- Special offer: Earn 50,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 14 January 2025, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. (New American Express Card Members only)
- Earning points: Earn up to 1.25 Qantas points per $1 spent on everyday transactions After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent*. Earn 0.5 points per $1 on government bodies.
- Travel perks: $450 Qantas Travel Credit each year plus two entries per year to The Centurion® Lounge and two Qantas Club lounge passes each year (Qantas spend required)*
- Insurances: complimentary domestic & international insurance when booked with the card (including limited COVID-19 cover, T&Cs apply).
- Extras: Up to 44 days interest-free plus four free additional card members, and free Qantas Wine membership
- *Please note: terms and conditions apply, please check our review and the PDS for details
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American Express Credit Cards
Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card
Updated 25 November 2024
The Qantas Ultimate lives up to its name with premium perks for travellers and those wanting to earn Qantas Points. You can get 50,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 14 January 2025, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. Annual Card fee is $450.
Making travel easier, you'll also get a range of globetrotting perks including $450 Qantas Travel Credit each year, travel insurance and airport lounge passes.
T&Cs apply. New Amex Card Members only.
Points Earn Rate (per $1 spent)
1.25 points
QantasRewards Program
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Bonus Points
50,000 pts
Spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply.
Pros and cons
- High purchase rate of 23.99% p.a.
- Some features are only available after you spend directly with Qantas, such as the Qantas Lounge Club passes
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
Creditcard.com.au review
Editor Review
Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card
Pauline Hatch
Pauline is a personal finance expert at CreditCard.com.au, with 9 years in money, budgeting and property reporting under her belt. Ask Pauline a Question about this card.
The Big Review: Qantas American Express Ultimate
A prestige rewards card packed with premium travel benefits, the Qantas American Express Ultimate is now even more appealing, offering new American Express card members 50,000 bonus Qantas Points and a huge range of travel benefits.
This Card: The Lowdown
As a prestige travel rewards card, the Qantas American Express Ultimate is designed for frequent travellers who want to be rewarded for their credit card spending, while also enjoying a wide range of travel-related benefits and extended travel and Card Purchase Cover.
With 50,000 bonus Qantas Points offer, the Qantas American Express Ultimate can be a great choice for new cardholders who want to give their rewards balance a boost.
This Card: As a Rewards Card
One of the biggest drawcards of the Qantas American Express Ultimate is its rewards program. As one of the highest earning Qantas Points cards, it offers you the opportunity to earn big on your credit card spending.
Bonus points: You can earn 50,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 14 January 2025, are approved and spend at least $3000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card approval. This offer is only available if you haven't held an Amex card in the past 18 months. The bonus points will be awarded to the eligible card member’s account 8-10 weeks after the spend criteria have been met, provided your account is in good standing.
Earning points per dollar:
- Earn 1.25 Qantas Points for every $1 spent on everyday purchases*
- Earn 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent at government bodies in Australia
- Earn 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on eligible Qantas products and services
| *Once you've earned a total of 100,000 Qantas Points in a calendar year, your earn rate changes from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent on everyday purchases (other earn rates like Qantas products and services and government spend will stay the same). The points threshold resets on 1 January each year. Points earned by additional cardholders are included in the total, but bonus points don't count. |
What can you use Qantas Points for?
Flights & Travel16,000 Qantas points = Sydney to Brisbane return |
Shopping96,890 Qantas points = Apple watch SE |
Gift cards23,330 Qantas points = $100 Bunnings gift card |
Point calculations are accurate as of 1 November 2024 but may be subject to change without notice. All routes may have additional taxes and charges. Check on the official American Express page for the updated calculations.
You can also earn points faster by adding family members to your account card at no additional cost. The points you earn will be transferred automatically to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account each month. From there, you can redeem them on whatever you choose.
For instance, you could choose to redeem your points for air travel, opting for a Classic Flight Reward or a Points Plus Pay Flight, or selecting an upgrade with Classic Upgrade Rewards or Bid Now Upgrades.
Alternatively, you could use your Qantas Points to purchase or renew a Qantas Club Membership, book car hire or accommodation with Qantas Hotels, shop for premium wines and gourmet food with Qantas Wine, or invest in extra protection with Qantas Insurance. You could also redeem your points for merchandise at Qantas Store.
This Card: As a Travel Rewards Card
The ideal travelling companion for people who love to travel, the Qantas American Express Ultimate offers an outstanding range of travel-based perks.
$450 Qantas Travel Credit: Helping to offset the card’s $450 annual fee, the Qantas American Express Ultimate provides cardholders with $450 Qantas Travel Credit every year.
Replacing the card’s previous offer of one return domestic flight each year, this Travel Credit is designed to offer more flexibility, providing cardholders with $450 that can be put towards the purchase of a Qantas domestic or international flight booked through American Express Travel.
