Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

Your Guide to Qantas Frequent Flyer Cards

Earning points on the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, a Qantas Frequent Flyer card offers cardholders access to an extensive range of rewards, with everything from flights and upgrades to gift cards and gadgets on offer. So, how do you know if a Qantas Frequent Flyer card is right for you? In this guide, we’ll cover all the essential info you need to know, helping you to decide if a Qantas card would work for, how to choose the right card, and how to make the most of it.

Is a Qantas Frequent Flyer card right for you?

Before we look any closer at what Qantas Frequent Flyer cards can offer, you need to consider whether this type of card would work for you. Rewards cards in general don’t work for every type of cardholder, so it’s best to make sure a Qantas card would be a good fit before you start comparing your options.

You love to travel. Frequent flyer credit cards such as Qantas cards tend to suit frequent travellers. If you love to travel, you can use your card to cover flights, accommodation and any other travel spending, earning Qantas Points for each $1 you spend. While you will also earn points on everyday spending, larger travel spends tend to accrue points faster – and if you book with Qantas and its partners, you will earn even more points on each transaction.

You want to earn rewards. If you want to get something back on your credit card spending, rewards cards such as Qantas Frequent Flyer cards could make that happen. As long as you choose the right card – and Qantas is the right program for you – your purchases could give you valuable rewards in return for spending you need to do anyway.

You have a significant credit card spend. Rewards cards tend to reward big spenders. After all, the more you spend on your card, the more points you stack up. However, by choosing the right card – and channelling as much spending through the card as possible – you should be able to maximise your earn even if you’re not that much of a big spender. What’s important here is that you earn more in points value than you pay out in annual fees.

You always pay off your balance each month. Another thing to remember with rewards cards such as Qantas Frequent Flyer cards is that they only suit cardholders who clear their balance each month. You will not see true value on your rewards earning if you pay interest on your credit card, so you should always pay your bill on time and in full, each and every month.

How do you compare Qantas Frequent Flyer cards?

At CreditCard.com.au, you can compare Qantas Frequent Flyer cards side-by-side, taking in important features such as annual fees and interest, as well as earn rates and intro offers. So, now you know a Qantas card could work for you, what should you look for when comparing the options?

• Earn Rate: A card’s earn rate will give you a good idea of how many points you will earn on your spending. It can also help you work out whether the card will suit your spending style and offer value in the long term. The earn rate on your Qantas card will either be the same across the board (for example, 1 Qantas Point per $1 on all spending), or tiered (so, 2 Qantas Points per $1 on Qantas purchases, 1 Qantas Point per $1 elsewhere, 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 on government spending).
• Points Caps & Shaping: Points caps and points shaping limit the number of points you can earn on your spending, so be sure to check for this when comparing your options. With points shaping, you will earn fewer points per $1 after you reach a certain spend. For example, you could earn 2 Qantas Points per $1 up to $10,000 each month, and 1 Qantas Points per $1 on all spending after that. Similarly, with a points cap, you will earn no points on your spending after you reach a certain amount.
• Annual Fee: Your card’s annual fee is an essential component in your comparison. By using your estimated average spend to work out the dollar value it provides in rewards, you can compare that to the amount each card charges in annual fees. If you have a smaller spend, you may find certain cards don’t offer value. On the other hand, a higher spend may allow you to step up the ladder to opt for a higher earning platinum or black Qantas card.
• Features: Qantas Frequent Flyer cards range from basic to the extravagant, so it’s up to you to work out what kind of card would suit you. Classic cards tend to focus solely on rewards, while platinum and black cards offer more features. These tend to come with higher annual fees, so make sure the payout is worth what you’re getting in return.

What about introductory offers?

Introductory offers can add serious value, allowing cardholders to benefit from bonus points, balance transfers and purchase offers, or big savings on annual fees. Of course, it’s a good idea to weigh up what the card provides in the long term, but over the short term these offers can provide an extra boost to cardholders thinking of signing up.

Bonus Points: This is one of the most popular types of introductory offer on Qantas Frequent Flyer cards. As long as you meet the required minimum spend, you can get your hands on a chunk of bonus points, to spend as you like. Whether that’s a getaway, a big ticket item for the house, or an indulgent shopping spree, bonus points could give you the boost your points balance needs to get you there.

Annual Fee: By reducing or waiving the annual fee in the first year, these offers can provide real value to cardholders. Taking advantage of this type of offer, you can trial the card for free or for a lower cost, getting more value from the rewards you earn and the features you use. Just make sure you can afford the standard annual fee when it comes back into play.

Balance Transfer: Balance transfer offers can be tricky on rewards cards such as Qantas Frequent Flyer cards. To make them work for you, you either need to hold off on new spending (which means you will earn fewer rewards), or be able to pay down both new spending and your transferred balance within the intro period.

0% Purchases: While this type of offer is not common on Qantas cards, it can be a great find. Allowing you to save on interest on your purchases throughout the introductory period, it gives you a bit more freedom to spend. This allows you to earn more in rewards, but you need to make sure you pay off all that spending before the intro period ends.

