American Express

Compare American Express credit cards to start earning thousands of points for free flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and more.

American Express credit cards

American Express Platinum Business Card

Rewards program

Membership Rewards

Points per $1 spent

2.25 points

Sign up bonus

350,000 points

Annual fee

$1,750.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Get 350,000 bonus Membership Rewards points by applying before 5 November 2024, getting approved, and spending $12,000 on your card within the initial 3 months. Exclusive to New American Express Card Members.
  • Earn up to 2.25 pts per $1 spent.
  • Enjoy exclusive Platinum travel, experience, and dining privileges.

Pros

  • The offer of 350,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you meet the criteria.
  • Earn up to 2.25 pts per $1 spent and 1 point per $1 spent at the ATO.
  • Access to more than 1,400 lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge.
  • Gold status match at Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Premium status at Radisson Hotel Group.
  • Get the Amex Experiences App to access information on Platinum benefits, travel offers, events and recommended merchants.

Cons

  • The annual fee of $1,750 p.a.
  • Since this is a charge card, the balance must be cleared every statement.
  • No balance transfer facility.
American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card

Rewards program

Qantas Business Rewards

Points per $1 spent

1.25 points

Sign up bonus

130,000 points

Annual fee

$450.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Get 130,000 bonus Qantas Points with the American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card when applying by 14 January 2025, getting approved, and spending at least $3,000 within 2 months of approval. Exclusive to new American Express Card Members.
  • Earn 2 Qantas Points per $1 spent on Qantas products and services, up to 1.25 points per $1 spent on everyday spend, and 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent on government spend, utilities, and insurance.
  • Once a total of 500,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday business earn rate will change from 1.25 to 0.75 Qantas Points per $1 spent. *For Card Members who applied for the Card between July 1, 2023, and January 9, 2024, this change will take effect from July 10, 2024.

Pros

  • Earn 130,000 bonus Qantas Points when you meet the criteria.
  • Two complimentary passes for the Qantas Club lounge every year.
  • A flexible Payment Option is available to spread costs over time for a portion of your balance.
  • Power up your business – Spend with Dell Technologies and get up to $100 credit.

Cons

  • The $450 p.a. annual fee.
  • Balance must be repaid in full each month.
  • No concierge service.
  • Lounge passes are valid for Qantas Club and not the international business lounges.
American Express Business Explorer Credit Card

Rewards program

Membership Rewards

Points per $1 spent

2 points

Sign up bonus

50,000 points

Annual fee

$149.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Earn 50,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points when you apply online, are approved, and spend at least $3,000 within 3 months of approval. Exclusive to new American Express Card Members.
  • Benefit from two Centurion Lounge passes per year at Sydney and Melbourne airports.
  • Receive Complimentary Travel Insurance when paying for your return trip with your Card.

Pros

  • Earn up to 2 points per $1 spent.
  • No fee for up to 99 employee cards.
  • Up to 55 interest-free days.

Cons

  • The annual fee of $149.
  • There is no balance transfer offer for this card.
  • Cash advances are blocked, which might be inconvenient for some.
American Express Velocity Business Card

Rewards program

Velocity Frequent Flyer

Points per $1 spent

1 point

Sign up bonus

150,000 points

Annual fee

$249.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Get 150,000 Bonus Velocity Points upon applying by 6 November 2024, getting approval, and fulfilling the minimum spending requirement of $5,000 within 2 months of approval. Plus join the Virgin Australia Business Flyer program and enjoy a $250 Virgin Australia Business Flyer Travel Bank credit when you meet the eligibility criteria. The offer is valid for New American Express Card Members exclusively.
  • Accumulate 2 points for every $1 spent on Virgin Australia services and up to 1 point per $1 spent on other transactions. Earn 0.5 points per $1 on ATO and government expenditures.
  • Benefit from 2 complimentary single-entry passes to the Virgin Australia Lounge at chosen domestic airports annually.

Pros

  • Receive 150,000 bonus Velocity Points when you meet the criteria.
  • Earn up to 2 Velocity Points per $1 spent.
  • No pre-set spending limit and up to 51 days to pay for purchases.

Cons

  • The annual fee of $249 p.a.
  • Each employee card costs $99.
American Express Corporate Card

Rewards program

Membership Rewards

Points per $1 spent

1.5 points

Sign up bonus

N/A

Annual fee

$70.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points when you apply online, get approved, and meet the $10,000 spend criteria within the first 2 months from the Card approval date. This offer is available only for new Card Programs. Membership Rewards enrolment is required, and an annual fee applies.
  • Accumulate unlimited Membership Rewards points and gain access to tools and support to enhance business efficiency.
  • Earn up to 1.5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent by all Card Members (uncapped).

