Best frequent flyer credit cards

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.

The best frequent flyer credit cards for November

• The ANZ Frequent Flyer Black has a Finder Score of 9.9.
• The Qantas Premier Titanium has a Finder Score of 9.76.
• The Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer Card has a Finder Score of 9.56.
• The Westpac Altitude Velocity Black has a Finder Score of 9.55.
• The Westpac Altitude Qantas Black has a Finder Score of 9.55.
• The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card has a Finder Score of 9.24.

Updated November 2024 by money editor, Richard Whitten.

Finder Scores explained

• 9+ Excellent - These cards are your ticket to sky-high points earning potential, hefty welcome bonuses, solid ongoing earn rates, and a premium selection of travel perks.
• 7+ Great - These cards might have slightly less impressive points earning or sign-up bonuses than the best cards on the market.
• 5+ Satisfactory - Reliable workhorses for frequent flyers who want decent points earning potential and some mix of perks and benefits.
• Less than 5 – Basic - the entry point in the frequent flyer market. Their sign-up bonuses and ongoing earn rates are lower.

How does the Finder Frequent Flyer Score work?

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:

• We analyse over 250 credit cards and assess 8 features, giving a score for each one.
• Then we combine these scores using a weighted methodology (because some features are more important than others).
• This gives us a final score out of 10: the Finder Score.

In the frequent flyer category we only consider credit cards that:

• Link to the Qantas Frequent Flyer or Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer program.
• Let you earn points directly based on spending.
• Are available to general consumers.

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.

Frequent flyer credit cards - score weightings

Best frequent flyer card for Qantas Points - Qantas Premier Platinum

Qantas Premier Platinum

• Up to 80,000 Bonus Points
• $349 Annual fee
• 20.99% Purchase rate

Go to site

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Pros & cons

• Up to 80,000 bonus Qantas Points
• Up to 2 Qantas Points per $1 spent
• Balance transfer offer of 0% p.a. for 12 months
• Discounted $349 first-year annual fee

• Charges a 2% balance transfer fee
• The standard $399 annual fee is relatively high
• Interest-free days won't apply if you’re carrying a balance transfer debt
• Anything over $10,000 in a statement period earns a lower rate of 0.5 points per $1

Best frequent flyer card for Velocity Points - Westpac Altitude Velocity Black

Westpac Altitude Velocity Black

• Up to 120,000 bonus Velocity Points
• $370 Annual fee
• 20.99% Purchase rate

Read review

Ends on 30 April 2025

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Pros & cons

• Up to 120,000 bonus Velocity Points
• 2 complimentary Economy X Seat Upgrade Vouchers each year
• 2 complimentary domestic Virgin Australia lounge passes per year
• Complimentary insurance covers including overseas travel, extended warranty and purchase protection

• Charges a high combined annual fee of $370 p.a.
• Only offers up to 45 days interest-free on purchases, compared to other cards that offer up to 55 days

Best business frequent flyer credit card - American Express Qantas Business Rewards

American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card

• 130,000 Bonus Qantas Points
• $450 Annual fee
• N/A Purchase rate

Go to site

Ends on 14 January 2025

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Pros & cons

• 130,000 bonus Qantas Points
• No pre-set spending limit and up to 51 days cash flow
• Complimentary travel insurance
• 2 complimentary domestic Qantas Club lounge passes per card membership year

• $450 annual fee
• 3% foreign currency conversion fee

Why you can trust Finder's credit card experts

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.

2024 Finder Credit Card Awards for frequent flyers

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.

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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.

What's the catch?
Frequent flyer credit cards offer a lot of value in travel rewards and perks. But most of them have high annual fees and interest rates. If you usually carry a balance or don't spend much with a credit card, the points and perks probably won't outweigh the card costs.

How do frequent flyer credit cards work?

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.

Types of frequent flyer credit cards

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.

Pros and cons of frequent flyer credit cards

"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."

