Best Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

Compare the Best Frequent Flyer Cards

The Frequent Flyer rewards program is one of the best know airline rewards programs in Australia, however, consider your needs and spending carefully before applying for a rewards credit card because you want to be able to enjoy your flights, vouchers or merchandise interest free.

A Frequent Flyer credit card will allow you to earn rewards points with each purchase, which go towards flights with Qantas. Being rewarded with flights for your everyday spending seems like a great idea, especially since earning points only when you fly is too few and far between for most Australians. The Qantas Frequent Flyer program:

• Earns you points redeemable with Qantas and all of its partnered airlines in Australia and overseas.
• Was one of the first airline rewards programs and is still one of the most popular.
• Frequent Flyer points can be redeemed for flights, merchandise and vouchers from a range of providers and brands.

How to Collect Frequent Flyer Points on Your Credit Card

If you think you could benefit from redeeming credit card rewards points for flights and you have reviewed whether your financial habits suit a rewards credit card, then you could start earning Frequent Flyer points with every single purchase you make. To collect Frequent Flyer points:

• Choose a Frequent Flyer credit card, and one which meets your spending needs. Don’t ignore the annual fee and interest rates on a Frequent Flyer card just because you want the rewards. You still need to apply for a specialised Frequent Flyer card which meets your budget and one which you are eligible for.
• You will need to be a member. Membership to the Frequent Flyer program allows your credit card provider to convert your rewards points to Frequent Flyer points and credit them to your account with Qantas. Often a membership fee will apply, so look for a card which offers free membership to the program when you apply for the linked credit card.
• Compare points per dollar. Not all rewards programs are the same, so compare the Frequent flyer credit cards which will pay 2 or 2.5 points for each $1 spent, as well as looking at whether those programs will actually require more points before they can be redeemed for flights.
• Remember your currently monthly credit card spend. To make a rewards credit card worthwhile after accounting for the fees and interest rate, you will need to spend at least $1,000 a month on your card. The consumer group Choice, recommends only Australians who spend more than $2,000 a month should consider a rewards card to make the rewards truly worthwhile. The average Australian spends around $1,200 a month on their credit card so consider where you are in that average before you consider a rewards credit card.

Compare The Best Deals on Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

Choice has also independently run the numbers on the top Frequent Flyer credit cards in Australia, to narrow down the best credit card deal for your monthly spend, so you can see just how much of a reward you’ll really get from your spending. The best Frequent Flyer credit card deals for your monthly spend include:

• A $1,000 monthly spend on the Westpac Earth credit card. This is a companion card deal and your account comes with an American Express card, and a MasterCard. With spending calculated on using only the American Express card you will receive points worth around $118 a year, after deducting the annual fee. This is because the linked American Express card earns you 1 point for every $1 spent, and your MasterCard earns you half a point for each $1 spent.
• A $2,000 monthly spend on the Westpac Earth Platinum card. This is also a companion card deal and the rewards are calculated with a spend on only your American Express card, and total around $328 after deducting the cost of the annual fee. Make sure you consider where the majority of your spending is done, and whether American Express is accepted.
• A $5,000 monthly spend on the NAB Qantas Platinum card. When spending only on your American Express companion card you can earn rewards totalling $1,156 each year after accounting for the annual fee.

The more you spend on any Frequent Flyer rewards credit card, the more rewards you will be eligible for. Just make sure that you don’t spend only to build points, because your rewards will be diminished by interest charges if you can’t pay off your balance. For more information about all of the top Australian Frequent Flyer credit cards available, view our comparison table here and follow the secure links from the table to each provider’s online application form so you can be jetting off sooner.

Editors Choice: Best Credit Card Deals

Credit Card	Card Details	Interest Rate p.a.	Cash Advance Rate p.a.	Balance Transfer Rate p.a.	Annual Fee	Interest Free Days (Up To)
Suncorp Clear Options Standard	An excellent balance transfer offer of 1.9% p.a. for 12 months and a standard purchase rate of 12.24%	12.24%	17.99%	1.9% for 12 months	$39	0	Apply » More »
HSBC Credit Card	Excellent credit card, with a 0% p.a. for 6 months balance transfer offer, and pay $0 for the life of the card	16.99%	20.75%	0% for 6 months	$0	55	Apply » More »
Citibank Emirates Platinum Card	Enjoy 1.9% p.a. for 12 months on balance transfers as well as earn 3 Skywards Miles for every dollar spent, plus all the benefits & privileges of a platinum card.	20.74%	20.74%	1.9% for 12 months	$229	55	Apply » More »