Not all credit cards are created equal.
Depending on what card you use and what you use it for, there can be a 10 times difference in the number of airline loyalty program points and miles earned when using a credit card, with some credit cards not earning points and miles at all.
Some credit cards cap the number of points and miles you can earn, whilst others don't, allowing you to earn on all your spend and not just some of it.
Some credit cards directly earn points and miles with a single airline loyalty program, whilst others only allow you to transfer points earned to a few airline loyalty programs.
In a previous blog we told you Pointrs Best Credit Card Overall (Personal) (Pointr #8815) and Pointrs Best Credit Card Overall (Business) (Pointr #8816). Not only do these cards earn high points and miles, with earning uncapped, but importantly they allow you to transfer points earned to many airline loyalty programs. Because the ability to transfer credit card points earned to many airline loyalty programs is the key to spending the least number of points and miles on flights, we strongly advise against using a direct-earn credit card that automatically earns points or miles in a single airline loyalty program. Similarly, we also advise against transferring all your credit card points to a single airline loyalty program, unless needed for a particular flight.
However, there may be reasons to use a credit card with the aim of earning points or miles in a particular airline loyalty program, including to book that cheapest flight. Hence, it can be important to know which credit card to use to earn the most points and miles for a particular airline loyalty program.
Here we look at the best credit cards to use to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points and Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points. Qantas and Virgin Australia are Australia’s two largest airlines and Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer are Australia’s two largest airline loyalty programs. Qantas Frequent Flyer has over 14 million members. Velocity Frequent Flyer has over 11 million members. For context, the population of Australia is around 27 million, with around 21 million adults. Assuming most members are Australian, that’s a very high percentage of Australians who are either members of Qantas Frequent Flyer and/or Velocity Frequent Flyer.
We’ve analysed all the Australian credit cards (over 100 of them) to find out the best credit cards to use to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points and Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points on both personal and business spend. Soon you'll earn far more points than ever before.
Pointr #8821: Pointrs Best Credit Card To Use To Earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points (Personal)
American Express Qantas Ultimate Card
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Earn 2.5 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points for every $1 spent on eligible Qantas products and services, uncapped
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Earn 0.5 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, uncapped
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Earn 1.25 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases, capped at 100,000 Qantas Points in total per calendar year, then 1 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Point for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases, uncapped.
1.25 points is at least 67% more than you generally earn with Visa and Mastercard and is the highest of any credit card in Australia for general spend. Some credit cards earn as few as 0.25 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points for every $1 spent – 80% less.
Keep in mind that 1.25 points is capped. After 100,000 points in a calendar year, this drops to 1 point per $1 spent, which is still good and 33% more than you generally earn with Visa and Mastercard.
Instead of earning only 0.5 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, you can use Pointr #997 to earn 1.25 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, capped at 100,000 Qantas Points in total per calendar year, then 1 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Point for every $1 spent, uncapped.
Pointr #997: https://pointrs.com/en-au/earn-more/american-express/997
If you don't already have an American Express Qantas Ultimate Card, apply for one here.
Pointr #8822: Pointrs Best Credit Card To Use To Earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points (Business)
American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card
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Earn 2 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points for every $1 spent on eligible Qantas products and services, uncapped
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Earn 0.5 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, uncapped
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Earn 1.25 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases, capped at 500,000 Qantas Points in total per calendar year, then 0.75 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Point for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases, uncapped.
1.25 points is at least 67% more than you generally earn with Visa and Mastercard and is the highest of any credit card in Australia for general spend. Some credit cards earn as few as 0.25 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points for every $1 spent – 80% less.
Keep in mind that 1.25 points is capped. After 500,000 points in a calendar year, this drops to 0.75 points per $1 spent, which is 33% below what you will earn with the American Express Platinum Business Card.
Instead of earning only 0.5 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, you can use Pointr #997 to earn 1.25 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Points for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, capped at 500,000 Qantas Points in total per calendar year, then 0.75 Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Point for every $1 spent, uncapped.
