Updated November 2024 by money editor, Richard Whitten.
The Finder Score is an easy way you can figure out which frequent flyer credit cards are worth the trip, and which ones aren't worth getting out of bed for.
Here's how the score works:
In the frequent flyer category we only consider credit cards that:
Scores are category-specific. So one credit card could receive a score of 9 in the balance transfer category but a score of 8 in the frequent flyer category.
The Finder Score methodology is designed by our insights and editorial team. Commercial partners carry no weight, and all products are reviewed objectively.
Remember that Finder Score is just one factor to consider. Look at other aspects like fees, features, benefits and risks to make sure a product is suitable for you. Double-check details that matter to you before applying or buying.
| Feature | Definition | Assessment | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earn Rate | Points earned for every dollar spent on eligible purchases | Points awarded per dollar (up to 1.5) | 28% |
| Sign-Up Points | Bonus points earned for signing up and meeting spending requirements | Total bonus points offered (up to 200,000) | 25% |
| Purchase Rate | Interest rate on new purchases | Lower rates receive higher scores (up to 23.99% max) | 10% |
| Lounge Pass | Access to airport lounges | Complimentary annual passes receive full score | 10% |
| Foreign Exchange Fee | Fee on overseas transactions | Lower fees receive higher scores (0% fee scores highest) | 5% |
| Earn Rate Cap | Maximum points earned in a billing cycle before a lower earn rate applies | Higher caps or no cap receive higher scores (up to 10,000 points max) | 5% |
| First-Year Fee | Fee charged for the first year of card ownership | Lower fees receive higher scores ($0 fee scores highest) | 15% |
| Ongoing Annual Fee | Fee charged from the second year onwards | Lower fees receive higher scores ($0 fee scores highest) | 10% |
Pros & cons
Why we like it
Pros & cons
Why we like it
Pros & cons
Why we like it
We fly, frequently - Our card experts are actively building their points balances, applying for new cards and learning the ins and outs of the latest offers, so we know how to find and share the info that matter to you.
You save time - Why spend 100s of hours researching credit cards and tracking the latest deals? We've done the hard yards, so you can quickly sort through the options and boost your balance faster.
Jargon-free zone - we know our earn rates from our points caps, and we'll talk about eligible spends into the early hours of the morning. But we'll always explain how it all works in plain English.
Find out which credit cards have been recognised in this year's frequent flyer awards categories.
The ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Card has been named the Best Frequent Flyer Credit Card – Qantas for the third year in a row. It had big bonus Qantas Points during the analysis period – and a good earn rate, Qantas Club lounge invitations and travel insurance.
The Qantas Premier Platinum and NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card were finalists in the Qantas credit card category, with both cards scoring highly for bonus point offers during the 12-month period of analysis.
The Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer won the Finder Award for Best Frequent Flyer Credit Card – Velocity. It had strong scores for bonus point offers, points per $1 spent and annual fee. Other perks include airport lounge passes and a $129 Virgin Australia Flight Voucher.
The Westpac Altitude Velocity Black and American Express Velocity Platinum were finalists in the Velocity credit card category, with bonus point offers and earn rates both key features during the analysis period.
Every year the Finder Credit Card Awards recognise Australia's top credit cards, with expert analysis on rates, fees and offers based on 12 months' worth of data. The awards cover categories including balance transfers, travel and frequent flyer rewards – with separate categories for cards that earn Qantas Points and Velocity Points.
As offers change frequently, these cards might not currently have the most competitive deals but you can use them as a benchmark against current offers.
You can use a frequent flyer credit card just like any regular credit card, but it's linked to your frequent flyer account. So every time you make a purchase with the card, you earn points – usually between 0.5 and 1.25 per $1 spent.
Many cards also come with introductory bonus points, which can give you enough for a free flight. These offers are a popular way to get value from a frequent flyer card in a short amount of time. You can also get value each year with perks like lounge passes, complimentary insurance and travel credit.
There are also frequent flyer business credit cards that offer some very lucrative points deals and perks for business customers.
Finder's head of editorial Sarah Megginson has used frequent flyer points to get flight upgrades and holidays for over 10 years – including a business class trip from Brisbane to LA for her family of 5.
She also uses points to upgrade and save on business class flights in Australia, with Finder analysis showing each 1 Qantas Point used on an upgrade is typically worth between 2 and 8 cents.
