Want to earn points for flights, accommodation and other rewards? Compare frequent flyer credit cards and get to your next destination faster.
American Express Explorer® Credit Card
Receive 100,000 Membership
Rewards Bonus Points
on eligible spend
Offer ends 2 October 2017
Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply
Frequent Flyer Credit Card Offer
The American Express Explorer® Credit Card offers bonus points, up to 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent, a $400 Travel Credit each year and Smartphone Screen Insurance of up to $500.
- Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points when you apply online, are approved and spend $1,500 within the first 3 months.
- Receive a $400 Travel Credit each year.
- Earn up to 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on eligible purchases (uncapped).
- Transfer your points to 8 Airline Rewards Partner Programs including Emirates Skywards and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
Compare Frequent Flyer Credit Cards
Rates last updated September 23rd, 2017
Rates last updated September 23rd, 2017
Rates last updated September 23rd, 2017
Rates last updated September 23rd, 2017
How does a frequent flyer credit card work?
Frequent flyer credit cards earn you points when you use them for eligible purchases. These cards earn a set number of points for every dollar spent (e.g. 1 point per $1), which is known as the earn rate. This means the more you pay with plastic, the more frequent flyer rewards you can get. Depending on the type of rewards credit card you use, there are different ways to earn and redeem frequent points. Some cards credit points directly to your frequent flyer account and others allow you to transfer points to a variety of eligible frequent flyer account.
Is a frequent flyer credit card right for me?
If you're interested in getting a frequent flyer credit card, weigh up these pros and cons. Please keep in mind that these factors may vary depending on the card.
Benefits of choosing a frequent flyer credit card
- Redeem flights and travel upgrades faster.
By earning points on your everyday spend you can reach your rewards goals in less time. - Sign up bonus points.
Some credit cards offer introductory bonus points as an incentive for new customers. These offers boost your points balance so you can redeem rewards such as flights and holidays faster. - Large range of rewards.
Use your points to redeem rewards including flights, hotels, online shopping and other lifestyle benefits. - Travel perks.
Travel comfortably with flight vouchers, access to airline lounges and 24/7 concierge services. - Complimentary insurance.
Save on stand-alone insurance costs and get peace of mind when travelling with complimentary insurance covers including travel insurance, interstate flight inconvenience insurance and purchase security insurance.
Risks when choosing a frequent flyer credit card
- High interest rates.
Frequent flyer credit cards often come with less competitive interest rates than other cards. As such, they are suited to cardholders who pay their balance off each month so that the accumulated interest doesn't outweigh the value of the rewards. - Higher annual fees.
As well as high interest rates, these cards often come with higher annual fees than no frills options. - Temptation to spend.
If you struggle to repay your credit card on time or need to consolidate a debt, a rewards card might tempt you to spend for the sake of points when you should be reigning in your purchases. - Offer requirements.
Frequent flyer credit cards that come with introductory offers or complimentary insurance may have specific spending requirements you need to meet to enjoy these benefits. For example, you may need to spend $1,500 in the first 3 month you have a card to get bonus points, or pay for your travel with your credit card to get travel insurance.
Types of Frequent Flyer credit cards on the market
- I want a frequent flyer credit card with a low annual fee
- I want a frequent flyer card with a 0% purchase rate offer
- I want a frequent flyer credit card with a balance transfer offer
How can I compare and find the best* frequent flyer credit card for my needs?
The mix of frequent flyer credit cards on the market gives you a chance to compare options and find one that suits your individual goals and circumstances. Go through the checklist below to find out what factors you should consider when looking at credit cards that earn frequent flyer points.
- The frequent flyer program. Choosing a credit card that earns points for a frequent flyer program (or programs) you already use will help you maximise your rewards. If you don't belong to a program yet, think about which program you're more likely to travel with.
- Points earning rate. Check the standard rate of points you'll earn for each $1 spent on the card. Be aware that a different earn rate could apply for certain types of spending (i.e. overseas purchases), or if it is a dual credit card that comes with an Amex and either a Mastercard or a Visa. There are usually some transactions that won't earn points, such as cash advances, so make sure you check restrictions for the cards you're comparing.
