The 10 best frequent flyer credit card sign-up deals this July
By Chris C., July 13 2015
Many of Australia's major banks are welcoming new customers with generous quantities of frequent flyer points in return for opening a credit card account.
The top 10 offers alone put almost 600,000 frequent flyer points on the table: with as many as 100,000 points to be had from a single application.
Of course, chasing after every possible credit card isn't necessarily a wise move as too many applications in a short period can make you appear 'desperate for credit' and may hinder your ability to qualify for larger loans: such as for a house or a new car.
But if the new financial year finds you looking for a new credit card, it makes sense to choose one with a generous bonus offer – so here are the 10 best sign-up deals this July, arranged alphabetically.
1. American Express Platinum charge card
80,000 Membership Rewards points could be yours when opening a new American Express Platinum charge card account.
Apply by September 30 2015, be approved and spend just $500 on your card in the first two months to earn that full chunk of bonus points.
Those translate into 80,000 frequent flyer points with Qantas, Virgin Australia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and more, although the card does carry a $1,200 annual fee.
2. American Express Qantas Ultimate credit card
American Express' dedicated Qantas Frequent Flyer cards are also giving away extra points this month with the best deal a 50,000-point bonus on the $450/year Qantas Ultimate credit card.
Again, apply by September 30 2015 and start with an easy boost of 5,000 bonus points after making your first transaction.
That's followed by an additional 42,500 Qantas frequent flyer points after spending at least $500 on your card in the first three months, and a further 2,500 points after making your first Qantas flight booking on the card, or using the card to pay for your Qantas Club membership.
3. American Express Velocity Platinum credit card
Rounding out the American Express trifecta is the Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum credit card and its chart-topping offer of 100,000 bonus Velocity Points.
The spend requirements are a little higher on this card: you'll need to charge at least $1,000 within the first three months and pay an annual fee of $349 – but even so, you'd achieve that base spend by shelling out just $85 each week, so it's easily done.
Running through September 30 2015 for new cardholders, applications can again be made online.
4. ANZ Qantas Frequent Flyer credit cards
Look to ANZ for 50,000 bonus frequent flyer points across its range of standard, Platinum and Black Qantas Frequent Flyer cards.
Apply by August 20 and spend at least $3,000 within the first three months of being approved on either your ANZ American Express or ANZ Visa card and those points are yours.
As an added bonus, ANZ is waiving the usual annual fees of $95 for the basic frequent flyer card, $295 for Platinum and $425 for Black in the first year.
5. Citi Prestige Visa Infinite credit card
Temping travellers with 70,000 bonus points is the $700/year Citi Prestige Visa Infinite card.
Delivered as 70,000 Citibank Rewards points, they fetch 46,666 Virgin Australia Velocity points or Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles – or for an extra $49/year, you could link your card directly with Qantas Frequent Flyer and pocket a full 70,000 Qantas Points instead.
In either case, you'll need to apply by December 31 2015 and use your card at least once within the first three months to earn the full bonus.
6. Citibank Qantas Visa Signature credit card
Also from Citibank: the $348/year Qantas Signature Visa and its offer of 50,000 bonus frequent flyer points.
You'll again have until the end of the year to apply via the Citibank website, with 50,000 Qantas Points awarded alongside your first purchase – as long as you buy something within three months of opening the account.
The similar non-Qantas Citibank Signature Visa card is also promising 60,000 bonus Citibank Rewards points for new applicants, but which translate into a lesser ~40,000 frequent flyer points with the likes of Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines.
7. Emirates Citibank World MasterCard credit card
Australia's only direct-earning Emirates Skywards credit card – the Emirates Citibank World MasterCard – offers successful applicants a 40,000-mile boost to their Skywards balance.
Following the trend of Citi's other credit cards, you'll need to apply by December 31 2015 and use the card at least once in the first three months.
You'll also pay an annual fee of just $149 in the first year and $299 thereafter, although any Skywards miles you earn will be automatically credited to your Emirates account each and every month.