Megginson gets around 500,000 Qantas Points a year by collecting them in just about every way she can – including bonus point offers on frequent flyer credit cards.
Depending on the mix of credit cards, Megginson said she would spend around $300 to $800 per year on fees.
"I see the fees as an investment into this lifestyle I'd never have otherwise," she said.
Bottom line? Anyone can take advantage of frequent flyer points – and with the right credit card you can get rewarded for money you were going to spend anyway.
Qantas Frequent FlyerEarn Qantas Points per $1 spent
Velocity Frequent FlyerEarn Velocity Points per $1 spent
$0 annual feeEarn points and pay $0 annual fee
Tip: If you want KrisFlyer Miles, Emirates Skywards Miles or points through another frequent flyer program, check out rewards credit cards with points you can transfer.
"Travelling is (increasingly) expensive but frequent flyer points can make it more affordable, if you're smart about it. I always take some time to research a card and calculate how many points I could get. Once I've got the card, I make sure I never pay any interest on it."
Frequent flyer credit cards are worth it if you pay off your balance and get enough value for the annual fee you'll pay. You don't have to use every feature, just make sure you take advantage of the perks you value.
Some key points to keep in mind:
Rates and fees aside, here are the key questions you can ask to choose a frequent flyer credit card.
Introductory bonus point offers can give you between 8,000 and 150,000 frequent flyer points on cards for personal spending (as opposed to business frequent flyer cards). You'll have to meet a spend requirement to get them, so make sure to check that before you apply.
For example, if an offer requires you to spend $4,000 in the first 60 days and you aren't sure you'll spend that much, it's worth looking at other offers. Or, planning how you'll meet the spend requirement and manage the repayments.
Bonus points offer the biggest value on a frequent flyer credit card but the points you earn per $1 spent also add up over time. A card that earns 1 frequent flyer point per $1 (or more) is competitive, but check if there is a cap on how many points you can earn at that rate.
If you get a rewards credit card that offers point transfers, 1 reward point will usually give you between 0.25 and 0.5 frequent flyer points. So a card that offers at least 2 rewards points per $1 is competitive.
A lot of frequent flyer credit cards offer travel extras, including complimentary travel insurance, airport lounge passes, travel credit and concierge services.
To get value from them, you actually have to use them. If you won't, you might want to look at a frequent flyer credit card with a lower annual fee and fewer perks instead.
The dollar value of your frequent flyer points depends on what rewards you redeem.
In general, flight upgrades and flight rewards give you the best value and offer an average of around 2 cents for every 1 point redeemed. In comparison, gift card rewards typically offer 0.5 cents per point.
A Finder survey found 15 million Australians are missing out on value by redeeming reward points for cashback on shopping – but flight rewards usually give you more bang for your buck.
These examples give you an idea of the value of your points for a few domestic flights. Keep in mind that the total points needed and value can change based on factors including the fare class, flight sales and carrier charges (which are usually billed separately).
| Sydney to Melbourne return (Qantas, Economy) | |||
| Sydney to Melbourne return (Qantas, Business) | |||
| Sydney to Melbourne return (Virgin, Economy) | |||
| Sydney to Melbourne return (Virgin, Business) |
You can check out Finder's guide to how much 1 Qantas Point is worth for more examples. You can also use Finder's points calculator if you want to know how much your points (from all major Australian programs) are worth.
There are dedicated point-chasers that will switch cards every year or two to make the most of bonus point promotions.
This strategy is sometimes known as credit card churning and can suit people who primarily use credit cards to earn points and pay it off as they go. Otherwise, the cost of annual fees, interest and potential credit score impact won't be worth it.
Credit card brands frown on churning, and many bonus point offers exclude people who have recently had a card with the same bank or brand. For example, if you had an American Express card, you'd usually need to wait 18 months after cancelling it before you would be eligible for a bonus points offer on another Amex card.
Here, we've outlined the amount of time you'll need to wait to be eligible for a bonus points offer with different providers.
| Provider | |
|---|---|
| American Express | |
| ANZ | |
| CommBank | |
| NAB | |
| Westpac | |
| Qantas Money | |
| Bankwest | |
| HSBC | |
| St.George | |
| Bank of Melbourne | |
| BankSA |
Note: Citi and Virgin Money don't list a specific timeframe for previous or existing customers.
