Credit cards with free flights or travel credits

A credit card that offers a free flight or travel credit can help you save money when you're travelling in Australia or overseas. As well as giving you the chance to enjoy a free flight every year, this type of perk can help offset the cost of the card’s annual fee.

Use this guide to compare credit cards that offer free flights or travel credits, plus how it works and other features to look at when you're deciding if this type or card will work for you.

Compare credit cards that offer flights or travel credits

The Finder list of credit cards with free flights or travel credits

Compare these credit cards that offer you a free flight or travel credit.

• American Express Velocity Platinum Card. Get a complimentary Virgin Australia return economy domestic flight after your first card spend each anniversary year, plus 4 airport lounge passes.
• Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. Receive an introductory 55,000 bonus Qantas points and $450 Qantas Travel Credit every year.
• Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card. This credit card offers a $129 Virgin Australia Gift Voucher if you meet the spend criteria.
• American Express Explorer Credit Card. This card offers a $400 Travel Credit to book through American Express Travel every year you have the card.

How can I get a free flight through a credit card?

If you have a credit card that gives you a free flight or an annual travel credit, you’ll usually have to meet some requirements to use this perk. These vary between cards but some of the most common include:

• Annual benefit. Complimentary flight or travel vouchers are usually an annual benefit and can’t be rolled over for use in future years. Typically you’ll have 12 months to use the credit before it expires.
• Spending requirement. In most cases, you’ll need to meet a spending requirement before you can use your flight or travel credit. This could be a minimum spend, such as $500 on everyday purchases, a retail purchase or payment of your annual fee.
• Voucher request. Some credit cards that offer complimentary flight vouchers require you to request the voucher before you can use it. Make sure you're aware of this requirement and give yourself enough time to request and use the voucher before it expires.
• Eligible airline or travel partners. The complimentary flight or travel credit can only be used with an eligible airline or travel partner. For example, you may get a $129 flight voucher that you can only use with Virgin Australia, or $450 travel credit that you can use for bookings made through American Express.
• Booking conditions. You usually need to book in advance through a particular service. For example, you may need to redeem the credit directly through an associated airline or through the credit card company’s travel booking service.

Your credit card terms and conditions should include details of the flight or travel voucher requirements, so make sure you read this section of the product disclosure statement or booklet carefully. Or, call your credit card company to find out exactly what steps you need to take to get your free flight or travel credit.

Other travel benefits you can get with a credit card that offers a free flight

As well as flights or travel credit, these are some of the other features you could enjoy with a credit card:

• Reward or frequent flyer points. Most credit cards that offer complimentary flights or travel vouchers also earn points per $1 spent on eligible purchases, which you could then redeem for rewards such as flights, shopping or gift cards.
• Airport lounge access. Premium credit cards that offer complimentary flights or travel vouchers could also offer you airport lounge access so you can start your trip in style.
• Travel insurance. This perk helps you save on buying travel insurance for your trip. Usually you’ll have to pay for a certain amount of your trip with the card to activate the travel insurance, and the complimentary flight or travel credit may not count towards this spend requirement. So check your credit card’s insurance booklet for full details of how to activate the cover.
• Purchase insurance. Many of these credit cards offer complimentary insurance for items you buy with the card. Cover can range from protection against accidental damage, theft or loss to extended warranties and price guarantees.
• Status credits. Some frequent flyer credit cards also offer bonus status credits for Qantas Frequent Flyer or Velocity Frequent Flyer. This can help you reach a higher status tier that unlocks more travel benefits.

How much does a free flight credit card cost?

The rates and fees for these credit cards determine how much value you’ll get from them. To work out if one of these cards will offer you value for money, here are the key details to consider:

• The annual fee. This is the biggest upfront expense you’ll have with a credit card that offers flights or travel credit. Ideally, look for a card that has an annual fee worth the same amount as your flight or travel credit so that they cancel each other out. If that’s not the case, make sure the other benefits on the card are worth more than what you’re paying on the annual fee.
• Purchase interest rate. This is the interest rate typically charged when you carry a balance on your credit card. Cards that offer complimentary flights or travel credit usually have higher standard variable purchase rates than other options. You can avoid this cost altogether by paying your balance in full every month.
• Foreign transaction fee. If you pay with your credit card overseas or online with an international retailer, you’ll typically pay a fee of between 3% and 3.4% of the total transaction amount.

If you’re interested in getting a credit card that offers free flights or a travel credit each year, start by comparing different options based on your spending habits and goals. Remember to check the eligibility requirements, as well as the conditions around the travel voucher, so you can apply for a card that works for you.
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