What does a Qantas Frequent Flyer card offer?

Earning Qantas Points on your Qantas Frequent Flyer card is easy. Purchases on your card will attract a specific earn rate according to the terms set out by your card. Depending on the card you choose, you could earn points on your supermarket shopping and petrol purchases, on little luxuries from your favourite department store, or on your travel bookings with Qantas and other travel providers.

As a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, the Qantas Points you earn on your credit card spending will be automatically transferred to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. Unless the Qantas Points you earn feature a points expiry date, they will continue you accumulate in your account until you choose to redeem them.

You can redeem your Qantas Points for a wide variety of rewards. In terms of travel, you could redeem your Qantas Points for Classic Flight Rewards, for Points Plus Pay flights, or for Classic Upgrade Rewards with Qantas. Or, you could redeem your points with any of Qantas’s 35 partners and affiliates, such as Jetstar, Emirates and oneworld, to travel to more than 1,000 destinations worldwide.

More travel options are available through Qantas partner hotels, on car hire bookings, or travel insurance. If you enjoy a tipple or two, you could redeem your points for the great deals on offer with Qantas Wine membership. Alternatively, you could visit Qantas Store to swap your points for any of the 3,000 products available, from gift cards and experiences, to gadgets, homewares and kitchen appliances.

Which providers offer Qantas Frequent Flyer cards?

A wide selection of credit card providers offer Qantas Frequent Flyer cards. You may find Qantas Frequent Flyer cards offered by the Big Four and international banks, by smaller lenders and in partnership with big behemoths such as American Express. You may also find Qantas Frequent Flyer cards issued by Qantas itself.

As each of these providers offers something different, it’s important to look at the fees, features and value of what’s on offer on each Qantas Frequent Flyer card to find the right card for you.

What features are on offer with Qantas Frequent Flyer cards?

If you want more from your Qantas Frequent Flyer card than just rewards, you should find out what features are on offer. The number of features on the card – and their value – will usually depend on the card provider, and the card’s annual fee. Cards with lower annual fees typically offer fewer features, while cards with higher annual fees often provide more extravagant features.

Here are some features you may want to look out for when comparing Qantas Frequent Flyer cards:

• Complimentary Qantas Frequent Flyer membership: If you’re not a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, this could save you $99.50.
• Airport Lounge Access: Some Qantas Frequent Flyer cards provide cardholders with airport lounge access, offering a certain number of passes per year or unlimited access.
• Free Flights: Higher-end Qantas Frequent Flyer cards may offer cardholders a certain number of free flights per year, or alternatively, travel credit to use within a given period of time.
• Travel Insurance: A handy feature for the frequent traveller, credit card travel insurance can provide a range of cover options on travel both at home and overseas.

As with the rewards on offer, it’s best to work out the value of the features provided in relation to the cost of the card in annual fees. If the card offers features that you will actually use and that you find valuable – and they offer higher value than the annual fee you are paying – the card may well be a worthwhile addition to your wallet.

In what circumstances should you avoid a Qantas Frequent Flyer card?

If you have a large balance transfer to pay off, you may not enjoy the full benefit of your Qantas Frequent Flyer card. To get the most out of a rewards card, you generally need to spend on it – and clear the balance month-to-month to avoid interest accruing. But, if you want to make the most of a balance transfer offer, you should really focus on paying down that transferred balance instead of creating more debt by spending.

Similarly, if you tend to carry a balance every month, you may find the interest you pay on that balance outweighs any reward value you get back on the card. To make a Qantas Frequent Flyer card worthwhile, it’s a good idea to clear the balance to avoid interest.

Which Qantas Frequent Flyer Card is right for you?

Finding the right Qantas Frequent Flyer card for you is all about balance. When weighing up your options, try to think about how much you will spend on the card, to then work out how many points you will get in return. Looking at that total figure, think about the type of rewards you would redeem your points for.

Now, look at the features provided. Will you actually use those features? What are their value to you? Taking all of that into account, you can work out the value of the card to you. Is that value more or less than the amount charged in annual fees? If you are getting a good deal, earning rewards on the spending you do most – while enjoying a nice selection of features you value – you may have found the perfect Qantas Frequent Flyer card for you.

So, what are you waiting for? Check out the great range of Qantas Frequent Flyer cards on Creditcard.com.au today, and you could be one step closer to finding your perfect card.

Will my Qantas Frequent Flyer points be transferred to my account automatically?

Some credit cards allow for points to be transferred automatically to Qantas Frequent Flyer program members, some do not. It depends on which credit card you have, so you will need to view the terms and conditions for that card to find the answer.

Do I have to join Qantas Flyer program to link my credit card?

If you are not already a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, you will have to join to accrue Frequent Flyer points. Membership costs $99.50 but is often thrown in when applying for a new Qantas linked card from some of the banks. This is definitely a point to look out for when deciding on a new frequent flyer card.

Your Qantas member details must be confirmed with the bank issuing your new credit card before points are transferred. This applies whether or not you have just become a member when applying for your card.