Pros

  • Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points when you meet the criteria.
  • Earn unlimited Membership Rewards points and access tools and support to maximize business efficiency.
  • Be covered for domestic & international business travel when you pay for your trip with your Card

Cons

  • There is a 3% foreign transaction fee
American Express Corporate Gold Card

Rewards program

Membership Rewards

Points per $1 spent

N/A

Sign up bonus

N/A

Annual fee

$105.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points by applying online, getting approved, and meeting the $10,000 minimum spend criteria within the first 2 months. Available for new Card Programs only. Membership Rewards enrollment required, fees apply.
  • Earn 1.5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent by all Card Members (uncapped).
  • Enjoy the flexibility to transfer Membership Rewards points to 9 Airline Partners and 2 Hotel Partners.

Pros

  • Receive 75,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points (terms and conditions apply).
  • Earn 1.5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent from all Card Members (uncapped).
  • Flexibility to transfer Membership Rewards points to 9 Airline Partners and 2 Hotel Partners.

Cons

  • There is a fee of $89 to enroll in Membership Rewards.
American Express Qantas Corporate Platinum Card

Rewards program

Membership Rewards Spirit

Points per $1 spent

2 points

Sign up bonus

N/A

Annual fee

$600.00 for 1st year

Highlights

  • Earn 350,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points by applying by 5 November 2024, getting approved, and meeting the $25,000 minimum spend criteria on your American Express Corporate Platinum Card within the first 2 months of your approval date. Available for new Card Programs only.
  • Earn TRIPLE Qantas Points when you fly for business on eligible Qantas flights.
  • Earn up to 2 points per $1 spent on purchases.

Pros

  • Earn 350,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points when you meet the criteria.
  • Earn TRIPLE Qantas Points when you fly for business on eligible Qantas flights.
  • Earn up to 2 points per $1 spent on purchases.
  • Complimentary Qantas Club Membership or Qantas domestic economy return flight.

Cons

  • The high annual fee.
American Express Corporate Platinum Card

Rewards program

Membership Rewards

Points per $1 spent

N/A

Sign up bonus

N/A

Annual fee

$800.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Earn 350,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points by applying by 5 November 2024, getting approved, and meeting the $25,000 minimum spend requirement on your American Express Corporate Platinum Card within the first 2 months of approval. This offer is exclusively available for new Card Programs.
  • Earn up to 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible purchases (uncapped).
  • Enjoy peace of mind with the complimentary insurance provided by this card.

Pros

  • Receive 350,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points (terms and conditions apply).
  • Get access to 1,400+ airport lounges.
  • Enjoy good points earning rate from all card members (uncapped).
  • Enjoy peace of mind with the complimentary insurances on this card.

Cons

  • The high annual fee.
American Express Qantas Corporate Gold Card

Rewards program

Membership Rewards Spirit

Points per $1 spent

1.5 points

Sign up bonus

N/A

Annual fee

$105.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points by applying online, getting approved, and meeting the $10,000 minimum spend criteria within the first 2 months. Available for new Card Programs only. Membership Rewards enrollment required, fees apply.
  • Earn TRIPLE Qantas Points when you fly for business on eligible Qantas flights.
  • Earn up to 2 points per $1 spent on purchases.

Pros

  • Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points when you meet the criteria.
  • Earn TRIPLE Qantas Points when you fly for business on eligible Qantas flights.
  • Earn up to 2 points per $1 spent on purchases.

Cons

  • There is an annual fee of $105 p.a. and an $89 rewards fee.
American Express Qantas Corporate Card

Rewards program

Membership Rewards Spirit

Points per $1 spent

1.5 points

Sign up bonus

N/A

Annual fee

$70.00 p.a. ongoing

Highlights

  • Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points by applying online, getting approved, and meeting the $10,000 spend criteria within the first 2 months of Card approval. Available for new Card Programs only. Membership Rewards enrollment required, annual fee applies.
  • Earn Triple Qantas Points when you fly for business on eligible Qantas flights.
  • Earn up to 2 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases.

Pros

  • Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points when you meet the criteria.
  • Earn Triple Qantas Points when you fly for business on eligible Qantas flights.
  • Earn up to 2 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases.

Cons

  • There is no balance transfer offer for this card.

