Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

Earn piles of bonus points with top card offers.

Reach your travel goal sooner with a top frequent flyer card. Plus, enjoy perks like travel credits, airport lounge passes and more.

How this page works: Browse this month’s featured card deals below. You have the option of clicking straight through to the secure card provider link to apply for the card. Alternatively, click ‘our review’ to read our detailed card write up and find out more. We may receive a commission if you apply and are approved for a card using a link from our site. Find out why you can trust us here.

Bonus Points

100,000 bonus Velocity Points

Annual Fee

$375

Earn Rate

1.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent, excl Govt bodies in Australia which earn 0.5 Velocity Points per $1 spent

*Eligibility criteria, minimum spend, other T&Cs apply
Receive 100,000 bonus Velocity Points when you apply online via The Champagne Mile by 15 May 2024. Min. spend $3k in 3 months, T&Cs apply. New American Express Card Members only. Plus, receive a complimentary return Virgin Australia domestic flight each year you hold the Card.

Bonus Points

100,000 Qantas Points*

Annual Fee

$450

Earn Rate

Up to 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent (uncapped)

*Eligibility criteria, minimum spend, other T&Cs apply
Receive 100,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 2 April 2024, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Qantas American Express Ultimate Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only. Plus, a $450 Qantas Travel Credit each year.

Key Benefit

Fast track to Star Alliance Gold Status (*T&Cs apply)

Annual Fee

$0 annual fee in first year, ($450 thereafter)*

Earn Rate

Earn 1 Star Alliance Point per $1 spent on eligible purchases, up to $3,000 per statement period and 0.5 thereafter

*Fees, charges, T&Cs, min. spend, eligibility & lending criteria apply
Fast track to Star Alliance Gold Status in year one of your account when you spend $4,000 or more on eligible purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. For a limited time, $0 annual fee in the first year ($450 thereafter). Fees, charges, T&Cs, min. spend, eligibility & lending criteria apply. Australian Credit Licence 232595. Available to new, approved customers.

Bonus Points

180,000 extra Reward Points*

Annual Fee

$375*

Earn Rate

2 Reward Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases (capped at 5,000 per statement period)

*New Rewards card. T&Cs, eligibility criteria, fees and charges apply. (including an annual fee, currently $375).
Earn 180,000 extra ANZ Reward Points and $150 back to your new ANZ Rewards Black credit card when you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months from approval.

Bonus Points

Up to 120,000 Qantas Points*

Annual Fee

Reduced annual fee for the first year from $395 to $295

Earn Rate

1 Qantas Point per $1 up to $5,000 and 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 from $5,001 to $20,000

*Eligibility criteria, minimum spend, other T&Cs apply
Earn up to 120,000 Bonus Qantas Points on a new NAB Qantas Signature Card. Min $3,000 spend on everyday purchases in first 60 days and keep your card open for 12 months.

Bonus Points

200,000 Membership Rewards Points*

Annual Fee

$1450

Earn Rate

Up to 2.25 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent

*Eligibility criteria, minimum spend, other T&Cs apply
Receive 200,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points when you apply online by 9 April 2024, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New American Express Card Members only.

Bonus Points

80,000 extra Reward Points*

Annual Fee

$145*

Earn Rate

1.5 Reward Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases (capped at $2,000 per statement period)

 
Earn 80,000 extra ANZ Reward Points and $50 back to your new ANZ Rewards Platinum credit card when you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months from approval.

Bonus Points

50,000 Membership Rewards Points*

Annual Fee

$395

Earn Rate

Up to 2 Membership Rewards points per $1

*Eligibility criteria, minimum spend, other T&Cs apply
Receive 50,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points when you apply, are approved, and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only.

Bonus Points

70,000 bonus Qantas Points*

Annual Fee

Reduced annual fee for the first year from $250 to $150

Earn Rate

Earn up to 1 Qantas Point for every AU$1.50 spent on everyday purchases (capped)

*Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply
Earn 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $2,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days of account opening. T&Cs, eligibility criteria, fees and charges apply.

Offer

0% p.a. interest on balance transfers for 26 months (1% BT fee applies)

Annual Fee

$0 first year annual fee (reverts to $129 in subsequent years)

Card Benefits

Earn up to 2 Rewards Plus points per $1 spent, get two airport lounge passes each year

*Eligibility criteria, minimum spend, other T&Cs apply
Cardholders also receive up to 55 days interest free on purchases. Plus, exclusive cardholder benefits including HSBC Instant Savings, Visa Premium and the Home&Away Privilege program can be accessed.

Offer

Earn Qantas Points and enjoy $0 Annual Fee

Annual Fee

$0

Earn Rate

0.75 Qantas Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases and 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent at Govt bodies in Australia

*Eligibility criteria, minimum spend, other T&Cs apply
Earn Qantas Points and enjoy a $0 Annual Fee. Access Card Refund and Purchase Cover, get up to 4 Additional Cards for family members or friends with no extra fee and enjoy American Express Card Member benefits.

Bonus Points

Annual Fee

$195

Earn Rate

Up to 3 Membership Rewards points per $1

*Eligibility criteria, minimum spend, other T&Cs apply
Enjoy $0 Annual Card Fee (usually $195) in the first year when you apply online and are approved. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only. Plus, receive a $200 American Express Travel Credit each year you hold the card.

