These credit cards get you Qantas Club airport lounge access

You'd normally need a business class ticket or a Gold frequent flyer card to get through the door at one of Qantas' many Australian and international airport lounges – but if your wallet packs the right credit card, this can also be your Golden Ticket to the Qantas Club lounges.

That’s because some cards provide complimentary airport lounge access as one of their enticing perks, often in the form of two lounge invitations each year that you can use yourself, share with friends and family or to bring an extra guest into the lounge if you already have access.

But not every credit card is created equal – here are the ones that let you lounge about before your next Qantas flight, and what you’ll pay for the privilege.

ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Visa

Topping the pile is the ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Visa card which currently comes with no annual fee in the first year and two single-use Qantas Club lounge passes when requested from ANZ Concierge – you’ll find the number on the back of your card.

Then if you’d like unlimited access to Qantas lounges both at home and abroad whenever flying Qantas and Jetstar, ANZ Black also saves you up to $475 on the first year of Qantas Club membership with a waived joining fee and discount on the membership price.

In other words, you’re paying no annual fee on a card that provides two lounge passes and a near-$500 saving on your lounge membership, plus an offer of 75,000 Bonus Qantas Points after you spend $2,500 on eligible purchases within the first three months, plus 75 Bonus Status Credits when you book and take a Qantas return flight by September 30 2017.

Westpac Altitude Black World Mastercard

Westpac’s comparable Altitude Black credit card also promises two free Qantas Club lounge visits each year against a $395 annual fee (currently reduced to $250 in the first year) for its broader package of perks and points: including a bonus offer of 60,000 Qantas Points for eligible new customers.

These lounge visits can be had at any of the Qantas Clubs and Qantas Regional Lounges in Australia, including in major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and at international Qantas business class lounges except for the Qantas-run Los Angeles ‘Oneworld lounge’.

You’ll just need to opt-in for these passes via the Westpac website and then make a transaction directly with Qantas in Australian dollars – such as booking your next flight – after which these passes will appear in your mailbox and again at the same time every year you keep the card.

Qantas American Express Premium Card

Next in line: the Qantas American Express Premium Card and its two complimentary lounge passes, usable in the same places as with ANZ and Westpac.

The card carries a $249 annual fee, but also promises 30,000 bonus Qantas Points for eligible new American Express Australia cardholders who spend at least $1,500 on the card in the first three months.

(If you currently hold an American Express card with the likes of ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB or Westpac, you’re still considered a ‘new’ customer to American Express Australia being a separate card issuer.)

These passes don’t need to be requested manually, instead being electronically loaded into your attached Qantas Frequent Flyer account within 1-2 weeks of using your card to book a Qantas flight.

That’s different to both ANZ and Westpac which provide physical lounge invitations which are easy to share with friends and family, but you can still share these digital invites with anybody you choose by transferring them online:

St. George, Bank of Melbourne, BankSA Amplify Signature

Also promising Qantas Club lounge perks with two complimentary visits per year: the St. George Amplify Signature Visa, Bank of Melbourne Amplify Signature Visa and the BankSA Amplify Signature Visa when you select the ‘Amplify Qantas’ rewards option and pay an annual fee of $279.

Being Westpac-backed banks, the process for acquiring your lounge invites is the same: simply register to receive them via the appropriate bank's website and then use your Amplify Signature card to make any purchase of $1 or more and you’ll find them in the mail soon after.

Also on offer when you apply and are approved with St. George or Bank of Melbourne (not BankSA): 60,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend at least $3,000 on the card within 90 days of approval, plus 30,000 bonus Qantas Points in the second year when you pay the card’s annual fee once more.

Qantas Premier Mastercard

As the newest kid on the block, the Qantas Premier Mastercard again provides two complimentary Qantas Club airport lounge visits each year which are electronically attached to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account – but as with the Qantas AMEX Premium Card, these can be shared with your friends and family.

You'll pay an annual fee of $149 in the first year and $299 per year thereafter, with 60,000 bonus Qantas Points on offer to cardholders who apply, are approved and spend at least $3,000 within 90 days of card approval.

Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.