- Reward values. Consider the types of rewards you want to claim, the amount of points you'll need and how much spending that requires. Check how these values measure up between programs so you can apply for the card that offers the greatest value based on your spending and reward goals.
- Annual fee. Ideally, the annual fee should cost less than the rewards and any complimentary extras on the card that you intend to use.
- Promotional rates and features. Frequent flyer credit cards sometimes have promotions for new customers, such as bonus points, 0% purchase rates, balance transfer offers or even no annual fee for the first year. These benefits can add value to the card that you choose, but make sure you read the terms and conditions for details of the requirements and honeymoon period so that they work for you (and not the other way around).
- Complimentary extras. Reward and frequent flyer credit cards often come with a selection of complimentary extras such as international travel insurance, extended warranties, concierge services and airline lounge access. The value of these perks can be used to offset the cost of the annual fee – as long as you know you will actually use them. They can also be handy to have available just in case you ever need them.
How to earn and redeem frequent flyer points with a credit card
Earning Points
Points are a key factor when choosing and using a frequent flyer credit card, and there are two main options to consider:
1. Direct earn cards. These credit cards are partnered with specific airline rewards programs, earning points that are credited directly to your associated frequent flyer account. For example, the American Express Qantas Premium card earns 1.25 Qantas Point per $1 spent, and the Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer card earns 0.66 Velocity Point per $1 spent. Direct earn cards generally have a better earn rate than other options, so you could potentially get more rewards for your spending if you’re loyal to one frequent flyer program.
2. Indirect earn cards. These reward credit cards earn points that can be transferred to a wide range of frequent flyer programs. For instance, the ANZ Rewards Black credit card earns 2 ANZ Reward Points per $1 spent, which can then be exchanged for Air New Zealand Airpoints, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles or Velocity Frequent Flyer reward points. Unlike direct earn frequent flyer credit cards, the point values of these cards may differ when transferred to a frequent flyer account.
Using your points
Once you have earned enough points, you can redeem them for a variety of rewards. Here are some of the great redemptions you could make through your frequent flyer program.
Flights
Flights (Return)
|
 Flight from Sydney to Tokyo: Qantas 70,000 points Velocity 89,600 points |
 Flight from Sydney to London: Qantas 120,000 points Velocity 119,600 points |
 Flight from Sydney to New York: Qantas 120,000 points Velocity 119,600 points |
Flight from Sydney to Melbourne: Qantas 16,000 points Velocity 15,600 pointsGift Vouchers
- Qantas $100 Gift Voucher (Myer, David Jones, JB Hi-Fi): 16,920 Qantas Points
- Velocity $100 Gift Voucher (Myer, David Jones, Target, Westfield): 18,000 Velocity Points
Hotels
Qantas $250 credit (Sofitel, Ibis Hotel, Novotel, Pullman, Accor, Mercure): 41,000 Qantas Points
Velocity $250 credit (Crown Hotels, Hilton): 36,000-41,000 Velocity Points
- Airport/ flight benefits. Points can be used for reward flights, flight upgrades, lounge benefits and other frequent flyer membership benefits. Flight rewards with the frequent flyer program's associated airline usually provide a higher point value when compared to other rewards. For example, a one-way flight from Sydney to Melbourne with Qantas costs 8,000 Qantas Points, while a $50 Myer gift card costs 8,810 points.
- Retail/ lifestyle rewards. These rewards can benefit you at home or abroad. You can use points to book hotels, car rentals or other travel experiences, as well as more general retail and lifestyle benefits including gift cards, food and wine, jewellery and other merchandise.
How to choose a frequent flyer program
There are many frequent flyer programs based all around the world. But you have handful of these programs to choose from if you're interested in getting an Australian credit card that earns frequent flyer points, including Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer. Here, you can compare frequent flyer programs based on credit card points earnings to help you choose a program that will suit your needs.
Full guides to frequent flyer programs and benefits
- Qantas Frequent Flyer. Qantas Frequent Flyer credit cards can earn between 0.25 and 1.5 Qantas Frequent Flyer points per $1. These points can be redeemed for flights with over 400 program partners and products from the Qantas Store.
