Score a free return flight every year with these six credit cards

Many credit cards in Australia offer frequent flyer points on your everyday spend, but six choice cards go above and beyond by offering you a free return flight every year: no points required.

You’ll still earn frequent flyer points on these cards, of course, but here’s what’s on the table to get your next holiday off to a flying start, even when leaving your points at home.

American Express Explorer Card

Sign up for the new American Express Explorer Card and you’ll pocket a $400 ‘travel credit’ every year to spend on airfares with the airline of your choosing: either towards the cost of a business class ticket or by taking advantage of lower-priced economy fares on a return journey.

There’s an annual fee of $395 to pay – more than offset by that $400 travel credit – and you’ll also enjoy two visits to the American Express Sydney Airport Lounge each year when flying overseas, plus up to 50,000 Membership Rewards Gateway points for eligible new cardholders.

In short, if you’re already shopping for a credit card and are willing to pay an annual fee, it makes sense to consider a card that literally transforms that fee into travel, over one that doesn’t.

American Express Platinum Charge Card

The top-of-the-line American Express Platinum Charge Card instead delivers a $300 travel credit aside a host of other perks and a $1,200 annual fee.

Again, you can use that credit towards flights with any airline, or even towards the cost of hotels or car hire: perfect when extending a business trip with a little leisure time if you’re already in your favourite city.

Cardholders also receive unlimited access to Virgin Australia domestic lounges when travelling onward with the airline – plus American Express, Delta, Plaza Premium and Priority Pass lounges across the globe – with up to 100,000 Membership Rewards Ascent Premium bonus points on offer for eligible new customers.

American Express Platinum Edge credit card

Taking a nod from the Explorer Card’s book, the American Express Platinum Edge credit card serves up a $200 travel credit each year against a $195 annual fee (waived in the first year): so before you’ve earned any points, you’re already ahead.

Use that credit to snap up some great economy fares and take a return trip, or towards the cost of a more expensive ticket on the route and with the airline of your preference.

New cardholders can also earn 5,000 bonus Membership Rewards Ascent points by signing up and spending at least $750 on the card within the first three months, although airport lounge access isn’t a perk offered via this card.

American Express Velocity Platinum Card

Forget the idea of buying your free flight using ‘travel credits’: the American Express Velocity Platinum Card keeps things simple by offering a free Virgin Australia return economy flight on selected routes after you first spend on the card, and again every year thereafter.

For Sydney residents, that could take you as far north as Cairns or as far west as Adelaide, although cross-country flights aren’t part of the deal unless you live in Perth and begin the journey there: in which case, you can use your flight to fly return from Perth to Sydney.

The card carries a $349 annual fee, which also gets you two free visits to Virgin Australia domestic lounges each year, two further visits to the AMEX Lounge at Sydney Airport and up to 50,000 bonus Velocity points as a new customer after spending at least $1,500 within the first three months.

ANZ Rewards Travel Adventures cards

Like flying with Virgin Australia but prefer a little more variety? Then check out the newly-launched ANZ Rewards Travel Adventures cards, which also offer a return economy flight but which can be taken on almost any domestic Virgin Australia route.

After spending $500 on eligible purchases within the first three months, you could opt for a return jaunt from Sydney to Perth, or indeed zip about on other long flights like Melbourne-Darwin and Brisbane-Hobart. Naturally, short hops like Sydney-Canberra are fine too.

With a $225 annual fee, you’ll also receive two Virgin Australia lounge passes to use every year – either on that free trip or at your leisure – and you won’t be charged any international transaction fees when spending abroad, either on the AMEX or the accompanying Visa.

Qantas American Express Ultimate Card

Last but certainly not least in our line-up, the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card and its free return Qantas domestic economy flight each year.

You’ll get that flight after you first spend with Qantas, both in the first year and every year thereafter, whether that’s paying for a separate trip or to cover your annual Qantas Club membership.

Also thrown in are two visits each calendar year to the AMEX Lounge at Sydney Airport to help offset the card’s $450 annual fee, plus a bonus of 50,000 Qantas Points for eligible new applicants who spend at least $1,500 within the first three months.

Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.