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 all the pieces: you’ll be able to select from fundamental, no-frills choices to playing cards that dish out large 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, if you happen to’re simply saying “present me the factors!“, search for bank cards that pay out the very best variety of frequent flyer factors for each greenback you spend.
We’ve made it simple by summarising the options of every card proper right here. You’ll be able to 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 June 2024
Try our prime 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
Qantas American Categorical Final – as much as 90,000 bonus Qantas Factors plus $450 Qantas Journey Credit score
The Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card is a premium card that gives a great deal of journey advantages and factors. New cardholders might obtain as much as 90,000 bonus Qantas Factors. That’s 70,000 bonus Qantas Factors if you apply on-line by 3 September 2024, are permitted, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in your new Card throughout the first 3 months. Plus, an extra 20,000 bonus Qantas Factors in your second 12 months upon price renewal. 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 with no factors capping. Annually you’ll obtain a $450 Qantas Journey Credit score for eligible home or worldwide Qantas flights when booked via American Categorical Journey, which compensates for the $450 annual price.
Qantas Premier On a regular basis Credit score Card – as much as 8,000 bonus Qantas Factors
The Qantas Premier Everyday Credit Card presents 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 prime of the usual earn charges. This permits for a most of 8,000 bonus Qantas Factors if you apply right this moment and get permitted. The cardboard includes a low annual price, complimentary worldwide journey insurance coverage, and a 0% p.a. rate of interest on stability transfers for 12 months with 2% stability switch price.
ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum Credit score Card – 75,000 bonus Qantas Factors and $100 again
ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum Credit Card gives loads of platinum perks plus, a really interesting introductory supply of 75,000 bonus Qantas Factors and $100 again to your card if you spend $2,500 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from approval. This card enables 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 prime 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 Affords + Perks.
American Categorical Qantas Enterprise Rewards Card – 170,000 bonus Qantas Factors
For those who’ve acquired a enterprise and also you’re on the lookout for alternatives to earn probably the most of your transactions, it’s best to benefit from this large welcome supply of 170,000 bonus Qantas Factors from the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card. Obtain 170,000 bonus Qantas Factors if you apply by 25 June 2024, are permitted, and spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in your Card within the first 3 months from approval. Get pleasure from TRIPLE Qantas Factors for your small business on eligible Qantas flights and a pair of Qantas Factors on Qantas services. It is a cost card with no pre-set spending restrict which ensures better fee flexibility. Affords 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 Card presents as much as 130,000 bonus Qantas Factors – 100,000 bonus Qantas Factors and $250 again to your new card if you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from approval plus 30,000 bonus Qantas Factors if you maintain your card for a 12 months. 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 choice 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 Affords on Frequent Flyer Playing cards
Frequent flyer factors (and the redemption applications they’re connected to) generally is a complicated world to dive into, however they’re additionally a number 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 certain the right way to discover your greatest card? We’ve acquired you lined. Under is a simple information on frequent flyer factors, how they work, and the right 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 will 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’ll be able to earn
- Annual charges
- Different bonus options of the cardboard
Introductory Bonus Factors
Some frequent flyer playing cards provide you with 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 satisfy 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 will be roughly.
What number of factors you possibly can earn
Rewards factors are handed out for the {dollars} you spend on eligible purchases. Some issues gained’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 gained’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’ll be able to earn is determined by 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. Typically 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 specific amount monthly, after which it drops to 0.5 factors per $1 after that. You may earn extra factors for worldwide purchases, or for purchasing merchandise via an affiliate enterprise or airline.
- Factors caps. Some playing cards put a restrict on the quantity of frequent flyer factors you’ll be able to earn in a 12 months (as an illustration, 100,000 factors yearly). Nonetheless, in some instances, factors which are earned for purchases made with specific companies are uncapped factors and don’t depend in the direction of your whole factors depend. So you possibly can earn, for instance, 125,000 factors in a 12 months 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, you could earn standing factors together with your spending that transfer you up into extra prestigious tiers, probably providing extra factors per $1, and unlocking extra journey options like additional checked baggage, flight upgrades and lounge entry.
To take advantage of factors out of your spending, you’ll be able to 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, take into account the stuff you purchase typically. 🛒 For those who use your card for grocery store spending, search for a card with the most effective earn fee on these purchases. ✈️ Or, if you happen to use your card for journey, discover a card that rewards spending on flights, lodging and automobile 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 price, the earn fee and the introductory supply.
Tremendous useful recommendations on annual charges:
- A card with a giant introductory supply is prone to have the next earn fee, but additionally the next annual price.
- A card with a reasonable introductory supply will normally have a decrease earn fee, and a decrease annual price to swimsuit.
Discovering a card that hits your trifecta candy spot means wanting on the worth you’ll get from the frequent flyer rewards, and deciding if it outweighs the annual price.
For instance, if you happen to earned 45,000 factors per 12 months on a Qantas frequent flyer bank card that supplied 1 level per $1 spent, and had an annual price of $350, you would need to weigh up in case your factors earn was definitely worth the barely larger yearly price.
