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Up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points¹ + $450 annual Travel Credit with the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card

Card Overview

Earn 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, plus an additional 30,000 Qantas Points when you spend a minimum of $1 on your Card within 90 days of paying your second year annual Card Fee¹. (Offer ends 5 May 2026. New Amex Card Members only. T&Cs apply.) This card includes an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit, two Qantas Club Complimentary Lounge Invitations each year, complimentary international travel insurance, and Qantas Wine Premium Membership (valued at $99). Earn 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 on everyday spend, 2.25 on Qantas purchases, and 0.5 on government payments. The annual fee is $450.

Key Attributes

  • Up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points¹, receive 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $5,000 or more on eligible purchases in the first 3 months of approval date. Plus an additional 30,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend of $1 on your Card within 90 days of paying your second year annual fee. Offer ends 5 May 2026. New Amex Card Members only. T&Cs apply.
  • $450 Qantas Travel Credit each Card Member year³
  • 2 The Centurion® Lounge and 2 Qantas Club Complimentary Lounge Invitations each year⁴
  • Complimentary Qantas Wine Premium Membership (valued at $99 per year)⁵
  • Travel Insurance, Card Purchase and Card Refund Cover
  • Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay
  • 1.25 Qantas Points earned per $1 on eligible everyday purchases
  • 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia
  • 0.5 Qantas Point per $1 at government bodies in Australia
  • After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.
  • Annual Fee: $450 p.a.

American Express is offering up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points1 for New American Express Card Members who apply for the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card by 5 May 2026.

The bonus is split into two parts, with the first 70,000 bonus Qantas Points to be received after spending a minimum of $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of approval and an additional 30,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend min. $1 on your Card within 90 days of paying the 2nd year annual Card fee. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only.

The American Express Qantas Ultimate Card is targeted towards Card Members who want to maximise the Qantas Points earned from spend on an American Express, as well as receive a range of travel-related benefits.

Cathay Pacific 777 First Class | Point Hacks
You can fly Cathay Pacific First Class for as little as 29,000 Qantas Points (Hong Kong to Taipei)

You’ll also receive:

  • a $450 Qantas Travel Credit3 each year to use when booking Qantas flights through American Express Travel;
  • two Qantas Club Complimentary Lounge Invitations as well as two entries to The Centurion® Lounge in Sydney or Melbourne each membership year4; and
  • a complimentary Qantas Wine Premium Membership5

Digging into the benefits of the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card

The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card is a competitive card in the premium card market and comes with a high points earn and generous benefits.

Card Details

CardQantas American Express Ultimate
Loyalty programQantas Frequent Flyer
Points earned from spend1.25 Qantas Points earned per $1 on eligible purchases
2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia
0.5 Qantas Points per $1 at government bodies in Australia

After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.
Points capNone
Travel benefits$450 Qantas Travel Credit each cardholder years³
2 The Centurion® Lounge entries each year⁴
2 Qantas Club lounge invitations each year⁴
Included insurancesMedical Emergency Expense Cover
Personal Accident Cover
Trip Cancellation and Amendment Cover
Travel Inconvenience Cover
Personal Baggage, Money or Travel Documents Cover
Card Purchase and Card Refund Cover (PDS)
Overseas transaction fee3% of the converted amount
Mobile walletApple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay
Annual fee$450

Earning Qantas Points from spend

With the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, you can enjoy uncapped Qantas Points earning potential for every dollar you spend on your Card, and it will sweep over your points to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account on a monthly basis, as you’d expect.

You’ll earn a solid 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on most everyday purchases, plus earns 0.5 Qantas Points per dollar on government spend, uncapped.

If you find yourself booking several hundreds of dollars in Qantas flights on a regular basis, the additional 1 point per $1 on Qantas spend will quickly rack up to boost your Qantas Frequent Flyer balance.

After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.2

Read the Point Hacks guide to American Express cards acceptance here.

$450 Qantas Travel Credit

This benefit gives Card Members $450 towards the purchase of a Qantas domestic or international flight through American Express Travel.

The Qantas Travel Credit3 is designed to give Card Members more flexibility than the return domestic flight previously offered and helps to directly offset the $450 annual fee.

You can access the Qantas Travel Credit after you have paid your annual fee and as long as your account is current and in good standing. Do note that if you do not use the entire credit in one booking, you forfeit the remaining balance, so try to save it for a booking over the value of $450.

You can use your Qantas Travel Credit for a Qantas flight in any class on any domestic or international flight

You’ll receive the credit each year you have your Card but you can use it to book travel into the future, e.g. if the credit expires on July, you can book travel for October.

As for points earn on the booking, the Qantas Travel Credit terms and conditions state:

Except for the $450 Qantas Travel Credit3 portion of your booking, any other amount charged to your Card as part of your booking will accrue Qantas Points in the usual way.

Customers can only book hotels, car hire or experiences if a Qantas flight is within the same transaction, i.e. Card Members will not be able to use their Qantas Travel Credit solely towards hotel, car or experience bookings.

As the taxes and fees on an award redemption using Qantas Points must be paid directly to Qantas through their website or over the phone and the Qantas Travel Credit is only available to use through the American Express Travel website, you cannot use your Qantas Travel Credit to pay the taxes and fees on an award redemption.

Note: You will need to use your annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit on a single travel booking of $450 or more on your eligible Card, made through American Express Travel Online. The Qantas Travel Credit can be redeemed for any eligible Qantas flight booked (i.e. a QF flight number on your ticket). Your booking will be charged in full to your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card and American Express will then credit $450 to your Account within 3 business days but may take up to 30 days. You will still receive your $450 Qantas Travel Credit each year, and your Travel Credit anniversary will remain the same. Click here for the full Terms & Conditions.

Qantas Club Lounge Melbourne
Qantas Club Melbourne

Lounge access

Card Members are eligible to receive two Qantas Club Complimentary Lounge Invitations4.

You can access domestic Qantas Clubs, International Business Lounges (except at Los Angeles) and International (Premium) Lounges in Brisbane, Singapore, Hong Kong and London.

The Qantas Club Complimentary Lounge Invitations are valid for a single visit by one guest to a Qantas Club Lounge and must be used prior to their expiry

An important note is that in order to receive the Qantas lounge passes, you need to first make an eligible purchase with Qantas using the Card, which is defined as:

Qantas passenger airfares with a QF flight number purchased directly from Qantas Australia by you (or by a travel agent on your behalf) that appear on your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card statement as a Qantas transaction; Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Club membership joining and annual fees; and Qantas Travel shop purchases.

So, basically, you must first purchase a Qantas flight or purchase a Qantas Frequent Flyer or Qantas Club membership before you can use your lounge passes. This excludes paying the taxes and fees on an award booking using this Card.

Two weeks after you do so, you’ll be sent an email and your two digital lounge passes will be attached to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. You could then choose to transfer them to another Qantas Frequent Flyer member.

The full terms and conditions of the Qantas Club lounge benefit are available here.

Another benefit of the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card is access to The Centurion® Lounge in Sydney and Melbourne, with two complimentary passes also provided per calendar year4.

New American Express Lounge Sydney entrance
The Centurion® Lounge, Sydney

Card Members can bring their children into the Amex lounge for free (age 2-17) however additional guests over 17 may be subject to an entry fee. Unlike the Qantas lounge passes, you do not need to make an eligible purchase before receiving entry to this lounge.

Complimentary Qantas Wine Premium membership

Worth $99 a year, a premium membership to Qantas Wine5, food & champagne portal gives you a bonus 3 points per $ spent as well as complimentary delivery within Australia (exclusions apply).

Plus, paying for these purchases with this Qantas-branded card will earn you a total of 4.25 points per $ spent on Qantas Wine products (3 points as a Qantas Wine Premium member + 1.25 points for regular spend on this Card). It’s a bit weird that this doesn’t qualify as a purchase of a Qantas product or service, earning 2.25 points.

