Earn points for your spending and save on account costs with a frequent flyer credit card that offers no annual fee.
If you want to get rewards such as flights and upgrades, a frequent flyer credit card can help by offering you points for your everyday spending. While most of these cards come with an annual fee, there are also frequent flyer credit cards that offer a $0 annual fee in the first year or no annual fee for life. Compared to frequent flyer cards that do charge an annual fee, this could save you anywhere from $70 to $700 or more.
Use this guide to compare different frequent flyer credit cards with no annual fee, including cards linked to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program and the Velocity Frequent Flyer program. We also go through the key details to consider so that you can find a credit card that fits your goals.
Compare frequent flyer credit cards with no annual fee
What’s the deal with no annual fee frequent flyer credit cards?
These credit cards give you a way to earn frequent flyer points or reward points that you can transfer to a frequent flyer program. They also help you save money on account costs, with two different no annual fee options.
$0 annual fee in the first year
Some frequent flyer credit cards will offer to waive the standard annual fee in the first year you have the card as part of an introductory offer. After the first 12 months, you’ll be charged a standard annual fee for the account.
This means you have time to test out the card (and enjoy perks such as bonus point offers or complimentary lounge access) without paying an annual fee. If you decide the card is worth it, you can then keep it and pay the fee once it’s applied. If not, you can cancel it before the first year and avoid being charged any annual fee.
No annual fee for life
There is also a small selection of frequent flyer credit cards that offer no annual fee for life. With these cards, you won’t pay an annual fee at all.
The catch is that you may not have as many extra features, such as complimentary travel insurance or lounge access. It’s also less common for frequent flyer cards that offer no annual fee for life to have huge introductory bonus point offers. But if you get one of these cards and pay the balance off each month, it does give you a way to earn frequent flyer points per $1 spent without paying any account fees.
Is a no annual fee frequent flyer credit card right for me?
These cards are for people who want to earn frequent flyer points using a credit card but don’t want to pay an annual fee for the service. They can also be a good starting point if you are new to the world of frequent flyer programs and credit cards because they give you a chance to test the waters without paying any upfront costs.
However, if you're a big spender, a card with an annual fee and a higher earn rate could give you more value than the savings you'd get from a $0 annual fee.
How can I compare frequent flyer credit cards with no annual fee?
Weigh up these features when you’re looking for a credit card that earns frequent flyer points and has no annual fee.
- Annual fee details. Before choosing one of these frequent flyer credit cards, check whether the $0 annual fee is for the first year only or an ongoing feature of the card so that you know exactly what you’re getting in the long run.
- Bonus points. Many frequent flyer credit cards offer thousands of introductory bonus points when you meet the spending requirements as a new cardholder. This could give you a huge amount of value in the first year – especially without an annual fee. Just remember that this value is temporary, so you’ll still need to think about the costs that could apply beyond the first 12 months if you plan to keep the card.
- Points per $1 spent. The amount of points you’ll earn per $1 can help you figure out how much value you’ll get from the card based on your typical spending. Keep in mind that although you’ll earn points for most everyday purchases, you usually won’t get any for transactions such as cash advances, BPAY payments and government charges.
- Interest rates. These types of frequent flyer credit cards typically have high interest rates, which could offset the value of the no annual fee if you carry a balance.
- Additional cardholders. If you want to boost your frequent flyer point balance by sharing the account with a partner or family member, check whether they’ll also get the option to have a card with no annual fee. Otherwise, you could end up paying more for the account than what you earn in points.
- Complimentary extras. Weigh up the value of any perks, such as complimentary insurance, lounge passes or annual travel credit. If the card offers a $0 annual fee in the first year, also consider whether these benefits will outweigh the cost of the standard annual fee once that applies.
What's next?
If you’re interested in a frequent flyer credit card with no annual fee, start by comparing different options currently on the market. You can also compare a wider range of frequent flyer credit cards if points are your priority, or look at other no annual fee cards if your goal is to save on account costs.
FAQs about no annual fee frequent flyer credit cards
Want to know more about frequent flyer credit cards that offer no annual fees? We’ve answered some of the most common questions people ask us about them. If you have a question of your own, you can also get in touch with us using the comment box below.
I was going to apply for the new Qantas Premium Credit card but I need to have a Frequent Flyer card first, is that right?
Hi John,
Thanks for your question.
You can apply for this card even if you are not yet a member of the Qantas frequent flyer program. However, to receive points, you need to sign up for Qantas membership.
Cheers,
Anndy
Are there credit cards that are better to use when travelling? I used a credit card when I travelled previously and found the costs quite high.
Hi Eileen,
Thanks for your question.
Please note that you’ve come through finder.com.au, an online comparison service and we are not in the position to recommend any specific products or services.
However, if you are considering other credit card options for your next trip, please refer to our Travel Money Credit Cards page.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Ysa
Hi, which frequent flyer card allows use of airline lounges? as well as accumulating points. Or is a different program (card) REQUIRED. Thanks Steve
Hi Steve, thanks for your inquiry!
Please see this page for a list of credit cards which include free airline lounge passes and access. Please refer to this page for a list of Frequent Flyer cards & Airline Rewards. The airline lounges benefits will vary from card to card, generally possessing higher annual fees for the benefits. More information on each Frequent Flyer program including lounge benefits is available on the page.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Jonathan
I have WPAC MC & AMEX cards with $4000 limit, for which I pay an annual fee. These are linked to QFF for which I also pay a fee. I pay full amount owing every month & would like to change to a no annual fee card and probably cancel QFF before next annual fee. Annual income is approx $30,000. Can you suggest best options?
Hi Jane,
Thanks for your question.
Unfortunately we can not suggest the best options; you’ll need to look through the minimum income requirements of the cards, to determine which one will best suit your needs.
Our page on credit cards with a $35,000 minimum income requirement may also help.
Cheers,
Shirley
My husband & I are on the aged pension so our income is under $35,000. We pay the majority of our bills on our ANZ QFF Visa card & pay the full balance each month so do not attract interest.
How can we switch to another card eg. Virgin which may be may be of more benefit to us?
Hi, M.
Thanks for your question.
Please have a look at our credit card comparison page for a range of credit cards that may be suited to your needs. If you would like to change your current credit card to another provider, you can close your existing account (call your card issuer and let them know you would like to close the account once it has been paid in full) and then apply for another card through the application links provided on our credit card review pages. If you have a balance on your current card, you can apply to transfer this balance to your new card under a balance transfer promotion.
I hope this has answered your question.