Frequent flyer bank cards reward you with free flights, upgrades and different journey perks only for doing all your on a regular basis spending. There’s a card for the whole lot: you possibly can select from fundamental, no-frills choices to playing cards that dish out large factors and large options.
Loads of frequent flyer bank cards include epic sign-up bonus factors to kickstart your rewards stash, and a few have stability switch options if you wish to shift your debt to a brand new card for 0% curiosity and to pay it off quicker.
Or, for those who’re simply saying “present me the factors!”, search for bank cards that pay out the best variety of frequent flyer factors for each greenback you spend.
We’ve made it simple by summarising the options of every card proper right here. You may click on the cardboard to see the cardboard’s full particulars on the financial institution’s web site, and apply from there too.
Right here’s the highest frequent flyer bank cards for August 2022
Take a look at our high frequent flyer offers for this month. Click on ‘go to supply’ for a full rundown of the cardboard’s options, and to use.
Citi Premier Qantas Credit score Card – 80,000 bonus Qantas Factors
Take pleasure in a hefty 80,000 bonus Qantas Factors whenever you apply for a brand new Citi Premier Qantas Credit score Card and spend $4,000 on eligible transactions throughout the first 90 days from card approval. Increase earned factors with 1 Qantas Level per $1 spent on eligible transactions on-line and internationally, and 0.5 factors per $1 on home spend elsewhere. So as to add extra the attractiveness of this card, Citi now provides a half low cost on annual price which saves you $175 for the primary yr whenever you meet the annual spend requirement of $48,000, at present $375. There’s additionally 0% p.a. curiosity on purchases and stability transfers for six months. Add as much as 4 further cardholders at no additional price. The Citi Premier additionally gives cashback and reductions with collaborating service suppliers and retail companions, plus complimentary lounge passes and journey insurance coverage.
Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Credit score Card – 60,000 bonus Velocity Factors
Take pleasure in as much as 60,000 bonus Velocity Factors – 30,000 Velocity Factors monthly whenever you apply for a Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Credit score Card by 29 September 2022, get authorized, and spend $1,500 or extra on eligible transactions within the first 2 months from card approval. Extra profit to new cardholders is a combo supply which consists of a stability switch of 0% p.a. for 18 months and half annual price within the first yr ($129 thereafter). Plus, journey enjoyable with an unique $129 Virgin Australia Reward Voucher annually.
Qantas Premier Platinum Credit score Card – 80,000 bonus Qantas Factors
With the Qantas Premier Platinum Credit score Card, you’ll get 80,000 bonus Qantas Factors whenever you apply for a brand new card by 29 September 2022, and spend $3,000 or extra on eligible purchases inside 3 months of card approval. Their rewards program is stable too, providing you with 1.5 factors per $1 spent on worldwide purchases, 1 level for home spending (as much as $10,000 per assertion interval, then reverts to 0.5 factors) and a bonus level whenever you purchase chosen Qantas services and products. This card has another good perks, like a concierge service, discounted flights for as much as 8 companions, lounge entry and a diminished annual price for the primary yr, plus 0% p.a. on stability transfers for 18 months.
Citi Rewards Credit score Card – Velocity Factors Supply – 60,000 bonus Velocity Factors
Offering distinctive worth and adaptability, Citi Rewards Credit score Card is at present providing a considerable welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus Velocity Factors to new cardholders. To get the bonus factors, you’ll have to use by 31 August 2022 for a brand new card, get authorized and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases inside 90 days from approval. That is on high of the Citi reward Factors earned on on a regular basis purchases. Earn 1 Citi reward Factors per $1 spent on eligible transactions made abroad in addition to on eligible home spend (capped at $10,000 spend per assertion interval). Take pleasure in extra the spend and earn privilege with out worrying the annual price within the first yr, saving you $149. Plus, you’ll recognize extra this card for those who’re trying to consolidate debt as this additionally provides 0% p.a. for 15 months with no stability switch price.
American Categorical Qantas Enterprise Rewards Card – 120,000 bonus Qantas Factors
In case you’ve obtained a enterprise and also you’re in search of alternatives to earn probably the most of your transactions, you must benefit from this large welcome supply of 120,000 bonus Qantas Factors from the American Categorical Qantas Enterprise Rewards Card. Apply by 7 September 2022, get authorized, and spend $3,000 within the first 2 months from card approval to obtain the bonus Qantas Factors. Take pleasure in TRIPLE Qantas Factors for your online business on eligible Qantas flights and a pair of Qantas Factors on Qantas services and products. This can be a cost card with no pre-set spending restrict which ensures larger cost flexibility.