Note: After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent2.

American Express Plan It

American Express launched ‘Plan It’ in mid-2020, which allows cardholders to create instalment plans that allow for equal payments to be distributed over a 3, 6 or 12 month payment period. There is a monthly fixed fee to access this feature, with up to 10 Plan It plans with a minimum of $100 balance able to be created.

Insurances and other benefits

In the Travel Insurance bucket you’ll get Medical Emergency Expense Cover, Trip Cancellation and Amendment Cover, Personal Baggage, Money and Travel Documents Cover and Travel Inconvenience Cover when you pay for travel with the Card. Read the PDS here.

You’ll need to dig into the various PDS of these policies if you intend on relying on this cover to make sure they work for you.

This guide references some of the benefits of insurance policies provided with this card. You should read the PDS and obtain independent professional advice before obtaining this product.

Mobile wallet integration

American Express Cards work with Apple Pay®, Google Wallet™ and Samsung Pay, meaning you can use this card on your smartphone for easier payments.

Read the Point Hacks guide to using Apple Pay or for using Google Wallet and Samsung Pay, including instructions on how to add your American Express card to those services.

With this feature set up, it means you could still use your NFC-enabled phone to make purchases with your American Express account, even if your physical card is lost or stolen and pending replacement.

Eligibility criteria for bonus points for existing American Express Card Members

American Express are quite specific about whether existing Card Members will be eligible for bonus points if they apply for a card, are approved, and meet the minimum spend criteria.

Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the preceding 18 month period are ineligible for this offer.

American Express don’t allow existing Card Members, even for different types of American Express cards (e.g. Charge, Credit or Business) to be eligible for bonus points offers for cards in a different family.

Frequently asked questions

Can you transfer Qantas Frequent Flyer Points to Amex?

No. Qantas Frequent Flyer points cannot be transferred to your Amex Rewards account, however, if you would like to earn Qantas points from your credit card spend, you will need to choose a Qantas Credit Card from American Express or alternatively, hold The Platinum Card or Centurion card.

What is a Qantas Travel Credit?

Card Members are eligible for a $450 Qantas Travel Credit3 every year. The Qantas Travel Credit can be redeemed for any Qantas flight booked (i.e. a QF flight number on your ticket) and paid online through American Express Travel in a single booking. Make sure to use your Travel Credit on a booking of $450 or more, otherwise, any unused portion is forfeited.

How do I use the American Express Qantas Travel credit?

Head to American Express Travel and make sure to log in to your American Express account using the ‘Log in’ button at the top-right of the page. When you reach the payment page after finalising your booking details, you will be provided with the option to use your Travel Credit as payment for the booking.

Is it worth getting an American Express card?

If you looking to earn rewards points from your everyday spend, then American Express cards offer some of the best earn rates in the market. Make sure to consult your accountant or financial adviser before applying for a card to ensure that you are choosing the best one for your financial situation.

Summing up: the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card

The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card is on the higher end for annual fees but does offer high points earn for the die-hard Qantas Points collector.

The Qantas Travel Credit each year is a useful bonus to offset the annual fee, and the lounge passes and complimentary Qantas Wine Premium membership top off a solid offer.


Terms & Conditions

¹ Bonus & Eligibility.

To earn up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points you must apply online by 5 May 2026, be approved, and meet the following criteria – You’ll receive 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $5,000 or more on eligible purchases on your new Card in the first 3 months from the Card approval date. Eligible purchases do not include Card fees and charges, for example annual fees, interest, late payment, cash advances, balance transfers, traveller’s cheques and foreign currency conversion. To receive an additional 30,000 bonus Qantas Points, you need to remain on the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card after the first year and spend a minimum of $1 on the Card within 90 days of paying the second year annual Card fee. Please allow 8-10 weeks after the spend criteria has been met and the second year annual Card fee has been paid for the bonus points to be credited to your Account. The additional 30,000 bonus Qantas Points will still be awarded after fee renewal even if you did not meet the $5,000 minimum spend criteria to receive the 70,000 bonus Qantas Points in the first year of Membership. This offer is only available to new American Express Card Members.  Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the past 18 months are ineligible for this offer. Qantas Points are earned in accordance with and subject to the Qantas American Express Card Points Terms and Conditions. Qantas Frequent Flyer membership and the earning and redemption of points are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program available a qantas.com/terms. $450 annual Card fee applies. This advertised offer is not applicable or valid in conjunction with any other advertised or promotional offer. 

² Qantas Points.

You must be a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program to earn and redeem Qantas Points. A joining fee may apply. Membership and the earning and redemption of points are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program available at qantas.com/terms. Qantas Points and bonus Qantas Points are earned in accordance with and subject to the Qantas American Express Cards Points Terms and Conditions, and exclusions apply. Eligible purchases do not include annual Card fees, cash advances, interest, fees and charges for traveller’s cheques and foreign currencies – these do not earn Qantas Points. For the full list of exclusions, please refer to the Qantas American Express Cards Points Terms and Conditions. You will earn 0.5 point per dollar spent with Merchants classified as ‘government’, including the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post), Federal/State and Local Government bodies, including where you use a payment account, payment aggregator, services of a third party or online retailers that sell goods for another merchant.

³ Qantas Travel Credit

Qantas American Express Ultimate Primary Card Members are eligible for an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit, subject to the full Qantas Travel Credit Terms and Conditions at amex.com.au/qantasultimate-travelcreditterms. The Qantas Travel Credit can be redeemed through American Express Travel Online on a single eligible travel booking for Qantas Flights (i.e. a QF flight number on your ticket) by selecting the Qantas Travel Credit when you checkout. All Qantas Flight travel is subject to Qantas Conditions of Carriage. To redeem the Travel Credit, the full value of the Travel Credit (or more) must be charged to the eligible Primary Card. The Qantas Travel Credit can be used for 365 days from the benefit anniversary date and cannot be used past the expiration date. To check the expiration date of your Qantas Travel Credit if you have not already redeemed it, please visit americanexpress.com.au/travel; log in and click ‘Travel Credit’. If your booking is cancelled, and your Qantas Travel Credit has already been used and associated statement credit applied to your account, you will forfeit your annual Qantas Travel Credit benefit and American Express may reverse the statement credits issued. You need to be able to spend on the Card to access the Qantas Travel Credit benefit and it should be credited to your Card Account within 3 business days but may take up to 30 days. Your account must be in good standing and you must have paid the annual fee and minimum payment by the due date. If you cancel your Card, change your rewards program or Card type, you will no longer be eligible for the Qantas Travel Credit.

⁴ Airport Lounge Access

The Centurion® Lounge

Entry into The Centurion® Lounge is governed by the full Terms and Conditions available at amex.com.au/airportlounge. All entrants must adhere to the General Conditions of Entry. Qantas American Express Ultimate Card Members are entitled to a total of two (2) entries into The Centurion® Lounges in Australia per calendar year (1 January to 31 December). Complimentary access is available for the Card Member’s children 17 years and younger. Card Members wishing to bring additional guests may be subject to a charge that is to be processed on the Card Member’s American Express Card.

Qantas Club Lounge.

