Frequent flyer credit cards offer reward points or miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases. These reward points can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses. Frequent flyer credit cards are popular among avid travellers and those looking to make the most of their everyday spending by earning valuable rewards that can offset travel costs.
Gary Leff, an airline industry expert and the founder of View From the Wing, shared his insights with Credit Card Compare for booking Australia to USA award travel. "Qantas releases a lot more space to its own members than it does to partners, and they do reliably release business class award seats often around 3 months prior to travel," he revealed.
"Since I have family in Australia, I regularly set alerts for business class award space to open on specific flights and dates with Expert Flyer and invariably space on at least one or two potential flights does open up – even flights like Sydney – Auckland – New York JFK."
Popular frequent flyer rewards programs
- Qantas Frequent Flyer: Linked to Australia's flag carrier airline, Qantas. Earn Qantas Points through flights, credit card spending, and various partners. Redeem points for flights, upgrades, hotels, and other rewards.
- Virgin Australia Velocity: Associated with Virgin Australia airline. Earn Velocity Points through flights, credit card spending, and partners. Redeem points for flights, upgrades, hotels, and experiences.
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: Frequent flyer program of Singapore Airlines, which operates extensively in Australia. Earn KrisFlyer miles through flights, credit card spending, and partners. Redeem miles for flights, upgrades, and other rewards.
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: Frequent flyer program of Cathay Pacific, which serves several Australian cities. Earn Asia Miles through flights, credit card spending, and partners. Redeem miles for flights, upgrades, hotels, and experiences.
- Emirates Skywards: Loyalty program of Emirates, which has a significant presence in Australia. Earn Skywards Miles through flights, credit card spending, and partners. Redeem miles for flights, upgrades, hotels, and other rewards.
- Etihad Guest: Frequent flyer program of Etihad Airways, which serves several Australian cities. Earn Etihad Guest Miles through flights, credit card spending, and partners. Redeem miles for flights, upgrades, hotels, and experiences.
- Air New Zealand Airpoints: Loyalty program of Air New Zealand, which has a strong presence in the Australia-New Zealand market. Earn Airpoints Dollars through flights, credit card spending, and partners. Redeem Airpoints Dollars for flights, upgrades, and other rewards.
Benefits of frequent flyer credit cards
Frequent flyer credit cards offer a range of benefits that make them appealing to consumers. Some of the key benefits include:
- Earn points: Cardholders can earn points or miles for every dollar spent on eligible purchases, which can be redeemed for flights and other travel-related expenses.
- Sign up bonuses: Many frequent flyer credit cards offer generous sign-up bonuses, providing a significant number of bonus points when you first open the card and meet the minimum spending requirement.
- Travel perks: Cardholders often enjoy travel perks such as airport lounge access, free travel insurance, and priority boarding.
- Foreign transaction fee waiver: Some frequent flyer credit cards waive foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for international travel.
- Additional rewards: In addition to travel rewards, some cards offer additional perks such as cashback, statement credits, Priority Pass, or discounts on partner merchants.
How to choose the right frequent flyer credit card
With a plethora of frequent flyer credit cards available in the market, selecting the right one can be a daunting task. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a frequent flyer credit card:
- Airline affiliation: Choose a card that aligns with your preferred airline or one that offers flexibility in transferring points to multiple airline partners.
- Annual fees: Consider the annual fee associated with the card and evaluate whether the benefits and rewards justify the cost.
- Interest rates: Look at the interest rates offered by the card and ensure they are competitive with other credit cards in the market.
- Bonus points: Evaluate the sign up bonus and the minimum spending requirement to determine if it is attainable based on your regular spending habits.
- Reward redemption options: Check the redemption options available for your accumulated points and ensure they align with your travel preferences.
- Additional benefits: Consider additional perks such as travel insurance, purchase protection, and concierge services offered by the card.