Frequent flyer bank cards reward you with free flights, upgrades and different journey perks only for doing all your on a regular basis spending. There’s a card for every thing: you may select from primary, no-frills choices to playing cards that dish out massive factors and large options.
Loads of frequent flyer bank cards include epic sign-up bonus factors to kickstart your rewards stash, and a few have stability switch options if you wish to shift your debt to a brand new card for 0% curiosity and to pay it off sooner.
Or, in case you’re simply saying “present me the factors!“, search for bank cards that pay out the best variety of frequent flyer factors for each greenback you spend.
We’ve made it straightforward by summarising the options of every card proper right here. You may click on the cardboard to see the cardboard’s full particulars on the financial institution’s web site, and apply from there too.
Right here’s the highest frequent flyer bank cards for August 2024
Try our high frequent flyer offers for this month. Click on ‘go to supply’ for a full rundown of the cardboard’s options, and to use.
Qantas Premier Platinum Credit score Card – as much as 100,000 bonus Qantas Factors
With the Qantas Premier Platinum Credit score Card, you’ll rise up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Factors – 70,000 while you apply and spend $3,000 or extra on eligible purchases inside 3 months from card approval, plus an extra 30,000 in case you haven’t earned Qantas Factors with a bank card within the final 12 months. Their rewards program is stable too, supplying you with 1.5 factors per $1 spent on worldwide purchases, 1 level for home spending (as much as $10,000 per assertion interval, then reverts to 0.5 factors) and a bonus level while you purchase chosen Qantas services and products. This card has another good perks, like a concierge service, discounted flights for as much as 8 companions, lounge entry and a decreased annual charge for the primary yr, plus 0% p.a. on stability transfers for 12 months with a 2% stability switch charge.
Qantas American Categorical Final – 50,000 bonus Qantas Factors plus $450 Qantas Journey Credit score
The Qantas American Categorical Final Credit score Card is a premium card that provides a great deal of journey advantages and factors. New cardholders might obtain 50,000 bonus Qantas Factors while you apply on-line by 14 January 2025, are authorized, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in your new Card inside the first 3 months. Earn as much as 1.25 Qantas Factors on on a regular basis purchases, 0.5 Qantas Factors on authorities spend, and an extra 1 level per $1 on eligible Qantas services and products with no factors capping. Annually you’ll obtain a $450 Qantas Journey Credit score for eligible home or worldwide Qantas flights when booked by American Categorical Journey, which compensates for the $450 annual charge.
Qantas Premier On a regular basis Credit score Card – as much as 8,000 bonus Qantas Factors
The Qantas Premier On a regular basis Credit score Card provides a spread of advantages. For the primary 4 months from card approval, cardholders can earn 2 bonus Qantas Factors per $1 spent on eligible purchases, on high of the usual earn charges. This permits for a most of 8,000 bonus Qantas Factors while you apply at the moment and get authorized. The cardboard incorporates a low annual charge, complimentary worldwide journey insurance coverage, and a 0% p.a. rate of interest on stability transfers for 12 months with 2% stability switch charge.
ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum Credit score Card – 75,000 bonus Qantas Factors and $100 again
ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum Credit score Card gives loads of platinum perks plus, a really interesting introductory supply of 75,000 bonus Qantas Factors and $100 again to your card while you spend $2,500 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from approval. This card allows you to earn Qantas Factors as you store – 0.75 Qantas Factors per $1 spent on eligible purchases as much as $3,000 per assertion interval, then 0.5 Qantas Factors per $1 spent on eligible purchases above $3,000 per assertion interval. On high of that, get pleasure from platinum advantages together with complimentary Worldwide and Home Journey Insurance coverage, Buy Safety Insurance coverage, Prolonged Guarantee Insurance coverage, and eligibility for Visa Provides + Perks.
American Categorical Qantas Enterprise Rewards Card – 150,000 bonus Qantas Factors
When you’ve bought a enterprise and also you’re in search of alternatives to earn essentially the most of your transactions, it’s best to make the most of this huge welcome supply of 150,000 bonus Qantas Factors from the American Categorical Qantas Enterprise Rewards Card. Obtain 150,000 bonus Qantas Factors while you apply by 1 October 2024, are authorized, and spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in your Card within the first 3 months from approval. Get pleasure from TRIPLE Qantas Factors for what you are promoting on eligible Qantas flights and a couple of Qantas Factors on Qantas services and products. This can be a cost card with no pre-set spending restrict which ensures larger cost flexibility. Provides two new thrilling advantages – as much as $200 again with Dell Applied sciences.
ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Credit score Card – As much as 130,000 bonus Qantas Factors and $250 again
A high-earning rewards card – ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Credit score Card provides as much as 130,000 bonus Qantas Factors – 100,000 bonus Qantas Factors and $250 again to your new card while you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from approval plus 30,000 bonus Qantas Factors while you hold your card for a yr. Earn 1 Qantas Level per $1 spent as much as $7,500 per assertion interval, then 0.5 Qantas Factors per $1 spent above $7,500 per assertion interval, uncapped. Get pleasure from its glorious collection of options together with, complimentary Qantas Frequent Flyer membership, yearly Qantas Membership lounge invites, and journey insurance coverage covers.
Discovering the Greatest Credit score Card Provides on Frequent Flyer Playing cards
Frequent flyer factors (and the redemption applications they’re connected to) is usually a complicated world to dive into, however they’re additionally a few of the greatest perks a bank card can supply.
You’ll earn rewards factors only for doing all your day-to-day spending, and convert these factors into journey freebies and privileges, and even retail merchandise.
Now positive the best way to discover your greatest card? We’ve bought you lined. Beneath is a straightforward information on frequent flyer factors, how they work, and the best way to discover the bank card that’ll provide the most bang in your buck.
Step 1: Issues to look out for when evaluating frequent flyer bank cards:
- The frequent flyer program it’s connected to
- Whether or not the factors may be transferred to different frequent flyer applications
- Introductory bonus factors you get for signing up
- Any expiration dates in your factors
- The earn fee (factors you earn per greenback spent)
- Caps on the factors you may earn
- Annual charges
- Different bonus options of the cardboard
Introductory Bonus Factors
Some frequent flyer playing cards offer you bonus rewards factors on sign-up, as much as the tune of 120,000 factors (or much more).
However there’s a small catch – you’ll want to fulfill the eligibility standards to get your factors, which normally means spending a minimal quantity in your card inside a sure timeframe.
Test the quantity required and be sure you can meet it – it’s typically within the neighborhood of $3,000 spent inside 90 days of approval, however may be kind of.
What number of factors you possibly can earn
Rewards factors are handed out for the {dollars} you spend on eligible purchases. Some issues received’t earn rewards factors, like Bpay transactions, money advances (the place you withdraw cash out of your bank card) and a few authorities funds.
Most occasions, rewards additionally received’t apply on stability transfers, the place you progress your stability remaining from one bank card to a brand new one which has 0% or low curiosity utilized to the transferred quantity. Test the cardboard’s PDS and the TMD to verify.
The quantity of factors you may earn relies on a couple of issues:
- The earn fee. That’s what number of factors per $1 you spend. 1 frequent flyer level per greenback is pretty commonplace, though some playing cards supply 0.5 or 0.75 factors per $1.
- Tiered factors. Generally the earn fee modifications relying on what you purchase and the place. As an example, a card may pay 1 level per $1 for eligible purchases as much as a certain quantity per thirty days, after which it drops to 0.5 factors per $1 after that. You may earn extra factors for worldwide purchases, or for purchasing merchandise by an affiliate enterprise or airline.
- Factors caps. Some playing cards put a restrict on the quantity of frequent flyer factors you may earn in a yr (for example, 100,000 factors yearly). Nevertheless, in some circumstances, factors which are earned for purchases made with specific companies are uncapped factors and don’t rely in the direction of your complete factors rely. So you possibly can earn, for instance, 125,000 factors in a yr even when the cap is 100,000, as a result of 25,000 had been earned from uncapped purchases at sure shops.
- Membership standing. Relying on the cardboard, it’s possible you’ll earn standing factors along with your spending that transfer you up into extra prestigious tiers, probably providing extra factors per $1, and unlocking extra journey options like further checked baggage, flight upgrades and lounge entry.
To take advantage of factors out of your spending, you may take into consideration how a lot you spend in your card every month, and select a proposal with uncapped factors or the next spending tier so that you don’t lose out on helpful rewards by hitting the factors incomes restrict.
Additionally, think about the belongings you purchase typically. 🛒 When you use your card for grocery store spending, search for a card with the most effective earn fee on these purchases. ✈️ Or, in case you use your card for journey, discover a card that rewards spending on flights, lodging and automotive leases.
Annual charges and ongoing prices (and the trifecta candy spot)
The balancing act of discovering an awesome frequent flyer card for you is weighing up the annual charge, the earn fee and the introductory supply.
Tremendous helpful tips about annual charges:
- A card with a giant introductory supply is prone to have the next earn fee, but in addition the next annual charge.