You will be eligible to receive two Qantas Club Complimentary Lounge Invitations each anniversary year of your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card (Card) Membership, provided you: (a) register your Qantas Frequent Flyer number with your Card Account; and (b) make a purchase on selected Qantas products and services using your Card. Selected Qantas products and services are the purchase of (a) a Qantas passenger flight departing from Australia with a QF flight number purchased in Australian Dollars (AUD) directly from Qantas.com.au using your Card; or (b) using your Card to pay for joining or annual fees for Qantas Frequent Flyer or Qantas Club membership. Subject to Qantas American Express Card Points Terms and Conditions. Within 2 weeks of purchasing selected Qantas products and services, two Qantas Club Complimentary Lounge Invitations will be assigned to the Qantas Frequent Flyer account. In order to use your invitations, login to your Qantas Frequent Flyer Account or use the Qantas App to access your invitations and link them with an eligible Qantas flight booking prior to use (must be done at least 24 hours prior to your departure time). Each Complimentary Lounge Invitation is valid for a single visit by one guest to a Qantas Club domestic lounge, Qantas International or Qantas International Business Lounge, and must be used prior to expiry. Access and use are subject to the Complimentary Lounge Invitation Terms and Conditions and the Lounge Entry Terms and Conditions. Invitations may be revoked or withheld if your Card account is not in good standing, if the selected Qantas products and services are refunded in full or if you have not complied with these Complimentary Lounge Invitation Terms and Conditions, and the American Express Credit Card Terms and Conditions.

⁵ Qantas Wine

Delivery is subject to the Qantas Wine Terms and Conditions and available within Australia only (exclusions apply).

Qantas Wine Premium Membership and its benefits are subject to the Qantas Wine Terms and Conditions. To join or purchase from Qantas Wine, you must be a Qantas Frequent Flyer member aged 18 years or older and have an Australian delivery address (exclusions apply). Your premium membership will be valid for as long as you continue to hold your Qantas American Express Premium Card. Qantas Wine Premium Membership will be automatically applied within 2 weeks of Qantas Points being credited to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account from your first spend on your Qantas American Express Premium Card. You will receive email confirmation from Qantas about your Qantas Wine Premium Membership enrolment (excludes NT members). Liquor Act 2007: It is an offence to sell or supply to or to obtain liquor on behalf of a person under the age of 18 years. Licence Number: NSW LIQP770016736, SA 57900154, NT IRL0201. Qantas Wine is operated by Qantas Frequent Flyer Operations Pty Limited ABN 22 132 484 210.

Up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points¹ + $450 annual Travel Credit with the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card was last modified: February 20th, 2026 by
Community Comments
  1. Wouldn’t recommend this card. QF classic rewards on Intl premium seats are impossible to find, and Classic Plus seats are a rip off, so wouldn’t recommend this card anymore. Have had in the past. Amex standard card earning Amex points are much better, better reward conversion options.

  2. Qantas Passes: Worth noting for anyone in South Australia- Qantas lounge is closed until next year (as per customer service representative) so you won’t be able to use your lounge passes in SA until after March 2025.

    Also worth noting is that the lounge passes are only ‘general’ class invites. So you won’t be able to use them in places like Singapore (where your passes need to hold a ‘first lounge’ status). Some international lounges will accept ‘general’ passes around the world but they are few and far between (Qantas can tell you which these are – but prepare for a very short list)

    Long story short- if you are flying from South Australia internationally, the Qantas Lounge passes aren’t worth much unless you plan on travelling after March 2025 OR are connecting in another domestic airport before transiting internationally (with a decent chunk of time to enjoy the facilities)

    As always folks, worthwhile considering how much the ‘benefits’ require your travel planning to flex to jump through the hoops

    PS. For the newbies, Remember….you will also have to be travelling on Qantas or Jetstar to qualify to use the passes!!!

  3. Hello, I can’t seem to find a way to contact them at all.
    They state that requirements are to hold a long term visa(12+ months) and it can’t be a student visa.
    I hold 407 sponsored visa which is a training visa where I work full time. Do you know if I’m eligible or not?
    Thanks

    1. Hi Theo, we can’t provide readers with ‘personal financial advice’, which includes personalised advice on product eligibility. You can find the relevant contact details for this product on the Amex website, to ask that question of American Express.

  4. Could anyone confirm if purchasing the taxes and fees on an award booking with a QF flight number would qualify me for the Qantas Club invitations (I am already a Qantas Amex Ultimate cardholder)? The article says that “this seems to exclude paying the taxes and fees on an award booking using this Card”, but it’d be great if someone could confirm it.

  5. Hi Team

    Thanks for the guide, some queries please:
    1. Can I use the Qantas Club lounge invitations to access oneworld lounges? Not every airport has a Qantas lounge!
    2. Do I need to make an eligible purchase with Qantas using the Card every card membership year to receive the Qantas Club lounge invitations?

    Cheers!

      1. The Qantas lounge passes are not available if booked through a travel agent, as it says in article, only if booked direct with Qantas.com
        Check card t and c on Amex site

      2. I’ve just received my Qantas Ultimate rewards card. Is this correct: the $450 travel credit and the Qantas lounge invitations can’t both be accessed thru one flight booking, as the rules say one benefit is given thru an Amex travel booking and the other thru a Qantas.com.au booking.

      3. Not strictly true. The $450 travel credit has to be used via Amex Travel, yes. Once you have a valid Qantas booking and it’s linked to your frequent flyer account, you should be able to use lounge passes on eligible flights.

  6. Is it possible to take advantage of a referral bonus to the point hacks offer for this card?

    Currently Amex only offering 55,000 for new sign ups through referral.

    1. Sadly not, the referral bonus has to be done through the link you provide them which is killing me, as I have a friend who is wanting to sign up. One would think that amex would at least try to give something close to parity to their existing customers and referral sites, but it appears not to be the case at the moment.

  7. Just signed up for the Amex card, because qantas were offering an additional 20000 points. Just wondering about the annual lounge passes. To activate you either need to purchase a qantas flight or a frequent flyer or lounge membership. Is there a time limit for the purchase to activate the lounge passes and is it worth spending the additional money to do so, because the Amex lounge passes are included?

  8. I am wondering with the $450 travel credit, can you buy two domestic tickets for two people in one transaction or it’s only for the card holder?

    I am thinking of buying a ticket to Melbourne but obviously it won’t be more than $450.

  9. I am having trouble finding any Qantas flights for my desired travel, whether for either overseas or Domestic travel. For international travel from Brisbane to Auckland, all the flights on the Amex Website are operated by Jetstar!!! While majority of my desired domestic flights are operated by either Jetstar or Virginaustralia, with the only Qantas flights for these routes involve 1 or 2 stopovers enroute, meaning huge Journey times, form Origin to Destination. Therefore I think that little chance is offered for me to use the $450-00 in flight credits, making the card an expensive option, when the large fee is charged for the supposedly generous benefits.

  10. Hi, I closed my Velocity American Express account In October 2021. Will I be eligable for the 100k bonus points?

    1. Hi Yusuke, if you’re asking about the Amex Platinum Charge Card, it would generally need to be applied for as a separate application, rather than as an ‘upgrade’ from a credit card. That’s because credit cards and charge cards are two different types of financial products. The former has a fixed credit limit and can carry a balance, while the latter has ‘no pre-set spending limit’ but must be repaid in full every month.

      (This is general factual information only, of course – we’re unable to provide readers with personal financial advice as relevant to their individual circumstances.)

  11. hi, do you know if this offer is available to someone who has held a companion card on their partner’s Amex?

    1. Hi Melissa, holding a supplementary card doesn’t exclude you from signup bonuses as long as you meet all the other conditions too.

  12. Does anyone know if you get the 2.25 QP per dollar spent in the Qantas store if you buy gift cards? So if I was planning to buy something from a retailer that doesn’t accept Amex but buy like a $500 prepaid mastercard from the Qantas store, would I get the 2.25 points for the $500?

    1. Hi there, according to the T&Cs of the card on the Amex website:

      8. Additional Qantas Points: Selected Qantas products and services are Qantas passenger flights with a QF flight number purchased directly from qantas.com.au, Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Club membership joining and/or annual fees.

      It seems that purchases from the Qantas Rewards Store might not qualify for the bonus anyway.

