Qantas has today announced important changes to how Qantas Points are used for booking Emirates reward seats.
Increased pricing
The number of Qantas Points required to book an Emirates reward seat will increase from 31 March 2026.
Right now, pricing for Emirates and Qantas seats is the same – but that changes at the end of March.
While all prices are going up, the increases are most dramatic for premium cabins.
For example, a one-way Classic Flight Reward in Emirates Business from Sydney to Dubai will increase from 130,100 points to 143,000 points (plus taxes, fees and carrier charges).
In First, the price goes from 195,400 to a whopping 234,500 points.
Here are the current prices, valid to 30 March 2026.
Here’s the new pricing table, valid from 31 March 2026.
Emirates also charges huge fees which must be paid in money on top of the points cost. That makes Emirates reward seats quite expensive overall.
Eligibility for First Class rewards
Qantas says that Emirates has implemented new eligibility criteria for booking reward seats in First:
Minimum Age: As of 21 January 2026, all passengers must be at least 9 years old.
Frequent Flyer Status: As of 18 February 2026, only Qantas Frequent Flyers who hold Silver status or higher will be eligible to book Emirates First reward seats.
Existing bookings will not be impacted, however any changes made after the effective dates will be subject to the new restrictions.
Want a big boost of Qantas Points? Get up to 100,000 bonus points + an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit with our favourite card for points, rewards and benefits: the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card!
Many people think that flying round-the-world in business class is an impossible dream – but in fact, this ‘bucket list’ experience is actually quite attainable, thanks to a unique and highly rewarding way of using Qantas Points.
The ‘oneworld award’ is a special type of booking that allows you to fly with oneworld member airlines up to 35,000 miles. That’s enough for a round-the-world journey – though you don’t have to fly RTW if you don’t want to (more on that later).
This booking costs up to 152,200 points in economy, 287,000 points in premium economy, 365,800 points in business class or 523,200 points in first class, plus taxes and fees.
Business class is the sweet spot, as it’s a higher-value use of points than economy.
Premium economy isn’t available on many airlines, so it’s quite difficult putting together a full itinerary in this class of travel.
As for first class, that’s also very hard to book because the number of routes with this cabin is small.
The main ‘catch’ is that it can be time consuming and difficult to research and book flights, so here are some tips to make the job easier.
Want a big boost of Qantas Points? Get up to 100,000 bonus points + an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit with our favourite card for points, rewards and benefits: the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card!
The rules
Here are the specific rules you must follow for a valid booking:
maximum total distance of 35,000 miles
maximum of 5 stopovers (a stopover is when you have 24+ hours between flights; if you land in one city and depart from another, it counts as just one stopover)
a maximum of 16 individual segments – a segment is each individual flight AND any journey you make over land yourself. These land segments are also counted towards the 35,000 mile maximum
no more than one stopover and two transits through a single aiport
you must fly with at leasttwo oneworld airlines that are not Qantas (in fact, you don’t have to fly Qantas at all – just two or more other oneworld airlines – see below for the list)
you have 12 months to complete the travel
once you return to your country of origin you can’t leave it again
you must finish booking all flights in the itinerary before the first flight takes off.
The oneworld member airlines are:
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
Fiji Airways
Finnair
Iberia
Japan Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Oman Air
Qantas
Qatar Airways
Royal Air Maroc
Royal Jordanian
SriLankan Airlines
Possible itineraries
You can fly anywhere and in any direction you want, so long as you comply with the above rules.
There are no restrictions on how many continents you can visit or regarding backtracking (which are limitations in most paid round-the-world fares).
If you make some land segments on your own, you can actually visit more than five destinations. That’s because when you land in one city and take off on your next flight from another city, it doesn’t count as two stopovers – just one. The land segment is counted towards the 16 maximum and the distance towards the 35,000 mile maximum.
To illustrate: here’s an example where you fly from Sydney to Tokyo (first stop), make your own way to Hong Kong, fly to Helsinki (second stop), make your own way to Paris, fly to Marrakesh (third stop), make your own way to Casablanca, fly to New York City (fourth stop), make your own way to Montreal, fly to Lima (fifth stop) make your own way to Santiago, and fly home.
Also, there’s no requirement to fly round-the-world, though that’s how most people use this award. You could do a loop around a specific region or criss-cross between continents – it’s totally up to you.
For example, here’s one of my past itineraries, which started in Singapore and took me to the USA, followed by Australia, Japan and back to Australia.
How to book
Now, here’s the catch: it can be very time consuming to book this award because finding business class seats on popular routes is often tricky and the booking process usually requires several phone calls to Qantas.