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 every other perks the cardboard presents like free journey insurance coverage, the cardboard may fit out effectively in your favour even with the next annual price.
And naturally, that instance doesn’t embody any bonus supply factors if you enroll.
On that time, some playing cards supply diminished annual charges for the primary 12 months, or decrease ongoing annual charges if you happen to spend a minimal quantity per 12 months. Check for the latest frequent flyer credit card annual price offers utilizing the ‘annual price’ toggle on our one-click comparability instrument.
The curiosity you’ll be charged
If 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 presents, you’ll should pay curiosity on the stability.
It’s additionally referred to 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’ll be able to carry on prime of your repayments so that you’re not slugged with excessive curiosity expenses, as a result of that can cut 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 if you happen to don’t use your card for a specified period of time. It’s typically simple to maintain your account lively since you’ll be incomes factors each time you spend in your card.
Frequent Flyer program | Factors expiry coverage | Learn how to maintain factors lively |
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Velocity Factors | Sure, after 24 months of inactivity |
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Qantas Factors | Sure, after 18 months of inactivity in your account |
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American Categorical Journey Factors | No expiry, however factors might be misplaced if all playing cards related to this system are cancelled |
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At all times examine the advantageous 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 particular frequent flyer program you could redeem the factors via.
Right here’s a snapshot of the frequent flyer applications obtainable 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 Express applications. Nonetheless, you should still use your frequent flyer factors for different airways throughout the similar 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
If you apply for a bank card connected to a frequent flyer program, you’ll must change into a member to start out incomes and spending factors.
Most applications are free to hitch, or provide you with alternative to hitch totally free via different partnerships.
For instance, becoming a member of Qantas Frequent Flyer normally prices $99.50, however some bank cards supply free membership, or you’ll be able to be a part of through your Woolworths On a regular basis Rewards card.
Earlier than you apply, it’s a good suggestion to examine the small print on the cardboard to learn the way 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 handbook 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 may occasionally imply utilizing your card with sure companions throughout the journey trade, resembling lodges and automobile 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 concept to examine the frequent flyer program and its retailer, so can select one that gives the stuff you need (and, it’s extra enjoyable if you’ve already chosen the reward you wish to get totally free!).
Usually, you need to use frequent flyer factors for:
- Journey. That features flights, upgrades, lodges and lodging, and automobile rental.
- Buying. Go to this system’s on-line rewards retailer to search out and redeem your factors at standard shops.
- Present playing cards. You’ll be able to 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 will be redeemed on Qantas wine.
For those who don’t have sufficient factors to cowl your complete price of the acquisition, many playing cards supply points-and-pay, the place you’ll be able to 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 apart from rewards factors, and frequent flyer playing cards – particularly the fancier, costlier 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 access
- Airport transfers
- Journey credit score
- Concierge providers
- Reductions with partnering companies
- Cashback presents
- VIP entry to occasions
All the additional ‘dazzle’ on a card can assist offset the upper annual price, particularly if you happen to like to journey, dine and luxuriate in social occasions.
For those who’re after factors to spend on retail, you may wish to have a look at the best rewards-earning credit cards, that are linked to financial institution rewards applications (not particular frequent flyer memberships) and have decrease annual charges.
Different presents to look out for
Introductory presents are one large advantage of frequent flyer bank cards, however you too can search for reductions on annual charges and any cashback presents.
Some playing cards waive the annual price for the primary 12 months, or if you happen to 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 gained’t cost curiosity for a sure timeframe.
Earlier than you ask, you gained’t earn factors if you switch a stability. Which implies combining a stability switch (the place the aim is to repay debt) with a card that’s about incomes rewards on large spending might not be the most effective mixture.
For those who’re eager to get forward of your bank card stability, use our one-click comparison tool to find a balance transfer 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 gadgets, like groceries, consuming out and reserving tickets (together with flights). Usually, you gained’t earn factors on money advances (the place you withdraw cash out of your bank card) and any balances transferred from a unique card.
Usually, you gained’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 price 23,170 Qantas Factors, or 21,800 Velocity Factors.
If you wish to get probably the most out of your factors, you’ll be able to search the completely different rewards applications and select the one with the higher factors redemption on stuff you’re more than likely to purchase.
Can I add further cardholders?
Including members of the family to the account is an effective strategy to bump up your factors earnings sooner, however not all playing cards enable further cardholders, and a few make you pay.
The extra cardholder price could be minimal, like $10 per 12 months, however may require a price to hitch the membership program.
At all times examine the phrases for including additional 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 understand which frequent flyer program you wish to be a part of, you’ll be able to evaluate the playing cards connected to your program through the use of our one-click comparability instrument:
Examine all Qantas Frequent Flyer credit cards.
Examine all Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards.
Or, you’ll be able to evaluate bonus factors for all rewards playing cards, together with non-frequent-flyer applications, on our bonus points comparison page.
For those who’re nonetheless unsure, you’ll be able to compare all credit cards offering frequent flyer points and click on every card to learn its execs 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. Nonetheless, some American Categorical frequent flyer playing cards supply factors on funds to authorities our bodies.
As at all times, examine the cardboard’s particulars to search out out.