- Jetstar rewards. Jetstar is directly linked to Qantas, so you can redeem Qantas Frequent Flyer points for Jetstar flights. There are also two Jetstar credit cards that earn Jetstar Dollars you can use for flights with the airline. These cards also let you avoid the credit card booking fee when you use them to purchase Jetstar airfares.
- Velocity frequent flyer. Velocity frequent flyer credit cards typically earn between 0.5 and 1.5 points per $1 spent, with membership perks including express boarding, complimentary baggage, flight upgrades and lounge access. You can redeem rewards for flights with Virgin Australia and its partners, plus rewards from the Velocity store.
- Tigerair. As it’s partnered with Virgin Airways, you can use your Velocity Frequent Flyer credit card to earn points that can be redeemed for rewards with either Virgin or Tigerair. Just log in to your Velocity Frequent Flyer account, select the “Redeem” option and choose “Tigerair Australian Redemption” in the flights section.
- Emirates Skywards rewards. You can earn 1 mile per $1 up to 10,000 Skywards Miles with the Emirates Citi World Mastercard. Otherwise, you can earn Membership Rewards with an American Express credit card and redeem these for Emirates Skywards Miles, with 4 Membership Rewards = 3 Skywards Miles. You can redeem your miles for flight rewards and upgrades with Emirates and its partners.
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program. There aren’t any KrisFlyer direct earn credit cards on the Australian market, but you can trade American Express Membership Rewards, Citi Rewards and Westpac Altitude Rewards for KrisFlyer miles. You can redeem these for flights with Singapore Airlines, SilkAir or any members of the Star Alliance airline network.
Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Cards - How to choose the best credit card* for Qantas Frequent Flyer Points
Choosing a credit card maximise earning Qantas Frequent Flyer points will depend on your spending habits, your income and the credit card features you are looking for. Frequent flyer credit cards often include additional perks, with airport lounge passes, complimentary travel insurance and bonus points offers. As a result, these cards can come with a much higher annual fee compared to other types of credit cards, so it’s important to compare and read the terms and conditions – especially if there is a $0 annual fee offer included. Some of the benefits you can expect from a Qantas frequent flyer credit card include:
- Bonus points. Get a boost to your Qantas Points balance with a bonus points offer. Varying from 10,000 to 75,000 Qantas Points, these offers usually require you to spend a specific amount of money during the first few months you have the card in order to receive the points.
- Qantas Points per $1 spent. Use your card to earn more Qantas Points for your everyday purchases. You can earn 0.5, 0.75, 1, or 1.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent depending on which bank and credit card you apply for. Higher-tier cards including gold, platinum and black accounts offer more points per $1 spent.
- Additional perks. Qantas Frequent Flyer credit cards often provide additional benefits with airport lounge passes, complimentary travel insurance and 24/7 concierge services to make your travels easier.
- If you'd like to earn Qantas Points through credit card spending, compare Qantas Frequent Flyer credit cards here.
- If you'd like to find out more about the benefits of the Qantas program, refer to our ultimate guide to Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Velocity Frequent Flyer Credit Cards – How to choose the best credit card* for Velocity Frequent Flyer points
Choosing a credit card to earn Velocity Frequent Flyer points varies depending on factors including your spending habits, income and the other features you want on a credit card. It’s also important to consider the costs of the card, such as annual fees and interest rates, and any specific requirements associated with complimentary extras. Reading the credit card terms and conditions will help you understand the ongoing responsibilities and charges so that you can choose a card that is convenient and affordable for you. Some of the benefits you can get with a Velocity Frequent Flyer credit card include:
- Introductory bonus points. Some Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards offer bonus points for new customers that can boost your account balance. Usually these promotions require you to spend a certain amount in the first few months you have the credit card. Providing you meet the conditions of the offer, you could get anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000 Velocity Frequent Flyer points in one go.