About American Express credit cards

American Express (Amex) is known primarily for offering a range of credit cards with rewards and benefits. In Australia, American Express provides credit cards linked with the Qantas Frequent Flyer, Velocity Frequent Flyer, and Amex Membership Rewards schemes with various airline transfer partners. It features a low-rate card option alongside various choices tailored for business proprietors.

Benefits of getting an American Express credit card

American Express credit cards come with a host of benefits that set them apart from other credit card providers. Some of the key advantages include:

  • Membership rewards: American Express offers a robust rewards program that allows cardholders to earn points on their everyday purchases. These points can be transferred to partner airline frequent flyer programs, shopping, dining, and more, providing added value to cardholders.
  • Exclusive access: Card members enjoy access to a range of exclusive perks, such as lounge access at airports, travel insurance coverage, concierge services, and invitations to special events.
  • Customer service: American Express is known for its excellent customer service, with dedicated support for card members available 24/7 to assist with any queries or issues.

Types of American Express credit cards

American Express offers different types of credit cards to cater to various needs and preferences. Some of the popular types of American Express credit cards include:

Rewards credit cards

American Express Membership Rewards credit cards allow you to earn points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases. These points can be redeemed for travel bookings, gift cards, frequent flyer point transfers, or shopping at places like David Jones, Myer, Webjet, or Helloworld. If you're new to Amex, some cards offer introductory bonus points of up to 350,000 points.

For those enrolled in various frequent flyer programs, Membership Rewards provides the flexibility to transfer points to partnered loyalty schemes such as Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Air New Zealand Airpoints, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. It's also among the few Australian credit card reward programs that offer point transfers to Emirates Skywards Miles and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.

Frequent flyer credit cards

If you're part of Qantas Frequent Flyer or Velocity Frequent Flyer, you can choose an Amex card that earns Qantas Points or Velocity Points for every dollar spent.

This range includes frequent flyer cards with no annual fee, as well as cards that come with extra features like complimentary travel insurance, flight or travel credit, and airline lounge passes—benefits that can help justify the cost of an annual fee.

Get more bang for you buck: If you're new to American Express, look out for introductory bonus offers that add extra value when you first sign up. In some cases, you could receive thousands of bonus rewards or frequent flyer points, making it quicker and easier to access the rewards you want.

No annual fee credit cards

There are a few Amex cards that offer no annual fee ever, including the Qantas American Express Discovery Card. Similar to other credit cards on the market, American Express cards with no annual fees typically earn fewer points per dollar spent or offer fewer perks than cards that charge an annual fee. However, these cards still provide access to benefits like Amex Offers, instalment plans, and, depending on the card, rewards.

Low rate credit cards

The American Express Low Rate Credit Card features competitive, low interest rates for purchases. It also comes with no annual fee and offers exclusive shopping deals, discounts, ticket offers, and more through Amex Experiences and Amex Offers.

Business and corporate credit cards

American Express offers cards for businesses and corporate and charge cards that give you access to useful features for managing business spending, tracking, and reporting—including additional cards for employees and integration with popular accounting software like MYOB. You can also earn Membership Rewards or frequent flyer points for every dollar spent, depending on the card you select.

How to earn rewards with American Express credit cards

Earning rewards with American Express credit cards is easy and straightforward. Cardholders can accumulate points using their cards for everyday expenses such as grocery shopping, dining out, online purchases, and more. American Express offers promotional offers allowing card members to earn bonus points on specific spending categories or eligible purchases, similar to other reward credit cards.

Tips for maximising American Express credit card rewards

To make the most of your American Express credit card rewards, consider the following tips:

  • Take advantage of bonus points offers: Keep an eye out for special promotions that offer bonus points for specific purchases or spending thresholds. Conditions and limitations apply to limit the practice of "churning" points.
  • Redeem points wisely: Consider the value of your points when redeeming them and look for opportunities to maximise their worth, such as transferring points to airline loyalty programs or using them for high-value redemptions such as Business or First Class flights.
  • Relax with travel benefits: If your American Express card offers travel perks like lounge access or travel credits, be sure to take advantage of these benefits to enhance your travel experience and save money on trips.

Eligibility for an American Express credit card

Applying for an American Express credit card online takes about 10 minutes. Before starting your application, ensure you meet the eligibility requirements for the card you're interested in. While these can vary between cards, here are some common criteria:

  • Citizenship or residency: You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a current long-term visa (12 months or more, excluding student visas).
  • Good credit rating: A solid credit history is required.
  • Minimum age: You need to be at least 18 years old.
  • New card members: For cards offering bonus points or introductory deals, you must be a new American Express card member.
  • Previous cardholders: You're typically eligible if you haven't held an Amex card in the past 18 months and don't currently hold one.

