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Best Overall
Amex Platinum
Premium travellers
Best Value
Amex Explorer
Most Australians
Best Qantas
Qantas Premier
Qantas loyalists
Best No-Fee
Latitude 28°
Overseas spending
2026 Quick Comparison
How to Choose the Right Travel Credit Card
The best travel credit card for you depends on how often you fly, which airline you're loyal to, and whether you value points or fee-free overseas spending more. Here's the framework Australian travellers should use:
💰
You fly 4+ times per year
Get the Amex Platinum. The lounge access alone (Priority Pass, unlimited) is worth $400–600/year for regular travellers. The $450 travel credit and 250,000 point welcome bonus make the $1,450 fee a genuine value proposition.
✈️
You want the best everyday value
The Amex Explorer is the answer. The $400 travel credit offsets almost the entire $395 annual fee. 2 points per dollar on all spend — including Woolworths, Coles, petrol — compounds quickly.
🦘
You're a Qantas loyalist
Qantas Premier Platinum. 100,000 welcome points, Qantas status credits, 2 lounge passes, and free checked bags on domestic flights. If you fly Qantas regularly, the ecosystem benefits are meaningful.
🌏
You spend money overseas
Latitude 28° Global Platinum alongside your points card. Zero foreign transaction fees saves 2–3% on every overseas purchase. Non-negotiable for trips to Bali, Thailand, Japan, and Europe.
👶
You're new to travel cards
Start with the Amex Explorer. The $400 travel credit makes it effectively free in year one, and it's a strong introduction to the points ecosystem without the complexity of the Platinum.
⭐ Best Overall
American Express Platinum
Annual fee: $1,450/year · Bonus: 250,000 Membership Rewards points
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The most comprehensive travel card in Australia. The $1,450 annual fee sounds alarming until you account for what's included: $450 in annual travel credits, Priority Pass lounge access (for you and a guest, unlimited visits), comprehensive travel insurance including medical evacuation, and 3 points per dollar on travel and international spend.
✅ Pros
+250,000 point welcome bonus worth approximately $2,500 in flights
+Priority Pass — unlimited airport lounge access globally (you + guest)
+$450 annual travel credit effectively reduces fee to $1,000
+Complimentary domestic and international travel insurance
+Centurion Lounge access in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
+Smartphone screen insurance included
+3 points per dollar on travel and international spend
⚠️ Cons
−$1,450 annual fee is significant even after credits
−Amex not accepted everywhere — carry a backup Visa/Mastercard
−Welcome bonus requires $5,000 spend in first 3 months
−Points transfers to Qantas at 2:1 ratio (less efficient than KrisFlyer)
Our verdict: Worth it if you fly 4+ times per year and use the lounge access. The points alone from the welcome bonus more than cover the first year's fee. The $450 travel credit and Priority Pass membership make it genuinely valuable for frequent travellers — not just a status card.
The Amex Platinum earns 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar on travel and international spend, and 1 point per dollar on domestic everyday spend. Points transfer to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1), Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1), and Qantas Frequent Flyer (2:1 — less efficient). For business class redemptions, KrisFlyer and Asia Miles provide significantly better value than Qantas. The Priority Pass benefit covers you and one guest with unlimited visits globally — at $50–60 per lounge visit, regular travellers extract $1,000+ of lounge access value annually.
🥈 Best Mid-Range
American Express Explorer
Annual fee: $395/year · Bonus: 50,000 Membership Rewards points
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The sweet spot for most Australian travellers. The $400 annual travel credit effectively makes this card free in year one and most subsequent years. 2 points per dollar on all spend — including everyday purchases at Woolworths, Coles and petrol stations — is the strongest earn rate in this price bracket.
✅ Pros
+$400 annual travel credit on Amex Travel — effectively free card
+2 points per dollar on all spend including everyday purchases
+50,000 welcome bonus points (worth approximately $500 in flights)
+2 complimentary lounge passes per year
+Comprehensive travel insurance included
+No points cap — earn unlimited
⚠️ Cons
−Amex acceptance limitations in Southeast Asia, Japan and smaller retailers
−Travel credit must be used through Amex Travel portal (less flexible than Platinum)
−50,000 welcome bonus is modest compared to premium cards
−Lounge access limited to 2 passes per year (vs unlimited on Platinum)
Our verdict: The best value travel card in Australia for most people. The $400 travel credit makes the annual fee negligible. The 2 points per dollar earn rate on all spend — not just travel — compounds faster than most Australians expect.
