Best Credit Card/s to use for Qantas Frequent Flyer Program

[Gnomster]

Hi,

I've been a Qantas ff for a while now, not really used it much, but just had the opportunity to join the Qantas Club quite cheaply so jumped at at.

I'm planning to travel to the US and Canada at the end of this year/next year, and stay over there for about 6 months, flying domestically with the Qantas partner airlines.

What would you suggest as the best credit card/s to sign up for for maximum points per dollar and perks i.e. travel insurance for 6 months etc, that would also provide for domestic US flights and points earning?

I don't mind paying an (low-med) annual fee if I would gain that much/more from the extras.

Interested in the Amex+Mastercard/Visa dual cards as Amex isn't always accepted.

I would be putting all expenses/spending on the credit card and pay the balance monthly.

Advice helpful! I have been doing a lot of looking online but can't really find one that stands out.

 

[ozmille]

As a good start you can have a look at the Amex Discovery card which is free and gives you up to 10000 QF miles. Look at some YUP/KUP runs whilst you are in the US to get you to WP before you come back

Personally have the NAB Platinum ONE QF Amex and Mastercard. 1 to 1 for the first 3000 spend monthly on the Amex...

 

[medhead]

The NAB platinum one is by invitation only, isn't it.

Really this is a hard question to answer. For a visa/MasterCard the best would have to be the woolworths everyday rewards card for the 1:1 earning. But I think that has no insurance.

For a Amex/visa combination. It's a while since I checked. I would say the NAB produces are better as they have a higher earn rate on the visa/mastercard than for similar products from ANZ or Westpac. Look towards the platinum or maybe gold products.

For qantas earning then you need to look at the high end pure Amex cards. Platinum charge card, maybe the discovery (I'm not sure) or the qantas Amex cards.

But this all depends on you budget, what you can afford and all that stuff.

 

[Deleted User]

For a visa/MasterCard the best would have to be the woolworths everyday rewards card for the 1:1 earning.

+1

Uncapped and rock solid 1:1 earn on this one

 

[Blackadder]

ANZ Amex also at 1:1

 

[medhead]

ANZ Amex also at 1:1

This very much gets into what card can be afforded. But given the limitations on Amex acceptance and the $95 fee on that card the EDR card is preferable IMO. There is little point going for an Amex for a 1:1 earn. If one can afford it it is much better to go for an Amex that earns at 1.5:$1, IMO.

 

[ontheaisle]

I have the Qantas AMEX Premium Card. At $249/year it's a bit exxy, but I get two Qantas Club invitations, 1.25 points per $1 (plus an extra point per $1 with bonus partners and Qantas) with no earning cap, and the usual travel and purchase insurance. And using it when I shop at Everyday Rewards stores (Woolies, DSE, Big W, etc.) means I get to double dip - the points add up quite quickly

 

[TonyHancock]

I have the Qantas AMEX Premium Card. At $249/year it's a bit exxy, but I get two Qantas Club invitations, 1.25 points per $1 (plus an extra point per $1 with bonus partners and Qantas) with no earning cap, and the usual travel and purchase insurance. And using it when I shop at Everyday Rewards stores (Woolies, DSE, Big W, etc.) means I get to double dip - the points add up quite quickly

With Amex it all comes down to how much you are prepared to pay as a yearly fee. The Ultimate Card (1.5 per $ plus an extra point per $ on spend with QF + bonus partners.) is good if you have a reasonable spend with QF, but it is $450 per year. (Unless you can get Amex to lower this by threatening to cancel it!!!)

 

[Undercover Brother]

I use Westpac Earth Platinum. I haven't seen this appear many times in this forum (in general) and I don't know why. 1.5/$1 on Amex, .5/$1 on Mastercard, and I got them to half the annual fee. 1 bonus point per dollar on QF spend too, No points capping, and if they are offering a bonus points deal to open I reckon it's a great card!

 

[lsmi4126]

I 'sport' a Westpac gold altitude AMEX / VISA combo. 1:1 on the AMEX, 0.5:1 on the VISA (direct earn to QFF).

Pay 3% FX premium on the AMEX, 2.something % on the VISA. 3 months travel insurance (6 with platinum from memory), extra 1yr warranty and the rest of the usual stuff.

I'd try and find something which is 1:1 or higher and doesn't have AMEX stamped on it (or MC for that matter - in my experience MC is a little harder to use than VISA in the US).

 

[anchew]

If you can get the $450 annual fee waived, the Qantas Amex Ultimate is the way to go with 1:1.5 earn rate (or 1:2.5 for Qantas purchases) and a free domestic flight.

