January 2017: top five Qantas credit card sign-up deals

Starting the New Year with a new Qantas credit card can send over 100,000 Qantas frequent flyer points your way from a single card application, with almost half a million Qantas Points on the table across this month's deals from American Express, ANZ, NAB and Westpac.

What's more, American Express Australia now allows existing AMEX-issued charge card customers to earn bonus points with a new AMEX-issued credit card, and vice versa for AMEX-issued personal credit card customers who don't already have an AMEX-issued charge card.

Whatever your circumstances, take a gander at this month's top five Qantas Frequent Flyer credit card sign-up deals, including how many points you can earn upfront and as you continue to use the card, and what you'll pay in annual fees to do so.

1. Qantas American Express Ultimate Card

Apply for a new Qantas American Express Ultimate Card this month and you could net up to 102,500 Qantas Points (now 50,000 points), provided you don't already hold a credit card issued directly by American Express Australia (customers with only AMEX charge cards are clear to apply and pocket the bonus).

Finalise your application and you'll now reap 50,000 Qantas Points after spending at least $1,500 on the card within the first three months.

A $450 annual fee is payable, but that's somewhat offset by a free return Qantas domestic flight each year and your ability to earn three Qantas Points per dollar spent with Qantas and at most Australian restaurants, uncapped.

You can also pocket two Qantas Points per dollar on other travel-related spend including with hotels, other airlines and on all overseas charges; 0.5 Qantas Points per dollar with utilities, most insurers and government bodies; and one Qantas Point per dollar everywhere else.

2. American Express Platinum Charge Card

The American Express Platinum Charge Card stands strong with a bonus 100,000 Membership Rewards Ascent Premium points, convertible into 100,000 Qantas Points at a 1:1 rate, whenever it suits you.

In return, you'll pay $1,200/year for this card and must also spend at least $1,500 on regular purchases within the first three months to earn that cool bonus. Further, you'll pick up a $300 Platinum Travel Credit to spend on flights or hotels every year, which helps to ease that annual sting.

For every dollar spent, cardholders can also collect the equivalent of three Qantas Points at most Australian restaurants, two Qantas Points on travel and all overseas spend, 0.5 Qantas Points with utilities, insurers and government departments, and one Qantas Point elsewhere.

3. Westpac Altitude Black American Express, MasterCard credit cards

Take home a further 100,000 Qantas Points this month with Westpac's Altitude Black American Express + MasterCard combo, set against an annual fee of $395.

Take note: this isn't Westpac's standard offer of 50,000 bonus Qantas Points – you'll instead need to search Westpac's website to find and apply for this 100,000-point promo – but those points can be yours when applying by March 31 2017 and spending at least $5,000 on either card within 90 days of approval.

Select the 'Altitude Qantas' rewards option when applying and you'll also pull in 1.5 Qantas Points when using the Altitude Black MasterCard abroad and for every dollar spent via the AMEX, and 0.625 Qantas Points per dollar via the MasterCard within Australia.

You can also earn a further Qantas Point per dollar spent on Qantas Club membership and Qantas flights billed in Australia (2.5/$1 via AMEX or 1.625/$1 via MasterCard), while payments to the ATO instead attract no points at all when using the MasterCard and a total of 0.75 Qantas Points per dollar through the AMEX.

4. ANZ Qantas Frequent Flyer Black American Express, Visa credit cards

ANZ's Qantas Frequent Flyer Black American Express + Visa combo retains its spot in our monthly 'top five' with an offer of 75,000 Qantas Points when you spend $2,500 on eligible purchases within the first three months and with no annual fee for the first year (normally $425).

Those 'eligible purchases' can be made using either card (or a combination of both) and cover most points-earning transactions such as retail spend, rather than account charges like cash advances and annual fees which don't normally attract points, either.

Speaking of points, you'll grab an easy 1.5 Qantas Points per dollar spent when making purchases with ANZ Black American Express card, and 0.75 Qantas Points per dollar spent when using the Visa, uncapped, excluding ATO payments on which no points are earned.

5. NAB Qantas Rewards Premium credit cards

Competition for new customers remains high this month with NAB also teasing 75,000 Qantas Points aside the Qantas Rewards Premium American Express + Visa duo.

Cardholders must apply by March 31 2017, spend $1,500 on everyday purchases within the first 90 days and pay an annual fee of $250 – and like Westpac, you'll need to search NAB's site for this particular deal, as the default offer is a much lower 25,000 Qantas Points.

In any case, every dollar spent using the AMEX also attracts 1.5 Qantas Points, while the Visa cranks out a lower 0.5 Qantas Points on the same. Neither card accrues points on ATO payments or after spending $25,000 on the account in a single monthly statement period.

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Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.