Here are some tips:
start planning early – ideally more than a year in advance – and research which specific flights you want to book, and when you can expect the seats to become available for the dates you want (more on that below)
be flexible with your dates
explore the different flight and route options at the oneworld alliance route map here
use Qantas’ website to search for award seats for each individual leg. Use the multi-city tool (yes, it’s designed for multiple flight searches, but it works for single flight searches as well and has the advantage of giving you results in a handy monthly calendar view unlike the default search tool on Qantas’ homepage.) Make sure to select “Use points – Classic Flight Rewards only” and “Flexible with dates for all flights”.
be flexible with cities in Australia for departures and arrivals – ie. if you can’t find a long-haul flight ex-Adelaide, try Perth or Sydney. Don’t assume that the search results on Qantas’ site will have considered this option along with a domestic connection from your home city
book the initial flight(s) online yourself on the Qantas site. Use the multi-city tool if you can book multiple flights. It’s very unlikely all the flights in your itinerary will be available to book at the same time, since airlines release reward seats at different times. Also, Qantas’ site isn’t capable of handling complicated itineraries, and you may get an error message.
once you’ve booked what you can online, to add more flights, you’ll have to call Qantas
you cannot make a series of individual bookings online with different reference numbers and then ask for them to be “stitched” together
you’ll be charged 5000 points per person each time you make a change via the Qantas call centre, like adding flights – this is an extra cost to factor into your planning
if you call Qantas to make a change, make sure you receive a new e-ticket within 24 hours. If it’s not in your inbox by then, it’s essential to call Qantas to get the ticket issued properly otherwise you may lose your seats.
to calculate thetotal miles flown to make sure you don’t exceed the 35,000 mile limit, use this mapping tool. Just type in the airport codes separated by hyphens (for example, MEL-LAX-JFK-LHR-HKG-MEL). You can search for the codes on the site or use google.
you don’t have to finish in the city you started, but the booking system will calculate the distance back to the original departure airport in determining whether you’re within the 35,000 mile limit
book seats as soon as they become available, otherwise someone else may snap them up. Airlines release award seats at different times, usually 330-360 days ahead. They also sometimes release them in batches. You’ll need to keep your eye out.
you can only fly with oneworld member airlines, which does not include some Qantas partners like Emirates – so be careful when looking at search results on Qantas’ site
airlines have varying taxes and charges they levy on reward fares, which must be paid with money, not points. Airlines with lower charges include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, SriLankan Airlines and Japan Airlines. On the other hand, high charges are most often found with British Airways, Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian.
if you mix different classes, the highest class will be used to calculate the cost – i.e. just one first class flight in an otherwise all-business class itinerary will make the cost jump to the first class level. You can include lower classes if you wish with no price change
you cannot use Qantas’ new Classic Plus reward seats – it must be a regular Classic reward seat
if you decide to cancel your itinerary, you can get a full refund of points and money paid less the cancellation fee of 6,000 points per person.
Summing Up
The oneworld award is easily one of the best uses of Qantas Points. While booking it is complex, it’s definitely worth the effort given what you get to experience: flying in style, visiting a range of destinations and having bragging rights for years!
Remember to plan carefully, be patient, and familiarise yourself with all the rules. That way, the booking process will go as smoothly as possible.
Want a big boost of Qantas Points? Get up to 100,000 bonus points + an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit with our favourite card for points, rewards and benefits: the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card!
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Qantas Points are so popular in Australia that they’re often referred to as the nation’s “second currency”.
With more than 15 million Qantas Frequent Flyer members and hundreds of billions of points in circulation, it’s easy to see why.
But the harder question is: how should all these points collectors use their points to get the most value?
It remains the case in 2026 that redeeming Qantas Points on flight reward seats and upgrades gives you the most ‘bang’ for your points ‘buck’.
Qantas tempts members with a growing list of other redemption options: gift vouchers, hotel stays, car hire, wine, household goods … the list goes on. But these almost always provide less value that spending the equivalent number of points on flights.
If you’re sitting on a stash of Qantas Points, here are some tips for putting them to use.
Want a big boost of Qantas Points? Get up to 100,000 bonus points + an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit with our favourite card for points, rewards and benefits: the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card!
Qantas and partner ‘Classic’ reward seats
Classic reward seats have been around for many years and are well known to frequent flyers. They have a fixed points price based on distance and cabin class, and are generally the highest value use of points.
Classic reward seats are available on flights operated by both Qantas and partner airlines such as Emirates, Cathay Pacific and American Airlines.