The Amex Explorer's $400 travel credit can be used on any travel booked through Amex Travel — flights, hotels, car hire. It resets annually. The 2 points per dollar earn rate applies to all eligible purchases, making it unusually strong for an everyday-spend card. Points transfer to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1), Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1), and Qantas (2:1). A family spending $3,000/month on this card earns 72,000 points per year — enough for a one-way business class Sydney to Bali flight with KrisFlyer every year.
✈️ Best for Travel Spending
Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard
Annual fee: $0/year · Bonus: None
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No annual fee. No foreign transaction fees. No currency conversion fees. For Australians spending money overseas, this is the essential companion card. You won't earn points, but you won't lose 2–3% on every overseas transaction either.
✅ Pros
+Zero annual fee
+Zero foreign transaction fees (saves 2–3% on every overseas purchase)
+Zero ATM fees internationally (cash advance interest applies)
+Mastercard — accepted virtually everywhere including Southeast Asia and Japan
+Real-time exchange rates — no markup
⚠️ Cons
−No points or rewards program
−No travel insurance included
−High cash advance interest rate if used at ATMs
−No sign-up bonus
Our verdict: Every Australian traveller should carry this alongside their points card. A couple spending $5,000 overseas saves $100–150 in FX fees compared to using a standard card. Over 10 years of travel, those savings are substantial.
The maths is straightforward: standard Australian credit cards charge 2–3% on every overseas transaction. On a $5,000 Bali or Japan trip, that's $100–150 in fees. The Latitude 28° eliminates this entirely. It doesn't compete with points-earning cards — it complements them. Use your Amex or Qantas card for Australian spending to earn points; use the Latitude 28° for all overseas transactions. This two-card strategy is used by most experienced Australian travellers.
🦘 Best for Qantas Flyers
Qantas Premier Platinum
Annual fee: $299/year · Bonus: 100,000 Qantas Points
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The best card for Qantas loyalists. 100,000 welcome points is enough for a return Sydney–Singapore flight in business class. Earns Qantas status credits on everyday purchases — the only credit card that does this — plus 2 Qantas Club lounge passes and complimentary travel insurance.
✅ Pros
+100,000 Qantas point welcome bonus (return Sydney–Singapore business class)
+Earns Qantas status credits on purchases — unique benefit
+2 Qantas Club lounge passes per year
+First checked bag free on domestic Qantas flights
+Comprehensive travel insurance included
+Qantas Points on everyday spending without points conversion
⚠️ Cons
−$299 annual fee
−Points earn rate (1.5/dollar) is lower than Amex alternatives
−Locked into Qantas ecosystem — points don't transfer to other programs
−Requires $4,000 spend in first 3 months for welcome bonus
Our verdict: Ideal if you fly Qantas regularly and want to earn status credits faster. The status credits on everyday spend can meaningfully accelerate your path to Gold or Platinum status. For travellers not committed to Qantas, the Amex Explorer provides better earn rates and more flexible points.
The Qantas status credits benefit is genuinely unique — no other Australian credit card earns status credits on non-flight spend. For Qantas loyalists chasing Gold or Platinum status, this can be the difference between achieving status and falling short. 1 status credit per $100 of eligible spend means $30,000 of annual card spend generates 300 status credits — meaningful progress toward the 700 credits needed for Gold.
🖤 Best Visa for Qantas
ANZ Frequent Flyer Black
Annual fee: $425/year · Bonus: 120,000 Qantas Points
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The highest Qantas point sign-up bonus available on a Visa card — important because Visa is accepted everywhere Amex isn't. 120,000 Qantas points is enough for a return business class flight to Bali or a one-way business class flight to London via partner airlines.
✅ Pros
+120,000 Qantas point welcome bonus — highest on any Visa card
+Visa acceptance — works everywhere Amex doesn't
+1.5 Qantas points per dollar on everyday spend
+Complimentary travel insurance
+No foreign transaction fees on the Black tier
⚠️ Cons
−$425 annual fee is high for a non-Amex card
−Earn rate (1.5/dollar) lower than Amex alternatives
−Requires $2,500 spend per month to maximise earn
−Points cap applies on some transaction types
Our verdict: The best choice for Australians who want Qantas points and need Visa acceptance — particularly useful in Southeast Asia and Japan where Amex is less reliable. The 120,000 point bonus is genuinely valuable.
