Hong Leong Bank Malaysia | 6,500 HLB Rewards Points |
| HSBC Malaysia | HSBC Premier Travel Credit Card: 1,000 Air Miles Other cards: 12,000 Rewards Points |
| PETRONAS Malaysia | 8,000 PETRONAS Mesra Points |
| Samsung Rewards | 1,000 Samsung Points |
- Shop with travel and lifestyle partners
You’ll also get rewarded when you shop online with partners like Zalora, Lazada, Agoda and Kinokuniya. Just remember to make your purchase via the AirAsia Big portal.
What can I use AirAsia BIG Points for?
Apart from AirAsia flights, you can use your points to redeem hotel stays and purchases with lifestyle partners:
- AirAsia flights (minimum of 5,500 points for one-way flights < 1 hour)
- Hotel stays (Tune Hotels, Rocketmiles, Kaligo, RED by Sirocco, Dewa Phuket Resort)
- Lifestyle rewards (pay with your BIG Points at Santan Café, T&Co Café, etc.)
How much are AirAsia BIG Points really worth?
The value of 100 BIG Points seem to be around RM0.80 for regular flights, although this will differ depending on your destination.
For example, here’s how much it costs for a one-way ticket from Langkawi to Penang:
| Cash | BIG Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult fare | RM58.77 | 6,875 points |
| Service Tax | RM3.53 | 413 points |
| Passenger Service Charge | RM11 | 1,375 points |
| Regulatory Service Charge | RM1 | 125 points |
| Total | RM74.30 | 8,788 points |
Based on the fares above, 100 BIG Points is equivalent to RM0.85.
Here’s how much it costs for a one-way ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Gold Coast, Australia:
| Cash | BIG Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult fare | RM1,174 | 146,750 points |
| Passenger Service Charge | RM50 | 6,250 points |
| Regulatory Service Charge | RM1 | 125 points |
| Arrival tax | RM58 | 7,250 points |
| Malaysia departure levy | RM20 | 2,500 points |
| Checked baggage 30kg | RM176.40 | 22,050 points |
| Pak Nasser's Nasi Lemak | RM15 | 1,875 points |
| Total | RM1,494.40 | 186,800 points |
In this example, the value of 100 BIG Points amounts to RM0.80.
Do AirAsia BIG Points expire?
Yes, they do:
- BIG Points earned before 1 June 2019 are valid for three years
- BIG points earned after 1 June 2019 are valid for two years
You can check your points’ expiry dates by logging into AirAsia BIG.
More ways to save on travel
Looking for other ways to save? Use your travel credit card to rack those air miles or get access to cool travel parks. Smart planning before embarking on your trip and during your trip can also help you stretch your travel budget.
This article was first published on September 10, 2014 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness.