- A card with a reasonable introductory supply will normally have a decrease earn fee, and a decrease annual charge to go well with.
Discovering a card that hits your trifecta candy spot means trying on the worth you’ll get from the frequent flyer rewards, and deciding if it outweighs the annual charge.
For instance, in case you earned 45,000 factors per yr on a Qantas frequent flyer bank card that provided 1 level per $1 spent, and had an annual charge of $350, you would need to weigh up in case your factors earn was well worth the barely larger yearly charge.
Contemplating 36,000 factors can get you to Christchurch and again from Sydney utilizing Qantas factors (plus any regular taxes and airline charges), and including in some other perks the cardboard provides like free journey insurance coverage, the cardboard may fit out properly in your favour even with the next annual charge.
And naturally, that instance doesn’t embody any bonus supply factors while you enroll.
On that time, some playing cards supply decreased annual charges for the primary yr, or decrease ongoing annual charges in case you spend a minimal quantity per yr. Test for the newest frequent flyer bank card annual charge offers utilizing the ‘annual charge’ toggle on our one-click comparability software.
The curiosity you’ll be charged
Once you use your bank card and don’t repay the stability (the quantity you owe) earlier than the due date or inside any interest-free durations the cardboard provides, you’ll must pay curiosity on the stability.
It’s additionally known as the acquisition fee, and frequent flyer bank cards are inclined to have larger buy charges as a result of they’re a high-value card.
Test the acquisition fee and be sure you’re assured you may carry on high of your repayments so that you’re not slugged with excessive curiosity costs, as a result of that can scale back the worth of your journey rewards.
Expiration dates on frequent flyer factors
Some frequent flyer factors by no means expire, however some expire inside a sure timeframe, or in case you don’t use your card for a specified period of time. It’s usually straightforward to maintain your account lively since you’ll be incomes factors each time you spend in your card.
| Frequent Flyer program | Factors expiry coverage | The right way to hold factors lively |
|---|---|---|
| Velocity Factors | Sure, after 24 months of inactivity |
|
| Qantas Factors | Sure, after 18 months of inactivity in your account |
|
| American Categorical Journey Factors | No expiry, however factors will likely be misplaced if all playing cards related to this system are cancelled |
|
All the time test the high-quality print of the frequent flyer program for expiration insurance policies, and any conditions the place they might cancel the rewards program.
Step 2: Unpacking the most effective frequent flyer program for you
Every frequent flyer bank card is linked to a selected frequent flyer program that you could redeem the factors by.
Right here’s a snapshot of the frequent flyer applications accessible that cowl Australian and worldwide airways:
- Qantas – Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Virgin – Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Singapore – Airways Singapore Airways KrisFlyer
- Cathay Pacific – Marco Polo Membership
- Etihad – Etihad Visitor
- Emirates – Skywards
- Malaysia Airways – Enrich
- British Airways – British Airways Government Membership
- American Airways – AAdvantage Frequent Flyer
- United – Mileage Plus
As you’re evaluating playing cards, you’ll discover most hyperlink up with Qantas Frequent Flyer, Virgin Velocity Frequent Flyer or American Categorical applications. Nevertheless, you should still use your frequent flyer factors for different airways inside the identical community, like Singapore Airways Krisflyer, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Air New Zealand Airpoints, Emirates Skywards and Etihad Visitor.
Becoming a member of a frequent flyer program
Once you apply for a bank card connected to a frequent flyer program, you’ll have to turn out to be a member to start out incomes and spending factors.
Most applications are free to hitch, or offer you alternative to hitch without spending a dime by different partnerships.
For instance, becoming a member of Qantas Frequent Flyer normally prices $99.50, however some bank cards supply free membership, or you may be part of through your Woolworths On a regular basis Rewards card.
Earlier than you apply, it’s a good suggestion to test the small print on the cardboard to learn how and when the factors you earn are transferred to your frequent flyer account. Some playing cards supply direct switch, others switch factors on the finish of every month, whereas others solely supply guide switch on the cardholder’s request – with a minimal switch quantity required.
Try how one can maximise your points-earning potential in your chosen card. This will imply utilizing your card with sure companions inside the journey trade, equivalent to inns and automotive rent firms, or with sure retailers.
Sure, it’s a bit tedious, however studying a bit about your frequent flyer card can actually give your factors incomes a lift.
What are you able to redeem frequent flyer factors on?
It’s an awesome thought to test the frequent flyer program and its retailer, so can select one that provides the belongings you need (and, it’s extra enjoyable while you’ve already chosen the reward you need to get without spending a dime!).
