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Best frequent flyer credit cards

Compare frequent flyer credit cards to earn points on everyday spend with your favourite program or airline, with sign-up bonus points available on many cards.

  • Sign-up bonus points for new customers
  • Earn points on everyday eligible purchases
  • Travel insurance and airport lounge access on many cards

Written by Nilooka DissanayakeReviewed by Vidhu Bajaj and David BoydWith insights from Steve Hui, Hans Mast and Gary Leff

FeaturedQantas Money Platinum cardQantas Money Platinum
  • 80,000 bonus Qantas Points
  • 12 months at 0% p.a. on balance transfers
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How many points could you earn?

Enter your monthly spend to see estimated annual points for each card below.

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Compare 95 frequent flyer credit cards

What people say online

Leans positive

Our ongoing analysis of online discussion about this card type.

Australians evaluate frequent flyer credit cards by balancing sign-up bonuses and earn rates against annual fees and individual spending patterns, whilst weighing travel perks and insurance benefits against their diminishing coverage, with approval experiences and overall value varying considerably depending on the card issuer and the cardholder's financial circumstances.

What's happening with frequent flyer credit cards in November

By David BoydUpdated 2 November 2026

  • Market news

    Qantas Points can now be redeemed for Jetstar business class upgrades.

    Qantas frequent flyer members can use their Qantas Points to upgrade to business class on Jetstar flights. This represents a new redemption option for the Qantas Points program.

    If you fly Jetstar regularly, you now have another way to stretch your Qantas Points beyond Qantas flights themselves.

  • Market news

    Velocity Frequent Flyer launches two major offers for millions of members.

    Virgin Australia announced new sign-up bonus offers for the Velocity Frequent Flyer program. The timing coincides with the October surcharge ban changes affecting rewards programs across the market.

    If you're a Velocity member, there's fresh bonus point offers available, which could be worth evaluating against the median $199 annual fee we see across the 87 frequent flyer cards we track, depending on your actual spending patterns.

Frequent flyer by the numbers

95
Cards compared
108,909 pts
Average sign-up bonus
2.25 pts per $1
Top earn rate
$3,500
Highest-value sign-up bonus
American Express Platinum Business Card
$274
Average annual fee

Earning points with the right card

Frequent flyer credit cards let you build points quickly through everyday spending. Pick a card aligned with your preferred program, such as Qantas Frequent Flyer or Velocity, and regular expenses turn into travel rewards.

Many cards use tiered earn rates, paying more points per dollar when you spend directly with the airline or at supermarkets and petrol stations.

Understanding bonus point offers

Sign-up bonuses are a major draw. They usually require you to spend a set amount, such as $3,000 or $5,000, within the first few months.

Check whether you count as a new customer: many banks exclude people who have held one of their cards in the past 12 to 18 months.

Expert insight: the real value of a frequent-flyer card

“The real magic of a frequent-flyer credit card is its ability to turn money you are spending anyway into expensive flights and trips you'd shy away from paying for.”

Steve Hui

Frequent flyer points expert

Expert insight: the breadth of transfer partners

“Their breadth of transfer partners is unmatched, covering all major alliances with multiple choices.”

Hans Mast

Travel and points expert

Travel perks and insurance

Beyond points, these cards often include complimentary domestic and international travel insurance, which saves the cost of a separate policy.

Premium cards may add lounge invitations, travel credits that offset the annual fee, and concierge services. If lounge time matters most, compare airport lounge cards directly.

Expert insight: setting alerts for award space

“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 on routings like Sydney to Auckland to New York JFK.”

Gary Leff

Airline industry expert

Frequent flyer credit card FAQs

Depending on the card and current offers, you can earn up to 350,000 bonus frequent flyer points once you meet the spend requirements.

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Related card types

Altitude Rewards credit cardsAmerican Express Membership Rewards credit cardsAmplify Rewards credit cardsCredit cards with airport lounge accessQantas frequent flyer cardsRewards credit cards

Sources

Credit Card Compare
Credit card statistics for AustraliaHow CardIQ scores cardsHow the credit card sentiment tracker worksRewards points calculator
Programs
Qantas Frequent FlyerVelocity Frequent Flyer