New Qantas Premier credit card plays up points, travel perks
By David Flynn, June 5 2017
Disclaimer
Executive Traveller may receive a commission when you apply for these credit cards via our links.
The information provided on this page is purely factual and general in nature. You should seek independent advice and consider your own personal circumstances before applying for any financial product.
- 60,000 Qantas Points sign-up bonus
- Up to 2 Qantas Points per dollar earning rate, uncapped earning
- Free Qantas airport lounge passes, travel insurance
Qantas is playing to its strengths of frequent flyer points and travel perks with airline’s new own-branded Qantas Premier Mastercard.
Issued under a 'white label' arrangement with US financial services giant Citi and launched today the new Qantas Money umbrella – which also incorporates the Qantas Cash prepaid card – the platinum-grade credit card kicks off with a sign-up bonus of 60,00 frequent flyer points, which will land in your account after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days.
Cardholders will earn between 0.5 and 2 Qantas Points per dollar based on how and where they use the card:
- 1 point per dollar on domestic spending up to and including $10,000 each statement period
- 0.5 points per dollar spent above $10,000 each statement period (30 days)
- 1.5 points per A$1 on international spending (international transaction fees will apply)
- 1 additional point per $1 spent with Qantas (however, credit card fees won’t be waived when using the card to book Qantas flights)
No points will be earned for payments to government agencies.
An ‘uncapped earning’ scenario kicks in for cardholders who spend more than $10,000 across each 30-day statement period, although the earning rate will drop to 0.5 points per dollar.
The Qantas Premier card will come with a $149 annual fee for the first year and $299 each subsequent year, with a fee of $50 per additional cardholder.
Lounge access
Each cardholder will receive two lounge passes per year to domestic Qantas Club lounges and international Qantas Business lounges (fyi: these are digital passes, which can't be flogged off on eBay or Gumtree).
A discount of up to 20% will apply on “selected companion domestic fares” once a year, with up to eight other passengers able to travel on the same cut-rate booking.
There will also be six months interest-free on the first eligible Qantas purchase such as a flight booking and 0% balance transfers for the first 15 months.
The Qantas Premier Card also offers travel insurance which is activated after using the card to pay more than $500 on any international flight or paying 100% of the fare on a domestic flight. Bookings made with Qantas Points automatically activate the travel insurance,.
Android Pay, Samsung Pay to come
Card issuer Citi tells Australian Business Traveller that support for the Android Pay and Samsung Pay mobile will be added during a future update to the program, although there are currently no plans to extend this to Apple Pay.
The Qantas Premier Card’s smartchip will contain each user’s frequent flyer number but the card won't be usable for tap-and-go checkin similar to the Qantas Cash card.
That said, Qantas Loyalty CEO Lesley Grant admitted to Australian Business Traveller that a single card for frequent flyer membership, prepaid travel money and credit could exist down the track.
Indeed, Qantas is keeping plenty of options open beyond today’s launch of the credit card, with promotional possibilities ranging from bonus point periods on purchasing Qantas services to a side serve of status credits when booking a Qantas ticket.
“I’m not ruling anything out,” a confident Grant told Australian Business Traveller.
Qantas will have visibility of all transactions made using the card, from your morning coffee to your per-basket spend at the supermarket – data which will no doubt be fed into the airline’s analysis engine and used to fine-tune offers and promotions down the track.
Qantas seeks a bigger slice of a growing pie
The Qantas Premier Card’s launch comes as the Reserve Bank caps 'interchange fees' from July, which is likely to see banks buying fewer frequent flyer points from the airlines to issue through their own credit cards.
It's estimated that some 35% of credit card spending in Australia is done through cards issued by Qantas partners such as banks, but issuing its own card will let Qantas tap into a much larger slice of the financial services market.
For further details on the Qantas Premier credit card, read our AusBT review.
Disclaimer
Executive Traveller may receive a commission when you apply for these credit cards via our links.
The information provided on this page is purely factual and general in nature. You should seek independent advice and consider your own personal circumstances before applying for any financial product.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Jan 2015
Total posts 106
are you sure it is 1.5 QF points on international spend? either that or Qantas stuffed up their media release by putting international spend at 5 QF points per $1 on overseas purchases
27 Apr 2017
Total posts 38
How is this better than, for example, ANZ Black, which comes with a 75K sign-on bonus and $0 fee for the first year? Plus no Apple Pay. A fail in my book.