To be eligible for this Travel Credit, you must have paid the annual fee, and your account must be current and in good standing. You'll need to spend $450 minimum to redeem your Travel Credit using your Qantas Ultimate credit card via the American Express Travel Online portal. The Travel Credit will be credited to your account in 3 business days (but allow up to 30). Travel Credit also can’t be carried over to the subsequent year if it remains unused.
You can redeem Travel Credit for any eligible Qantas flight you want to book, as long as there is a QF flight number on your ticket. You can’t use your Credit for accommodation or car hire unless there is a Qantas flight within the same transaction.
In terms of points-earning potential, you can earn points on the portion of the booking that is not paid for with your Travel Credit. So, if your flight costs $1250, you can earn points on $800 of that booking.
Another point to note regards fees and taxes on your booking. Booking fees and taxes of an award redemption need to be paid directly through the Qantas website or over the phone. Thus, you cannot use your Travel Credit to pay them as Travel Credit can be redeemed through the American Express Travel Online website only.
Lounge Access: The Qantas American Express Ultimate provides cardholders with two types of Lounge access. As a cardholder, you will receive two complimentary Qantas Club lounge invitations each year after your first card spend on selected Qantas products and services in Australia.
So, to be eligible, you will need to book a Qantas flight (with a QF flight number) through Qantas direct, or at participating travel agents, or pay for Qantas Frequent Flyer or Qantas Club membership.
Within two weeks of that purchase, two Qantas Club Lounge Invitations will be assigned to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. Each invitation provides you a single Lounge visit, which means you can’t bring a guest, unless you gift them one of your invitations.
Also on offer is complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge at Sydney or Melbourne International Airports twice a year. You must present your Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card to gain entry to the lounge. This offer doesn’t require an eligible purchase.
This Card: Extras on Offer
Qantas Wine Premium membership: As a premium food and wine portal, Qantas Wine allows you to partake in gourmet food, outstanding wines and exclusive access to food and wine events around Australia. Normally $99, your membership is free. You'll also earn 3 bonus Qantas Points per $1 spent on Qantas Wine purchases (on top of the points you would normally earn on everyday spending).
In terms of complimentary insurance cover, this card has plenty to offer. However, it’s a good idea to check the PDS closely to find out more about the various insurance covers available, so you know exactly what’s covered – and what isn’t.
Domestic and international travel insurance: Travel insurance includes Medical Emergency Expenses Cover, Public Transport Accident Cover, Trip Cancellation and Amendment Cover, Baggage, Money and Documentation Cover, and Travel Inconvenience Insurance on flight departure delays.
Card and retail insurances:
- Card Refund Cover will credit your account if you're refused a refund on an unused eligible item within 90 days of purchase,
- Card Purchase Cover will repair or refund eligible items if they’re accidentally broken or stolen within 90 days of purchase,
- The Online Fraud Protection Guarantee means you won't be held responsible for any unauthorised charges online using your card details.
Other details you need to know
Now we’ve covered the fun bits, it’s time to get into the nitty gritty. Firstly, the annual fee is $450. This may seem like a significant amount, but when you take into account all the extras on offer, it could in fact be great value. It really depends on how much you use the features provided.
The Qantas American Express Ultimate has a standard interest rate on purchases of 23.99% p.a. As this is relatively high, it’s best to make sure you clear your balance at the end of each statement period.
To be eligible for this card, you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (or hold a long term visa for at least 12 months and does not include student visas), you must be at least 18 years of age, and you must have no history of bad debt or payment default.
Decision Time
With so much to offer, the Qantas American Express Ultimate is hard to say no to, especially with 50,000 bonus Qantas Points offer. If you want extensive travel perks and features, and a high-earning rewards program backed by excellent customer service, this card could indeed be the one for you.
User reviews
Rates and fees
Interest rates
Purchase rate 23.99% p.a.
Cash advance rate N/A
Interest free period on purchases up to 44 days
Credit limits
Minimum credit limit $3,000
Maximum credit limit N/A
Fees & repayments
Annual fee $450 p.a.
Additional cardholder fee Up to 4 at no extra cost
Foreign transaction fee 3%
Minimum repayment $30 or 2.5%, whichever is greater (personal & business); N/A (charge cards)
Cash advance fee N/A
Late payment fee $30
Rewards and points
Rewards program
Rewards Program
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Bonus points 50,000 points
Annual points cap uncapped
Bonus points spend criteria Spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply.