The ‘holy grail’ is securing a seat in business or first class, but these are in short supply.
Economy can also represent good value, especially when cash fares are high.
One factor impacting Qantas right now is that partner airlines are releasing fewer and fewer reward seats – especially in premium cabins.
This trend has been in place for a while, and we’re seeing it with carriers all around the world.
With increasing demand for reward seats globally, airlines are favouring their own loyalty program members by giving them preferential access to reward seats while restricting access by partners.
That means it’s now much harder to use Qantas Points to book seats with partners.
Classic rewards on Qantas flights have also become more difficult to secure over the last two years. That’s partly due to increasing demand, but also reduced supply by the airline.
To improve your chances of finding a seat, plan as far ahead as possible and be flexible with your departure date and route.
Look at routes outside Australia (eg. Asia-Europe), as there tend be a lot more seats available there.
If you’re in the fortunate position of being able to fly at relatively short notice (within the next 30 days), many airlines release reward seats late in order to help fill their planes. This is a great way to get sought-after business and first class seats.
Qantas ‘Classic Plus’ reward seats
In 2024, Qantas launched a new type of reward seat, Classic Plus, to address the increased demand for using points to travel.
Classic Plus seats are only available on Qantas flights, not partners.
These seats are widely available, but come at a cost: they are generally much more expensive than Classic reward seats.
“Classic Plus” seats have a flexible points price that changes based on the underlying cash fare.
Therefore, the best time to book Classic Plus seats is when cash fares go on sale, as the number of points required will also drop.
Significant price difference for Classic and Classic Plus seats
Despite their higher cost, Classic Plus rewards provide more value than non-flight points redemption options, like using points for gift vouchers.
100 Qantas Points will cover $1 of a Classic Plus economy fare, $1.25 of a premium economy, business or first class fare. (For gift vouchers, you usually only get 50 cents per 100 points.)
Upgrading on Qantas flights
Qantas Points can be used to upgrade from one class to another on Qantas flights, and this is an excellent use of points.
Be aware that Qantas Points cannot be used to upgrade on partner airline flights – only Qantas operated flights.
On domestic flights, you can upgrade from any economy fare to business class.
However, on international tickets, restrictions are in place, meaning not all economy fares are upgradeable. You can only upgrade economy reward seats and paid fare classes G, K, L, M, S and V (“Economy”) and B, H and Y (“Flexible Economy”). The cheapest economy sale fares are not eligible.
Eligible economy tickets can be upgraded to premium economy or business class.
All premium economy fares are upgradeable to business class.
Upgrades to first class are restricted to passengers flying on paid business class fares (not reward seats).
When there are multiple upgrade requests on a flight, the upgrades are processed close to departure based on the passengers’ status and original fare class booked. Your chances of scoring the upgrade depend on how many empty seats there are and how many people are ahead of you in the queue.
The cost of upgrades can be viewed on Qantas’ website here.
Booking a tour or holiday package with Qantas Holidays
If you don’t want to (or can’t) use Qantas Points for reward seats or upgrades, the best option is to book a holiday with Qantas Holidays.
Qantas has partnered with TripAdeal to sell holiday packages (which combine airfares and accommodation) as well as premium small group tours.
All of these ready-made holidays can be booked using Qantas Points.
For tours, it appears you get around $1 of value per 100 points used (e.g. 100,000 points covers $1000) while for holiday packages, you get around 85 cents of value per 100 points (e.g. 100,000 points covers $850).
Summing up
The best uses of Qantas Points are reward seats (especially in premium cabins) and upgrades.
The value you get from spending Qantas Points this way is much higher than with any other redemption.
While reward seats and upgrades can be tricky to secure, with a little planning and effort you can make it work.
And if none of that works for you, the holiday packages and tours Qantas offers with Qantas Holidays are worth considering.
Want a big boost of Qantas Points? Get up to 100,000 bonus points + an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit with our favourite card for points, rewards and benefits: the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card!
To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:
Want a big boost of Qantas Points? Get up to 100,000 bonus points + an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit with our favourite card for points, rewards and benefits: the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card!
Being asked to pay money to join an airline loyalty program sounds crazy, right?
Well, Qantas is one of the few airlines in the world to charge a fee for joining its frequent flyer program – or to be more precise: Australians have to pay to join. Most of the rest of the world gets in for free.
The fact they can get away with this shows how popular and dominant the loyalty program is here.
The usual cost to join is $99.50 for Australians – which is a lot of money.
But the good news is, there are several ways to get around this fee and join for free.
The easiest way for Aussies is by signing up via the link below on the Qantas website.
