Scoring Methodology
How we rank every frequent-flyer points deal on a transparent 0–100 scale.
Overview
Every deal on FlyingPointsPro is scored using a composite algorithm that combines five weighted factors, plus bonuses and penalties. The result is a single score from 0 to 100 — the higher the score, the better the deal.
Our algorithm is designed to surface deals that deliver the most points for the lowest cost, with extra consideration for accessibility, time sensitivity, and how much effort is involved.
The Formula
Score = (Cost Per Point × 0.40)
+ (Total Points × 0.25)
+ (Accessibility × 0.15)
+ (Urgency × 0.10)
+ (Effort × 0.10)
+ Bonuses + Penalties
Final score clamped to 0–100
Each factor produces a sub-score from 0 to 100, which is then multiplied by its weight. Bonuses and penalties are added after weighting. The final result is clamped between 0 and 100.
1. Cost Per Point (40% weight)
The most heavily weighted factor. This measures the effective cost in Australian cents to earn one point. Lower cost = higher score.
| Cost Per Point | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| < 0.5 cents | 100 |
| < 1.0 cent | 80 |
| < 1.5 cents | 60 |
| < 2.0 cents | 40 |
| ≥ 2.0 cents | 20 |
If cost data is unavailable (e.g. free transfers), a neutral score of 50 is assigned.
2. Total Points Earned (25% weight)
Deals that yield more points receive a higher score. A 100,000-point credit card bonus is weighted more heavily than a 1,000-point shopping offer.
| Points Earned | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| > 100,000 | 100 |
| > 50,000 | 80 |
| > 25,000 | 60 |
| > 10,000 | 40 |
| ≤ 10,000 | 20 |
3. Accessibility (15% weight)
Measures how easy it is to take advantage of the deal, based on minimum spend requirements and annual fees.
Minimum Spend
| Min Spend | Base Score |
|---|---|
| No minimum | 100 |
| < $1,000 | 80 |
| < $3,000 | 60 |
| < $5,000 | 40 |
| ≥ $5,000 | 20 |
Annual Fee Penalty
Credit cards with annual fees receive a penalty that scales linearly from 0 (for a $0 fee) to −20 (for fees of $700 or more). For example, a card with a $350 annual fee receives a −10 penalty on the accessibility sub-score.
4. Urgency (10% weight)
Time-sensitive deals receive a boost so you don't miss them.
| Deal Urgency | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| Flash deal | 100 |
| Expires within 7 days | 80 |
| Expires within 30 days | 60 |
| Limited time (no specific expiry) | 60 |
| Ongoing / no urgency | 20 |
5. Effort Required (10% weight)
Simpler deals score higher. A direct points purchase requires less effort than applying for a new credit card or arranging hotel stays.
| Category | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| Buy points, shopping portal, wine, dining | 100 |
| Partner transfer (with known ratio) | 80 |
| Promotions, flight promos | 80 |
| Credit card sign-up | 70 |
| Hidden deals | 60 |
| Hotel, car rental, insurance | 50 |
Bonuses & Penalties
After the weighted score is calculated, the following adjustments are applied:
Bonuses
- Hidden or non-obvious deal: +10 points — rewards deals that are harder to find
- Newly discovered (within 24 hours): +5 points — boosts fresh deals to the top
- Community verified: +5 points — trusted deals confirmed by the community
Penalties
- Requires new bank relationship:−5 points — credit card deals from a specific bank incur a small penalty since opening a new bank relationship adds friction
Worked Example
Consider a credit card offering 120,000 bonus points with a $3,000 minimum spend in 3 months and a $450 annual fee, expiring in 2 weeks:
Cost per point: ($3,000 + $450) / 120,000 = 2.875c → sub-score: 20
Total points: 120,000 > 100k → sub-score: 100
Accessibility: min spend $3,000 → 60, annual fee $450 → penalty −12.9 → sub-score: 47
Urgency: expires in 14 days → sub-score: 60
Effort: credit card → sub-score: 70
Weighted = (20 × 0.40) + (100 × 0.25) + (47 × 0.15) + (60 × 0.10) + (70 × 0.10)
Weighted = 8 + 25 + 7.05 + 6 + 7 = 53.05
Penalties: bank relationship → −5
Final score: 48
Despite the large points haul, the high cost per point and annual fee bring the score below 50. A cheaper deal with fewer points may score higher — that's the algorithm working as intended.
Best Daily, Weekly & Monthly
Deals are categorised into three time-based views:
- Best Daily: Top 10 active deals per country, ranked by score
- Best Weekly: Top 20 deals created or updated in the last 7 days, per country
- Best Monthly: Top 30 deals created or updated in the last 30 days, per country
Rankings are recalculated every time our scrapers run (every 8 hours), so the lists stay fresh and reflect the latest available deals.
Transparency
We believe in full transparency about how deals are ranked. Our scoring algorithm is deterministic — given the same inputs, it always produces the same score. There are no hidden boosts for sponsored or affiliate deals.
If you believe a deal is scored incorrectly, or you have suggestions to improve our methodology, please contact us at [email protected].
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