Earning points with this card
Qantas Rewards points 1.25 points per $1 spent
Points cap per month N/A
Overseas earn rate same as standard earn rate
Additional features
Complimentary insurance
International Travel Insurance Yes
Flight Inconvenience Insurance Yes
Transit Accident Insurance Yes
Smartphone Screen Insurance No
Purchase Protection Insurance Yes
Extended Warranty Insurance No
Rental Vehicle Excess In Australia Insurance No
Extras
Travel insurance underwritten by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited
Two Qantas Club lounge invitations each year
Two The Centurion® Lounge entries each year
Eligible with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
$450 Qantas Travel Credit each year
Overview
Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card
New American Express card members can get up to 50,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3000 within the first 3 months. Offer ends 14 January 2025.
Key features
Minimum criteria to apply for this card
-
Be over 18 years old
-
Good Credit and have not applied for multiple credit cards recently
-
Australian citizen or permanent resident or hold a long term visa (at least 12 months; does not include student visas).
You have your personal details ready to complete the online application
Pauline is a personal finance expert at CreditCard.com.au, with 9 years in money, budgeting and property reporting under her belt. Pauline is passionate about seeing Aussies win by making their money – and their credit cards – work smarter, harder and bigger
Recently Asked Questions
Something you need to know about this card? Ask our credit card expert a question.
Ask a question96 questions (showing the latest 10 Q&As)
Is there an age limit on the complimentary travel insurance.
Hi Peter, there is. I checked and the age limit is 79 years old or younger. Thanks!
I'm looking for credit cards that could best maximize my expenditure on international travel (3-4x every year), Apple products (curating an Apple ecosystem), shopping for my girlfriend, financing loans (home, auto and business) and essential bill payments. Your suggestions and guidance would be monumental.
Hi Sami, you could look at cards that save on international fees, or cards that earn rewards points. Most will earn points on standard bills like electricity and your phone plan. Some rewards cards also have discounts with partnerting retailers, and Visa has its own cashback and discount program called Visa + Perks that you can enrol in for free. I hope that helps you get started!
Hi Pauline,
Could I use the $450 Qantas Travel Credit to pay taxes and fees? Thanks
Hi Mark, you’ll be able to only use that travel credit on selected flights, hotels, or car hires, subject to terms and conditions that Qantas have set out. You can refer to the Travel Credit Terms PDS for more information. Thanks!
Hi Pauline How does the $450 annual fee get paid? is it taken off the credit card balance or is it paid by another debit card?
Hi Jeni, the $450 annual fee for the American Express Qantas Ultimate card is typically charged directly to your credit card account on your first statement, which is generated approximately 30 days after your card is approved/activated. Subsequent annual fees are charged on your account anniversary date, which is the date when you first opened the card account. You will see these fees as transactions on your statement around those times. You don't need to pay them with another debit card - they will be deducted from your available credit balance on the card itself.
Looking at getting a card with QANTAS points. What would be the best card if you had $500k spend minimum every year.
Cheers
Hi Todd, quite a unique question you’ve posed here. I can’t recommend one specific card over another, you should definitely start by comparing a range of Qantas Points earning cards. You can check out the offers directly from Qantas Money or there’s a range of offers from a range of credit providers that directly earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Points. You can use the options at the top of the table to enter your monthly spend to get an idea of the amount of points you can earn. Hope this helps Todd!
Does the travel insurance cover additional card holders?
Hi Penelope, I see that additional cardholders may be eligible for coverage. You can check American Express’ card insurance PDS for more information on eligibility, T&Cs, coverage, and general exclusions.
making sure that the american express card can be used to pay bills, insurance, all other expenses, was told not all companies and businesses dont accept the card
Hi Andrew, what you've heard is right: most places accept Amex but there are still some who don't. Amex has been trying to shift this in the past few years, especially by launching their “Shop Small” campaign. You can also see which insurers and services accept Amex on its website here, but it's a good idea to call your service providers to check as I'm not sure how up-to-date the Amex page is. Thanks Andrew!
how can I get an invitation to a complimentary lounge? I want to use the lounge in Singapore. I will travel by Qantas flight.
Hi Seiko, good question! With the Qantas American Express Ultimate card, you'll receive 2 Qantas Club Lounge Invitations each anniversary year of card membership after spending on selected Qantas products and services. Once you meet the spend requirement, typically you'll receive an email notification from Qantas within 2 weeks, indicating the availability of the lounge invitations for use. Enjoy your travels!
My monthly air travel is paid by my employer. This is booked under my name done by a travel agent which I earn frequent flyer points for. They are QF flights. Will this give me the 2x lounge access.
Hi Allan, that's a great question! The lounge access is not attached to the flight but to the cardholder, so it's likely not available to you if it wasn't paid for on your card. However, lounge passes can be transferred from your employer to you. You can see how that works on this Qantas page under "Transferring your invitation". Thanks Allan!
Re. Amex Qantas Ultimate CC, Is the Centurian & the Qantas Club lounge equally good?
Are they better than Plaza Premium Sydney?
Is Qantas Club lounge available in KL & Phuket?