24 May 2017
Total posts 4
27 Apr 2017
Total posts 38
I agree they are valid points, but note that the QF card also has (1) no bonus Status Credits, (2) no earn on government spend on top of (3) no Apple pay, (4) lower sign-on bonus, and (5) no fee-free year. If you're in the market for a new card, ANZ Black is a far better deal.
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 163
Apple Pay is great, but for most people I don't think a deal breaker - otherwise the only cards being issued at all would be Amex or ANZ! And quite frankly I'm glad it has no status credits - everyone should earn them the hard way like I've had to!
20 Feb 2012
Total posts 67
Many credit unions, ING and HSBC have ApplePay. I can't wait to get my ANZ card so I can go out of the house without my wallet.
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 163
Until you go somewhere with one of the old NAB or Suncorp or various other eftpos terminals and it doesn't work, so then gets awkward when there's no other way you can pay!
12 Feb 2014
Total posts 229
About the same in my book, although I got stung with the ANZ Black by applying over the phone. They charged me the full $435 fee on my first statement! It was explained they only waive the first year fee if you apply online, although there is nothing on the website or in the T&C which backs this up. Five consultants later and they reduced the fee to $200 and apologised for the 'inconvenience'. You will also get charged if you apply for the card in a branch. Beware!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 595
Anz are dicks like that
06 Jun 2017
Total posts 2
Important information
Card products:
Cards are offered, issued and administered by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited. Australian Credit Licence number 234527 and ABN 11 005 357 522. Terms and conditions are available on application. Fees and charges apply. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) is the credit provider and credit licensee (or registered person) under National Consumer Credit laws. ANZ pays Qantas for Qantas Points issued in relation to these cards. All applications are subject to ANZ's credit assessment criteria.
*Offer available to new and approved applicants who apply for an ANZ Frequent Flyer Black credit card account by 30 June 2017. This is a limited time only offer available through online channels which may be withdrawn or changed at any time without notice.
12 Feb 2014
Total posts 229
It says the offer is available through online channels. It doesn't say that you must apply through these channels and that vague wording is the only mention of it anywhere. Like I told the consultants I would have happily applied online if I'd known the fee would be charged for applying over the phone and the person who handled the app on the phone at no point made it clear I could save myself $435 by applying online. It's just a rip off.
28 May 2016
Total posts 128
I imagine that QF are just testing the waters with this card, and we'll see a more 'premier-esqe' card down the track.
05 Jun 2017
Total posts 1
They aren't exactly giving away the farm with this card, but given what's been happening to earn rates recently it isn't too bad. I can't see this tempting too many people who have had experience with other Citi products - the Citi platform is awful to use and their customer service leave much to be desired.
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 163
Citibank is probably my least favourite bank to deal with - particularly when it comes to cancelling. However I've got to say this is actually appealing, given I've exhausted the bonus points with both ANZ and Westpac in recent years, and don't want to pay $400+ a year to earn 0.75 points. Also for the fact that Qantas have 1.5 points on international - my current cards have just had that wiped out from the benefits.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 391
Absolutely Yanis...I totally agree. They are the worst !!
18 Aug 2015
Total posts 55
So a direct Emirates World MasterCard competitor, both from Citibank.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Aug 2014
Total posts 74
I feel sick Qantas.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Feb 2016
Total posts 24
Seems like their approach here is to be a little better than the competition.... which makes sense. No need to blow everything else out of the water and squeeze your own margins in doing so.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Apr 2016
Total posts 1
I agree wholeheartedly that Citi are the most difficult people to deal with on many levels, they use overseas call centres and it is almost impossible to explain your problem or get any sort of intelligent response. It generally is a very stressful experience trying to get through to them. I have found Amex to be fantstic!!
27 Nov 2014
Total posts 7
the websites crashed !
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Mar 2017
Total posts 2
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Nov 2014
Total posts 52
The 5pts/$ was an error in the media release - that's been updated if you look at the Qantas news site again.
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 163
In business lounges are the equivalent of DOM qantas clubs so I'd expect the passes can be used for them. The INT first lounge is the equivalent of DOM Business so obviously can't be used for those.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Nov 2014
Total posts 52
Can confirm, I've used Qantas Club single-use passes at international business lounges before
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 May 2017
Total posts 16
How do you become a life member of QC? Or is this because you have the 14000 points for lifetime Gold status?
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 163
You used to be able to purchase lifetime QC membership but that stopped a few years ago. Now lifetime Gold effectively gives you lifetime lounge access.