This link has been working for years now and anyone can use it:
If you have a family member or friend who wants to join, make sure to tell them they can save some cash.
That money is much better spent on experiences like travel!
Want a big boost of Qantas Points? Get up to 100,000 bonus points + an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit with our favourite card for points, rewards and benefits: the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card!
Customer notice: this article provides general information only and does not consider personal circumstances. We may receive a commission if you apply for a card via our Amex partner link (read more in our Cards Disclosure). Thank you for your vital support!
The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card is Amex’s most rewarding Qantas card. It’s also by far the most popular Qantas card among our readers.
Not only does it let you accumulate points fast thanks to a very strong points earn rate on spend, but you can also enjoy range of valuable travel and lifestyle benefits.
In addition, for a limited time, new Card Members can also get up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points: That’s 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online via our Amex partner link
by 5 May 2026, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months, plus an additional 30,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend at least $1 on your Card within 90 days of paying your second year annual Card fee (T&Cs apply; new Amex Card Members only.)¹
Qantas Points don’t expire so long as you keep your Qantas Frequent Flyer account active by earning or redeeming at least one point every 18 months. Plus, points bookings are refundable if your plans change.
Here’s an overview of the benefits you can enjoy with this card.
1. Earn piles of points and fly with top airlines
You’ll turbocharge your points balance by earning 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on everyday purchases² – one of the highest Qantas Points earn rates in Australia.
You’ll receive 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia³, and 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent with government bodies⁴.
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 spent⁵.
Hundreds of thousands of merchants accept Amex in Australia, and that number is growing, so there’s no shortage of places where you can earn points with this card.
There’s no limit on the number of points you can earn⁶.
You can use those points to fly with Qantas and an array of international partners, including top airlines like American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Japan Airlines, and more.
With so many partners to choose from, the whole world is within reach.
2. Take off with a $450 Qantas Travel Credit every year
You’ll get a $450 Qantas Travel Credit at the start of each card membership year⁷, including when you first receive the card, which effectively offsets the card’s $450 annual fee.
The travel credit is redeemable for Qantas flights online at American Express Travel. It’s valid for 12 months and you can book any available flight in the future.
The travel credit is also very flexible. While you need to use it in a single booking, that can be for one or more people, travelling one way or return, and on domestic or overseas flights. Plus, the booking can be in anyone’s name and doesn’t have to include you.
Eligible flights are standard Qantas flights with a QF flight number, so you’ll have plenty of routes to choose from.
Take off with a Qantas Travel Credit every year
3. Enjoy four airport lounge entries each year
Relax before your next flight in style, even if you’re flying economy.
Each year, you’ll receive two Qantas lounge invitations valid for both domestic Qantas Clubs and Qantas International Lounges in Australia and overseas⁸.
These invitations will be activated in your Qantas Frequent Flyer account after your first card spend on selected Qantas products and services, such as flights.
You can use one of the Qantas lounge invites to bring in a guest, or transfer one or both invites to another Qantas Frequent Flyer member.
Relax in the lounge before you fly
You’ll also receive two entries each year to Amex’s exclusive The Centurion Lounge at Sydney Airport international or Melbourne Airport international⁹, which are the two airports in Australia that have Amex lounges so far.
Simply present your physical card at the door to get in, and you may use one of the entries to bring in a guest (children under the age of 17 get in for free).
4. Travel securely with domestic and overseas travel insurance
You’ll receive complimentary travel insurance cover when you pay for a domestic or international return flight with your card or use Qantas Points or the $450 Qantas Travel Credit to book.¹⁰
This cover extends to your domestic partner and dependent children up to the age of 25 when they are travelling with you.
You’ll receive cover for:
inconvenience – flight delays, cancellations or missed connections, and delayed luggage
medical emergency expenses
damaged, destroyed, lost or stolen baggage, money or documents
trip cancellation and amendment costs
personal liability
COVID-19 related changes and costs.
If you’re currently paying for travel insurance and this cover meets your needs, you could save money by relying on it.
5. Enjoy a range of other benefits
There are many more perks to enjoy with this card, including:
up to 4 complimentary Additional Cards for family members or friends¹¹ – an easy way to earn points faster
complimentary premium membership to Qantas Wine¹² (worth $99) – get free delivery Australia-wide (exclusions apply)¹³ and earn 3 points per $1 spent
up to 44 days interest free¹⁴ on purchases
‘buy now, pay later’ with American Express Plan It™ Instalments¹⁵: pay off your card balance in equal monthly instalments with 0% interest and a fixed monthly fee
use your card with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay
Amex Offers: save money and earn bonus points via regular offers with top brands
American Express Experiences: access sought-after events like music, theatre and film, including via pre-sale tickets, and enjoy exclusive lounges at selected events.