Qantas American Categorical Final – 75,000 bonus Qantas Factors plus $450 Qantas Journey Credit score
The Qantas American Categorical Final Credit score Card is a premium card that serves up a great deal of journey advantages and factors. New cardholders may obtain 75,000 bonus Qantas Factors whenever you apply on-line by 16 October 2022, are authorized, and spend $3,000 in your new Card throughout the first 3 months. Earn as much as 1.25 Qantas Factors on on a regular basis purchases, 0.5 Qantas Factors on authorities spend, and an extra 1 level per $1 on eligible Qantas services and products with no factors capping. Annually you’ll obtain a $450 Qantas Journey Credit score for eligible home or worldwide Qantas flights when booked by means of American Categorical Journey, which compensates for the $450 annual price.
Discovering the Finest Credit score Card Presents on Frequent Flyer Playing cards
Frequent flyer factors (and the redemption packages they’re connected to) generally is a complicated world to dive into, however they’re additionally a number of the greatest perks a bank card can supply.
You’ll earn rewards factors only for doing all your day-to-day spending, and convert these factors into journey freebies and privileges, and even retail merchandise.
Now positive learn how to discover your greatest card? We’ve obtained you lined. Under is a straightforward information on frequent flyer factors, how they work, and learn how to discover the bank card that’ll provide the most bang to your buck.
When you’re prepared to check, you possibly can try our listing of the highest frequent flyer bank cards for this month, or use our comparability device to type frequent flyer playing cards by completely different options, and test what number of factors you would possibly earn in a yr primarily based in your regular spending habits.
Step 1: Issues to look out for when evaluating frequent flyer bank cards:
- The frequent flyer program it’s connected to
- Whether or not the factors might be transferred to different frequent flyer packages
- Introductory bonus factors you get for signing up
- Any expiration dates in your factors
- The earn price (factors you earn per greenback spent)
- Caps on the factors you possibly can earn
- Annual charges
- Different bonus options of the cardboard
Let’s check out some intimately.
Introductory Bonus Factors
Some frequent flyer playing cards offer you bonus rewards factors on sign-up, as much as the tune of 120,000 factors (or much more). However there’s a small catch – you’ll want to satisfy the eligibility standards to get your factors, which normally means spending a minimal quantity in your card inside a sure timeframe. Test the quantity required and be sure to can meet it – it’s usually within the neighborhood of $3,000 spent inside 90 days of approval, however might be roughly.
What number of factors you might earn
Rewards factors are handed out for the {dollars} you spend on eligible purchases. Some issues received’t earn rewards factors, like Bpay transactions, money advances (the place you withdraw cash out of your bank card) and a few authorities funds.
Most occasions, rewards additionally received’t apply on stability transfers, the place you progress your stability remaining from one bank card to a brand new one which has 0% or low curiosity utilized to the transferred quantity. Test the cardboard’s PDS and the TMD to verify.
We clarify all about stability switch bank cards in our information to utilizing stability transfers to assist pay down debt.
The quantity of factors you possibly can earn is determined by just a few issues:
- The earn price. That’s what number of factors per $1 you spend. 1 frequent flyer level per greenback is pretty customary, though some playing cards supply 0.5 or 0.75 factors per $1.
- Tiered factors. Generally the earn price adjustments relying on what you purchase and the place. As an example, a card would possibly pay 1 level per $1 for eligible purchases as much as a specific amount monthly, after which it drops to 0.5 factors per $1 after that. You would possibly earn extra factors for worldwide purchases, or for purchasing merchandise by means of an affiliate enterprise or airline.
- Factors caps. Some playing cards put a restrict on the quantity of frequent flyer factors you possibly can earn in a yr (as an example, 100,000 factors yearly). Nevertheless, in some instances, factors which might be earned for purchases made with explicit companies are uncapped factors and don’t rely in the direction of your complete factors rely. So you might earn, for instance, 125,000 factors in a yr even when the cap is 100,000, as a result of 25,000 have been earned from uncapped purchases at sure shops.
- Membership standing. Relying on the cardboard, you could earn standing factors along with your spending that transfer you up into extra prestigious tiers, doubtlessly providing extra factors per $1, and unlocking extra journey options like additional checked baggage, flight upgrades and lounge entry.
To take advantage of factors out of your spending, you possibly can take into consideration how a lot you spend in your card every month, and select a proposal with uncapped factors or a better spending tier so that you don’t lose out on precious rewards by hitting the factors incomes restrict.
Additionally, think about the belongings you purchase usually. In case you use your card for grocery store spending, search for a card with the most effective earn price on these purchases. Or, for those who use your card for journey, discover a card that rewards spending on flights, lodging and automotive leases.
