Frequent flyer credit cards to get that (Qantas) millionaire feeling

How we calculate Frequent Flyer Credit Card Finder Scores

Read full methodology

What different scores mean

9+

Excellent

These cards are your ticket to sky-high point earning potential, hefty welcome bonuses, solid ongoing earn rates, and a premium selection of travel-centric perks.

7+

Great

These cards might have slightly less impressive points earning or sign-up bonuses.

5+

Standard

Reliable workhorses for frequent flyers who want a well-balanced card. Enjoy decent point earning potential, competitive rates, and a good mix of practical perks.

0+

Basic

The entry point in the frequent flyer market. Their sign-up bonuses and ongoing earn rates might not be as generous.

How the Finder Score helps you pick the best Qantas card

At Finder we do the hard work for you. We've turned hours and hours and hundreds of data points into a simple score out of 10. It's called the Finder Score.

We've scored all our Qantas points-earning credit cards based on the bonus points offer, the earn rate, the perks and benefits, plus card interest rates and fees. The higher a card's the score, the better we think it is for most frequent flyers.

Read our full Finder Score methodology

What is the best credit card for Qantas Frequent Flyer Points?

With so many competitive cards on the market, there isn't one best credit card for earning Qantas Points. But you can find a Qantas credit card that works for you based on your frequent flyer goals.

Some of the most popular features to look for include:

• Introductory bonus point offers
• A high earn rate (e.g. 1 point per $1 or more)
• Airport lounge access
• Complimentary travel insurance
• Flight or travel credit
• No annual fee or a reduced annual fee in the first year

If there are other features you want, add them to your comparison (along with the account costs) to find the Qantas credit card that suits you best.

How can I find the best credit card for earning Qantas Frequent Flyer Points?

When comparing Qantas Frequent Flyer credit cards, it’s important to consider the following factors:

• Bonus points offers

These introductory offers can give you thousands of Qantas Points when you get a new card and meet certain requirements. For example, a card might offer 70,000 bonus Qantas Points if you're a new cardholder and spend $3,000 within 3 months of card approval.

• How points are earned

These credit cards offer Qantas Points on your everyday spending, which will usually be added to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account once a month. But there are a few different ways this happens, behind the scenes:

• • Direct earning cards. These Qantas Frequent Flyer credit cards automatically earn Qantas Points as you spend, then deposit them into your frequent flyer account periodically (usually at the end of each statement period).
  • Cards that let you opt-in to earn Qantas Points. Some reward cards give you the option of earning Qantas Points instead of credit card reward points. Often, you'll pay a yearly fee for choosing the Qantas rewards option on one of these cards. You may also earn a different number of Qantas Points per $1 spent compared to those offered if you earn points through the credit card rewards program.
  • Point transfers. A very small number of premium cards let you transfer credit card reward points to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account, such as the American Express Platinum charge card and the Westpac Altitude Business Platinum.
  • Qantas Business Rewards. If you get a business credit card that is linked to this frequent flyer program, the Qantas Points you (and your employees) earn will go to a Qantas Business Rewards account. You can then transfer the points to a personal Qantas Frequent Flyer account (or accounts).

• Points per $1 spent

Also known as the earn rate, this is how many Qantas Points you'll earn for eligible spending. This usually includes shopping at the supermarket, buying petrol, dining out, paying for holidays and even some bills, although every credit card has different details of what transactions are eligible to earn Qantas Points.

• Points capping

Some cards limit how many points cardholders can earn per $1 spent beyond a spend threshold each statement period.

For example, a card might earn 2 Qantas points per $1 spent up to 6,000 Qantas Points per month and 1 point per $1 for the rest of the month or a maximum of 50,000 Qantas Points in a year.

• Interest rates

Frequent flyer credit cards are best suited to people who regularly pay their balance in full each month and avoid interest. This is because these cards usually charge high interest rates, which will quickly outweigh the value of your frequent flyer points.

• Annual fee

The cards with the most competitive bonus points offers and features usually have higher annual fees, although some do offer waived annual fees in the first year. A small selection of cards also offer an ongoing $0 annual fee.

Just make sure that the value of the points you're earning and the features you can take advantage of (such as airport lounge passes and flight credits) justify the annual fee.

• Extra features

Cards that offer premium perks such as airport lounge passes, travel insurance, personal concierge services or travel credit usually have higher annual fees compared to cards with fewer features.

Carefully consider if these are extras you’ll use and if they justify the higher card cost.

Promoted

American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card

150,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply as a new Amex card member and meet the spend requirement. Plus a discounted $225 first-year annual fee ($450 p.a. after).

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3 questions to ask before applying for a credit card that earns Qantas Points

Since there’s no perfect credit card that will satisfy everyone’s needs, you should consider your own habits and preferences when choosing your card:

1. How much do I spend on my card?

Think about how often you pay with a credit card. This will help you decide if you can meet the spend requirements to earn bonus points or whether any points caps will restrict your earning potential.

Looking at your usual monthly credit card spending will also give you an idea of how many points you'll earn, what you could redeem with those points and whether that would outweigh the cost of the card's annual fee.

Keep in mind that the value of your Qantas Points varies depending on how you redeem them, which can also affect the value you get from your credit card. But the bottom line is that if you don't spend a lot, it will be harder for you to earn enough Qantas Points to justify an annual fee.

2. What credit card purchases earn Qantas Points?

Eligible purchases that earn points usually include your everyday spending, such as groceries, petrol, dining and travel bookings. Transactions that won't typically earn Qantas Points include:

• Cash advances. You won’t earn Qantas Points or reward points on ATM withdrawals, foreign currency purchases or gambling transactions.
• Credit card repayments or fees. You won't earn points for paying off your credit card balances or credit card fees.
• Balance transfers. If you get a Qantas Frequent Flyer card with a 0% balance transfer offer, keep in mind that you won't earn points on the balance you transfer or any repayments.
• Government charges. Most cards for personal use don't allow you to earn points on government charges such as Australian Taxation Office (ATO) payments, car registration fees and council rates. If you want to earn points on these types of payments, start by checking out the range of cards that earn points for ATO payments.
• BPAY payments. Most lenders won't allow you to earn points for payments made through BPAY.

Check your credit card's reward program terms and conditions or call your provider to find out exactly what types of transactions won't earn points.

3. Is Qantas my favourite airline?

This may be the most important question to ask. There is no incentive or reason to earn Qantas Points with a credit card if you prefer a different airline or frequent flyer program. If that's the case, you can compare other frequent flyer credit cards to find one that will work for you.

When comparing your options, keep your own needs and spending habits in mind so that you aren't swayed by factors that don't matter as much to you. This also helps you pick the right Qantas Frequent Flyer credit card for you.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Richard Whitten as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Sarah Megginson

Personal finance expert + media spokesperson

With over 20 years of experience in property, finance and investment journalism, Sarah is a trusted expert whose insights regularly appear across television, radio, and print media, including Sunrise, ABC News, and Yahoo! Finance. She has previously served as managing editor for Your Investment Property and Australian Broker, and her expert advice has been shared over 2,500 times in 2023-2024 alone. Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, which complies with ASIC standards. See full bio

Sarah's expertise

Sarah has written 200 Finder guides across topics including:

• Home loans
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