Plus up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points
Receive 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online via our Amex partner link
by 5 May 2026, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. Plus, get an additional 30,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend at least $1 on your Card within 90 days of paying your second year annual Card fee (T&Cs apply; new Amex Card Members only).
This offer is only available to new American Express Card Members. That means you must not have held an American Express card in the last 18 months. However, you are eligible if you’re an Additional Card Member on someone else’s account (including a corporate account).
Amex no longer specifies a minimum income to be eligible for this card.
It’s very simple to apply, including on mobile devices.
Important: This article is not intended to suggest that you should apply for a card. You should seek independent, professional advice and consider your personal circumstances before deciding to apply for a card.
Cards are offered, issued, and administered by American Express Australia Limited ABN 92 108 952 085, Australian Credit Licence No. 291313.
American Express income and credit approval criteria applies. Subject to Terms and Conditions. Interest rates, fees and charges apply. All interest rates are quoted as an Annual Percentage Rate. All information, including fees, charges and interest rates are correct as at 4 September 2024 and are subject to change. Applicants must be 18 years of age or over to apply for the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. They must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident or hold a long term visa. Long term means 12 months or more and does not include a student visa.
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 secondyear 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 at 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.
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/frequentflyer. 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.
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. Subject to Qantas American Express Card 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.
From 10 January 2024, once you have earned a total of 100,000 Qantas Points on your Card Account in a calendar year, your earn rate of 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent will change to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent on everyday purchases. All other earn rates (Qantas products and services and government spend) will remain unchanged. The points threshold is based on eligible Qantas Points earned during a calendar year and will be reset on 1 January each year. Qantas Points earned by all Card Members on a Card Account contribute to the 100,000 points threshold each calendar year. Bonus points earned from Acquisition bonus offers and marketing campaigns are excluded from the threshold.
As long as your account remains current and in good standing.
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.
Provided you are a Qantas Frequent Flyer and have registered your Qantas Frequent Flyer number with your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, you are eligible to receive two Qantas Club Lounge Invitations each anniversary year of your Card Membership after purchasing on selected Qantas products and services using your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. 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. Subject to Qantas American Express Card Points Terms and Conditions. Within 2 weeks of purchasing selected Qantas products and services, you will receive an email from Qantas confirming the Qantas Club Lounge Invitations are available for use. Login to the Complimentary Invitations Portal using your Frequent Flyer details to access your invitation, link it with an eligible Qantas flight booking or find out more information. Qantas Club Lounge Invitations are valid for a single visit by one guest to a Qantas Club Lounge and must be used prior to their expiry. Invitations are subject to the Qantas Club Terms and Conditions and are not valid for Qantas International First Class Lounges, the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge, Qantas Domestic Business and or oneworld® alliance partner or associated lounges. Qantas Club Invitations cannot be carried forward to any subsequent year and must not be sold, they may only be transferred as allowed by Qantas. Invitations may be revoked or withheld if your Qantas American Express Ultimate 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 Qantas Club Invitation Conditions, the Credit Card Terms and Conditions or the Qantas Club Lounge Access Terms and Conditions.
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.
The insurance on American Express Cards is subject to terms, conditions and exclusions (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits). You must use your American Express Qantas Ultimate Credit Card to pay for your trip in order to be covered under the travel insurance and pay for eligible items for those items to be covered under the retail insurance benefits. It is important you read the American Express Qantas Ultimate Credit Card Insurance Terms and Conditions and consider whether the insurance is right for you. We do not provide advice about the insurance or whether it is appropriate for your objectives, financial situation or needs. This insurance is underwritten by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (ABN 23 001 642 020, AFSL No. 239687) under a group policy of insurance held by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085, AFSL No. 291313). Access to this insurance is provided solely by reason of the statutory operation of section 48 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth). Card Members are not a party to the group policy, do not have an agreement with Chubb and cannot vary or cancel the cover. American Express is not the insurer, does not guarantee or hold the rights under the group policy on trust for Card Members and does not act on behalf of Chubb or as its agent. American Express is not an Authorised Representative (under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) of Chubb.
Additional Card Members must be 16 years of age or over. The Primary Card Member will be liable to pay for all transactions made by Additional Card Members. Earning of points is subject to the terms and conditions of the Rewards Program the Primary Card Member is actively enrolled. All points earned on Additional Card Member spend will go to the Primary Card Members Account. The Primary Card Member cannot add an Additional Card under their own name or email address and cannot add an Additional card under the name or email address of a previously approved Additional Card application on the Account.