- Velocity points for everyday spending. A Velocity Frequent Flyer credit card will offer you a set number of points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases. You could get between 0.5 and 1.5 points per $1 depending on the card, with more premium cards offering greater earn rates.
- Complimentary extras. The perks you can get with a Velocity credit card include travel insurance, flight gift vouchers and airport lounge passes. These benefits can add value to the card, but only if you use them.
- If you would like to earn and redeem frequent flyer points with Velocity, compare Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards here.
- If you'd like to learn more about the benefits of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program, refer to our comprehensive guide to the benefits of Velocity Frequent Flyer.
Jetstar – How to choose the best credit card* for Jetstar flights
As the low-cost carrier owned by Qantas Airways, Jetstar doesn’t really have its own frequent flyer program. But it does offer the following credit cards that earn Jetstar Dollars you can cash in for flights:
- The Jetstar Mastercard. This credit card earns 1 Jetstar Dollar per $100 spent and automatically rewards you with a $100 Jetstar Travel Voucher when you have earned 100 Jetstar Dollars. It has a standard variable purchase rate of 14.99% p.a. and a standard annual fee of $69, making it a low-cost frequent flyer credit card option. You can also choose to earn Qantas Points on this card, at a rate of 0.5 points per $1.
- The Jetstar Platinum Mastercard. This credit card earns 1 Jetstar Dollar for every $50 spent on eligible purchases, or 1 Qantas Point per $1 if you opt to earn rewards as part of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. If you choose Jetstar Dollars, you will automatically get a $200 Jetstar Travel Voucher when you earn 200 Jetstar Dollars. The Jetstar Platinum Mastercard has a standard variable purchase rate of 19.99% p.a. p.a., an annual fee of $169 and complimentary extras including overseas travel insurance.
- If you want to earn and redeem points with Jetstar, compare Jetstar Frequent Flyer credit cards here.
- If you'd like to find out more about what Jetstar can offer you, read our guide on the benefits and features of the Jetstar Frequent Flyer Program.
Emirates Skywards – How to choose the best credit card* for Emirates Skywards Miles
If you want to find the best credit card* to earn Emirates Skywards Miles, you’ll need to consider your spending habits, income and the credit card features you’re interested in. It’s also important to consider the interest rates and annual fees of credit cards that offer Emirates Skywards Miles, so that you can make sure the benefits outweigh these charges. The Emirates Citi World Mastercard is the only credit card currently available that directly earns Skywards Miles per $1 spent. As well as this card, you can consider cards that allow you to transfer points to your Emirates Skywards account, such as those linked to the American Express Membership Rewards program. Some of the benefits you can get with an Emirates Skywards credit card include:
- Introductory offers. Rewards credit cards linked to the Emirates frequent flyer program may offer exclusive benefits to new customers, including thousands of bonus points or a discount on Emirates flights. To get these offers, you usually need to be a new customer and spend a certain amount of money on the card in the first few months you have it.
- Points per $1 spent. You can earn between 0.5 and 1.5 Skywards Miles per $1 spent on a credit card linked to the Emirates frequent flyer program. Some of these cards limit or cap the number of points you can earn, so make sure you check these details and factor that into your decision when choosing a card.
- Travel perks. The complimentary benefits you can get with an Emirates credit card include international travel insurance, hotel room upgrades, dining programs and 24/7 concierge services.
- To earn and redeem points with Emirates Australia, compare Emirates credit cards here.
- To find out more about the benefits of Emirates Australia, see our guide on the Emirates Skywards Frequent Flyer Program.
Frequent Flyer alliances
Frequent flyer programs have networks of partner and alliance airlines that let you earn and redeem points all around the world. We've included three of the most popular alliances below.
oneworld alliance
A network of 15 of the largest airlines in the world, including Qantas, British Airways, American Airlines, AirBerlin and Cathay Pacific. Any Qantas Frequent Flyer credit card will give you access to the oneworld alliance network, which means you can earn and spend your points with a broader range of airlines.
Star Alliance
This is the world’s largest airline association, with 28 different members including Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, SWISS, THAI and United. You can gain access to the Star Alliance network by becoming a member of one of these airline loyalty programs, and can boost your points with an indirect earning frequent flyer credit card.