  13. Apologies if this have been asked already but just wondering with the $450 travel credit if a flight is say $1000, can I use the 450 travel credit and use FF points for the remainder?
    Cheers

    1. Hi Martin, unfortunately not. The $450 credit is through American Express Travel, and you can’t use Qantas Points to complete a booking outside of the Qantas website.

  14. Does anyone know if the 450 credit is still valid if I switch amex products?
    I have my travel credit validity extended due to COVID restrictions, but i dont want to continue with same card for next year to save on annual fee

    1. You should contact Amex for a definitive answer, but I would imagine that cancelling and switching cards would invalidate any travel benefits associated with the previous card.

  15. “If you find yourself booking several hundreds of dollars in Qantas flights on a regular basis, the 2.25 points per $ on Qantas spend will quickly rack up to boost your Qantas Frequent Flyer balance.”

    Turns out, using AMEX travel credit for a QF flight does not make you eligible for additional bonus points on Qantas spend, as I just found out. In my transaction history I only got 1.25 pts/$. So on a $7k spend that is 7,000 points or ~$130, making the $450 travel credit worth less by that amount. :-/

  16. Hello – I am just concerned about the defn of eligible purchases. So I have to buy a new bed which will exceed my minimum spend to bag the points… is that considered an eligible purchase.. where can i find the defn of what is excluded.

  17. Hi team,
    as always a great article packed with goood information…

    Two, maybe stupid, questions… We’re NZ citizen but jumping between NZ and Australia as professional housesitters …
    1. Can I apply for this card as a NZ citizen and
    2. how are the chances to get an approval, especially as there are questions re “how much are your housing costs” and “your monthly income”? As we don’t pay anything for living in a home (for over 2.5 years now) and have our own internet company (not on salary anymore) with no frequent (monthly) income…

    Thank you and keep up the great work 🙂

    1. Hi Stefan

      There is never a stupid question!

      1. You will need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident or hold a long term visa to apply
      2. We are not able to answer this question, as we are not privy to both your personal financial circumstances and the exact credit criteria that American Express use to determine whether an applicant is approved for a card or not. However, your chances are generally increased if you hold a long-term stable job, have a high income as compared to your expenses, and your recent living arrangements have been fairly stable (ie you haven’t moved house every 3 months for example).
  18. Nooooooo !

    I applied for this 2 weeks ago under the older offer and will only be entitled to 55,0000 bonus points (not 100,000)!

  19. Hi,

    If I purchase a return international QF flight through webjet, will I receive Qantas Lounge invitation passes?

    I will have my wife and 2.5 yr old son travelling with me. Can my son be admitted together with us with just 2 passes?

    Thank you in advance.

    Kind regards,
    Woon

    1. Hi Woon

      No. The return international QF flights must be purchased at qantas.com.au using your Amex Ultimate card.

      Should you do this and receive the passes, you will be able to enter your wife and son with just 2 passes, as any child under 4 years old does not count as a guest, however, this is subject to capacity constraints of the lounge.

  20. Hello, i have an American Express British Airways card – issued from the UK. I have recently moved to Australia. Do you know if i would be eligible for the bonus points, when i have an active card with AMEX UK?

    1. Hi Madeleine

      You will be eligible for the bonus points so long as you haven’t been issued with any other American Express card in Australia. The 18-month exclusion relates solely to Amex cards issued by American Express Australia Limited.

    1. Hi Jess

      You will need to have a Qantas Frequent Flyer account in order for your points to be credited to you.

  21. Hi, earlier this year I applied for a basic amex card with no affiliations to any FF programs or bonus offers. However, I never activated that credit card and have it in the drawer ever since. Am I still eligible for this offer?

    1. Hi Marcus

      Given that you never activated the card, I suspect you are not a ‘current account holder,’ however, we recommend that you call American Express to confirm this is the case and that you are indeed eligible for this offer.

  22. Just curious,
    My partner just signed up for this card and is awaiting approval. She’s also added me as an additional cardholder on this card.

    In regards to the 2 lounge passes per year. She can send 1 Qantas lounge pass to me so that we can both enter the lounge before our flight, right?

    As for the AMEX lounge – will I be able to just use one of those since I am an additional cardholder?

    Also, and this is HIGHLY unlikely, the 2 x Qantas and 2 x AMEX lounge passes are per ACCOUNT, not per CARD, right? So we have those 4 lounge passes between the two of us, not each of us.

    1. Hi Daniel

      Yes, your partner will be able to send one lounge invitation to your frequent flyer account, but make sure to LINK this complimentary lounge to your booking 24 hours prior to travel. Further information can be found at https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/the-qantas-club/complimentary-invitations.html

      Yes, as an additional cardholder, you are able to use one of the Amex Lounge passes for yourself.

      The passes are based per ACCOUNT, so 4 passes between the two of you.

  23. Hi, does the 450 travel credit need to be used in the calendar year? For instance, if I sign up in October 2019, would I have until 31-Dec-19 to use it, or would I have a full 12 months to October 2020?

    1. Hi Nick

      No, it’s based on your account month and not a calendar year. So rest assured, you have until October 2020.

  24. Hi there – signed Up for the card a couple of months ago and spent the required amount and I haven’t received my points. Or any benefits. Can someone please contact me ?

  25. This may surprise some people: I already had an AMEX Ultimate card – I was the primary cardholder. My husband had a supplementary card. In May this year I received an email from AMEX offering me 200,000 Qantas FF points and all I had to do was refer another person but that person couldn’t already have an AMEX card in their own right nor could they have had one 18 months prior to applying for a new card. If that referred person was successful in being approved for a card that person received 75,000 Qantas FF points themselves. I could only refer ONE person so if I didn’t choose the person wisely and they didn’t get approved I dipped out on the 200,000 points. I telephoned AMEX and asked if I could refer my husband. I told them that he didn’t have an AMEX card in his own right but did have a supplementary card. The answer was ‘yes’ – he was eligible. He applied and was approved for the card. He had to spend $3,000 in the first three months. For us that was a breeze as we were building a new home. As soon as he reached $3,000 the points were deposited straight into our Qantas accounts. All up we pocketed a cool 275,000 points between us! My point here is that sometimes extra special offers come your way. Hopefully this happens again and I’ll be on it!

    1. Hi Lor

      Thanks for the feedback and great to hear you got the points. Now you have to decide how to use them.

      1. Hi Emy

        Once the $450 is subtracted from the cost of your flights, the remaining balance can be paid by credit card or American Express Rewards points.

      2. Hi team

        Related to this – wondering if the inverse also holds? My partner already has the Amex Ultimate and I am wanting to apply for this card and add her as a supplementary card holder. If I do add her, will I be eligible for the bonus points? (I have not held an Amex or been a supplementary card holder in the last 18 months)

        Cheers

  26. Does the annual fee count towards the bonus minimum spend? The bonus terms list “”Eligible purchases do not include cash advances, interest, balance transfers, fees and charges for traveller’s cheques and foreign currencies”. however PDS rules out points earn for annual fees.

    1. Hi Marji

      No, the annual fee is not considered a purchase, which is why it’s not included as part of the ‘Eligible purchases’ exclusion.

  27. I get about one email a day from you about this card. Can I unsubscribe to those emails, and keep the rest?
    Seriously annoying.
    You keep flogging this card like it’s the best thing since sliced bread.

    1. Hi Lukasz

      I’m just checking this out internally for you to see if it is possible. I’ll respond when I hear back.

    2. Hi Lukasz

      We can’t remove you just from credit card related emails, as our systems are not set up that way. However, we have unsubscribed you from daily emails and left you on our weekly email list (which contains all daily emails from the past week, so you won’t miss out on anything).

      Should you wish to change your email settings, you can do this using the following link: https://join.pointhacks.com.au/emails/.

  28. BEWARE – This card is activated as soon as you receive it, NOT when you actually activate it online. I wasn’t aware of this until I received a late payment interest fee for the $450 that just automatically came out of the card upon receiving.