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.
You will have up to 44 days interest free on purchases provided you pay the full closing balance of your monthly statement by the due date each month. There is no interest free period on balance transfers or if you carry forward a balance from the previous statement period. The total of interest free days will depend on when you make the purchase and when your statement is issued.
You can create an Instalment Plan as long as your account is in good standing. We may limit the amount that can be transferred to an Instalment Plan. Each Instalment Plan will begin from the date it is successfully created, as communicated to you in your Online Account. Payment of your first Monthly Instalment will be due in your next payment cycle. You will be charged a Monthly Plan Fee for each Instalment Plan created. This fee will be charged each month your Instalment Plan is active and will be notified to you before you create the Instalment Plan. View the full Plan It Instalments Terms and Conditions here.
When it comes to booking Qantas reward seats, knowing a few tricks can give you a big advantage.
That’s truer than ever in 2026, with so many Aussies collecting Qantas Points and seeking to use them for flights.
To give our readers an edge with finding the best seats, we’ve compiled the following must-know tricks.
Want a big boost of Qantas Points? Get up to 100,000 bonus points + an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit with our favourite card for points, rewards and benefits: the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card!
Classic v Classic Plus reward seats
Qantas Frequent Flyer members can access two different types of reward seats: Classic (which have been around for many years) and Classic Plus (which launched in 2024).
Classic reward seats have a fixed price based on distance and cabin class. They are issued by Qantas and partner airlines like Emirates, but availability is extremely limited.
Classic Plus seats, on the other hand, are much more plentiful – but they are usually a lot more expensive and are only available on Qantas operated flights.
Classic Plus seats have a flexible points price that fluctuates based on the underlying cash fare. In short: 100 Qantas Points will cover $1 of an economy fare or $1.25 of a premium economy, business or first class fare.
Classic Plus availability is also restricted – just because cash fares can be purchased doesn’t mean Classic Plus seats are available – however they are much easier to find than Classic reward seats.
Significant price difference for Classic and Classic Plus seats
The best time to book Classic Plus seats is when there’s a sale on cash fares, as the number of points required will also drop.
Qantas domestic and short-haul international reward seats
Qantas releases economy and business class Classic reward seats on domestic and select short-haul international (e.g. New Zealand) routes at 353 days out from departure.
These seats are available to all frequent flyer members regardless of status.
In recent years, the number of seats released this way has been falling, so that on many flights now there are no Classic reward seats – only Classic Plus.
Qantas long-haul international Classic reward seats
Getting Classic reward seats on long-haul flights is the goal of most travellers.
Qantas used to automatically release seats from 353 days out from departure on most of its flights, but that is no longer reliably the case.
When it does occur, Gold and higher status holders get access first. Any seats that remain become available to Silver members at 323 days out, and Bronze members at 297 days out.
If you don’t have gold status but a close family member does, they may be able to book the seats for you as soon as they are released.
Qantas batch seat releases
For most Qantas international flights, by far the best way to book Classic reward seats is when Qantas releases a batch at once.
In recent years, Qantas has regularly made hundreds or even thousands of seats available at once.
Typically, these batch releases are not announced ahead of time, which makes it hard to plan. The business and first class seats are also snapped up within a few hours, so you really need to monitor availability closely or sign up for one of the many reward seat alert services that are around (you can Google them).
Partner airlines
Qantas doesn’t control how or when partner airlines release reward seats. Those airlines are responsible for the timing and quantity of seats released, and their methods vary.
Sadly, we’ve seen a trend the last few years of partners releasing fewer and fewer reward seats, particularly in premium cabins.
Due to high demand, airlines are favouring their own loyalty program members by giving them preferential access to reward seats while restricting access by partner airlines.
That means it’s now much harder to use Qantas Points to book seats with partners at the pointy end of the plane.
When they are released, they are available to all Qantas frequent flyers. Status doesn’t matter.
The seats will show up in searches on the Qantas website.
Other things to know
Qantas seats are released at exactly midnight GMT, which is 8 am in Perth and 10 am in the east (or 11 am during daylight savings).
When searching for international seats, we recommend using the multi-city tool on Qantas’ website, even if you’re only looking at one route. The advantage is that it gives you results in a handy monthly calendar view, unlike the default search tool on Qantas’ homepage. Just make sure to select “Use points – Classic Flight Rewards only” and “Flexible with dates for all flights”.
Good luck!