Pointr #997: https://pointrs.com/en-au/earn-more/american-express/997
If you don't already have an American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card, you can apply for one here.
Pointr #8823: Pointrs Best Credit Card To Use To Earn Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points (Personal)
American Express Velocity Platinum Card
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Earn 2.25 Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points per $1 spent on eligible travel spend with Virgin Australia, uncapped
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Earn 0.5 Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points per $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, uncapped
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Earn 1.25 Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points per $1 spent on other eligible purchases, uncapped.
1.25 points is at least 67% more than you generally earn with Visa and Mastercard and is the highest of any credit card in Australia for general spend. Some credit cards earn as few as 0.17 Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points for every $1 spent – 86% less.
Being uncapped ensures you earn points on all your spend and not just some of it.
Instead of earning only 0.5 Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, uncapped, you can use Pointr #997 to earn 1.25 Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, uncapped.
Pointr #997: https://pointrs.com/en-au/earn-more/american-express/997
If you don't already have an American Express Velocity Platinum Card, you can apply for one here.
Pointr #8824: Pointrs Best Credit Card To Use To Earn Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points (Business)
This is a tie between two cards.
American Express Platinum Business Card
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Earn 1 American Express Membership Rewards (Ascent Premium) point for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, uncapped.
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Earn 2.25 American Express Membership Rewards (Ascent Premium) points for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases, uncapped.
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Transfer American Express Membership Rewards (Ascent Premium) points to Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer at the rate of 2:1, resulting in 0.5 or 1.125 Velocity Points for every $1 spent.
1.125 points is at least 50% more than you generally earn with Visa and Mastercard. Some credit cards earn as few as 0.17 Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points for every $1 spent – 85% less.
Being uncapped ensures you earn points on all your spend and not just some of it.
Instead of earning only 1 American Express Membership Rewards (Ascent Premium) point for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, uncapped, you can use Pointr #997 to earn 2.25 American Express Membership Rewards (Ascent Premium) points for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, uncapped.
Pointr #997: https://pointrs.com/en-au/earn-more/american-express/997
With the American Express Platinum Business Card you have the benefit of being able to transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to many airline loyalty programs. So, if for some reason you decide you no longer want to earn Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points, you could instead transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to a number of airline loyalty programs, including Qantas Frequent Flyer, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Cathay Pacific Cathay, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Airways Etihad Guest, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Malaysia Airlines Enrich.
If you don't already have an American Express Platinum Business Card, you can apply for one here, and potentially earn a generous sign-on bonus at the same time.
To transfer American Express Membership Rewards (Ascent Premium) points - refer to Pointr #1101.
American Express Business Explorer Card
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Earn 1 American Express Membership Rewards (Gateway) point for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, uncapped.
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Earn 2 American Express Membership Rewards (Gateway) points for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases, uncapped.
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Transfer American Express Membership Rewards (Gateway) points to Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer at the rate of 2:1, resulting in 0.5 or 1 Velocity Point for every $1 spent.
1 point is at least 33% more than you generally earn with Visa and Mastercard. Some credit cards earn as few as 0.17 Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points for every $1 spent – 83% less.
Being uncapped ensures you earn points on all your spend and not just some of it.
Instead of earning only 1 American Express Membership Rewards (Gateway) point for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, uncapped, you can use Pointr #997 to earn 2 American Express Membership Rewards (Gateway) points for every $1 spent at ATO and government bodies, uncapped.
With the American Express Business Explorer Card you have the benefit of being able to transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to many airline loyalty programs. So, if for some reason you decide you no longer want to earn Velocity Frequent Flyer Velocity Points, you could instead transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to a number of airline loyalty programs, including Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Cathay Pacific Cathay, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Airways Etihad Guest, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Malaysia Airlines Enrich.
If you don't already have an American Express Business Explorer Card, you can apply for one here, and potentially earn a generous sign-on bonus at the same time.
To transfer American Express Membership Rewards (Gateway) points - refer to Pointr #1104.
Note that personal credit cards can often be used for business spend and business credit cards can often be used for personal spend, providing extra flexibility and opportunity to earn more points when using any of these cards.