  29. Damn, my 18 month absentia period finishes on 17 July… but this offer expires 15 July. Any chance it will be extended again? Or if I apply on 15 July, the card won’t be approved for a couple of days making my application outside the 18 month window? I just dont want to have waited 18 months only to mess up the eligibility by a couple of days! Thanks.

    1. Hi Brett

      This offer will end on 15 July 2019, but there will be other American Express offers coming up, potentially very soon!

  30. Hi

    I had a DJ AMEx card until I cancelled it a month ago. Does this exclude me from the new sign up bonus?

    1. Hi Fred

      The terms and conditions state:

      “Card Members who currently hold or have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited, in the preceding 18 month period are ineligible for the Bonus Qantas points offer.”

      Therefore, on this occasion, you will be ineligible for this bonus offer.

  31. Hi I just signed upto this and wanted to refer on some family and friends. Will I get the referral bonus points Amex normally gives through this offeR?

    1. Hi Ankur Sinha

      Unfortunately, you will not receive any referral points if your friend uses the Point Hacks link.

  32. Will I be able to get Amex referral points if I recommend this offer to a friend? Since she has to apply through the pointhacks link instead, I’m guessing no?

    1. Hi Wei

      Unfortunately, you will not receive any referral points if your friend uses the Point Hacks link.

  33. Hello, if I have the Westpac Platinum credit card bundle issued in August 2018 (which includes both a Westpac-issued Platinum Visa and an AMEX-issued AMEX card), would I be counted as an AMEX cardholder and therefore ineligible for this offer?

    1. Hi Andy H

      We’re just checking this out with American Express. I’ll respond when we hear back.

      Thanks!

    2. Hi Andy H

      We’ve been trying to get confirmation from American Express on whether the new arrangement of Amex issuing Westpac-branded cards instead of Westpac issuing Amex-branded cards would make you ineligible for this offer, however, they could not provide us with a clear answer today as the person who looks after this area is on holidays until tomorrow.

      Therefore, we are unable to provide a guarantee that the bonus points will come through. Apologies for the bad timing.

      1. Hello Daniel, has there been any update on whether Westpac bundled amex cards held are included or not in the bonus points eligibility criteria?

      2. Westpac bundled American Express cards do not affect bonus points eligibility for other American Express cards. More info under the How the bundled American Express cards from Westpac work heading in this guide.

      3. Hi Vincent

        I can confirm that Westpac cardholders ARE eligible for the bonus, even though the Westpac Amex card is issued by Amex.

  34. If you are a currently an additional cardholder on someone else’s account (the primary cardholder), are eligible if you open an account in your own name (as a primary cardholder)?

    1. Hi Andrew

      You should be eligible for the offer, as you are not the account holder for the card that you currently have, but it always best to check with American Express to confirm this.

  35. When is the annual fee payable? I would need to see how much I use the card to work out if it is suitable for me and don’t want to miss out on the travel credit if I don’t continue on for the next year.

    1. Hi Leigh

      Unfortunately, current holders of American Express issued cards will be ineligible for this offer.

  36. Hi, just sharing that I booked a reward QF flight using points and paid taxes and fees with the card. And voila, I received two complimentary Qantas Lounge passes

  37. Hi, does anyone have experience using the travel credit for booking multiple tickets? ie for a family of four?

    Say four tickets $200 each. Total $800. Can the whole $450 credit be used in this way?

    Which situation applies:
    A) cost of this booking will be $350 (whole credit used), or
    B) cost of this booking will be $600 (only covers my ticket and remaining $250 of credit is wasted)

    1. Hi Matthew

      If the 4 tickets are purchased on the same booking (same PNR), then A will apply.

      However, if you do 4 separate bookings (4 different PNRs), then B will apply.

  38. Hi – does having an American Express corporate card in my name through work preclude me from accessing The points benefits on this card?

    1. Hi Ed

      My understanding is that given the primary card holder for the account is the company, then having a corporate card in your name should not preclude you from any American Express sign-up bonuses, so long as you don’t hold any other Amex cards in your name of course.

      I would recommend that you give Amex a call to confirm this though.

    1. Hi Jon

      American Express frequently do have offers on their cards, however we are not privy to exactly when and what offer American Express will come out with.

  39. Re Qantas Lounge Passes, accordingly to the new T&C and confirmation by AMEX support, if you are buying a QF ticket, it has to be purchased directly from qantas.com.au website. They confirmed that you will not get the lounge passes if you purchase your tickets via a travel agent. 🙁

  40. Hey all,

    Does anyone know how to access the free qantas epiquire/wine membership with this card?

    “Complimentary Qantas Wine Premium membership

    Worth $99 a year, a premium membership to Qantas Wine, food & champagne portal gives you a bonus 3 points per $ spent as well as free delivery.”

    I can’t work out how to sign up to epiquire WITHOUT paying the $99.
    Thanks!

  41. Does purchasing wine from the Qantas wine store count as an eligible spend for the lounge passes or must the spend only be in relation to flights?

  42. Sorry if this has been covered.
    Can paying an ATO bill (say quarterly BAS) with this AMEX card count towards meeting the minimum spend requirements for achieving the 100,000 sign-up bonus? (I am presuming the ATO accepts AMEX)

    I realise the points earn-rate would be lower on a government transaction. I’m interested to know whether this is a valid way to meet the sign-up bonus.

    1. Hi Dougal

      Only eligible purchases will count towards bonus points spend and according to the T&Cs, payments to the ATO are not excluded from being an eligible purchases. Therefore, your ATO bill will count.

  43. Wondering if anyone knows the answer to this:

    Ive got the QF ultimate; I’ve used the travel credit and gotten my bonus points.
    I’m going to refer my wife to the program (extra 10k for her and bonus 30k for me). She is going to add me as a supp. card holder (if the deal is still on, then its another 3k for her).

    If I as the supp. card holder spend the minimum (I’ve got a big $3000+ purchase in March), will that qualify the whole account for the minimum bonus spend?

  44. Just a question, if I book an international flight and use the $450 credit to pay a part of it, am I still covered by the travel insurance? Just getting confused with the “full fare” wording. Thanks.

    1. Answer: yes! I checked with the Amex team and they said:

      The travel credit is also considered as a method of activating the policy.

  45. Will holding either of the Westpac American Express Altitude Black or Platinum cards (branded Westpac but issued by American Express) make you ineligible to receive the 55K bonus Qantas points offered as part of this card?

    1. No, those Westpac Amex cards are considered ‘bank-issued’, so shouldn’t affect your eligibility for this Qantas Amex card.

  46. HI

    I understand the 18month waiting period, my question is; my partner is a supp card holder, to my AMEX card, and has nearly finished her 18month waiting period. Would being a supp card holder to my amex disqualify her from getting the bonus points?

  47. Hi,

    I recently spent on my new qantas ultimate card and have received my first statement. My account is in good health etc however where I should have a substantial amount of points for my spending (on non-government sites and not including my bonus offer points) I have under a quarter of the points I should have earnt. I have viewed the T&C’s and do not see why I have not received points for my spending.

  48. Hi, I am a little confused. I have the AMEX card and want to buy two return tickets to Melboune from Sydney. This, I understand HAS to be do done via AMEX travel website. All good. AMEX told me that would give me the $450 off for those tickets. All good so far. However, under the heading “Lounge Access” (in your article above) you say: “So, basically, you must first purchase a Qantas flight or purchase a Qantas Frequent Flyer or Qantas Club membership before you can use your free flight benefit. In the last sentence it says “free flight benefit”. Should this say “before you RECEIVE your free lounge access passess” rather than the words “free flight”? Thank you

  49. Just wondering how quickly the $450 travel credit becomes available each year. As you can use it to book travel into the future, would it be possible to use it towards booking a one way flight on the last day the credit is available, and then in the following day or two use the new travel credit to purchase the return trip? Or would you have to wait to pay the annual fee in the following statement period?