8. Jetstar Platinum MasterCard with Qantas Rewards
As one of the better points-earning credits cards outside of the American Express network, the Jetstar Platinum MasterCard is serving up a cool 50,000 bonus frequent flyer points against a $149 annual fee.
But get in quick – it's valid for applications made until August 21 2015 via the Jetstar website, and you'll need to spend at least $3,000 on the card within 60 days of approval.
When applying for the card, be sure to select the 'Qantas Frequent Flyer Rewards' option rather than earning Jetstar Dollars, otherwise you'll miss out on that bonus offer.
9. NAB Qantas Rewards Premium credit cards
Just $250 in annual fees can get you 40,000 Qantas frequent flyer points with NAB's Qantas Rewards Premium credit card duo.
Get your application in by October 11 2015 on the NAB website and make just one purchase within 90 days of opening the account – it's that simple.
10. Westpac BusinessChoice Aquire Rewards Visa
Last but certainly not least, Westpac's BusinessChoice Rewards Visa credit card and its offer of 40,000 bonus Qantas Aquire Points.
Your business gets that extra kick by opening a BusinessChoice Rewards credit card account by September 30 2015 and making at least one purchase.
And of course, 40,000 Aquire Points are equal to 40,000 Qantas frequent flyer points: you can use them to save money on business travel, to reward a staff member or as a bonus for the business owner.
Also read: How to convert Aquire Points into Qantas frequent flyer points
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Qantas
13 Jun 2015
Total posts 139
I want an AMEX Credit Card because I would like to earn 80000 Membership Points when I choose my next flight soon!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jan 2013
Total posts 240
Does anybody know if there is any truth to the theory that the traditional churn credit card approach: ‘applying cancelling and re-applying for a new card’. Is bad for your credit rating? Or is it wholly dependent on the stretch of time between cancelling one card and applying for another?
03 Mar 2015
Total posts 15
My understanding is when you apply for a credit card, the bank performs a credit check on you, this credit check appears on your credit record. If you were to go for a home loan for example the bank would see a high number of credit checks and may be suspicious as to why.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
Yea, I've heard that they don't care of the outcome of the checks, but rather the number of credit checks. Each check is stored in your record for 5 years.
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 5
Why should it matter how many checks have been completed?
Shouldn't the amount of credit a person has and how often they are in arrears be the issue? I flip cards about every 10 months, just before the annual fee is due.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
I agree but there's jack we can do about it
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
06 May 2015
Total posts 54
Great summary - would be good if you could include earning rates for each card......ie: 1 Point per $1 etc
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2424
Hi lotsamiles, thank you, we appreciate the feedback.
To keep this article simple and succinct, we elected not to include the ongoing earning rates for the cards above as some of them offer up to four different earning rates per dollar spent depending on where and how you're using your card, along with various points capping and shaping rules that can alter these as well.
If a particular card takes your interest, you can find further information including the applicable earning rates and capping rules by following one of the application links.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Jul 2015
Total posts 2
While getting a nice pile of points it is far more interesting in knowing their future earning rates. Certainly Amex have good rates as I have had an Amex Qantas card for years and it pays well especially when buying Qantas flights but I am finding most of the other cards only give 0.5 points per $ or the very generous give 1 point per $ for teh first $2,500 and then drop off.
Since Amex is not accepted everywhere or has significant charges for its use I like to have a Visa or MC card to back it up. Currently my Suncorp Visa card gives 1 point per $ but cuts out at 120,000 point per year and gives only 0.5 point for payments to the government or Telstra and nothing for the ATO.
So who gives better points on a total usage?
16 Jul 2015
Total posts 1
I am retired and have also set up my retirement so as my income is low.. Financial instutions will not touch me when I apply for platinum cards. Everything I have is paid for. HKSB were rude ... because I was not in debt. Not a private company... nothing that ranks for platimum status. My income is too low. .( I do not visit Bahamas .etc lol.)I am not "loaded" but desire access to qantas/cathay lounge when I do fly to HK... usually Cathay.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on The 10 best frequent flyer credit card sign-up deals this July