15 Oct 2016
Total posts 2
QF
15 Apr 2015
Total posts 18
I had lifetime Ansett Golden Wing m'ship, and was offered a discounted QF Club lifetime m'ship just prior to 9/11, and I declined. Very soon after 9/11, and Ansett's collapse, I contacted QF, but they advised that the discount offer had been rescinded :( so I ended up paying about $5,000 for it. Fortunately/unfortunately, I have been QF Gold, and in the last few years, QF Platinum, so my lifetime m'ship is suspended, I will be QF Lifetime Gold in 2019, so will never ever need/use my lifetime QF Club again... :(
03 Nov 2014
Total posts 91
I believe they used to sell life memberships in the past, no longer an option. That or Lifetime Gold
05 May 2016
Total posts 634
Lifetime Gold is better than QANTAS Club especially if you fly OneWorld partners e.g. CX, AA etc.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 391
It's an OK card, but will I bother getting on the phone, waiting on hold, talk to someone about closing my ANZ Black Visa and moving across....answer is no.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jan 2015
Total posts 72
But that $425 annual fee for the ANZ FF Black..
Considering HSBC now offers Apple Pay I feel like there's less and less reason for me to justify that fee. Granted HSBC still requires you to fax over documents for their card application!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 391
I was upgraded from old Platinum ANZ Visa when Black first came out, and my fee is redlined at that old price, so I pay about $240.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1015
Anual fee too much. :/
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Sep 2011
Total posts 82
I read the small print in the T&Cs - read #13 and weep. No interest-free period unless you're a VERY good boy - no cash advances, no balance transfers, and you've paid off your balance in full for two billing cycles. I can see how they're going to make their money
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 163
Can you name a card that doesn't work that way? (Apart from Amex Charge cards, which are a whole different prospect anyway).
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 163
In fact on reading it further, it may actually give you more interest free days than some cards. When you get your statement, pay the minimum by the due date, and then pay the rest the day before the end of the current statement period and pay no interest - effectively that could give you up to 61 interest free days on the first purchases that month (apart from the minimum payment) which is more than the standard 45, 50, or 55 days with most other cards.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2011
Total posts 88
Haha! In my browser I had 3 ads for ANZ Black through the article!
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Mar 2017
Total posts 2
Reply to jubsie re Qantas life membership. Joined some 14 years ago when life membership was available to purchase, around $4K for full life and just under $2k for senior life, ie, from 60 years of age. That cut out some years ago, maximum purchase now is 4 years with a fee close to $2K inc joining fee although I did see Qantas advertise that for about $1200 a few weeks ago
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 May 2017
Total posts 16
Ah wow, pity I missed this, could have been handy. Thanks for the reply!
12 Apr 2017
Total posts 13
Very disappointing. Not worth it at all for a platinum QFF as lounge passes are worthless.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 May 2017
Total posts 16
I am disappointed by this, I thought it would have been much better benefits. Only $1/1 point is poor given this is Qantas' own card. Sign up bonus is poor, since there are many other banks than match this or more! Also, given ANZ give you the same free 2 lounge passes plus a reduced Qantas Club annual fee, I cannot believe Qantas doesn't even match that discount! And no first year annual fee waiving, no Apple Pay, no Status Credit (not surprised), and cannot use at airport for checkin. I won't be rushing....
Qantas
15 Jun 2016
Total posts 14
Off topic but, I remember when your QC membership was all that was required to get access to the lounges. You could daily catch the Q airport transfer bus from the city to the airport lounges and drink for free until you caught the Q airport transfer bus back. The QC club membership was then fantastic value but then they changed the lounge access requirements to also include the possession a of valid boarding pass - that close that unintended rort. The best local watering hole ever.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Mar 2014
Total posts 8
Think I might stick with my Platinum Ultimate AMEX, looks on the face of it a better deal.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Nov 2015
Total posts 3
I think it's a good offer. I have applied for the card. Spoke to someone as both pay slips did not download. Sent it back and then 15 mins got approval stating card is on the way. I will see how it goes with the call centre. Though all govt charges such as council rates, water rates, drivers licence and rego are counted as govt charges and excluded. Better than earn rate of 0.66 with Bankwest and 0.75 with St George. As I have these cards free for first year will keep them until Nov.