Annual charges and ongoing prices (and the trifecta candy spot)
The balancing act of discovering an amazing frequent flyer card for you is weighing up the annual price, the earn price and the introductory supply.
Tremendous helpful tips about annual charges:
- A card with a giant introductory supply is prone to have a better earn price, but in addition a better annual price.
- A card with a reasonable introductory supply will normally have a decrease earn price, and a decrease annual price to swimsuit.
Discovering a card that hits your trifecta candy spot means wanting on the worth you’ll get from the frequent flyer rewards, and deciding if it outweighs the annual price.
For instance, for those who earned 45,000 factors per yr on a Qantas frequent flyer bank card that supplied 1 level per $1 spent, and had an annual price of $350, you would need to weigh up in case your factors earn was well worth the barely greater yearly price.
Contemplating 36,000 factors can get you to Christchurch and again from Sydney utilizing Qantas factors (plus any regular taxes and airline charges), and including in some other perks the cardboard provides like free journey insurance coverage, the cardboard may match out effectively in your favour even with a better annual price.
And naturally, that instance doesn’t embrace any bonus supply factors whenever you join.
On that time, some playing cards supply diminished annual charges for the primary yr, or decrease ongoing annual charges for those who spend a minimal quantity per yr. Test for the newest frequent flyer bank card annual price offers utilizing the ‘annual price’ toggle on our one-click comparability device.
The curiosity you’ll be charged
If you use your bank card and don’t repay the stability (the quantity you owe) earlier than the due date or inside any interest-free intervals the cardboard provides, you’ll need to pay curiosity on the stability.
It’s additionally known as the acquisition price, and frequent flyer bank cards are inclined to have greater buy charges as a result of they’re a high-value card.
Test the acquisition price and be sure to’re assured you possibly can carry on high of your repayments so that you’re not slugged with excessive curiosity prices, as a result of that may scale back the worth of your journey rewards.
Expiration dates on frequent flyer factors
Some frequent flyer factors by no means expire, however some expire inside a sure timeframe, or for those who don’t use your card for a specified period of time. It’s usually simple to maintain your account energetic since you’ll be incomes factors each time you spend in your card.
| Frequent Flyer program | Factors expiry coverage | Tips on how to preserve factors energetic |
|---|---|---|
| Velocity Factors | Sure, after 24 months of inactivity |
|
| Qantas Factors | Sure, after 18 months of inactivity in your account |
|
| American Categorical Journey Factors | No expiry, however factors will likely be misplaced if all playing cards linked to this system are cancelled |
|
At all times test the nice print of the frequent flyer program for expiration insurance policies, and any conditions the place they might cancel the rewards program.
Step 2: Unpacking the most effective frequent flyer program for you
Every frequent flyer bank card is linked to a particular frequent flyer program that you may redeem the factors by means of.
Right here’s a snapshot of the frequent flyer packages obtainable that cowl Australian and worldwide airways:
- Qantas – Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Virgin – Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Jetstar – Jetstar Frequent Flyer
- Singapore – Airways Singapore Airways KrisFlyer
- Cathay Pacific – Marco Polo Membership
- Etihad – Etihad Visitor
- Emirates – Skywards
- Malaysia Airways – Enrich
- British Airways – British Airways Government Membership
- American Airways – AAdvantage Frequent Flyer
- United – Mileage Plus
As you’re evaluating playing cards, you’ll discover most hyperlink up with Qantas Frequent Flyer, Virgin Velocity Frequent Flyer or American Categorical packages. Nevertheless, you should still use your frequent flyer factors for different airways throughout the similar community, like Singapore Airways Krisflyer, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Air New Zealand Airpoints, Emirates Skywards and Etihad Visitor.
Becoming a member of a frequent flyer program
If you apply for a bank card connected to a frequent flyer program, you’ll have to turn into a member to start out incomes and spending factors.
Most packages are free to affix, or offer you alternative to affix at no cost by means of different partnerships.
For instance, becoming a member of Qantas Frequent Flyer normally prices $99.50, however some bank cards supply free membership, or you possibly can be part of through your Woolworths On a regular basis Rewards card.
Earlier than you apply, it’s a good suggestion to test the small print on the cardboard to learn the way and when the factors you earn are transferred to your frequent flyer account. Some playing cards supply direct switch, others switch factors on the finish of every month, whereas others solely supply handbook switch on the cardholder’s request – with a minimal switch quantity required.
Take a look at how one can maximise your points-earning potential in your chosen card. This will imply utilizing your card with sure companions throughout the journey business, akin to inns and automotive rent corporations, or with sure retailers.
Sure, it’s a bit tedious, however studying a bit about your frequent flyer card can actually give your factors incomes a lift.
What are you able to redeem frequent flyer factors on?