Usually, you should use frequent flyer factors for:
- Journey. That features flights, upgrades, inns and lodging, and automotive rental.
- Purchasing. Go to this system’s on-line rewards retailer to search out and redeem your factors at in style shops.
- Reward playing cards. You may redeem frequent flyer factors for present playing cards, however sometimes you’ll get extra worth utilizing them for journey.
- Enjoyable eating extras. Some applications supply freebies and reductions on eating. For instance, Qantas Factors may be redeemed on Qantas wine.
When you don’t have sufficient factors to cowl the whole value of the acquisition, many playing cards supply points-and-pay, the place you may pay money to cowl any shortfalls in your factors.
Step 3: Testing your card’s different options
Many bank cards supply a bunch of different options in addition to rewards factors, and frequent flyer playing cards – particularly the fancier, dearer ones – are sometimes choc-full of them.
Options you may discover on a frequent flyer bank card:
- Complimentary journey insurance coverage (may very well be home, worldwide, or each)
- Airport lounge entry
- Airport transfers
- Journey credit score
- Concierge companies
- Reductions with partnering companies
- Cashback provides
- VIP entry to occasions
All the additional ‘dazzle’ on a card may also help offset the upper annual charge, particularly in case you like to journey, dine and revel in social occasions.
When you’re after factors to spend on retail, you may need to have a look at the most effective rewards-earning bank cards, that are linked to financial institution rewards applications (not particular frequent flyer memberships) and have decrease annual charges.
Different provides to look out for
Introductory provides are one massive advantage of frequent flyer bank cards, however you too can search for reductions on annual charges and any cashback provides.
Some playing cards waive the annual charge for the primary yr, or in case you hit a minimal spend yearly.
There are additionally cashback or journey credit on supply, the place you’ll have a nominal quantity paid again to your account, or earn a journey voucher to spend annually. Each options assist offset any ongoing charges on the cardboard.
Some lenders supply 0% curiosity on stability transfers, which is the place you progress the debt from a bank card to 1 that received’t cost curiosity for a sure timeframe.
Earlier than you ask, you received’t earn factors while you switch a stability. Which suggests combining a stability switch (the place the purpose is to repay debt) with a card that’s about incomes rewards on massive spending will not be the most effective mixture.
When you’re eager to get forward of your bank card stability, use our one-click comparability software to discover a stability switch card that can make it easier to most.
FAQs
What’s an ‘eligible transaction’ for incomes factors?
An eligible transaction normally means common spending on on a regular basis objects, like groceries, consuming out and reserving tickets (together with flights). Usually, you received’t earn factors on money advances (the place you withdraw cash out of your bank card) and any balances transferred from a unique card.
Typically, you received’t earn factors on authorities transactions both, like paying your charges invoice.
The bank card’s PDS will define which transactions are eligible for incomes factors.
Are all frequent flyer factors value the identical quantity?
No, every frequent flyer program has their very own worth system. For instance, a $100 Bunnings present voucher will value 23,170 Qantas Factors, or 21,800 Velocity Factors.
If you wish to get essentially the most out of your factors, you may search the completely different rewards applications and select the one with the higher factors redemption on belongings you’re most certainly to purchase.
Can I add extra cardholders?
Including relations to the account is an effective solution to bump up your factors earnings sooner, however not all playing cards enable extra cardholders, and a few make you pay.
The extra cardholder charge is perhaps minimal, like $10 per yr, however might also require a charge to hitch the membership program.
All the time test the phrases for including further cardholders to verify it’s not going so as to add ongoing bills that outweigh the advantages.
How do I select my card as soon as I’ve selected my Rewards Program?
If you realize which frequent flyer program you need to be part of, you may evaluate the playing cards connected to your program through the use of our one-click comparability software:
Evaluate all Qantas Frequent Flyer bank cards.
Evaluate all Velocity Frequent Flyer bank cards.
Or, you may evaluate bonus factors for all rewards playing cards, together with non-frequent-flyer applications, on our bonus factors comparability web page.
When you’re nonetheless unsure, you may evaluate all bank cards providing frequent flyer factors and click on every card to learn its professionals and cons.
Can I earn factors on authorities funds, like my ATO invoice?
Most bank cards don’t supply factors on authorities transactions, and people who do are most frequently enterprise bank cards. Nevertheless, some American Categorical frequent flyer playing cards supply factors on funds to authorities our bodies.
As at all times, test the cardboard’s particulars to search out out.