    1. As stated in the guide:

      You can access this travel credit after you have paid your annual fee and as long as your account is current and in good standing.

      So you could buy the one-way flight with the first year’s credit, then pay your second year’s annual fee and you’ll get the second travel credit after that.

      1. What if you paid the $450 credit on the 2/4/18 and spent the credit, but then received another $450 credit again on the 2/4/19 but the annual fee is not actually going to be deducted until the end of the billing period ie 28/4/19. Can you use the new credit but then cancel the card say on the 26/4/19 and have no financial reprocussions?

      2. Hi Mel P

        I would suspect that if you used your $450 credit allocation for the 2019 year, American Express would charge you the annual fee and make you pay that and any other outstanding balance before being able to close the account.

        It is recommended that you verify this with American Express.

  50. Sharing my experience and asking a question.

    My experience – signed up last Oct, did min spend, points were promptly credited to my QFF automatically (within a week or two), with no contact from me. One phone call to receive 2 x lounge passes – took a while for those to arrive, at least a month.

    My question – My partner has just signed up, and would like to buy a prepaid EFTPOS or VISA card to help get to the minimum spend. Will this purchase count towards the minimum spend?

    Thanks!

  51. Hi. I’m already a QFF Gold Member and receive lounge access. Do I still get the complimentary Qantas lounge passes (subject to meeting the terms and conditions)? I’d like to transfer them to someone else.

  52. Hi,
    Just wondering if the prices to purchase flights via Amex in order to use the $450 travel credit are more expensive than buying elsewhere? If qantas has a special on will these also be avaialable via Amex?

    1. Prices through Amex should be the same as directly through the airline but sometimes they are not. It is wise to compare prices before making a booking.

  53. Hi there
    I stumbled across your site in my search for a new c/card + FF bonus points.
    Any idea if these cards require us to sign up for a minimum membership?
    A friend claims she card hops between providers in order to build up her FF points balance. Apparently that’s how she funded a US flight for 5 family members last year and plans to do the same again soon.
    But it sounds too good to be true. Surely there would be some mechanism built in somewhere to stop us all from jumping ship as soon as we receive our bonus points? Also how would that approach affect the often-outrageously priced annual membership fee?

    1. Generally, if you’ve paid an annual fee for the whole year, then there is no reason to cancel the card. Once it comes up to your first-year anniversary, then you can weigh up whether it’s worth keeping the card or cancelling it.

  54. When applying for this card (or any other Amex) card do people usually use a new account or use their old account from when they used to be an Amex cardholder?

    For example I used to be a cardholder and have waited the 18 months since closing but should I create a brand new account or is it safe to use my existing/old account.

    1. I think you’re referring to online account, right? If you have waited more than 18 months between cancelling all of your Amex cards and applying for a new one, then you should be eligible for a new sign-up bonus. More info here.

  55. Hi,
    Can the $450 travel credit be used by someone else or only the primary cardholder? Also If flights were to be booked for work related purposes- is a tax invoice provided (showing $450 as one method of payment? Thanks

    1. There is nothing in the terms and conditions to suggest the travel credit cannot be used for travel in someone else’s name. As for the tax invoice, I’d recommend contacting Qantas and/or Amex about that as I am unsure.

  56. Hi there!
    I currently hold an AMEX platinum Edge card. Am i able to apply for the Qantas American Express Ultimate and be eligible for the bonus points offer?
    Thanks!

  57. If I purchase QF international economy tickets from the Amex website using the $450 travel credit, will I be able to upgrade them later to premium or business with QFF points?

      1. Also Matt, do you know if you get points through the Amex website for booking? This is also not clear.

      2. Your booking and travel will accrue Qantas Points in the usual way, except for the $450 Qantas Travel Credit portion of your booking, which will not earn Qantas Points.

  58. I know you have to spend the $450 travel credit within a membership year, but do you have to actually conduct the travel within the year or can the travel itself be pushed out if already paid for?

  59. Hello

    Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere, I understand the travel voucher needs to be used within the membership calendar year, however, does that extend to needing to travel in that time? Or can you book and pay within the calendar year, but travel when you are into your next membership year.

    Many thanks in advance.

    C.

  60. Hi, I had a question around the Qantas club access. If i use my $450 travel credit to book a flight that costs more than this through the AMEX Travel portal, does the addtional spend that is put on my card count as spend that triggers the Qantas Club passes?

  61. Applied for one of these cards and got a rejection letter saying unable to approve application, no reason because ‘selection is confidential’. This was in spite of our household income being over 4 times the minimum income requirement and minimal mortgage repayments. Does anyone have an insight into their ‘selection process’?? I’m just curious as my retired father had no issues getting one.
    Also, is there a time frame we have t wait before we reapply?? Maybe they were spooked by my request for a $10K limit rather than a nominated one by them.

      1. Thanks Matt,
        I have a feeling this might be the issue. After having 2 lots of credit cards hacked and cancelled, the inevitable direct debit overdue bills following, maybe this has hurt us. We’ve applied for our credit report so we’ll see how we go.
        Thanks again

  62. Hi, If we have 2 card holders is it $450 per card holder, or $450 per account? Also, can I use the $450 to purchase a ticket and use my points to upgrade to Business?

    1. There is no cost to add a supplementary cardholder, so just $450 all up.

      I’m not 100% sure about the upgrade eligibility but I’d vouch that your fare would be eligible as I can’t see anything in the travel credit terms and conditions that prohibits it. On a related side note:

      Your booking and travel will accrue Qantas Points in the usual way, except for the $450 Qantas Travel Credit portion of your booking which will not earn Qantas Points.

  63. Thought I’d share my experience. Signed up to the card, spent $1500 in the first month, received the 100,000 points (took about 3 weeks and 2 phone calls to Amex to see them in my FF account).

    Booked a domestic QF flight on the card and haven’t redeemed the $450 travel credit but will do next year.

    Asked repeatedly about lounge passes, was told on the phone that I could call a couple of days before my international flight and they would send me Qantas Lounge passes (as opposed to Amex passes). Called 2 days before my flight and they told me that I needed to have paid for the flight on my Amex and given them 2 weeks notice. They said this was an ‘additional benefit’, even though other support team members had told me otherwise. This was new information to me. They couldn’t manually override this though, so I had no choice but to use the Amex lounge.

    The Amex lounge was accessible by just showing the card. But we flew on a Monday morning and there were no seats left. So we ended up leaving.

    I think signing up for the card was worth it for the bonus points and the flight, but the lounge passes are overrated and not worth the hassle of getting the correct information out of Amex. I’ll be redeeming the flight credit next year and will promptly cancel my card after this.

    1. I had similar experience with trouble getting the Qantas passes. Even though the terms and conditions say you can book the eligible flight through a travel agent, they now tell me Flight Centre bookings are not eligible. The T&C should be updated to reflect that

    2. I have a new Amex Ultimate card that requires a minimum spend of $3k over 3 months to get the 100k Qantas points. I have made one purchase so far for $1700 and will complete the $3k as and when the need arises within the 3 months but is it ok to pay off the $1700 now even before I spend more? In other words do I need to actually have the magic $3000 owing to get the points or just that there has been $3k of transactions?

      1. Hi Chris

        It’s all based on the transactions amount, not the amount owing, so feel free to make the payment now.

  64. Hi Keith,
    I signed up for the new AMEX Qantas credit card a few months ago and have received my 85,000 bonus points, my husband is the secondary card holder. I received my 85,000 points and am now looking at the best way to utilise the $450.00 flight credit.
    However I understand that you have to book via Amex and these flights are approximately twice the price available elsewhere. I cannot see the benefit in this and tbh it seems to be a bit scandalous. Also I am confused regarding the spend required on Qantas services before you can access the $450 credit? I was told on the phone by an amex representative that this must be used by 31st March 2018. Am I correct in assuming that it is worthless after this date. I am feeling rather disillusioned, or perhaps I am missing a vital point.

