This feature was produced in partnership with American Express
If you are in the market for a credit card, you want the one that will work with you rather than against you. If you’re going to be spending the money anyway, why not get something out of it?
There’s no advantage to dropping $2,000 on a return flight to languish in cattle-class when you could let your spending do the work and get you up to business class where you belong. The best part is that – with the right credit card – you don’t even need to do any more work. Just sit back, spend your money and let the points roll in.
These are the American Express credit cards that will let you do just that. They are some of the go-to cards on the market that will maximise your spending and earn you frequent flyer points.
These cards could help you go from eating stale bread rolls in economy to sipping champagne in business in no time.
The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card
What better way to start your Qantas Frequent Flyer journey than with 55,000 Qantas Points? This is the card to get if you love Qantas but haven’t yet begun your Frequent Flyer Journey. The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card is giving you 55,000 Qantas Points as long as you apply online, are approved and spend at least $3,000 on the new card within the first three months. This offer is available to new American Express Card Members only.
Not just that, but the Ultimate Card also gives you a range of tasty bonus features.
- $450 of Qantas Travel Credit each year
- 2 American Express & 2 Qantas Club Lounge entries each year
- 44 interest-free days
- Annual $450 fee
- Great for Qantas Frequent Flyers
Without a doubt, one of the card’s best features is the complimentary Qantas Wine Premium Membership with an accelerated earn rate. Rather than the usual 1.25 Qantas Points for every dollar spent, excluding government bodies, the membership gives you three Qantas Points per dollar spent on any wine purchases. As we said: tasty.
If you are worried that you can’t spend fast enough to accrue points then get your family and friends to help as The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card lets you get up to four additional cards for no extra cost.
T&C’s, minimum spend and eligibility criteria apply.
The American Express Explorer® Credit Card
Don’t have loyalty to just one airline program? Then this is the card for you; the American Express Explorer Credit Card lets you redeem points with a choice of nine partner programs including Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Etihad Airways (update: some of these programs may be impacted due to Covid related industry shifts). You can still shop around for the best flights using the Explorer Credit Card with the knowledge that you will be able to use your points when you find the best deal.
The card also comes with a range of other bonuses as well.
- 120,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points when you apply online by the 27th of January 2021, are approved and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months
- An additional 30,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points in Year 2 upon fee renewal
- $400 travel credit annually on eligible flights, hotels, experiences when booked through American Express Travel
- Complimentary domestic and international travel insurance
- 55 interest-free days
- Annual $395 fee
Unlike most cards, the American Express Explorer Credit Card lets you earn 2 points per dollar spent with no monthly limit on how many you can earn. The American Express Explorer Credit Card comes with a handful of other travel benefits too, including overseas travel insurance and $400 annual travel credit (which nicely offsets the annual fee). Not only that, but this card is a plastic wingman for those who travel with multiple airlines throughout the year, as your points can be used at online retailers like Webjet and Ticketmaster. Unforgettable experiences await. This offer is redeemable when you apply online, are approved, and spend $3000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. It is available to new Card Members only.
T&C’s, minimum spend and eligibility criteria apply.
The American Express® Platinum Card
This is it; the big one. The American Express Platinum Card is the card that all others aspire to. The American Express Platinum Card is super exclusive, but for the right person, it’s more than worth it, as it comes with more benefits than you can flex your wallet at. All up, the following points comprise the most important features of the American Express Platinum Card.
- 150,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points when you apply online by the 27th of January 2021, are approved and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months
- An additional 50,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points in Year 2 upon fee renewal
- $450 travel credit annually
- Complimentary access to 1,200 airport lounges
- Annual $1,450 fee
- The deluxe option for high rollers
Unlike the other cards, the points are not even the best thing about the American Express Platinum Card. Not only does it put you on the fast track to the upper echelons of loyalty programs; it also has no pre-set spending limit.
Sure: it comes with a hefty annual fee, but if you can afford it then the exclusive invites, concierge service and airport lounge access in over 130 countries is well worth the price of admission. The American Express Platinum Card is the ultimate card for the high rollers amongst us.
T&C’s, minimum spend and eligibility criteria apply.