The ANZ Frequent Flyer Black earns 1.5 Qantas points per dollar on eligible ANZ purchases and 0.5 points on ATO, insurance, and utilities. The Visa network advantage matters: in Japan, Bali, and across Southeast Asia, Amex acceptance is patchy. Carrying the ANZ Black as your primary Qantas earner with the Latitude 28° for FX-free overseas spending covers both bases effectively.
💨 Best Budget Card
Bankwest Breeze Mastercard
Annual fee: $69/year · Bonus: None
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The most affordable entry into travel-friendly credit cards. No foreign transaction fees, a low $69 annual fee, and 0% on purchases for 15 months (introductory). For Australians who want to avoid FX fees without committing to a more expensive card, the Breeze is a practical option.
✅ Pros
+$69 annual fee — lowest among travel-oriented cards
+No foreign transaction fees
+0% on purchases for 15 months (introductory)
+Mastercard — accepted everywhere
+Up to 55 days interest free on purchases
⚠️ Cons
−No points or rewards program
−No travel insurance included
−No sign-up bonus
−Latitude 28° is better for overseas spending (zero annual fee vs $69)
Our verdict: A reasonable entry-level option but the Latitude 28° Global Platinum does the same job for $0/year. The main advantage of the Breeze is the 0% introductory period for large purchases. Otherwise the Latitude 28° is the better pure overseas spending card.
The Bankwest Breeze makes most sense if you want the 0% introductory purchase rate — useful for booking a large trip upfront and paying it off over 15 months without interest. For ongoing overseas spending without an annual fee, the Latitude 28° is the more cost-effective choice.
Understanding Australian Points Programs
The two main points currencies for Australian credit cards are Membership Rewards (American Express) and Qantas Points. Here's what you need to know:
💎 Membership Rewards (Amex)
Value: 0.5–1.5 cents per point depending on redemption
Best use: Transfer to KrisFlyer (1:1) or Asia Miles (1:1) for business class
Avoid: Redeeming for gift cards or cashback (poor value)
Sweet spot: Business class to Asia — 50,000–80,000 points one way
🦘 Qantas Points
Value: 0.5–2 cents per point depending on redemption
Best use: Qantas business class awards or partner airlines
Avoid: Using points for economy on full-service carriers (poor CPP)
Sweet spot: Sydney–London return business class: 318,000 points
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get a points card or a no-fee card?
Both — use a points card (Amex Explorer or Qantas Premier) for everyday spending in Australia and a no-fee card (Latitude 28° Global Platinum) for all overseas spending. This way you earn points at home without paying 2–3% foreign transaction fees abroad. This two-card strategy is used by most experienced Australian travellers.
What's a Membership Rewards point worth in AUD?
Approximately 0.5–1.5 cents per point depending on how you redeem. Transferring to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (1:1 ratio) or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1) typically gets you 1–2 cents per point for business class flights — significantly better than redeeming for cashback (about 0.5 cents per point) or gift cards.
Is the Amex Platinum worth the $1,450 annual fee?
Yes, for frequent flyers who use the benefits. The $450 annual travel credit reduces the effective fee to $1,000. Add unlimited Priority Pass lounge access (worth $600+ per year for regular travellers), the 250,000 point welcome bonus worth approximately $2,500, and comprehensive travel insurance, and the fee justifies itself for anyone flying 4+ times per year.
Which card has the best sign-up bonus?
The American Express Platinum offers the highest bonus at 250,000 Membership Rewards points (worth approximately $2,500 in flights), requiring $5,000 spend in the first 3 months. The ANZ Frequent Flyer Black offers 120,000 Qantas points — the highest Qantas bonus on any Visa card.
Do Australian travel credit cards work overseas?
Yes — Visa and Mastercard are accepted virtually everywhere. American Express has limitations, particularly in Southeast Asia and Japan — always carry a Visa or Mastercard backup alongside your Amex. The Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard is specifically recommended for overseas spending due to zero foreign transaction fees.
Is credit card travel insurance good enough?
For standard trips, yes — provided you activate it correctly (usually by paying for your flights or accommodation with the card). Read the PDS carefully for pre-existing condition exclusions. For adventure activities like scuba diving, skiing, or Rinjani trekking, a dedicated policy from
World Nomads or FastCover is more comprehensive.
What credit score do I need for Amex Platinum?
American Express doesn't publish minimum credit score requirements, but the Platinum card is a premium product aimed at high-income earners. Generally, applicants should have a clean credit history, stable income above $65,000–$75,000, and existing credit card history. Pre-approval checks are available on the Amex website without affecting your credit score.