Emirates Credit Cards

Compare credit cards that let you earn Emirates Skywards Miles for your everyday spending in Australia and overseas, including offers from Amex and CommBank.

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Name Bonus points Points per $ spent Purchase rate p.a. Annual fee
American Express Explorer Credit Card
American Express Explorer Credit Card image
Membership Rewards
Bonus points
50,000
Points per $ spent
2
Purchase rate p.a.
23.99%
Annual fee
$395
Go to siteMore Info
 Get 50,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months.
American Express Platinum Card
American Express Platinum Card image
Membership Rewards Ascent Premium
Bonus points
150,000
Points per $ spent
2.25
Purchase rate p.a.
0%
Annual fee
$1,450
Go to siteMore Info
 Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points when you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months.
American Express Platinum Business Card
American Express Platinum Business Card image
Finder Award
Membership Rewards Ascent Premium
Bonus points
250,000
Points per $ spent
2.25
Purchase rate p.a.
0%
Annual fee
$875 first year ($1,750 after)
Go to siteMore Info
ABN holders w/ $75,000 revenue. Get 250,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points when you spend $12,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, a first-year annual fee discount.
American Express Business Gold Plus Card
American Express Business Gold Plus Card image
Membership Rewards Ascent
Bonus points
150,000
Points per $ spent
1.5
Purchase rate p.a.
0%
Annual fee
$395
Go to siteMore Info
ABN holders w/ $75,000 revenue. Get 150,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points when you spend $5,000 within the first 3 months. Plus, earn up to 3 points per $1 spent at Xero, Google Ads, Meta, Amazon Web Services and Dell.
American Express Essential Rewards Credit Card
American Express Essential Rewards Credit Card image
Membership Rewards
Bonus points
60,000
Points per $ spent
1
Purchase rate p.a.
23.99%
Annual fee
$108
Go to siteMore Info
Limited partner offer. Offers 60,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points when you apply online through the link and spend at least $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months.
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Key takeaways

  • If you're new to Skywards, consider AMEX and Commbank cards.
  • Keep an eye on the "point transfer rate" - right now you can earn an equivalent of 0.25 to 0.75 Emirates Skywards Miles per $1.
  • Annual fees can range between $150 to $1,450, so make sure you factor that into your comparison.

How can I earn Emirates Skywards Miles with a credit card?

You can transfer reward points to your Emirates Skywards frequent flyer account with a credit card that's linked to American Express Membership Rewards or CommBank Awards. These are the only Australian banking partners currently listed on the Emirates Skywards website.

How to transfer credit card points to Emirates Skywards Miles

Each rewards program has its own steps for redeeming points, but it's usually along these lines:

  1. Log in to your credit card rewards program account.
  2. Choose the frequent flyer point transfer option from the selection of rewards (or search for Emirates Skywards Miles).
  3. Confirm the details and follow the prompts to transfer your points.

Reward point transfer rates

CommBankCommBank Awards4 CommBank Awards points = 1 Emirates Skywards Mile📝 Keep in mind: This table shows the transfer rates that are publicly listed on the rewards program website and/or Emirates website. You'll see full details for transferring points to Emirates Skywards Miles when you log in to your credit card rewards account.

Emirates Skywards credit card changes in 2023

On 4 October 2023, American Express changed the point transfer rate for Emirates Skywards miles from 2 Membership Rewards points to 3 Membership Rewards points for every 1 Skywards mile. This represents a 33% decrease in the value of points transfers, but is still a better rate than CommBank.

The change follows previous moves from Citi Rewards, Suncorp Rewards and Diners Club Rewards, which ended their point transfer partnerships with Emirates Skywards on 31 January 2023.

Citi also took the Emirates Citi World Mastercard off the market in Australia. Existing cardholders were able to earn Skywards Miles until 30 May 2023. After that, cardholders could make repayments but would not be able to use the card for anything else.

How to compare Emirates credit cardsWith only 2 credit card brands in Australia currently offering point transfers to Skywards Miles, here are some of the key details to think about:Bonus points offersIntroductory bonus points offers give you a way to get thousands of Skywards Miles on a new card when you meet the requirements. Key details to check include:

  • Spend requirements. You usually need to meet a spend requirement to get bonus points. For example, $3,000 in the first 3 months. Make sure that the offer's spend requirement fits with your budget and avoid spending just for the sake of earning points.
  • Eligibility. Most bonus point offers are only available to new customers. This means you usually can't get bonus points if you already have a credit card with the same provider, or if you've had one with that provider in the past 1-2 years.
  • Offer end date. These offers are only available for a limited time, which means you need to apply for the card before the offer ends to be eligible for bonus points.
  • Emirates Skywards Miles details. You'll need to add your Emirates frequent flyer membership number to your credit card account so you can earn Skywards Miles. If it's a rewards card that lets you transfer points, check how many Skywards Miles you'll get so you can decide if it's worth it.