Virgin Australia airline network
While Virgin Australia is not a member of either of these networks, you can directly redeem Velocity reward points with it’s following network of partners: Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and selected codeshare flights operated by Virgin America. Just select the “Book a Flight” option when redeeming, and choose where you want to go.
Credit cards have become one of the most popular ways to earn frequent flyer points, with both direct and indirect methods for boosting your point balance. Now that you know more about how they work, the potential benefits and pitfalls and what you should consider when comparing frequent flyer credit cards, you can make a more informed decision about the next credit card you apply for so that it really works for you.
Pictures: Shutterstock
Frequent flyer credit card questions from our users
Since frequent flyer credit cards provide many benefits and features, choosing one can be a challenging task. Here, we answer the most popular questions from our users about frequent flyer credit cards and how to earn/ redeem points. If you still have a question, please use the "Ask a Question" box below and one of our friendly staff will respond to your query.
How could frequent flyer credit card benefit me and improve my lifestyle?
Frequent flyer credit cards can offer a range of benefits, including points for your everyday spending, complimentary insurance, flight vouchers and airport lounge access. When you're comparing frequent flyer credit cards, you can weigh the value of these benefits against the costs of the card – such as the annual fee and interest rates – to decide if it's worth it based on your lifestyle, budget and goals.
How do I get complimentary access to lounges?
A selection of premium cards offer access to airport lounges. You can compare and apply for credit cards that provide complimentary lounge access here.
How many points do I need to fly from A to B?
The number of points you'll need will depend on the route you take and the status of your flight seat (e.g. economy, business, first class). Most frequent flyer program websites provide a free points calculator that can be used to estimate how much a reward flight will cost to redeem.
Can I transfer my points to another program?
This will depend on the program you're with. Generally, this is a no for frequent flyer programs. However, even if you can't directly transfer your points to another program, you can redeem your points with a partner airline for flights, upgrades and other rewards.
What happens if my points expire?
As a general rule, most frequent flyer points cannot be redeemed after they have expired. Some will expire after a certain amount of time, whereas others will expire if your rewards account has remained inactive (meaning you haven't earned or redeemed any points) over a particular period. Check with the frequent flyer program to confirm when and how your points expire so you can use them while they're still valid.
How many frequent flyer points do I have?
To check your current points balance, you can either log in to your frequent flyer account or contact the airline directly.
Are frequent flyer credit cards worth it?
Frequent flyer credit cards are only worth it for a particular type of credit card holder. Unless you’re a big spender, loyal frequent flyer and a high income earner, they’re probably not worth it. Frequent flyer credit cards generally come with high interest rates on purchases and annual fees. But the points earned per $1 spent and any bonus point offers can still tempt cardholders to spend more to earn points. This causes some people to fall into debt. So unless you earn enough points to offset these costs (which is usually a struggle) and you always repay your balance in full each month, a frequent flyer credit card probably isn’t for you. Before you apply for a frequent flyer credit card, compare your options and make sure you can afford it by weighing up all the benefits and costs.
What traps come with a frequent flyer credit card?
We all know what the perks of a frequent flyer credit card are, but there are some traps and mistakes you need to watch out for. These include:
- High interest rates. Frequent flyer credit cards usually have high interest rates to counteract the cost of offering a rewards program. So if you struggle to repay your balance each month, your purchases will attract higher interest charges and it’ll be easier to fall into debt. The additional interest costs and the negative impact that accumulating debt has on your credit file aren't worth it to earn points.
- High annual fees. As well as high interest rates, frequent flyer credit cards typically come with high annual fees. So to benefit from the card, you’ll need to spend enough points to redeem a reward that outweighs the cost of the annual fee. This can be an expensive task and the interest you could pick up from those purchases will also add to the overall costs of the card.
- Temptation to spend. If you struggle to keep your spending in control, it may be best not to use a frequent flyer credit card. They entice you to make purchases to earn points. Unless you’re repaying your balance in full each month, the value of the rewards rarely outweighs the interest charges that are applied to your balance.