Want a big boost of Qantas Points? Get up to 100,000 bonus points + an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit with our favourite card for points, rewards and benefits: the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card!
Customer notice: this article provides general information only and does not consider personal circumstances. We may receive a commission if you apply for a card via our Amex partner link (read more in our Cards Disclosure). Thank you for your vital support!
If you love to travel, right now you can earn up to 100,000 bonus Velocity Points¹ with the American Express Velocity Platinum Card, which also comes with a range of premium travel perks, including Virgin Australia Lounge Access²!
This is Amex’s most rewarding Velocity card. Other benefits include a complimentary domestic economy return flight every year³, a very strong points earn rate on spend, and the opportunity to earn up to 100 bonus Velocity Status Credits each year⁴.
We’re delighted to partner with Amex to also offer our readers up to 100,000 bonus Velocity Points¹. That’s 70,000 bonus Velocity Points when you apply online via our Amex partner link
by 30 April 2026, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. Plus, get an additional 30,000 bonus Velocity Points when you spend a min of $1 on your Card within 90 days of paying your second year annual Card fee (T&Cs apply; new Amex Card Members only).
With Velocity Points you could take off on holiday with Virgin Australia and partners like Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.
Velocity Points don’t expire so long as you keep your Velocity Frequent Flyer account active by earning or redeeming at least one point every 24 months. Plus, points bookings are refundable if your plans change.
Here’s an overview of the Card benefits you can enjoy.
1. Earn piles of points and fly with top airlines
Turbocharge your Velocity Points balance by earning 1.25 points per $1 spent on eligible Card purchases⁵: one of the highest Velocity Points earn rates in Australia.
You’ll earn 2.25 Velocity Points per $1 spent with Virgin Australia and 0.5 points per $1 spent with government bodies in Australia.
Hundreds of thousands of merchants accept Amex in Australia, and that number is growing, so there’s no shortage of places where you can earn points with this Card.
There’s also no cap on how many points you can earn⁶.
You can use those points to fly with Virgin Australia and an array of partners, including:
Qatar Airways
Singapore Airlines
United Airlines
Air Canada
All Nippon Airways (ANA)
South African Airways
Virgin Atlantic, and others.
With so many partners to choose from, the whole world is within reach.
2. Take off with a complimentary domestic return flight each year
You can book a complimentary Virgin Australia domestic economy return flight when you first receive the Card and make a purchase with it, and then after your first Card spend each year after the anniversary of your Membership.
This gives you an opportunity every year to enjoy a holiday, explore somewhere new, or visit family and friends.
Best of all, this perk can offset most or all of the $440 annual Card fee.
There are many eligible routes to choose from. These include (as at 1 September 2025):
from Sydney to Adelaide, Ballina, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne or Sunshine Coast
from Melbourne to Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Hobart, Launceston, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast or Sydney
from Brisbane to Adelaide, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Emerald, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Newcastle, Proseprine, Rockhampton, Sydney or Townsville
from Perth to Adelaide, Kalgoorlie, Melbourne or Sydney
from Adelaide to Alice Springs, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne or Sydney
from Gold Coast to Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney
from Canberra to Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne or Sydney
from Newcastle to Brisbane or Melbourne
from Sunshine Coast to Melbourne or Sydney
from Hobart to Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane or Sydney
from Darwin to Adelaide or Brisbane.
The complimentary flight is also available from other regional locations.
It’s simple to book the flight online or over the phone, and you can reserve it for yourself or any person you choose.
3. Enjoy VA Lounge Access every time you fly domestically with Virgin Australia
Your American Express Velocity Platinum Card gives you access to Virgin Australia lounges at select domestic airports, every time you fly Virgin Australia domestically.
Slip away from the crowds, sample an array of complimentary food and beverages, and relax before you take off.
Virgin Australia currently has lounges in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney airports.
This benefit is available to Primary Card Members only (enrolment required).
Kick back in style before your next flight
In addition, each Membership year you will receive two complimentary Virgin Australia Guest Lounge Passes to treat friends or family to VA Lounge access, when travelling with you on a domestic Virgin Australia flight.⁷ Infants under 2 years get in for free.
4. Earn up to 100 Bonus Velocity Status Credits each year
Attain elite Velocity status faster by receiving up to 100 Status Credits each year.
Be awarded 50 Status Credits when you spend $25,000 on eligible purchases each Membership year and a further 50 Status Credits when you spend another $25,000 in the same Membership year.
Eligible purchases are all spend made by you and Additional Card Members, except cash type purchases like travellers’ cheques and foreign currencies, and interest, fees and charges on the account.