Points or miles per $1 spentRight now, you can earn an equivalent of 0.25 to 0.75 Emirates Skywards Miles per $1 on everyday spending with a credit card in Australia.For example, with a card that earned 2 reward points per $1 and had an Emirates Skywards transfer rate of 3:1 – such as the American Express Explorer Card – you'd be able to get 0.66 Skywards Mile per $1. And with a card that offered 1 rewards point per $1 and a transfer rate of 4 points to 1 Skywards Mile – like the CommBank Ultimate Awards Credit Card – you'd get an equivalent 0.25 Miles per $1 spent. So, it pays to compare both the earn rate and transfer rate.

What is an "eligible purchase"?

With a credit card, you'll usually earn points per $1 on your everyday spending including supermarket shopping, dining, petrol, online streaming subscriptions and general retail purchases.

Transactions that don't earn points typically include cash advances, balance transfers, BPAY payments and account fees and charges. Check the rewards program terms and conditions, or contact the credit card provider to find out if a transaction will or won't earn points.

Rates and feesThe overall cost of a credit card has a huge impact on how much value you get from rewards (and other perks). This includes:

  • Annual fee. Credit cards that offer point transfers to Emirates Skywards Miles typically have annual fees from around $150 to $1,450. Some cards also offer a reduced or $0 annual fee for the first year or for the life of the card. Ideally, the annual fee should cost less than the value you get from Skywards Miles and other perks.
  • Interest rates. Rewards credit card interest rates are typically between 19% and 24%. This is at the higher end of the scale for credit cards in Australia. So you'll usually get the most value out of the card if you can pay it off in full by the monthly due date and take advantage of interest-free days. A 0% interest rate offer can also help you save on charges during the introductory period.
  • Other fees. Check the international transaction fee if you think you'll shop with a lot of overseas retailers (including online), as this fee costs around 3% of each international transaction. It's also worth checking for late fees, cash advance charges and any other costs that may apply.

Other benefits and perks

  • Airport lounge access. For example, single-use lounge passes each year you have a card or membership to a service like Priority Pass.
  • Complimentary travel insurance. Lots of premium credit cards offer complimentary international travel insurance. Some cards also offer interstate flight inconvenience insurance, transit accident insurance or rental vehicle excess insurance. As with any insurance, the eligibility, excess costs and claims processes vary. You should read the insurance booklet for full details of any cover.
  • Concierge services. A credit card concierge can help you save time on tasks such as booking restaurants, organising events, planning travel or even getting tickets to big events.
  • Hotel benefits. Some cards offer exclusive benefits with hotel partners. For example, the American Express Platinum charge card offers complimentary Accor Plus membership valued at $399 per year.
  • Travel credit. There are a few credit cards that offer flights or travel credit each year. When you use this perk, it can be a simple way to offset the cost of the annual fee.

Is an Emirates credit card worth it in Australia?

If you regularly fly with Emirates, one advantage to getting a credit card that offers Skywards Miles transfers is that you can earn more miles for reward flights. But you need to consider the point transfer rate and the card's other features and costs to decide if it's worth it.

If you're unlikely to redeem Skywards Miles within the 3-year timeframe before they expire, another option is to consider a Qantas credit card. This would allow you to earn Qantas Points, which you can redeem for flights with Emirates or other partners through the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.

Compare a wider range of frequent flyer credit card offers available now.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a credit card that earns Emirates Skywards Miles directly in Australia?

There are currently no Australian credit cards that directly earn Skywards Miles per $1 spent. Previously, the Emirates Citi World Mastercard was the only card directly linked to the program. It earned between 0.5 and 1.5 Skywards Miles per $1 on eligible spending. It also offered Emirates Lounge passes and other perks. But it was taken off the market in 2023.Yes, you need to be a member and provide your Emirates Skywards membership details before you can earn miles through a credit card. You can join the Emirates Skywards program for free online if you're not already a member.