- Bonus points terms and conditions. Bonus points can help boost your point balance, but they often come with spend requirements. For example, you might be required to spend $2,500 in the first 3 months of getting the card to be eligible for the extra points. It’s unlikely that the monetary value of the reward points will be worth more than this spend requirement. So, unless the necessary spend is in line with your budget and you repay it all without incurring interest, the inconvenience of spending to earn bonus points is probably not worth it.
- Poor exchange rates. If you have a credit card that allows you to transfer your reward points to several frequent flyer programs, check the transfer rate to see how much value you'll get. Usually, the exchange rate gives you less frequent flyer points in comparison to credit card reward points. For example, you might find that 1.5 or 2 credit card reward points equals 1 frequent flyer point. This means that you need to spend more to redeem the same amount of frequent flyer points you could earn on a flight or with a card that has a 1 for 1 exchange rate.
The most popular questions about earning frequent flyer points
How can I maximise my frequent flyer credit card points?
While the amount of frequent flyer points you earn varies between credit cards, there are a number of ways you can maximise your rewards, including:
- Earning points on everyday purchases. This type of credit card lets you earn points on day-to-day purchases including groceries, fuelling the car and direct debit for some bills. The more you use your card for these purchases, the faster you'll get frequent flyer points.
- Bonus point offers. Many reward credit cards offer thousands of bonus points to new customers when they are approved for a card and spend a certain amount in the first few months. These additional points are often worth hundreds of dollars, and may even be enough to fly overseas.
- Spending with program partners. Some credit cards partner with airlines, retailers, fuel providers or supermarkets to offer additional points when you use your card with them. Check the credit card issuer’s website for details of participating partners, and try to shop with them more to boost your rewards.
- American Express dual credit cards. To maximise points potential, some credit card issuers offer reward cards with both an Amex and Mastercard or Visa. For example, the NAB Qantas Rewards Card, which earns 0.5 points per $1 on the Visa and 1 point per $1 on the Amex card.
- Supplementary credit cards. Requesting an additional credit card means you can share your account with a partner or family member, giving them a chance to use it for their spending and boost your points balance.
- Gold, platinum and black cards. Gold, platinum and black credit cards are more premium than standard options, and many offer more points per dollar and/or higher points caps as a result.
How do points caps work?
Earning frequent flyer/ rewards points will be capped or uncapped depending on the credit card. Capped points allow you to earn points at the normal rate up to a specified amount during a given period, such as 7,500 points per statement cycle. After you have reached the points cap you will either earn points at a reduced rate for the remainder of the period or be unable to accumulate points for the remainder of the period. Check your credit card terms and conditions for details of points caps and consider how likely it is that you will reach that limit. For example, if you got a card that earned 1 point per $1 up to 7,500 points per month, you would only be affected by the cap if you spend over $7,500 each month.
How do bonus points offers work?
The details of bonus point offers available on frequent flyer credit cards vary depending on the specific promotion. But some of the most common requirements include:
- New customers. Most bonus point offers apply to people who don't have existing credit cards with the provider. Some providers also specify that you must not have had an active account with them in the past 12 months to be classified as a "new customer" that's eligible for bonus point offers.
- Promotional period. You usually have to apply for the card within a set timeframe in order to be eligible for bonus points.
- Spending requirement. If you're approved for a card with a bonus point offer, you may be required to spend a certain amount on the card within a given period of time. For example, $2,500 of purchases within 3 months of card approval.
If you meet these conditions, you're usually able to take advantage of a point bonus and boost your frequent flyer balance.
Can I cancel my credit card after receiving a bonus points offer?
In most cases, you can cancel the credit card with no additional fees or charges after receiving your bonus points. However, you may be charged the annual fee, or a percentage of that fee based on how long the account has been active. If your credit card has $0 annual fee for the first year and you cancel within the first 12 months, you may be able to avoid this. Check with your provider to find out if fees will apply.
Can I earn points for balance transfers and cash advances?
Usually points are only earned by making eligible purchases, and not for balance transfers or cash advances. If you want points for a balance transfer, you can consider a limited number of credit cards that provide this option.