02 Dec 2016
Total posts 90
This is targeted at your non frequent frequent flyers.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Nov 2016
Total posts 68
I hope everyone keeps complaining. I'm sure Qantas is reading these comments and a better deal comes from it. Qantas is probably keeping the points lower as most banks have now reduced their points significantly (not Amex). I think the price is too high at $299 after the first year. Linking it to the Qantas Cash card would certainly make it more worthwhile. I buy a lot of flights overseas in USD's and if I had to pay AUD exchange rates it would not be competitive. If you were a Platinum FF member not sure its worth it. Even Gold depending on your circumstances. I'm curious with Lifetime Qantas membership, do you get access to Business Class check in and lounges? Lifetime Gold is certainly worth the challenge.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jun 2015
Total posts 34
Non-competitive rubbish.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2014
Total posts 317
QF FF is at a crossroads with interchange fees etc and this is a fail really and has no real value to mid tier flyers, I think the next battle is status credits and will be interesting what QF offer in this regard or more importantly what VA can bring to the market and force QF to respond.
05 Jun 2017
Total posts 3
Is QANTAS having a bit of a dig at Malaysian Airlines with the name on the card in the promo pictures? 'MH Fysh' seems like some sort of cruel reference to the missing Malaysian flight!
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2512
The card reads "W H Fysh" - short for Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh, one of the founders of Qantas. One of Qantas' A380s also bears the same name (albeit shortened to Hudson Fysh).
05 Jun 2017
Total posts 3
Fair enough. My mistake. The letters are not clear when viewed on a mobile.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1252
What a bizarre assertion to make.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 470
Really??? You've never heard of Hudson Fysh, one of QF's founders?
04 Jul 2015
Total posts 2
Very disappointing after all the hype. The complimentary lounge passes are useless to Gold or platinum fFF Flyers;
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2549
Thanks for all those observations, Hugh. With regard to this specific article, its aim was to deliver the main details of the card along with some other insights not listed in the press release (such as the state and fate of Apple Play, Android Pay) rather than to pass judgement – like all of our news stories it's an objective take, not a subjective one. The 'judgement' aspect is available in today's review of the Qantas Premier card (something we couldn't write up yesterday afternoon as we didn't have all the details until after it launched).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 470
I think you must have had unreasonably high expectations. I was laughing at people last week who were speculating about getting status credits for their spending - it just ain't gonna happen and wishing for it to do so will only lead to disappointment. As for 1 point per dollar (up to $10,000 per month) - that's better than most other Visa and Mastercard products, and the $10,000 monthly limit is FAR more generous than most. It is certainly not "miserable". Similarly, the 1.5 points per dollar for overseas transactions is quite good - and one of the major reasons I'm getting this card. (I used to get this overseas rate on my HSBC Visa, but now that's been chopped - THAT's what I call miserable). And you seem to be unhappy that your status with QF is dropping, from Plat One to Plat to Gold; well guess what, you can always fix that .........
04 Jul 2015
Total posts 2
Would appreciate what others of my post and answers to the queries in my post. Would particularly the view of QF on my gripes
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 35
Not a bad card, maybe a good card for the mass market and most Qantas flyers, but not a great card. I'll get this for the points but not for any of the bonus offers.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Apr 2011
Total posts 43
Well bad or not, I don't even get a chance to apply as I am on part pension and a bit of super, so don't qualify. Wondering how strict they might be. I'm currently on a ANZ Platinum Amex/Visa with a substantial credit limit (which I would never ever use anyway!) Have a good credit rating, and pay my card of in full every month. Guess that would not carry any weight as a transfer to the QF card. I am going to dump ANZ Cards (and savings etc) and go to ING when they cancel my Amex. I still have my Woolies card, but I fear that will be next for further enhancements. I think it is time to give up chasing FF points now. I can't win.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 4
Hi guys,
02 Apr 2018
Total posts 1
Think very carefully before obtaining this card. 75,000 points may not be worth the effort. It has been nothing short of a nightmare for us. From the application process to activation to changing a PIN to requesting an additional card for my spouse has taken weeks. We have been QFF members for over 30 years and the syncing between Qantas Money and QFF accounts is broken as well.
Fall out has included hours on the phone with off-shore support staff that cannot or are not allowed to think outside the box for any issues. The technical support is horrendous, promised return phone calls do not occur and the countless errors in the website and mobile app has been nothing short of comical.
Qantas Money even deactivated the card two weeks after it was activated and two hours of continual escalations to reactivate it with no justification or answer as to why it was deactivated in the first place. Also, there is no extended warranty on purchases available through the card that I am aware of.
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