American Express Free Flight Destinations

Discover how you can fly almost anywhere in Australia courtesy of your American Express credit card.

One of the many perks of having an American Express Platinum card is the free domestic return ticket you’re entitled to each year. Depending on the card, you can take your complimentary flight with either Qantas or Virgin Australia to anywhere from Sydney or Melbourne to Launceston or Brisbane. If you want to save on travel costs and take advantage of the complimentary flights, use this guide to compare the cards that offer complimentary flights, the possible routes you can take and the terms and conditions you'll need to be aware of.

Which cards give me a free flight?

If you have an American Express Velocity Platinum Card, American Express Qantas Ultimate Credit Card or American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card (discontinued), you’re eligible to receive a complimentary domestic return flight every year. This reward flight represents savings of about a few hundred dollars, but some conditions must be met before you can take advantage of the offer.

Compare credit cards with complimentary flights

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Name	Product	Purchase rate (p.a.)	Balance transfer rate (p.a.)	Annual fee	Product Description
Qantas American Express Ultimate Card		20.74% p.a.	0% p.a. for 12 months with 1% balance transfer fee	$450 p.a.	Receive 55,000 bonus Qantas Points, a $450 Qantas Travel Credit each year and 2 yearly complimentary Qantas Club lounge invitations.	Go to site More info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card - Balance Transfer Offer		20.74% p.a.	0% p.a. for 18 months	$64 p.a. annual fee for the first year ($129 p.a. thereafter)	Take advantage of 0% p.a. on balance transfers for up to 18 months. $64 in the first year ($129 p.a. thereafter), plus, bonus Velocity Points.	Go to site More info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express Explorer Credit Card		20.74% p.a.	0% p.a. for 12 months with 1% balance transfer fee	$395 p.a.	Receive 50,000 bonus Membership Rewards points, a yearly $400 Travel Credit and 2 entries per year to the American Express Lounge.	Go to site More info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express Velocity Platinum Card		20.74% p.a.	0% p.a. for 12 months with 1% balance transfer fee	$375 p.a.	Receive 50,000 bonus Velocity Points, a complimentary Virgin Australia return Economy domestic flight each anniversary year, plus, 2 lounge passes.	Go to site More info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
ANZ Rewards Travel Adventures card		20.24% p.a.		$225 p.a.	Receive 40,000 bonus Velocity Points, 2 yearly Virgin Australia lounge passes, plus enjoy $0 overseas purchase transaction fees.	Go to site More info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Depending on the card you hold, there are also restrictions on your flight origin and destination, which we have set out below.

Where can I travel with my American Express complimentary flight?

The available travel routes differ with each card and depending on where you’re flying out from. You can compare the different route options below:

American Express Qantas Ultimate Credit Card on Qantas flights
Origin city	Possible destinations
Adelaide	Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney
Brisbane	Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney
Canberra	Melbourne, Sydney
Melbourne	Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney
Perth	Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney
Sydney	Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne

American Express Velocity Platinum Card on Virgin Australia flights
Origin city	Possible destinations
Adelaide	Brisbane, Canberra, Coolangatta, Melbourne
Canberra	Adelaide, Brisbane, Coolangatta, Melbourne, Sydney
Hobart	Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney
Melbourne	Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Coffs Harbour, Coolangatta, Hobart, Launceston, Maroochydore, Mildura, Newcastle, Sydney
Perth	Adelaide, Broome, Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland, Sydney
Sydney	Adelaide, Albury, Ballina/Byron, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Coffs Harbour, Coolangatta, Hamilton Island, Hervey Bay, Hobart, Launceston, Mackay, Maroochydore, Melbourne, Port Macquarie, Townsville

How do I redeem my complimentary flight?

You may call AMEX directly using the phone number on the back of your credit card to book your complimentary flight.

Factors to consider before you redeem your free flight

Apart from the standard reserved rights to change any of these terms and conditions, American Express and their partner airlines have a few important conditions that you should be aware of before you redeem your complimentary flight:

• Economy class. The free flight is for an economy class ticket, but you may pay to upgrade your ticket in the usual manner. Baggage in excess of 23kg may attract additional fees on Saver Fare flights.
• No partner airline or codeshare flights. The flights above are strictly provided for by Virgin Australia and Qantas respectively, and you cannot redeem your ticket with a partner airline or codeshare flight.
• Subject to availability. There is no guarantee that the flights you want will be available.
• Ticket holder. You may book your free ticket in another person’s name, except an unaccompanied minor.
• Ticket restrictions. You may not sell, transfer, endorse, refund or exchange your ticket for cash, or combine this offer with any other promotion, discount, negotiated or corporate rate.
• Ticket changes. Any changes made after your initial booking will attract the usual ticket change fees, fare difference and applicable GST.
• Conditions of carriage. Your travel conditions are subject respectively to ‘Virgin Australia Terms and Conditions of Carriage’ and ‘Qantas Conditions of Carriage’, depending on your card and flight carrier.
• Yearly redemption. You are eligible for one free return domestic flight every 365 days, i.e. each membership year and not calendar year. Your flight must be booked before the end of that year, and cannot be carried over to the next.

Complimentary domestic travel insurance cover

As with tickets that are paid in full with your American Express card, redeeming this free flight activates free domestic travel insurance cover for the trip. This insurance is provided for by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited, but note that only primary cardholders are eligible for travel insurance cover—supplementary cardholders are not covered.

Travel insurance benefits include:

• Travel inconvenience cover. Delayed or cancelled flights, luggage delay, etc.
• Medical emergency expenses cover. Repatriation, evacuation, cost of treatment, emergency dental treatment.
• Resumption of journey cover. Cost to resume an interrupted trip due to death, imminent death, serious accident or acute illness of a close relative.
• Baggage, money and documents cover. Damaged, stolen, lost or destroyed personal baggage, money or documents during the trip.
• Travel cancellation cover. Non-refundable deposits, prepaid travel and accommodation costs should you have to cancel the trip for certain reasons.
• Personal liability cover. Damages for injury to persons or accidental loss to property.

AMEX complimentary travel insurance

Frequently asked questions about American Express free flights

• What is ‘Saver Fare’?

  TA saver fare flight is the standard Virgin Airline economy flight. A saver fare allows you to take up to 23 kilograms of checked luggage and up to 7 kilograms of carry-on luggage. You will be charged an additional fee for excess baggage.

• Can I book the flight for someone else?

  According to the free flight offer terms and conditions, you can book your flight in the name of another individual, but not in the name of an unaccompanied minor.

• Am I covered by the complimentary domestic insurance policy when I redeem the free flight offer?

  Yes, you are eligible for cover when redeeming your free flight offer with American Express, but your supplementary cardholder isn’t.

• Which date does the annual complimentary flight reset on?

  The complimentary domestic flight resets on the anniversary date of the applicable card account.

• What is the difference between Ascent and Qantas Direct?

  They are two different membership reward programs available to American Express cardholders. Ascent is offered in conjunction with Velocity and its partner airlines; Qantas Direct is offered in partnership with Qantas and its partner airlines.