Hi Kevin, I haven't personally used the Centurion lounges so I can't comment on those! You can read more about them and see photos on the Amex site here. It doesn't look like KL or Phuket airports have Qantas Club lounges (although KL has a Plaza Premium lounge).
Can you please explain why it says 75100 points earned over 12 months?
Hi Dru, the points earned is only an estimation figure based on what you’ve entered into the sliders above our comparison tables. As the points were listed at 100k and not 100,000, our comparison engine wasn’t calculating the number. Thanks for bringing this up and we’ve updated our data point to reflect this.
“Two complimentary Qantas Club lounge invitations”,
Can I use Qantas Club overseas?
Hi Mark, yes there are many Qantas Club lounges all over the world. You can see all the lounges on the Qantas airport lounge page here. Hope that helps, thanks Mark!
Hi Pauline. Is it possible to 'preload' the AMEX Qantas Ultimate card to make a very large purchase which is over the amount of the credit limit? i.e. have the funds for the purchase already on the card and pay by card so as to get the FF points
Hi Libby! That's a good question. Credit card providers don't give clear answers on loading your card into a positive balance. Some say your card will be frozen until the balance is repaid back to you, others say you still won't be able to spend above your credit limit even if there is extra cash on the card. Amex is one of the most stringent about positive balances. I can't find anything on Australian sites, but the US site says you won't earn FF points on amounts above your credit limit. And, it might be charged as a cash advance! It's murky ground, as you can see. Thanks Libby!
Hi. If I were to purchase air tickets, hotels, car hire ect would I get points for these? Is that included in the 3k spending in the 1st 3 months to qualify for the 75k points?
Hi Afrim, I checked this for you and American Express, like any other card issuers, does not provide a published list of eligible transactions. Typically, eligible transactions include your daily expenses such as groceries and dining at your favourite restaurants. However, transactions like cash advances, interest payments, fees, and similar items are not considered eligible. For more detailed information, I recommend checking their official T&Cs PDS for more information.
Do additional card holders have the same beneifts as the main holder when using the The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card? Looking to use this for our personal spending
Hi Braeden, great question. Amex says additional cardholders can earn points and track their own transactions, but can't view the main account. The insurance terms refer to the "Card Member and Additional Cardholders", which sounds like extra cardholders could be covered, too. They can also use Amex Offers. You can add extra people through the app, as long as they are over 16. You can find more info on Amex's Additional Cardholder page. Thanks Braeden!
Whats the minimum credit on this card and is there a minimum salary threshold?
Hi Ash, with the Qantas American Express Ultimate card, the minimum credit limit you can be approved for is $3,000. Please note that if approved for a credit card, the actual credit limit set by the card issuer will depend on various factors, including your annual income and ability to make payments.
In terms of the salary requirement, I checked the information for you. Apart from the standard eligibility criteria such as being at least 18 years old, an Australian citizen, and having a good payment history, there is no specific mention of the minimum salary required. However, they do require you to provide details of your income, expenses, debts, proof of income, and Australian driver's licence.
Featured Credit Cards
Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card
50,000 bonus Qantas Points
points earned over 12 months
R K
21 June 2022So the $450 annual fee is offset by the $450 travel credit (only for Qantas flights) and the points earning rate is the best on the market by far. Only problem I had was additional card holders while being free of cost to add, did not receive any of the card offers that the primary holder does. I.e. $10 off fuel when spend over $80 only would exist on the primary card not the additionals. This became kind of annoying but that’s the only downside.
Recommends this cardJeanne
22 June 2020Due to the virus and all flights being cancelled, at the moment I have $450 travel credit from last year sitting with Qantas and $450 from this year. I also have a total of four of those lounge passes which I will probably never use as I don't live in Melbourne or Sydney. There doesn't seem to be any option to get a refund of these payments via American Express but really I don't need to spend $450 a year just to have a credit card and the money could be put to better use in my bank account. Amex simply swiped another $450 from my account in March at the time when all flights had been cancelled. When I complained they said I can use the card for "other things" but I don't really think the "other things" justify the $450 charge. They should reduce it to $100 until Qantas is back in the air.
Recommends this cardHaoming
5 February 2020Travel credit sounds good by itself but you need to book through their website which cost more to start with, and if any changes required, other than paying amex for changes, you need to pay the airline for changes. Double unnecessary charges. Went to the melbourne amex lounge yesterday and the customer service was horrible, no one at reception and the way they tell customer last drink at 10:30 was rude and they close at 11pm, good wise? It was horrible, the worst lounge I ever been to.
Does not recommend this cardJoeM
24 November 2019As long as your doing some traveling each year you can't go wrong with this card. The $450 cost per year is redeemable, travel insurance free, and I use it for all my shopping. Direct debit entire balance each month, Plus the complementary lounge passes you can't go wrong!!!
Recommends this card