Choosing the right credit card can significantly boost your airline points and miles, turning everyday spending into free flights and upgrades. With numerous options available, it's essential to select a card that aligns with your spending habits and travel goals.
Top Airline Points Credit Cards in Australia
1. American Express Platinum Card
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Earn Rate: 2.25 Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible purchases.
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Sign-Up Bonus: 275,000 points.
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Annual Fee: $1,450.
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Transfer Partners: Qantas, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and more.
This premium card offers one of the highest earn rates available, making it top pick even for occasional spend in those categories. Points transfer to a wide range of airline partners, allowing you to redeem for flights across multiple programs, the key to spending less and finding more seats using points and miles.
Keep in mind: having more than one card can be strategic, as different cards excel in different spending categories.
2. American Express Explorer Credit Card
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Earn Rate: 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible purchases.
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Sign-Up Bonus: 50,000 points.
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Annual Fee: $395.
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Transfer Partners: Similar to the Platinum Card, offering versatility in redeeming points.
A more affordable option with robust earning potential and transfer flexibility.
3. ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card
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Earn Rate: 2 ANZ Rewards points per $1 on eligible purchases (up to $5,000 per statement period), then 1 point per $1 thereafter (uncapped).
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Sign-Up Bonus: Varies with promotions (check Pointrs for real-time updates).
- Annual Fee: $375.
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Transfer Partners: Velocity (2:1), KrisFlyer (3:1), Cathay (3:1).
A strong Visa option with flexible transfer partners and a generous uncapped earning structure. Ideal for spend where Amex isn’t accepted. Pair with Pointrs to track bonus offers and discover “Spend Less” Pointrs to fly in any class—Business or First—without using lots of points.
4. HSBC Premier Credit Card
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Earn Rate: 1.5 HSBC Rewards Plus (Premier) points per $1 on eligible purchases, capped at $120,000 per year.
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Sign-Up Bonus: Varies with promotions (check Pointrs for real-time updates).
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Annual Fee: $0 (when you hold a HSBC Premier banking relationship).
- Transfer Partners: Velocity (2:1), KrisFlyer (2:1), Cathay (2:1).
A top-tier Visa option with solid earning potential and access to three major frequent flyer programs. With no monthly points cap and a strong transfer rate, it’s one of the best non-Amex cards for international travel. Pair with Pointrs to catch limited-time bonuses and redeem those points using “Spend Less” Pointrs for luxury flights.
5. American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card
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Earn Rate: 3 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent at major supermarkets and petrol stations, uncapped.
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Sign-Up Bonus: Varies (check current offers).
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Annual Fee: $250
- Transfer Partners: Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Virgin Atlantic, Malaysia Airlines, and more.
This card delivers excellent rewards on everyday supermarket and petrol spending, earning up to 1.5 airline points per $1 after transfer — significantly more than most Visa and Mastercard options, and even more than the American Express Platinum Card overall. Plus, when combined with a Flybuys card at Coles, you can earn up to 2 Virgin Australia Velocity Points per $1 spent. The card’s broad airline transfer options mean you can redeem points flexibly and spend fewer points for flights in any class.
Pointrs' Top Picks for Personal and Business Spending
At Pointrs, we've analyzed numerous credit cards to identify the best options for maximizing airline points and miles.
Best Personal Credit Cards
1. American Express Platinum Card
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Earn Rate: 2.25 Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible purchases.
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Transfer Partners: Extensive list including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, and more.
This card offers unparalleled earning potential and transfer flexibility, making it our top personal pick. With uncapped earning and flexible redemption options, it’s Pointrs' Best Overall Credit Card for personal use.
👉 Don't have an AMEX Platinum Card yet? Apply for an American Express Platinum Card here.
2. American Express Explorer Credit Card
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Earn Rate: 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible purchases.
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Transfer Partners: Similar to the Platinum Card, providing versatility in point redemption.
A cost-effective alternative with strong earning rates and transfer options.
👉 Don't have an AMEX Explorer Credit Card yet? Apply for an American Express Explorer Credit Card here
Best Business Credit Cards
1. American Express Platinum Business Card
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Earn Rate: 2.25 Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible purchases.
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Transfer Partners: Broad range including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, and more.
Ideal for businesses with significant spending, offering high earn rates and flexible redemption options.
👉 Don't have an AMEX Platinum Business Card yet? Apply for an American Express Platinum Business Card here
2. American Express Business Explorer Credit Card
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Earn Rate: 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 on eligible purchases.
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Transfer Partners: Similar to the Platinum Business Card, ensuring versatility.
A more affordable business card without compromising on earning potential and transfer flexibility.
👉 Don't have an AMEX Business Explorer Credit Card yet? Apply for an American Express Business Explorer Credit Card here
Boost Your Balance Faster with Promotion Alerts
Collecting a high‑earning card is only half the story—the real magic happens when you pair it with bonus‑point transfer or spend offers.
For example, American Express frequently runs transfer bonuses of 20 – 40 per cent to partners such as Virgin Australia Velocity, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. A 40 per cent bonus instantly turns the Platinum Card’s 2.25 MR points‑per‑dollar into 3.15 MR points-per-dollar, which converts to 1.57 airline miles per dollar—an earn rate no Visa or Mastercard product can touch.
How Pointrs helps
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Real‑time promotion feed – Every current transfer or spend bonus from the major banks and airline programs is listed under Card & Program Promotions in your Pointrs dashboard. No more hunting through inbox newsletters or missing a limited‑time window.
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Weekly email alerts – We flag the best promos in our Seat Radar newsletter so you can move quickly while the bonus is live.
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“Earn More” Pointrs – Need a refresher on optimal card strategies? Our step‑by‑step Earn More Pointrs walk you through stacking bonuses, uncapped spend categories, and card‑to‑card upgrade paths.
Turn Those Points into Premium Seats
Big balances are only useful if you can redeem them well. That’s where our Spend Less Pointrs come in. Each one shows:
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Cheapest loyalty program (often up to 75 % fewer points than the headline price).
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Transfer path from your credit‑card currency to the chosen airline.
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Step‑by‑step booking instructions so you can lock in the seat yourself.
Whether it’s a 22k economy hop to Fiji or a 120k business‑class trip to Paris, you’ll know exactly how many points, which program, and which buttons to click.
Ready to boost and use your points with confidence?
Visit pointrs.com, tap Earn More for quick ways to multiply the number of points and miles you earn (up to 3.5x more!), then dive into Spend Less to plan your next premium flight saving you up to 75% on each and every flight when using points, miles and cash.
Supercharge Your Points and Redeem Like a Pro
Scoring the right credit card is just the beginning. With the right timing and guidance, you can earn points even faster—and spend fewer of them when it's time to book.
That’s where Pointrs steps in:
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Live Promotion Alerts: We track and update the latest transfer bonuses and spend offers across all major cards and airline programs, so you never miss a chance to earn more.
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Step-by-Step Earn More Pointrs: Our guides show you how to stack card rewards, uncapped spend categories, and partner transfers to maximise your points.
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Spend Less Pointrs: We don’t just help you earn—we help you use your points smarter. Our flight redemption Pointrs show you the cheapest ways to fly anywhere in the world, including business and first class, often using up to 75% fewer points.
With Pointrs, you’ll never waste a single point—or a single opportunity to fly better, for less.
References: Wise, Money.com.au, Invest With Queenie, Daily Telegraph
