Which credit cards come with free (or cheap) flights?

With travel looking set to open up again, credit card providers are going to be pulling double shifts to offer the best frequent flyer deals, which is good news for you.

You can get free flights or discounts, flight upgrades and access to swanky waiting lounges, all by using points and offers through your credit card.

There are a couple of ways to earn points towards flights:

1. Earn points with your spending (which then converts into ‘miles’ you can travel for free)
2. Massive lump-sum bonus points when you sign up for a new credit card (which can be as much as 150,000 points)

Right now, credit card providers are offering big incentives in the way of bonus lump-sum points and extra rewards to get new applications.

Here’s the best overall rewards on offer for travel:

• American Express Velocity Platinum Credit Card: receive 100,000 bonus Velocity Points, lounge passes, and a complimentary return domestic flight with Virgin Australia each year.
• ANZ Frequent Flyer Black credit card: you’ll receive 130,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer Points, $255 cashback on your card, two complimentary Qantas Club Lounge passes per year, and free international travel insurance and rental vehicle excess. The annual fee is a touch higher at $425.
• Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card: 110,000 Qantas Points on offer for new applicants, $200 cash back, and a $450 Qantas Travel Credit each year.
• Citi Rewards Credit Card (Velocity points offer): earn up to 150,000 Velocity Points in total if you keep the card for 12 months.

To give you an idea of how points equate to free flights, here’s a sample from the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.

Itinerary	Status	Points required
Brisbane to Perth	Economy, one way	18,000
Sydney to London	Economy, one way	76,200
Melbourne to Los Angeles	Economy, one way	66,200
Darwin to Adelaide	Economy, one way	41,500

This example was updated on 28 September 2021. Information can change regularly. Confirm details with the provider you’re interested in before applying.

You’ll need to check the pros and cons, and the terms and conditions, of each card to make sure it suits you. You can see all the cards and their frequent flyer rewards on our Velocity and Qantas Points comparison guides.

Take advantage of your points with discounted flights

Virgin Australia launched cheap Business Saver flights in 2021 with fees waived for changes or cancellations through to 28 February 2022 (although conditions apply). You’ll get discounted airfares, business class frills, and earn status points.

American Express offers travel credits through some credit cards, which give you free money to spend when you book through the Amex portal. The Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card offers a $450 travel credit to use for domestic or international flights (and some other services, like car rental and unique experiences), and renews each year. 

The American Express Velocity Platinum Credit Card comes with a free return domestic flight with Virgin Australia each year.

Which credit cards come with free frequent flyer membership?

To earn points with your credit card, you’ll need to become a member of the frequent flyer program attached to the card.

Virgin’s Velocity program is free to join online (charges may apply if you do it over the phone).

Qantas’s Frequent Flyer membership is $99.50, but there are so many ways to join for free, you should never have to pay. It’s often included with your credit card, or you can join free through an account with Woolworths Everyday Rewards, BP Rewards, Avis, Kogan and many more.

Credit cards with free travel insurance

To make your free flight even better, many credit cards also include complimentary international and domestic travel insurance. 

Some credit card companies will provide travel insurance cover for the main cardholder only, or may include other family members and cardholders. 

Each card has its own terms, but can cover:

• Loss, theft and damage of luggage and personal belongings
• Emergency medical expenses
• Recompense for missed or cancelled trips, or travel delay
• Accidental death, personal disability or loss of income
• Waiving of car rental insurance excess

When you’re choosing a card for the perks, make sure you weigh up the benefits against the costs of the card. Usually, the better the rewards, the higher the annual fee, which could negate any savings unless you’re a frequent traveller.

As with any travel insurance, make sure you read the terms before activating the cover. Check whether pre-existing medical conditions are included, which components cover you overseas or only within Australia, and how long the cover period is. 

Here’s a summary of the best credit cards with free flights and travel insurance:

Credit card	Bonus points	Frequent flyer membership included	Travel insurance included
ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Credit Card	130,000	Yes	Yes
Qantas Premier Platinum Credit Card	80,000	Yes	Yes
Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card	110,000	No (but it’s easy to join for free)	Yes
Westpac Altitude Platinum Credit Card	130,000	Joining fee may apply – choose between Altitude or Altitude Qantas program	Yes
NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Credit Card	110,000	Yes	Yes

This example was updated on 28 September 2021. Information can change regularly. Confirm details with the provider you’re interested in before applying.

The perks of the concierge

Concierge services can take care of everyday life for you, like a personal assistant. This kind of service is usually reserved for platinum or ‘top tier’ credit cards with higher annual fees, but they’re a great life-hack if it’s available with your card.

A concierge can take care of:

• Shopping, including gifts packaged and delivered
• Personal shopping, including new clothes and event-specific outfits
• Dining experiences, from finding the right restaurants to booking reservations
• Events, such as festivals, fashion shows, and sporting events
• Personal tasks, from babysitting, to housekeeping, to car cleaning
• Travel itineraries, including booking flights, hotels and experiences

Concierge services are available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all tasks great and small. 

They’ve got the skills and contacts to access things the average person can’t, like VIP access to events or negotiating better rates with a hotel on your behalf. 

They’re also great to have on your side if you plan on travelling, since they know all the ins and outs of different locations and can help put your itinerary together – which is important at a time like this when travel can be precarious.

The major credit cards with concierge services typically use the same concierge company, so there’s little difference in the service you’ll receive. 

However, some cards use your points to redeem concierge services, so make sure you’re getting bang for your buck. For instance, it might be better to save your points for travel or gift cards and just book a restaurant yourself.

These cards currently offer concierge services:

Citi Rewards Card
Qantas Premier Platinum Credit Card
ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Credit Card
NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Credit Card
ANZ Rewards Platinum Credit Card
ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum Credit Card

How to find all the best travel bonuses

You can compare all rewards programs, frequent flyer points and complimentary insurances using our easy online comparison guides: 

Rewards program comparisons (points that go towards gift cards, merchandise, and technology)

Frequent flyer comparisons (you can also search cards with specific features, like insurance and airport lounge access)

Bonus point introductory offers (all the highest point-boosters that will get free flights – conditions apply to these offers so read the terms attached)

Remember, credit card companies compete for the title of #1 Best Rewards on Offer, and you’ll be the one to benefit with a little research and comparison. It’s worth the time for those free flights and deal-sweeteners.