To complement the Amex, the Citibusiness Visa Gold is also great with 1:1.25 earn rate (the highest earn rate for a Visa card out there, I think) at $149 annual fee. However, you have to transfer the points from Citibank to QFF at blocks of 5000 points.

 

[Stephen65]

I have the plat amex charge ($1 = 1.5 QFF up to $300K spend) and for backup the Citibusiness Gold ($1=1.25QFF up to $64K spend).

Another good option if you plan on having lots of visa/mcard spend is the Woolworths platinum at $1 = 1 QFF

 

[Ontime]

I have an anz Amex visa card combination with 1.5 on the Amex and 1.1 on the visa capped at 1500, with no cap on the Amex. This has direct transfer to Qantas ff and costs around $200. Both cards are platinum.
The visa card capping is not a problem as it is used only where no Amex ia available.

 

[Lawlass]

I use Westpac Earth Platinum. I haven't seen this appear many times in this forum (in general) and I don't know why. 1.5/$1 on Amex, .5/$1 on Mastercard, and I got them to half the annual fee. 1 bonus point per dollar on QF spend too, No points capping, and if they are offering a bonus points deal to open I reckon it's a great card!

Ditto, except I got them to completely waive the annual fee

ETA: and I'm pretty sure is is 1/$1 on Mastercard

 

[Princess Fiona]

Ditto, except I got them to completely waive the annual fee

ETA: and I'm pretty sure is is 1/$1 on Mastercard

It's 0.5/$1 for MC, 1.5/$1 Amex, 2.5/$1 on Amex for QF, all uncapped.
I use the Amex, never use the MC and have my Woolies EDR MC 1/$1 if Amex not accepted.
Still hanging out for a Centurion invite

 

[james_m_80]

I currently have the ANZ Qantas FF Platinum (dual visa & amex) for an annual fee of approx $290 (total). 1 point per $1 spent for visa, 1.5 point per $1 spend for amex. - NOTE: ANZ are giving 20,000 bonus points to new customers but i just saw on their website their visa is 1 point per $2 spend.

I'm currently looking at changing to the Citibank Visa Platinum Card which gives you a bonus of 60,000points. 1 point per $1 spend. Annual fee $299. Based on my current expenditure i'm better off on the Citibank Platinum.

One thing i do get sick of is the "sorry we don't accept amex" or "there is an additional surcharge" all to frequently when I present my amex to points of sale.

 

[cove]

Woolworths everyday rewards card at $89 with sign on bonus points is right up there for a point a dollar on QF.
They gave me a 20k limit,16,000 start points and an easy to use web site.
There have been no start up hassles and MasterCard is very easy to use in Australia.
The sign up bonus may be different depending on what they are advertising in the month you apply.
I think this is one of the best cards out there.

 

[Lawlass]

It's 0.5/$1 for MC, 1.5/$1 Amex, 2.5/$1 on Amex for QF, all uncapped.
I use the Amex, never use the MC and have my Woolies EDR MC 1/$1 if Amex not accepted.
Still hanging out for a Centurion invite

Oooh, really? I might have to get me one of those EDR MCs then.

I hold no hope for a Centurion invite.

 

[medhead]

I have an anz Amex visa card combination with 1.5 on the Amex and 1.1 on the visa capped at 1500, with no cap on the Amex. This has direct transfer to Qantas ff and costs around $200. Both cards are platinum.
The visa card capping is not a problem as it is used only where no Amex ia available.

Sounds like you have a special deal that will not be available to someone getting the card new. The ANZ platinum cost $290 earns 1.5 on the Amex and 0.5 of the visa. ANZ - ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum - Apply Now For An ANZ Credit Card

I have a west pac earth platinum, which is good for the $250 annual fee. IMO this is the best choice from the platinum FF cards from ANZ! Westpac or NAB. I back this up with a NAB gold visa (platinum one actually but they are the same) which earns 0.66 points per dollar. This is free as part of a package, hence why I have it.

 

[Aus ATC]

I was migrated to the AMEX + VISA combination a couple of years ago. Took up a "bonus" option (that has an extra annual fee - but see below), and now accrue 1.5 points per $ on AMEX, and 1 point per $ on VISA up to $2500 per month, reducing to 0.5 points above that. Put as much as possible onto AMEX (but it's not accepted everywhere) and pay in full at the end of the month.

Annual fees (excluding $55.00 x 2 for the rewards program fee) are covered in my "ANZ Breakfree" package. Overall a good deal, with plenty of FF points gathered (has at least covered my YASA to Europe in June).