    1. Hmmmm, some incorrect information there.

      You can access this travel credit after you have paid your annual fee and as long as your account is current and in good standing, i.e. you do not need to spend on Qantas products/services – that’s to access the two Qantas lounge passes.

      The travel credit is valid for your whole cardholder year (one year from when you were approved for the card).

      And sometimes Amex has prices that are higher than found on the official airline’s websites but double the price does not sound normal. It should be the same price or just above, so perhaps search for different routes or dates.

      Hope that helps!

    2. I just booked MEL>SYD>MEL through Amex using my travel credit and the price was exactly the same as on the Qantas site. In fact, as I was able to select 4A (737) on both legs without status and without a fee, so technically the Amex method is cheaper.
      Bear in mind that if you do not use the entire credit in one booking you forfeit the balance.

  65. Hi Keith,

    I signed up to this card when the bonus points were 100,000 points. I can no longer find infomation on that deal. Just wondering was the minimum spend of $1500 over 3 months the same for the 100,000 points? For some reason I seem to remember it being $1200 over 2 months, but I may be wrong.

    Thanks

    1. If you applied by 2 October, the minimum spend is $1,500 over three months to trigger the 100k bonus points.

  66. Can the $450 travel credit be used on codeshare airlines with a QF flight number booked through QANTAS? ie. Ek to AKL on QF8xxx?

    1. Here is what the terms and conditions state:

      The $450 Qantas Travel Credit can be redeemed for any eligible Qantas flight booked (i.e. a QF flight number on your ticket)…

      And the marketing states:

      A $450 Qantas Travel Credit each year to use for eligible international or domestic Qantas flights…

      So it seems that a codeshare flight on another airline with a QF flight number may work but we aren’t 100% sure on that. As this benefit comes into effect today (31 October 2017), we’d love to hear if anyone has any success seeing the discount on the booking page of a codeshare flight.

  67. Hi Keith,
    Two ques I’m hoping u can help answer
    1. I just joined the Amex Ultimate card before Oct 2 so was eligible for the 100K QFF reward points but I’ve forgotten what was the spend qualification and until when do I have to spend that amount? The info they sent me didn’t state it and the web now has a diff offer of 55K points which was not the deal when I signed up. Would u happen to know?

    I’m new to epicure – how exactly do u access the free premium membership w the card?

    Thank you in advance!

    1. Hi Vicky,

      The minimum spend requirement for the previous 100K offer was $1,500 within the first 3 months, it would be best to contact Amex to confirm this for your account.
      As for Epiqure, you should be able to find the instructions on how to access it on your welcome pack, it will take effect 31st October. If you need more information, please call Qantas directly.

  68. Hi there,

    Are the x2 Qantas lounge entries only available to the cardholder or can partners access the lounge if travelling on the same QF flight?

      1. Correct! I think there was a bit of miscommunication there.

        I interpreted the question as if a lounge pass could let in a guest as well as the person using it but on a second glance, Edward, you’re right! Katie could use two passes for two people – and they don’t have to necessarily be on the same flight.

  69. Hi,

    I just read the T&C on the 2 Qantas Club invitations and it seems that you have to spend on Qantas products before you are eligible to receive these. I have booked a flight to Europe on Qatar for May 2018 and wanted to use the lounge access in Perth as well as on a domestic flight to Melbourne, however it seems that I won’t be able to get the invitations for either as I did not spent with Qantas and Domestic Business Lounge is also excluded from the pass!? Could you confirm this as this would seriously lower the value I get from my card.

    1. UPDATE: The information in this comment is incorrect.

      There is no requirement to purchase a Qantas flight in order to access the new two Qantas lounge passes from 31 October. That requirement is only for the complimentary Economy domestic return flight.

      The lounge passes can be used for domestic Qantas Clubs and International Business lounges but not Domestic Business lounges or the shared oneworld lounge at LAX. More info here.

      1. Thank you for providing this information, which has been scarce coming from Amex. You are right. I have updated the guide accordingly.

  70. I’ve received my card today and doesn’t say how I can get the points on my FF membership? Do I need to apply/link to get the 100K points after a spend? I can’t find info on the 100K promo anymore. Thanks!

    1. Hi Marilyn, if you applied by 2 October 2017, then you will be eligible for the 100k bonus points offer and you don’t need to click on anything else – just meet the minimum spend requirement.

  71. I signed up to get the bonus points before the deadline to get 100k qantas points but now I can’t find any info on that deal anywhere and I’m sure I got in before cutoff date. Doesn’t seem worth it that my mate got 30k points just for his referral and I get 55k ?

    1. As long as you applied by the offer end date, you will be eligible for those bonus points. Offers change periodically, so that’s why you can’t ‘see’ the previous offer now.

  72. Do I need to be a Qantas FF to use points ?? Or can it just be used through Amex site?. If so can I join with my card once I receive it, to get extra Qantas points ? How do I linked to card? Thanks

  73. Hi Keith,

    It says offer valid until 2nd of October. Do I just need to apply before then or do I need to be approved by then or actually have the card by then? And how long does it generally take for approval?

    Thanks.

    1. You just need to apply by then, not be approved. That can take up to ten days in my experience but is usually quicker.

  74. Hi,

    It says in this guide that you would earn 1.5 Qantas Points/dollar spent at the Epiqure store (in addition to the 3 points as an Epiqure member).

    I would have thought that Epiqure purchases would be counted as the selected Qantas products and services and thus attract 2.5 Qantas points/dollar.

    Could anyone confirm whether or not this is the case?

    1. Yes, that’s what I originally thought too but from the information I have read, EpiQure purchases do not count as selected Qantas products or services. What a shame, right?

  75. According to the PDS to get the new Qantas lounge passes you have to buy a qantas flight directly or through a travel agent.

    If I purchase flights through say Flight Centre, how will Amex know the payment is for a qantas flight?

    1. UPDATE: The information in this comment is incorrect.

      There is no requirement to purchase a Qantas flight in order to access the new two Qantas lounge passes from 31 October.

      That requirement is only for the complimentary Economy domestic return flight and to access that benefit, you must purchase the flight directly from Qantas.

      1. You’re absolutely right, Edward. Information surrounding the Qantas Club lounge invitations terms and conditions was scarce when the changes were announced. I’ve updated the guide accordingly.

  76. Hi Keith, just wondering if you could compare this card to the Explorer, maybe in another article?

    Can’t seem to decide which one to apply for between the two, and I believe I’m not the only one. Comments seem to suggest that the change of free flights to the $450 travel credit may not be as flexible as the travel credits for the Explorer?

    Thanks!

  77. thinking of getting this. but i’m unsure if I will be double-dipping with my train of thought. & if it even works.

    because the minimum cost for the 100K bonus points is a $1500 spend, if I decide to purchase a multi-city business class seat to NZ (BNE-SYD-NZ) in December, it easily goes beyond $2200. with the $450 travel credit (after 31 Oct), does that bring the price down to $1750? Do I also get the multiple points per dollar spent for purchasing a Qantas product?

    FYI, i’m purchasing the seats because i’m new to this whole travel hacking thing & i’m thinking of saving points at this early stage first, before using them.

  78. Hi,
    Can you confirm that you also get 2 free entries to qantas lounges in addition to the Sydney/Melb Amex lounge entries? There is no mention of this on the Amex website (it only details the 2 entries to the Amex lounge)

    1. Yes, the two Qantas lounge passes are in addition to the two Amex Lounge passes. The Amex website will update on 31 October but both existing and new cardholders will receive this new benefit.