Bonus Points

Annual Fee

$0 Annual Fee

Earn Rate

0.75 Velocity Points per $1 spent, excl Govt bodies in Australia which earn 0.5 Velocity Points per $1 spent

*Eligibility criteria, minimum spend, other T&Cs apply
$0 Annual Fee. Plus, earn Velocity Points on everyday spend and access a range of American Express Card Member benefits.

Browse frequent flyer credit cards

Signing up for a frequent flyer credit card can be one of the easiest ways to build up your points and miles balance quickly.

Provided you pay it off in full each month, a frequent flyer credit card can help you to travel in style at a low cost, by maximizing the rewards you get for the things you already buy in your day-to-day life. With many credit cards now affiliated with frequent flyer programs, it’s easy to earn points if you’re in the know about the best cards to choose.

How does a frequent flyer credit card work?

Frequent flyer credit cards are linked to a loyalty program. There are a number of popular points and miles loyalty programs linked to rewards credit cards available in Australia. These loyalty programs include Qantas Frequent Flyer, Velocity Frequent Flyer and American Express Membership Rewards.

A rewards credit card will generally offer a set number of points per $1 you spend (with some products offering up to 3 points per $1 in selected spend categories). By using a frequent flyer credit card on the things you purchase every day, you can earn a significant number of points and miles. Selected credit cards also come with sign-on bonus points for new cardmembers. Bonus points can help you to earn frequent flyer points quickly.

Does a frequent flyer credit card offer other benefits?

Yes, rewards credit cards often come with other benefits that can help to take the sting out of the annual fee and help you access cheap flights. These can include complimentary return flights, travel credits, and airport lounge passes. A number of frequent flyer credit cards also offer complimentary travel insurance.

Are there downsides to consider when comparing frequent flyer credit cards?

Frequent flyer credit cards can come with valuable benefits, but there is a range of potential downsides to consider before you select a card. These include:

  • A high annual card fee. Many frequent flyer credit cards come with a high annual fee. When comparing credit card offers, consider whether you can use the card benefits and perks to offset the value of the annual fee. It is possible to obtain a $0 annual fee credit card. However, $0 annual fee credit cards usually include fewer rewards and a lower point per $1 earn rate when compared with higher tier rewards cards. It’s important to note that there can be a range of other fees and charges associated with credit cards.
  • A high-interest rate. Frequent flyer credit cards can often have high purchase interest rates. Rewards credit cards should only be used if you plan to pay off the full credit card balance each month. Otherwise, the interest you’ll incur could outweigh the value of the rewards.
  • Sign on bonus spend requirements. To take advantage of an introductory bonus point offer, you will generally need to spend a specific amount of money in a set period.

How many bonus points can I earn?

Credit card bonus points offers are offered throughout the year. The Champagne Mile does not provide information on all rewards cards and there are higher offers available.

Can a rewards credit card be linked directly with an airline?

Yes. In Australia, Virgin Australia and Qantas operate c0-brand credit cards through their loyalty schemes, Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer. With a Qantas Frequent Flyer credit card, points are generally credited directly to your account each month.

If you’re not yet a member of Qantas Frequent Flyer, you can join for free here.

Other airline loyalty programs that are popular in Australia include Singapore Airlines Krisflyer and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. There is currently no direct-earning rewards card for Asia Miles in Australia, but points can be transferred across from AMEX Membership Rewards.

Is it possible to obtain a $0 annual fee rewards credit card?

Yes. There is a range of $0 annual fee frequent flyer credit cards available in Australia. It’s important to note that, $0 annual fee credit cards usually offer fewer rewards and cardmember benefits. Generally, these cards also offer a lower point or mile earn rate on day-to-day spend when compared with higher tier rewards cards that come with annual fees.

Will I lose my points or miles if I close my credit card?

If you hold a co-brand Velocity or Qantas Frequent Flyer credit card, this shouldn’t happen. The points that you earn are generally credited to your frequent flyer account each month. For AMEX Membership Rewards credit cards, however, you’ll need to transfer out or redeem points before you close your card. Either way, it’s helpful to speak with your credit card provider before you close your credit card to ensure you’re not going to lose out on any reward points.

Which rewards credit cards can I compare?

In Australia, American Express, Visa and Mastercard offer rewards credit cards, with a small range of Diners Credit Cards available through Citibank. Generally, acceptance of Visa and Mastercard is highest. However, American Express provides card members with high points earn rates and ongoing benefits.

The Champagne Mile only covers a small selection of credit cards available in Australia.

How can I maximise rewards from a frequent flyer credit card?

Once you’ve earned enough frequent flyer points or miles, it’s time to choose your reward. Popular redemption options include flights, flight upgrades, accommodation and gift cards.

Here at The Champagne Mile, we love to use frequent flyer points for first and business class flights and aspirational accommodation. From Qantas and Singapore Airlines first class, to a five-star stay in the desert, we try to get maximum value from rewards points. Get inspired by reading our range of in-depth reviews.

There are a number of frequent flyer credit cards available in Australia. Browse our range of rewards credit cards here.

Scroll to Top