What other credit card transactions don't earn points?
The list of transactions that do and don't earn points when you use a frequent flyer credit card vary between providers and products. But some of the most common exclusions are:
- Cash advance transactions
- Balance transfers
- BPAY payments
- Gambling charges
- Purchasing foreign currency
- Account fees
- Reversed transactions
- Government payments
- Payments to the ATO
- Utility payments
Keep in mind that not all cards have the same exclusions, so it's important to check the terms and conditions or product disclosure statement for full details of what individual frequent flyer credit cards do and don't count as an "eligible transaction".
Can I earn points for payments to the ATO?
There is a small selection of credit cards that offer points for payments made to the ATO or other government bodies, including American Express options and business credit cards. Learn more in our guide on earning points for tax payments.
Can I earn points across different frequent flyer programs?
This is possible with a credit card reward program that allows you to transfer reward points to frequent flyer points, including American Express Membership Rewards, ANZ Rewards, CommBank Awards, NAB Rewards, Amplify Rewards or Westpac Altitude Rewards. Make sure you check the transfer rate for these cards though, as you may "lose" points when exchanging them to different frequent flyer programs. Alternatively, if you have a direct earn frequent flyer card, the associated airline partners and alliances let you use your points to travel with other airline partners. Learn more about airline partners and alliances.
How can I claim missing points?
Did you forget to quote your frequent flyer number at the time of booking or have your points not appeared in your account? Discover how you can claim missing points.
The most popular questions about redeeming frequent flyer points
How do I redeem points?
While credit card and airline reward programs all have their own specific steps for redeeming or transferring points, the following steps can be used as a guide for most of online reward point redemptions:
- Log in to your reward account
- Check your point balance to see how many points you have to use
- Select the “Redeem” option
- Choose the type of redemption you want to make (e.g. “flights”)
- Select the specific option you want (e.g. single flight from Sydney to Melbourne)
- Follow the prompts to book or secure the reward
- Confirm the redemption
Some frequent flyer credit cards also give you a “points plus pay” option, which means you can use a combination of points and cash to redeem your reward.
How much are my points worth?
The value of your credit card or frequent flyer points varies based on the types of rewards you redeem. Usually, frequent flyer points go further when redeemed for airline rewards such as flights or upgrades, when compared to gift cards other rewards. For example, it costs 11,100 Velocity points for a one-way economy flight from Sydney to Melbourne with Virgin Australia. Purchasing this ticket could cost anywhere from $100 to $200 depending on the time of year, but let's say for this example you could get it for $120. That would give you a dollar value of 1 cent per point. If you're a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, on the other hand, you can check out our guide to discover how much 1 Qantas Point is worth.
What rewards can I redeem?
Credit card and frequent flyer reward programs offer a wide range of rewards that you can claim using your points, including:
- Airfares
- Flight upgrades
- Accommodation
- Travel packages
- Gift cards
- Jewellery
- Electronics
- Homewares
- Cashback
The amount of points required varies between redemptions, and not all of them are equal. For example, you need 11,100 points (or 7,800 plus $21.11 in taxes and fees) to redeem a one-way flight from Sydney to Melbourne via Virgin Australia’s Velocity Rewards, and 18,000 points to get a $100 gift card for Westfield. The different amounts of points required for each redemption has a direct impact on the value of your rewards, so comparing these costs before you use points will help you get more out of them in the long run.
How come the value of frequent flyer points is different across reward programs?
If you are transferring credit card rewards points to a frequent flyer program, the conversion rate may not be 1:1. Often a reduced conversion rate is provided since you have the flexibility of earning both rewards and frequent flyer benefits.
Can you please direct me towards cards that do not have a low cap. Already have an Amex but looking for a Visa card to gain maximum qantas points spending over $30000 a month.
Hi Jo,
Thanks for reaching out.
The credit cards with uncapped frequent flyer points are listed here. Please note though some of the cards do not directly earn frequent flyer points as you spend, their rewards points can be transferred to the frequent flyer program they are a partner with.
