Several credit cards offer a free flight or travel credit. And plenty more offer enough bonus points to cover several reward flights. But there's always an annual fee!
Compare a card's annual fee to the actual value of its complimentary flight or credit.
Understand spending targets and specific airline booking rules to successfully redeem your complimentary flight or credit.
Maximise value by paying off your balance fully, avoiding high purchase rates often exceeding 20% p.a.
Credit cards with free flights or travel credits
American Express Velocity Platinum Card. This card gives you a complimentary Virgin Australia return economy domestic flight after your first card spend each year, and then every 12 months after that, plus 4 airport lounge passes.
Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. Offers a $450 Qantas Travel Credit every year and an introductory offer of 120,000 bonus Qantas Points for new Amex card members.
If you want to get a free flight with your credit card then you have 2 options:
Get a credit card that offers a free flight or travel credit. We've listed some above. Note that cards with travel credit also have an annual fee, so it's not 100% free.
Get a credit card that comes with bonus frequent flyer points. You can get a frequent flyer card and use the bonus Qantas or Velocity Points to get a reward flight.
How can I get a free flight with a credit card?
A free flight or travel credit offer always comes with conditions you have to meet.
Spending requirement. Many credit card offers require you to spend a certain amount in the first few months. .
Annual benefit. Complimentary flights or travel credit are usually offered once a year and can't be rolled over for future use. So you'll typically have 12 months to use the credit before it expires.
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 Travel Online.
Booking conditions. You usually need to book in advance through a specific airline or travel booking service to redeem the flight or travel credit.
You can check your credit card terms and conditions for details of the flight or travel voucher requirements.
Example: How to get a free flight with a Qantas American Express Ultimate Card
To give you an idea of how redeeming flight or travel credit works, let's look at the steps we'd take with the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, which offers a $450 Qantas Travel Credit.
Log in to your American Express account and check your eligibility. This includes paying your most recent annual fee and at least the minimum amount listed on your most recent statement.
Go to the American Express Travel Online website. If you need help, you can also chat online or call the Amex Travel team on 1300 303 877 (but can't make the booking over the phone).
Search for Qantas flights. Make sure it is a Qantas flight with a QF number (e.g. Qantas Flight 410 or QF410).
Pay for the booking with your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. The booking needs to be worth $450 or more and the travel credit will be added back on your card account within 3 business days (but it could take up to 30 days in some cases).
Keep in mind that your Qantas Travel Credit can only be used once and has to be used for one booking. If your flight is worth more than $450, you can use the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card to pay the difference.
Remember: With other cards, the process could be slightly different, but this gives you a general idea of how it works.
Other travel benefits you can get with a credit card that offers a free flight
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.
"The Amex Velocity Platinum Card feels like your VIP ticket to the airport. This card comes with a complimentary domestic flight, which my partner and I love to use to visit family interstate. It's come in handy at times when flights tend to surge in price, like Christmas or Easter. Not only do you get a free flight, but this card also comes with lounge access. I love that when I use this card to travel, I feel like I'm flying business or first, even if I'm sitting in economy."
Madeleine G
Finder crew member
How much does a free flight credit card cost?
When you're trying to work out what a credit card costs the main thing is the annual fee. But there's a bit more to it:
The annual fee. Most credit cards that offer a free flight, travel credit or a bonus points offer also charge an annual fee. Most of the time the fee costs about as much as the flight or travel credit. That's how they get you! But if you use the credit card to earn lots of points and redeem the travel credit, it can pay for itself. Some cards do offer a discounted or $0 annual fee in the first year.
The purchase rate. If you don't pay off your credit card in full, you get charged interest on the unpaid balance. Cards that offer free flights or other travel perks have high purchase rates. The trick is to pay off your spending before interest charges kick in.
Foreign transaction fees. If you pay with your credit card overseas or online with an international retailer, you’ll typically pay a fee of between 2% and 3% 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 and the travel credit conditions to help you apply for a card that suits you.
Amy is an experienced journalist with over 16 years of experience, contributing to major publications like Money Magazine, The Sydney Morning Herald, and ABC News Australia. Specialising in personal finance, she frequently appeared in media outlets and on radio. Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Drama from Griffith University and earned RG146 certifications in Tier 1 Generic Knowledge and Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products, ensuring her expertise is grounded in current financial regulations. Amy was Finder's Senior Writer for Credit Cards from 2016 to 2024.
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Richard Whitten is Finder’s Senior Money Editor, with over eight years of experience in home loans, property, credit cards and personal finance. His insights appear in top media outlets like Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine, and the Herald Sun, and he frequently offers expert commentary on television and radio, helping Australians navigate mortgages and property ownership. Richard started his career in education and textbook publishing in South Korea. He holds multiple industry certifications, including a Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking (RG 206) and Tier 1 and Tier 2 certifications (RG 146), as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Certificate in Communications from Deakin University.
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