Will earning Emirates Skywards Miles through a credit card stop my miles from expiring?

No. Emirates Skywards Miles expire 3 years after they are earned, and having a credit card won't change that. But Emirates Skywards may let you request a 12-month extension on your miles or reinstate them after they have expired. So if you're worried about your Skywards Miles expiring, contact Emirates to see what options are available.

Can I get an additional card to earn more Skywards Miles?

Depending on the credit card you choose, you could request an additional cardholder for your account. They would then earn miles on eligible spending, which would be added to your Emirates Skywards account (as the primary cardholder). Note that some cards may charge a yearly additional cardholder fee for this option and you would still be responsible for paying off the balance on your Emirates credit card account.

Can I use my Skywards Miles to redeem flights other than with Emirates?

Yes, you can use your Skywards Miles towards eligible flights with Emirates partner airlines. These include Qantas, Air Mauritius, Alaska Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Copa Airlines, easyJet, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, JetBlue, Jetstar, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, S7 Airlines, South African Airways and TAP Portugal.

Can I transfer my Qantas Points to Emirates?

No, Qantas Frequent Flyer doesn't offer point transfers to other airline loyalty programs. But you can redeem Qantas Points for flights with Emirates, or redeem Emirates Skywards Miles for flights with Qantas as they are partner airlines.

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Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald. See full bio

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48 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    mezAugust 15, 2015

    i live in US, is there a US CC linked to Emirates? I don’t have Amex so can’t really use Amex membership rewards points.

    Will this card (Emirates Citi World Mastercard) be a good idea in my case? FYI, I make one trip to South Asia from US once a year by emirates and looking for ways to reduce all future emirates airfare. Skywards miles are NOT easy to earn :(

    Thank you!

      AvatarFinder
      JonathanAugust 18, 2015Finder

      Hi Mez,

      Thanks for your inquiry.

      US credit cards partnered and co-branded with Emirates include the following banks; Citibank, Emirates Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, MBNA. A good way to find out whether a particular rewards card is good for you is to calculate the breakeven cost of the card which is the amount you need to spend in order to regain the cost of the annual fee. Please refer to the following link for finding out how to get the most from a frequent flyer credit card.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

    Default Gravatar
    FlyuAugust 6, 2015

    Hi
    I live in the U.S. and work in Saudi Arabia. I have a SABB bank account, is there any Saudi CC that are linked with Emirates

      AvatarFinder
      JonathanAugust 6, 2015Finder

      Hi Flyu, thanks for your inquiry!

      At this point of time our comparison service for credit cards is on the Australian and U.S. credit card products. You may like to contact Emirates directly to inquire further about the eligibility with Saudi credit cards.

      Cheers,

      Jonathan

    Default Gravatar
    MarkJune 9, 2015

    Can I link my credit card to a bank account of another bank, I.e. not Citibank?

      AvatarFinder
      JonathanJune 10, 2015Finder

      Hi Mark, thanks for your inquiry!

      Direct debit payments to a credit card of another bank are eligible. The bank account does not have to be from the same bank/ issuer.

      Cheers,

      Jonathan

    Default Gravatar
    LouMay 21, 2015

    I wish to use it for travel purposes. When I use it overseas how is the purchase charged and what are the fees in involved in changing from the international currency into $Aus ?

      AvatarFinder
      JonathanMay 25, 2015Finder

      Hi Lou,

      Thanks for your inquiry.

      The international currency conversion fee is 3.4% of the transaction value. Please refer to the following link for a list of credit cards with no foreign currency conversion fees.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

    Default Gravatar
    fawziaDecember 8, 2014

    hi.
    I would like to apply for a emirates credit card. I would also like to know which airlines emirates is partnered with. can the skywards points be transferred to other airlines and can i upgrade if i have sufficient points to do so.
    can you please send me the necessary form to fill in.
    regards
    fawzia

      AvatarFinder
      ElizabethDecember 8, 2014Finder

      Hi Fawzia,

      Thanks for your question.

      If you’re interested in applying for this credit card you can click ‘go to site’ on the page above to fill out an online application form. Emirates has quite a few partners through which you can earn and redeem miles. Points can’t be transferred, but as mentioned, you can use your Emirates Miles for flights with other airlines programs. For a full list of partners you can check on the Emirates website, but some notable Australian ones are Qantas and Jetstar.

      I hope this has helped.

      Thanks,

      Elizabeth

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