NAB Flybuys Credit Card or NAB Qantas Gold Credit Card? VISA vs AMEX/Master Card!

[hello12345]

Hi everyone,

I am new to writing on this forum but have been a long time reader. I am after some advice about which credit card to choose. We are choosing out of the NAB Flybuys Rewards Credit Card or the NAB Qantas Gold Credit Card. We can choose either card and we dont have to pay the yearly fee as we get a free credit card through our homeloan.

The Flybuys Rewards Card is a VISA card only that earns flybuys points. The Qantas Gold Card is an American Express/Mastercard in one that earns Qantas Frequent Flyer points. I dont really understand the difference between VISA, American Express & Mastercard. I know American Express is not accepted in as many places as VISA/Mastercard but thats about it. We are members of both flybuys and Qantas Frequent Flyer programs as well.

Which credit card/rewards program would you recommend?? Do you think the flybuys rewards card using VISA to earn flybuys points would be better? Or would the Qantas Gold card with Mastercard/American Express to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points be better? Keeping in mind we can choose either card for free as the yearly fee is waived because of our home loan.

Does anyone recommend one over the other? Or does anyone think fly buys or qantas frequent flyer rewards program is better than the other?

What is the main differences/advantages between VISA, Mastercard & American Express?

Would love to hear any opinions or thoughts on this.

Thank you

 

[Shelf]

Amex usually earns more points per $ spent, however it isn't as widely accepted. The surcharge for using Amex is higher than visa/MasterCard.

 

[AVC]

Precisely.
We have the NAB Qantas Platinum. 1.5 points per dollar on AMEX and 2 points per 3 dollars on VISA (VISA and Mastercard are pretty much the same for all effective puposes)

The main difference between the Gold and Platinum products are the points cap. With Gold, the maximum is $10 per statement. Platinum is uncapped.

As Shelf said, the MSF (Merchant Service Fee) for Amex is higher, and because of this, many stores either dont accept it, or pass the fee on. But larger stores accept all the same. So just use the Amex where you can for higher points.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Amex usually earns more points per $ spent, however it isn't as widely accepted. The surcharge for using Amex is higher than visa/MasterCard.

My Amex / MasterCard combo is capped at 6500 points per month. I do get bonus point but don't know how they are calculated. Any ideas how this works with nab ?

 

[whatmeworry]

If you want flybuys points then you should get the Coles source mastercard, that earns 2 points per dollar.

If you want Qantas points you probably look at the EDR card. Also depends on how much you spend and where?

 

[hello12345]

Thanks heaps for your help everyone, i will post another thread with the links to the specific cards