What to know before applying

To streamline your application process, have the following details and documents ready:

  • Contact details: Full name, email address, phone number, and residential address.
  • Identification: A valid form of ID, such as your driver's licence number.
  • Current job: Information about your current employment, including your job title and employer’s contact details. If self-employed, provide your accountant's contact information.
  • Savings: Details of any savings you have.
  • Expenses: Information about ongoing expenses like rent or mortgage payments, weekly food budget, loan repayments, and any existing credit card debts.

Business details for business or corporate cards

  • Business identification: Australian Business Number (ABN) or Australian Company Number (ACN).
  • Financial information: Relevant financial details related to your business.

Help choosing an American Express credit card

Find your ideal American Express card with expert guidance.

  • FAQs

  • Pros & cons

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What are the annual fees associated with American Express credit cards?

The annual fees for American Express credit cards vary depending on your chosen card. Some cards offer no annual fee, while others may charge a fee that reflects the card's premium benefits and rewards. It's important to review the details of each card to understand the associated annual fee.

How can I apply for an American Express credit card?

To apply for an American Express credit card, visit the American Express website and navigate to the credit cards section. Here, you'll find a variety of cards to choose from, each with its own benefits and features. Once you've selected the card that best suits your needs, you can complete the application process online by providing the necessary personal and financial information.

Do American Express credit cards have foreign transaction fees?

American Express credit cards may charge foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside your country. However, some cards are designed specifically for travellers and do not include these fees. It's advisable to check the terms and conditions of your specific card to see if foreign transaction fees apply.

Can I transfer my existing credit card balance to an American Express card?

American Express doesn't currently offer balance transfer offers, so while there may be the occasional offer, check against what's available from other banks first since there may be more competitive offers to consider.

If you want a 0% balance transfer offer for an American Express card, you can transfer a balance to a different bank or brand of credit card.

What kind of purchase protections do American Express credit cards offer?

American Express credit cards offer a range of purchase protections that can provide peace of mind. These protections may include extended warranty coverage, purchase protection against theft or accidental damage, and return protection. The specific protections offered depend on the card, so reviewing the benefits guide for your American Express card is recommended.

Are there any eligibility requirements for applying for an American Express credit card?

There are eligibility requirements for applying for an American Express credit card, which typically include a minimum age, a good to excellent credit score, and a stable income. Some cards may have additional criteria based on the card's target demographic and benefits. It's important to check the specific requirements for the card you're interested in before applying.

Pros

Excellent rewards program

American Express offers generous rewards programs with various perks such as travel rewards, cashback, and points that can be redeemed for gift cards, merchandise, or statement credits.

Comprehensive travel benefits

Cardholders often enjoy extensive travel benefits including travel insurance, airport lounge access, concierge services, and exclusive travel offers, making it an attractive choice for frequent travelers.

Global acceptance

American Express cards are widely accepted worldwide, providing convenience and flexibility for international travelers or those who frequently shop online from international merchants.

Outstanding customer service

American Express is renowned for its exceptional customer service, providing 24/7 support to cardholders. Their responsive and helpful customer service team assists with any queries or issues promptly.

Exclusive offers and events

Cardholders gain access to exclusive offers, events, and experiences, including presale tickets for concerts, sporting events, and dining experiences, enhancing the overall value of holding an American Express card.

Cons

More limited merchant acceptance

Despite global acceptance, some merchants in Australia may not accept American Express cards, limiting usage in certain establishments, particularly smaller businesses or local vendors in regional areas.

Higher annual fees

American Express cards often come with higher annual fees compared to other credit cards in Australia, which may deter some users, especially those seeking more budget-friendly options.

Foreign transaction fees

Cardholders may incur foreign transaction fees when using their American Express card for purchases made in foreign currencies, which can add up significantly for frequent international travelers.

Sources

  1. Membership Rewards details – American Express
  2. Acceptance in Australia – American Express
  3. Balance transfer information – American Express
  4. Help centre – American Express
  5. American Express statistics and data research – Credit Card Compare
  6. Loans and credit cards – ASIC
  7. Check your credit score – Finty
  8. Amex Membership Rewards points value calculator – Credit Card Compare
  9. Credit card balance transfers – Moneysmart
  10. Credit card debt statistics – Credit Card Compare
  11. Credit scores and credit reports – Moneysmart
  12. Financial hardship – Moneysmart
  13. Managing debt – Moneysmart
  14. Payments data – RBA