Cheers,
May
Hi, i heard westpac offers 100.000 bonus points for balance transfer than can be used towards qantas frequent flyer. Is that right?
Hi MyViaCe,
Thanks for your question.
Unfortunately, you can’t transfer your Westpac Altitude Rewards to Qantas frequent flyer program, but you can to Air New Zealand Airpoints, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Malaysia Airlines Enrich, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Virgin Australia Velocity.
You can check the points conversion rate here.
Cheers,
Anndy
HI
I want to get a credit card to pay all bills and outgoings but want one with all the benefits.
Can you tell me if you earn points when paying utility, rates etc bills? or is just on purchases of products that qualify?
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for your question.
If you are looking for a credit card that lets you earn Frequent Flyer rewards or points when you pay bills, you can check this page for credit card providers that allow that. Once you have selected a provider, you can then proceed to choosing a credit card they offer that has the features or benefits you are looking for.
You may also want to check our guide on how to earn frequent flyer points on utilities.
Cheers,
Anndy
Hi,
For ANZ Frequent Flyer Credit Card – car insurance included local as well or only for use in overseas?
Thanks.
Hi Roy,
Thanks for your question.
Unfortunately, with ANZ Frequent Flyer Credit Card, the complimentary travel insurance is not one of its benefits. But ANZ premium cards do have complimentary travel insurance and it includes rental vehicle excess cover which is for overseas trips only. Please refer to this page that details the ANZ complimentary travel insurance.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
May
Hi Finder,
I am looking for a credit card that gives me complimentary travel insurance. However the ones I have looked in to do not cover me for places where the govt has advised to ‘reconsider your need for travel’. I want to travel to places like Ethiopia but it falls under that category so I wouldn’t be covered. Do you know any credit cards that offer really good quality travel insurance that would cover me for places like that?
Thanks so much for your help!
Tom
Hi Tom,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Please note that you’ve come through finder.com.au, an online comparison service and is not in the position to recommend specific providers, products or services.
You may refer to our comparison page for credit cards that offer free travel insurance.
If you are after for a more comprehensive travel insurance, you can review standalone policies from Australian Travel Insurance Companies from this page.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for your help! I will check out those links now.
Cheers
Tom
No worries Tom. Just let us know we can assist you further. Thanks!
hi guys
just wanted to ask
how i could get a Frequent flyer Velocity Promo Code
thank you v much
Cheers,
Hi Chandy,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Please note that you’ve come through finder.com.au, an online comparison service and is not in the position to recommend specific providers, products or services.
Please refer to link I’ve sent in your email for the list of special offers from Velocity. You can also check this page for a list of latest Velocity promo codes from Virgin Australia.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Debbie
how often do I pay ,is it annually or monthly
if monthly I will cancel,please advice before I make my next payment on my a/e account
Hi Brian, thanks for your inquiry!
Generally credit card repayments are monthly. To allow us to assist you further could you specify which credit card you are using?
Cheers,
Jonathan
Is there a FF CC that can be used with any airline?
thanks
Robyn
Hi Robyn, thanks for your inquiry!
Most credit cards have a partnership with one or a few airlines/ frequent flyer programs. You may like to review the Oneworld Alliance program which combines the benefits of multiple airlines.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Hello
I have just received my Velocity Frequent Flyer Prepaid Card. I went to the Velocity Global Wallet to activate my card, but I’m lost as to the next step.
Please advise.
Thanks
Mick.
Hi Mick,
Thanks for your inquiry.
To activate your Velocity Global Wallet, you will need to log into the Global Wallet Account Centre online and enter your 16-digits Velocity membership number and account password.
Please refer to the link I have sent to your email for the Velocity Account Centre activation page.
You might also want to check this page for further information about the Velocity Global Wallet.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Hi
Can you advise when the St George 55,000 bonus points ended? I saw this before I applied in July?
Thanks
Sarah
Hi Sarah, thanks for your question!
Unfortunately St.George does not currently have any rewards points promotions with the last offer ending approximately in April. You may like to refer to more Reward’s credit cards on this page.
Cheers,
Jonathan