If you spend a lot on fuel you should have the right credit card in your wallet—doing so could easily double your frequent flyer points earning capability from a standard card with no fuel-specific points bonuses.
In this overview, I go into a little detail about the two points-earning credit cards which offer bonus spend at fuel stations.
There are also a few links for further reading about the various points programs and other ways to earn more points, especially from fuel spend.
If you drive a lot—whether it’s the school run, for work or rideshare—take note.
Credit cards that offer additional points on fuel
Right now, there are two key cards for fuel purchases, both from American Express: the Platinum Edge and the David Jones American Express.
Note that American Express is adjusting both earn rates and points transfer rates for most cards effective 15 April 2019. Here is our take on the changes and further information from American Express.
Earning flexible points
The American Express Platinum Edge offers a solid 2 Membership Rewards points per $ spent on fuel.
Membership Rewards points can be transferred over to programs such as Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer and Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program, meaning you are earning 2 Velocity points or KrisFlyer miles for each dollar you spend on fuel.
You’ll also receive a travel credit with this card, which more than offsets the $195 annual fee.
You can use your Amex points to fly in Virgin Australia Business Class
You can also earn 3 points per $ at supermarkets, and 1 point per $ on your other day-to-day spend (except for utilities and government spend, which come in at 0.5 points per $).
You won’t pick up any Qantas Points by using the Platinum Edge card, but you do gain a significant amount of flexibility by earning Membership Rewards points and then transferring them to a frequent flyer program of choice once you know how and when you want to use your points. This would be our suggestion.
Earning Qantas Points
If you are a Qantas Points hunter, instead you’ll want to check out the American Express David Jones cards.
With a David Jones American Express, you’ll receive the highest Qantas Points earn rate for fuel spend out there: 2.25 Qantas Points per $.
There are two types of David Jones American Express card: the Classic and Platinum versions.
Both cards earn 2.25 Qantas Points per $ at petrol stations. The regular David Jones American Express has an annual fee of $99, whereas the $295 annual fee Platinum version earns additional points and benefits when shopping at David Jones or online.
Other fuel and points earning opportunities
Depending on where you buy fuel, you can also pick up bonus points on top of what you’re earning with the credit cards above:
- BP and Velocity: 2 Velocity points per litre of fuel; 2 Velocity points per $ spent on in-store purchases
- Caltex and Woolworths Rewards: 1 Woolworths Rewards point (0.43 Qantas Points) per $ spent on fuel (excludes Star Mart and Star Shop)
- Shell and flybuys: 1 flybuys point (0.43 Velocity Points or 0.4 Etihad Guest miles) per $2 spent on fuel or in-store
Summing up
These cards are the only cards on the market that offer bonus points for fuel spend.
If you put a lot of fuel expenditure on your credit card for any reason, having the right card in your wallet can pay back.
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Keith Mason
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I have found that combining my Flybuys with my Velocity is the best points earner. After doing my shopping at Coles where they run frequent promos offering up to 10,000 FB points (4300 velocity) for weekly shopping over 4 weeks I also get the 8 points per litre vouchers which convert to a decent amount of velocity points as well.
This can be leveraged a bit more, if you also have an Entertainment Book you can buy Wish gift cards at 5% off, because Woolworths are a supermarket you get 3ppd from Woolworths if using the Edge for this spend. Then use the Wish card wat Woolworths/Caltex stores for petrol and if you swipe uour WOW EDR card you may get discounts and/or Qantas points.
Steve,
I’m keen to find out if this is actually the case. I do as you do, and buy the gift cards through Entertainment Book, but on my statement the charge is from Everyday Gift Cards, not Woolworths, so I wonder if Amex still classifies that as a supermarket purchase. Would be good if anyone could provide the answer.
If they did it would probably prompt me to get this card.
I use the platinum edge and can confirm Everyday Gift Cards registers as a super market purchase for three MR points per dollar!
A great point hack
I also recently found out with the everyday rewards card instead of getting the 4c/litre discount you can choose to get 2 points per litre at Woolworths branded Caltex petrol stations