Some banks apply this exclusion period to each type of rewards card. For example, NAB applies an 18-month exclusion period to NAB Qantas Rewards cards, separate to NAB Rewards cards. And ANZ has a 12-month exclusion period for ANZ Frequent Flyer cards, separate to ANZ Rewards cards.
In these cases, you'd still be eligible for a frequent flyer credit card offer with NAB or ANZ, even if you had a NAB Rewards or ANZ Rewards card.
Compare Qantas Wine bonus point deals and the retail price of the wine at the same time, to find the best value in the market.
Earn KrisFlyer miles on your everyday spending and get introductory bonus points with a credit card linked to the Singapore Airlines frequent flyer program.
Find out if there are any credit card offers that let you earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Status for your eligible spending and learn more about how to reach Silver, Gold or Platinum Qantas status.
How to pay less for your card while still earning points.
From flights and hotel stays to travel packages, gift cards and merchandise, here’s how to make the most of 100,000 Velocity Points based on your lifestyle and goals.
Discover how many Qantas or Velocity points you need to book or upgrade to a business class flight ticket.
Reward your spending with an air miles credit card and redeem points for your next flight.
Hello There
I have question about frequent flyer credits cards. I would like to find out how much I would per month and as I am beginner, which one would suit me the best? I am also plainning holiday for 3 people this year and I would like to use the card for travel
Hi Amy,
Finder provides factual information and general advice, so it’s important you consider your own circumstances when comparing and choosing a credit card. In terms of earning points, you can get an estimate of the number of points you’ll earn each month by multiplying the card’s points per $1 spent rate by your average monthly credit card spending. For example, if a card earned 0.5 points per $1 and someone spent $1,000 on a credit card each month, that would equal 500 points per month (0.5*1000 = 500). When using a credit card for travel, keep in mind that most frequent flyer credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee, which typically adds 2-4% to each transaction you make overseas (or online with businesses based overseas). Make sure to also check the annual fee, interest rate details and other features that you’re interested in. You can use the comparison table, as well as individual card review pages to find out more about different options currently available. I hope this helps.
hi,
I am looking at getting my card that allows me to earn qantas points, I would prefer to stay with a debit card, however i cannot earn points on my debit card. What would be the best card to start earning points.
Thanks
Hi Cooper,
Please keep in mind that Finder only provides general advice and factual information. But you can compare Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Cards on Finder’s comparison page. You could also consider the Qantas Travel Money Card as a prepaid debit card option, or the Bankwest Qantas Transaction Account. I hope this helps.
Thanks for your reply. What is your general advice/review on CBA ultimate awards?
Hi Ilan,
We’ve laid out all details on our review page which you might find helpful reading in regards to seeing if it will work for your own personal situation. On the page you can find a general “verdict” which lays out a balanced view of the card, some pros and cons, and of course the details in regards to costs and features.
Hope this helps,
Elizabeth
Hello, my wife and I have the ANZ Qantas Black card. We got this card initially as part of their Breakfree package when we got our home loan. We make sure to use the card for most household expenses. We have since refinanced our mortgage to another bank and hence don’t get the card for free anymore. We are also looking at purchasing another property so want a card with a lower minimum credit limit. We do not need 15k. What card would you recommend for say a 10k limit with similar benefits (insurances, lounge access and not a crazy fee)? The CBA Ultimate Awards looks tempting. Thanks in advance!
Hi Ilan,
Please be aware Finder can only give general information not personal advice. In regards to minimum credit limits, there are plenty of frequent flyer credit cards that offer minimum limits of $3,000 to $10,000, including the Qantas Premier Platinum and Qantas American Express Ultimate, which were highly commended in the Best Frequent Flyer Credit Card – Qantas category of the 2023 Finder Credit Card Awards. You can view details of the minimum limits and extras such as lounge access or insurance on Finder’s review pages or the bank websites. Finder’s mortgage calculator also factors in credit limits and may help when considering your options. I hope this helps.
Hi there! Are there any cards that do a pre-approval without impacting on your credit score? After submitting all financial details, relevant papers etc, it would be great to know if any of the firms offer a pre-approval without a hard lodgement on your credit file.
Thanks
Hi Sarj,
Thanks for your comment and I hope you are well. As of this writing, we don’t have a page that offers a pre-approved credit card as well as one that will not impact your credit score.
Hope this clarifies!
Best,
Nikki