Gary Ross Hunter

Insurance expert and avid traveller

Are frequent flyer cards worth 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:

• Most credit cards offer an interest-free period for purchases when you pay the full balance each month.
• Introductory offers can include a reduced or $0 annual fee in the first year.
• You can cancel a card at any time if you don't want it any more.
• Qantas and Velocity offer other ways to earn points with partners – you could even choose to earn points through both programs.

How do I find the best frequent flyer credit card for me?

Rates and fees aside, here are the key questions you can ask to choose a frequent flyer credit card.

How many bonus points can I get?

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.

How many points can I earn for my spending?

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.

Are there extra features?

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.

What are my frequent flyer points worth?

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.

Example: Value per 1,000 Qantas/Velocity points

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).

• Methodology: How we calculated these examples

  These calculations were updated in November 2024 and are based on the point values for Qantas Classic Flight Rewards and Velocity Reward Seats redemptions.

  Flight values are based on the standard economy and business class fare prices for Qantas and Virgin Australia flight searches in November 2024, for bookings at least 3 months in advance.

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.

Point-hacking

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.

Point hacking and credit card eligibility

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.

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.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I earn points on payments to the ATO?

  Most Australian banks consider government transactions (such as ATO bills) ineligible to earn points. Currently, most of the cards that allow you to earn points on ATO bills and government transactions are issued by American Express – or designed for business spending, rather than personal use.

• Can I earn status with a frequent flyer credit card?

  The Qantas Premier Titanium and HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card have ongoing frequent flyer status credit or status offers.

  Sometimes, other credit cards have promotional offers that let you earn status credits. But the most common way to earn status credits – and reach higher frequent flyer membership tiers – is by flying with the program's main airline or a partner.

• How can I redeem my frequent flyer points?

  When you earn frequent flyer points with your credit card, they're transferred to your linked frequent flyer account – usually once a month. To redeem your points, log in to your frequent flyer account and follow the prompts to redeem your rewards.

• Can I transfer points to another program?

  You can often transfer credit card rewards (such as American Express Membership Rewards or St.George Amplify Rewards) to frequent flyer programs, but you can't usually transfer frequent flyer points between programs.

  Keep in mind that you can use your frequent flyer points to redeem flight rewards with a partnered airline. For example, Qantas belongs to the oneworld Alliance, so you can use your Qantas Points to redeem flight rewards with partners including British Airways, American Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

• Will I lose my points after I cancel my card?

  If the points have already been transferred to your frequent flyer account, you won't lose them by closing your credit card account. But it can sometimes take a few weeks for the frequent flyer points to appear in your account, so make sure they have been added before you cancel your card.

• Do frequent flyer points expire?

  Frequent flyer points usually expire if you don't redeem them, but how long you have to redeem them is different for each program.

  With Qantas and Velocity Frequent Flyer, your points won't expire while you're earning or redeeming them to keep the account "active". If you don't earn or redeem points for 18 months with Qantas or 24 months with Velocity, they will expire because of "account inactivity". You can check the conditions for other programs to avoid losing points.

• Are all frequent flyer points worth the same amount?

  No, frequent flyer points are worth different amounts across programs. At the time of writing, you can redeem a $100 David Jones gift card for 20,010 Qantas Points or 19,500 Velocity Points. So in this example, you'll get slightly more value if you redeemed your Velocity Points for the $100 gift card.

• Can I add additional cardholders to a frequent flyer credit card?

  Most frequent flyer credit cards let you add at least 1 additional cardholder to your account. This means they can spend money and earn points through your account, which can help you get frequent flyer rewards faster.

  Just keep in mind that you're the only one legally responsible for the credit card – and some cards have additional cardholder fees that are charged each year.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Sarah Megginson and reviewed by Aaron Christie-David, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.

Written by

Richard Whitten

Editor

Richard Whitten is a money editor at Finder, and has been covering home loans, property and personal finance for 6+ years. He has written for Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Homely; and has appeared on various radio shows nationwide. He holds a Certificate IV in mortgage broking and finance (RG 206), a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification and a Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products (RG 146) certification. See full bio

Richard's expertise

Richard has written 553 Finder guides across topics including:

• Home loans
• Property
• Personal finance
• Money-saving tips