It’s an amazing thought to test the frequent flyer program and its retailer, so can select one that gives the belongings you need (and, it’s extra enjoyable whenever you’ve already chosen the reward you wish to get at no cost!).
Usually, you should use frequent flyer factors for:
- Journey. That features flights, upgrades, inns and lodging, and automotive rental.
- Purchasing. Go to this system’s on-line rewards retailer to search out and redeem your factors at in style shops.
- Reward playing cards. You may redeem frequent flyer factors for present playing cards, however sometimes you’ll get extra worth utilizing them for journey.
- Enjoyable eating extras. Some packages supply freebies and reductions on eating. For instance, Qantas Factors might be redeemed on Qantas wine.
In case you don’t have sufficient factors to cowl the complete price of the acquisition, many playing cards supply points-and-pay, the place you possibly can pay money to cowl any shortfalls in your factors.
Step 3: Trying out your card’s different options
Many bank cards supply a bunch of different options moreover rewards factors, and frequent flyer playing cards – particularly the fancier, costlier ones – are sometimes choc-full of them.
Options you would possibly discover on a frequent flyer bank card:
- Complimentary journey insurance coverage (could possibly be home, worldwide, or each)
- Airport lounge entry
- Airport transfers
- Journey credit score
- Concierge companies
- Reductions with partnering companies
- Cashback provides
- VIP entry to occasions
All the additional ‘dazzle’ on a card will help offset the upper annual price, particularly for those who like to journey, dine and luxuriate in social occasions.
In case you’re after factors to spend on retail, you would possibly wish to have a look at the most effective rewards-earning bank cards, that are linked to financial institution rewards packages (not particular frequent flyer memberships) and have decrease annual charges.
Different provides to look out for
Introductory provides are one large advantage of frequent flyer bank cards, however you may as well search for reductions on annual charges and any cashback provides.
Some playing cards waive the annual price for the primary yr, or for those who hit a minimal spend yearly.
There are additionally cashback or journey credit on supply, the place you’ll have a nominal quantity paid again to your account, or earn a journey voucher to spend annually. Each options assist offset any ongoing charges on the cardboard.
Some lenders supply 0% curiosity on stability transfers, which is the place you progress the debt from a bank card to at least one that received’t cost curiosity for a sure timeframe.
Earlier than you ask, you received’t earn factors whenever you switch a stability. Which implies combining a stability switch (the place the objective is to repay debt) with a card that’s about incomes rewards on large spending will not be the most effective mixture.
In case you’re eager to get forward of your bank card stability, use our one-click comparability device to discover a stability switch card that may provide help to most.
FAQs
What’s an ‘eligible transaction’ for incomes factors?
An eligible transaction normally means common spending on on a regular basis objects, like groceries, consuming out and reserving tickets (together with flights). Usually, you received’t earn factors on money advances (the place you withdraw cash out of your bank card) and any balances transferred from a special card.
Usually, you received’t earn factors on authorities transactions both, like paying your charges invoice.
The bank card’s PDS will define which transactions are eligible for incomes factors.
Are all frequent flyer factors value the identical quantity?
No, every frequent flyer program has their very own worth system. For instance, a $100 Bunnings present voucher will price 23,170 Qantas Factors, or 21,800 Velocity Factors.
If you wish to get probably the most out of your factors, you possibly can search the completely different rewards packages and select the one with the higher factors redemption on belongings you’re most certainly to purchase.
Can I add further cardholders?
Including members of the family to the account is an effective strategy to bump up your factors earnings quicker, however not all playing cards permit further cardholders, and a few make you pay.
The extra cardholder price is perhaps minimal, like $10 per yr, however can also require a price to affix the membership program.
At all times test the phrases for including additional cardholders to verify it’s not going so as to add ongoing bills that outweigh the advantages.
How do I select my card as soon as I’ve selected my Rewards Program?
If you realize which frequent flyer program you wish to be part of, you possibly can evaluate the playing cards connected to your program by utilizing our one-click comparability device:
Examine all Qantas Frequent Flyer bank cards.
Examine all Velocity Frequent Flyer bank cards.
Or, you possibly can evaluate bonus factors for all rewards playing cards, together with non-frequent-flyer packages, on our bonus factors comparability web page.
In case you’re nonetheless undecided, you possibly can evaluate all bank cards providing frequent flyer factors and click on every card to learn its execs and cons.
Can I earn factors on authorities funds, like my ATO invoice?
Most bank cards don’t supply factors on authorities transactions, and people who do are most frequently enterprise bank cards. Nevertheless, some American Categorical frequent flyer playing cards supply factors on funds to authorities our bodies.
As all the time, test the cardboard’s particulars to search out out.