  79. Hi everyone,

    I’m planning to fly to Melb for work so work will pay for the flight anyway and this will activate my Qantas Travel Credit – I’m wondering if I can use the $450 travel credit to pay for the ‘fees’ for a points flight to Japan next year?

    Also, is the annual travel credit eligible from our card anniversary date? Not calendar year?

    Thanks!

    1. No, that travel credit can only be used through American Express Travel, which only provides the ability to purchase a flight, not pay the taxes and fees on a points redemption. But good question!

      You’re right in that the benefits are based on cardholder year, not calendar year.

  80. Looks like it needs to also be on QF metal to use the flight credit. QF 5759 is a codeshare with JQ BNE-HBA but doesn’t appear in the search on the amex travel site.

    1. Correct, it needs to be on a Qantas-operated flight, i.e. not Jetstar.

      “…giving cardmembers $450 towards the purchase of a Qantas domestic or international flight through American Express Travel – no other airlines are eligible.”

  81. I’m still a bit confused on the bonus points eligibility. My husband is a supplementary cardholder to my Amex issued card. If he applies for his own Amex does that make him ineligible for the bonus points as he is a current supplementary cardholder?

    Thanks!

  82. I spoke with an AMEX rep on the phone the other day and she mentioned that if you add a supplementary cardholder over the phone with AMEX you receive a further 5000 QFF points. This is an August promotion. You can only receive the 5000 points over the phone, this is not valid if you add a supplementary cardholder online (as you complete your application) and you do not have to supply any financial information of the supplementary cardholder which they do ask for in the online process.

  83. Keith,

    The free flights are also being changed come 31 October, to $450 travel credits. However, there do look to be some caveats & it might not be as flexible as other AMEX cards travel credits.

  84. Hi Keith,

    I have a company issued green corporate amex, which was assigned to me in Dec 2015. Does this card exclude me from the 100k QF bonus points?

    Thanks

  85. Keith,

    Further to my previous comment, I can confirm I received the 75,000 bonus points on the Amex Ultimate card despite holding a David Jones Amex within the preceding 18 months.

  86. Hi Keith

    I’ve previous held a David Jones Express card within the last 18 months. I called Amex to ask if this would make me ineligible for the 75,000 bonus points offer and was told that David Jones cards are exempt (in the same way as bank-issued cards are exempt), therefore making me eligible for the bonus points. I queried the wording of ‘any Card product’ and was assured that DJ’s cards are not treated as ‘Amex issued’ for this bonus offer. Further, the person I spoke to offered to record notes on my account confirming same. I will let you know how it plays out!

  87. Hi Keith,

    I hold an American Express Velocity Platinum card.

    I read your rundown on whether or not I am eligible for bonus points + status credits, but I am still confused.

    Would I be eligible?

  88. Definitely keen to take up this offer (or the Explorer card) as the Amex on my ANZ card is about to go soon.

    This might be a stupid question but do you have to have a qualifying Qantas spend every single year to get the free annual flight or is it just a one-off once you first get the card?

    Looking at the comments above there is still some uncertainty over the options available to activate the free flight as well.

    Any advice on all this is greatly appreciated.

    1. The spend is required annually. In terms of options, a Qantas flight is outlined in the terms and conditions. Other options might work, but no guarantees – they could stop working at any time. Qantas Gift Vouchers are another easy one, along with Qantas Carbon Offsets, that we have heard may work.

  89. Hello again Keith,
    Another related question concerning the free flight trigger – can you confirm that purchase of a Qantas Gift Certificate would qualify?

    Cheers, Con

  90. Hi Keith,
    You mentioned a while back that you believe that a Qantas points top-up purchase qualifies as the free flight trigger.
    Can you confirm this?

  91. Hi Laura and others, just to confirm, by using the ‘Carbon Off-set’ method as described above, my free flight and the bonus 2,500 became available to me with this method.
    I did this on the most recent Saturday and the statement on my account showed up on the Monday:
    QANTAS AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA $11.21 22 2,511 2,533
    – Qantas First Spend Bonus 0 2,500
    – Qantas Airlines 0 11
    – Call 1800507104 to redeem your QF flight

    As you can see, my offset was $11, which was for a planned flight im taking to Tokyo (with points naturally), it is more than I probably needed to spend, but I genuinely am interested in offsetting my carbon footprint…

    So, from my single example, this appears to work nicely.

    All the best,
    Dave

  92. Hey Laura – usually the points will show up in your Amex points statement online immediately after the transaction that takes you over the $1500 clears, and then will hit your FF account in the next monthly sweep. Are you an existing cardholder of another card? You probably wouldn’t get the bonus if so.

  93. Any updates on this Keith for what will trigger it?

    Qantas Flights
    Qantas Gift Vouchers ($50 minimum)
    Qantas Epiqure purchases
    Qantas Carbon Offsets (make sure you do $1 or more) – http://www.qantasfutureplanet.com.au
    But no guarantees on any of the above, that’s all from anecdotal reports – any of those might trigger the Qantas-related component of the signup bonus / the flight.

    If the Carbon off is correct this may be the cheapest work around if it works?

    1. I don’t have the card so can’t personally test it, but have heard from others who have used the Qantas Future Planet option – and which has worked for them to trigger the bonus. Carbon offsets can be done for less than $1, but would suggest a transaction with more than that to ensure it credits as a points earning transaction.

      1. I have completed the carbon offset submitted a few flights to get it to $10 ill let you know how this goes in a few days. Fingers Crossed

  94. Hi Keith –
    Any advance on what qualifies as a spend at the travel shop to trigger the free flight ?
    Cheers
    Dave

    1. In short, we believe the list is…

      But no guarantees on any of the above, that’s all from anecdotal reports – any of those might trigger the Qantas-related component of the signup bonus / the flight.

  95. One aspect that has not been mentioned, and that I cannot find on the terms and conditions is regarding a cancellation fee. If, after say, 11 months, I decide that I do not want to use the card anymore, is there a cancellation fee? Does anyone know the answer?

    1. There’s no cancellation fee, but you’ll need to pay the first year annual fee if you activate the card after receiving it.

  96. I’m still a little confused about the sign up eligibility.
    I hold an Commonwealth Platinum Awards American Express card.
    Does this mean I am eligible for the American Express Qantas ultimate?

    1. Yes, you’d be eligible for the bonus points – have to be specific about that, Amex still have to assess your credit-worthiness for the card when you apply, but if you don’t hold another personal Amex-issued American Express then you’ll be eligible for the bonus that comes with it if you are approved.

  97. Good point – what exactly is spend at ‘Qantas
    Travel shops’ – and what is the minimum spend to get the flights? Anyone know this one?

  98. The T&C’s for a free flight state that you must purchase selected Qantas products to qualify:

    “Selected Qantas products and services are: (a) Qantas passenger flights
    with a QF flight number purchased on the Qantas merchant account i.e.
    directly with Qantas or some travel agents or (b) purchases from Qantas
    Travel shops. Excludes: Qantas Holidays, Qantas Freight, Jetstar and
    Qantas branded non-airfare products operated by third parties e.g. Qantas
    Box Office.”

    Not sure a key ring will cut it…!

  99. Looking at the fine print you need to spend with Qantas to get the free flight. It seems like buying from qantasshop.com.au would qualify from the T&C’s – can anyone confirm? Far cheaper to buy a keyring than a flight…

  100. Hi Keith,

    You are now also entitled to two entries into The American Express Sydney Airport Lounge per calendar year with this card. The entries may be used by the basic Card Member, Supplementary Card Member or a guest travelling with a Card Member. Complimentary access is available for the Card Member’s children between the ages of 2-17. Not bad.

    1. Indeed – I’m visiting the lounge in a couple of weeks with a review in mind. Once thats up, I’ll update all the guides to cards which get complimentary access with some pictures. It’s a decent benefit – kudos to Amex.

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