Best frequent flyer and reward credit cards July 2017
Boost your rewards balance with these massive bonus points offers.
Are you looking for a new credit card to reward your spending this financial year? We’ve rounded up some of the most competitive frequent flyer and reward offers on the market to help narrow down your search.
There is no one best reward or frequent flyer credit card, so we’ve based our comparison on the cards with the highest bonus points offers that are available through finder.com.au.
Whether you’re a Qantas frequent flyer, a Velocity lover or you prefer the flexibility of credit card rewards, you can compare the cards that can help you build your points balance below.
Qantas
- Qantas American Express Ultimate card
- Bonus points: 100,000 Qantas Points
- Earn rate: 1.5 Qantas Points per $1
- Annual fee: $450 p.a.
- Offer end date: 31 July 2017
The Qantas American Express Ultimate card tops the Qantas credit card competition this month. If you spend $1,500 in the first three months, you’ll receive 100,000 bonus Qantas Points. That could get you a return economy flight from Sydney to Los Angeles (90,000 points) or a one-way trip to LA in luxurious business class (95,000 points).
This promotional offer is only available to applicants who apply through affiliate websites such as finder by 31 July 2017. If you apply through the American Express website, you’ll only receive a bonus 55,000 Qantas Points when you meet the same spend requirement.
As well as the bonus points, cardholders can also look forward to earning 1.5 Qantas Points per dollar spent on eligible purchases and 0.5 Qantas Points per dollar spent on government transactions. This is one of the highest earn rates on the market. Plus, if you use your card to spend with Qantas, you’ll collect an additional 1 Qantas Point per dollar spent on top of the standard earn rate.
As a frequent flyer product, the Ultimate card is packed with extra features to please Qantas frequent flyers. Once you’ve used your card in Australia, you’ll receive a complimentary domestic return economy flight from Qantas. You’ll also receive two entries to the American Express Lounge at Sydney International Airport each calendar year. If you use the card to cover travel costs, you can also enjoy complimentary travel insurance.
These perks come at the cost of a $450 annual fee and a purchase rate of 20.74% p.a., so it’s best suited to cardholders who will take full advantage of the benefits and pay their balance in full each month.
- Runner up: Westpac Altitude Black - Qantas
If you opt to earn Qantas Points with the Westpac Altitude Black card, you’ll be rewarded with 80,000 bonus points when you apply by 26 October 2017 and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first 90 days. You can earn up to 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent and take advantage of complimentary insurance and two Qantas Club Lounge invitations each year. While it has a lower bonus points offer than the American Express Ultimate card, it does have a cheaper annual fee of $195 p.a. for the first year ($395 p.a. thereafter).
Velocity
- American Express Velocity Platinum card
- Bonus points: 100,000 Velocity Points
- Earn rate: Up to 2.5 Velocity Points per $1
- Annual fee: $375 p.a.
- Offer end date: 31 July 2017
The American Express Velocity Platinum card boasts the highest Velocity bonus points offer in this month’s round-up. When you apply by 31 July 2017 and spend $1,500 within the first three months, you’ll score 100,000 bonus Velocity Points. That’s enough to redeem a one-way economy trip from Sydney to London (98,200 Velocity Points plus $103.38).
Cardholders can also earn 1.5 Velocity Points per $1 spent on everyday purchases plus an additional Velocity Point for every dollar spent on select Virgin Australia purchases made in Australia. This is currently the highest earn rate for a Velocity frequent flyer card available on finder.
As well as the bonus points, cardholders can enjoy a complimentary domestic return flight with Virgin Australia each year. You can also relax in luxury before your complimentary flight thanks to two complimentary single-entry Virgin Australia Lounge passes each year. Cardholders can also save time and money with complimentary domestic and international travel insurance.
This card has a $375 annual fee and a purchase rate of 20.74% p.a. As always, make sure that the potential value of the rewards outweighs the costs of the card before you apply.
- Runner up: Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer card
The closest competitor in the battle for best Velocity bonus points offer is the Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer card. Cardholders who apply by 31 July 2017 and spend $3,000 in the first three months will receive 30,000 bonus Velocity Points. You’ll also continue to earn 1 Velocity Point per $1 spent up to $8,000 per month and then 0.5 Velocity Points per dollar spent thereafter. Additionally, you'll earn 3 Velocity Points per dollar spent with Virgin Australia purchases. Other travel perks include an annual $129 Virgin Australia gift voucher, complimentary insurance and two single-entry Virgin Australia Domestic Lounge passes. The card has an annual fee of $144 p.a. in the first year and $289 p.a. thereafter, plus a purchase rate of 20.74% p.a.
Rewards
- American Express Explorer card
- Bonus points: 100,000 Membership Rewards
- Earn rate: 2 Membership Rewards per $1
- Annual fee: $395 p.a.
- Offer end date: 2 October 2017
Of the credit cards linked to bank rewards programs, the American Express Explorer card has the highest bonus points offer currently available on finder. When you apply by 2 October 2017 and spend $1,500 in the first three months, you’ll receive 100,000 Membership Rewards. You’ll then continue to earn 2 Membership Rewards per $1 spent on eligible purchases and 0.5 Membership Rewards on government transactions.
Belonging to the Membership Rewards program, you can redeem these points for cashback, gift cards and travel rewards via the Amex website. If you’re a frequent flyer, you can also exchange your Membership Rewards for points or miles with eight partner airlines including Virgin Australia, Etihad Airways, Emirates and Air New Zealand.
The travel perks don’t end there either. Cardholders will also receive a $400 travel credit to redeem for anything from flights and travel agency gift vouchers to accommodation and car hire through American Express Travel. You’ll also receive two complimentary passes to the American Express Lounge at Sydney International Airport as well as complimentary travel insurance.
The card has an annual fee of $395 p.a. and a purchase rate of 20.74% p.a., so it isn’t designed for cardholders who regularly carry a balance and want to keep costs low. However, the travel voucher, rewards and other perks can help cardholders offset these fees.
- Runner up: ANZ Rewards Black credit card
If you apply for the ANZ Rewards Black credit card and spend $2,500 on eligible purchases in the first three months, you’ll receive 75,000 bonus Reward Points. You’ll earn 2 Reward Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases up to $5,000 per statement period and 1 Reward Point per dollar spent thereafter. You can redeem your Reward Points for products from the ANZ Rewards store or you can exchange them for frequent flyer points with Velocity, Air New Zealand Airpoints, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Other perks include complimentary insurance and Véloce airport lounge passes. The card has a $0 annual fee for the first year ($375 p.a. thereafter) and a purchase rate of 18.79% p.a.
While all of these cards have competitive bonus points offers and earn rates, it's important to consider other factors such as the fees, rates and eligibility requirements when deciding which card is right for you. You can use our frequent flyer credit card guide and reward credit card comparison to start comparing your options today.
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