This is a very handy perk for frequent flyers chasing status. The higher your status, the more perks you enjoy – like additional Virgin Australia lounge passes when you hit Silver, and a range of priority benefits when you reach Gold.
5. Travel securely with domestic and overseas travel insurance
You’ll receive complimentary travel insurance cover⁸ when you pay for your return trip with your Card or use Velocity Points to book (terms, conditions and exclusions apply, such as maximum age-limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits).
This cover extends to your domestic partner and dependent children up to the age of 25 when they are travelling with you.
Some of the covers included are:
Travel Inconvenience (flight delays, cancellations or missed connections, and delayed luggage)
medical emergency expenses
Personal Baggage, Valuables, Money And Travel Documents Cover
Trip Cancellation And Amendment Cover
personal liability
COVID-related trip change and cancellation costs
6. Earn more Points, save money and enjoy lifestyle benefits
There are many other perks to enjoy, including:
up to 4complimentary Additional Cards⁹ for family members or friends over 16 years of age – an easy way to earn points faster
up to 55 days interest-free on purchases¹⁰
‘buy now, pay later’ with American Express Plan It™ Instalments: pay off your Card balance in equal monthly instalments with no interest and a fixed monthly fee¹¹
use your Card with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay
Amex Offers: save money and earn bonus Points via regular offers with top brands
American Express Experiences: access sought-after events like music, theatre and film, including via pre-sale tickets, and enjoy exclusive lounges at selected events.
Plus up to 100,000 bonus Velocity Points
Receive 70,000 bonus Velocity Points when you apply online via our Amex partner link
by 30 April 2026, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. Plus, get an additional 30,000 bonus Velocity Points when you spend a min of $1 on your Card within 90 days of paying your second year annual Card fee (T&Cs apply; new Amex Card Members only).
This offer is only available to new American Express Card Members. That means you must not have held an American Express card in the last 18 months. However, you are eligible if you’re an Additional Card Member on someone else’s account (including a corporate account).
Amex no longer specifies a minimum income to be eligible for this card.
It’s very simple to apply, including on mobile devices.
Important: This article is not intended to suggest that you should apply for a card. You should seek independent, professional advice and consider your personal circumstances before deciding to apply for a card.
Cards are offered, issued, and administered by American Express Australia Limited ABN 92 108 952 085, Australian Credit Licence No. 291313.
American Express income and credit approval criteria applies. Subject to Terms and Conditions. Interest rates, fees and charges apply. All interest rates are quoted as an Annual Percentage Rate. All information, including fees, charges and interest rates are correct as at 4 September 2024 and are subject to change. Applicants must be 18 years of age or over to apply for the American Express Velocity Platinum Card. They must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident or hold a long term visa. Long term means 12 months or more and does not include a student visa.
1. To earn up to 100,000 bonus Velocity Points you must apply online by 30 April 2026, be approved, and meet the following criteria – You’ll receive 70,000 bonus Velocity 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 Velocity Points, you need to remain on the American Express Velocity Platinum 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 Velocity 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 Velocity 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. Velocity Points are earned in accordance with the American Express Velocity Cards Points Terms and Conditions available here and are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program available here. $440 Annual Card Fee applies. This advertised offer is not applicable or valid in conjunction with any other advertised or promotional offer.
2. The American Express Velocity Platinum Card Virgin Australia Lounge Access is subject to the American Express Velocity Platinum Card Benefits Terms and Conditions. The Virgin Australia Lounge Access provides the Primary Card Member with access to Virgin Australia lounges at Australian domestic airports whenever they are flying on a Virgin Australia operated domestic flight on the same day. American Express Velocity Platinum Primary Card Members will receive 12 months of lounge access on your Velocity membership. Enrol via your online American Express Account. This is your benefit anniversary date. After enrolling, activate the VA Lounge Access by making an Eligible Transaction on your American Express Velocity Platinum Card. Eligible Transaction does not include annual Card fees, cash advances, interest, balance transfers, fees and charges for traveller’s cheques and foreign currencies. After 12 months, at each subsequent benefit anniversary, make an Eligible Transaction on your Velocity Platinum Card to reactivate the VA Lounge Access. Please allow up to 7 days for the benefit to be processed on to the Primary Card Member’s Velocity membership. The Primary Card Member must provide their Velocity Frequent Flyer membership details to Virgin Australia lounge staff and present same day boarding pass on a Virgin Australia flight. Additional Card Members are not eligible. Virgin Australia lounge access is subject to space availability. Virgin Australia lounge is owned and operated by Virgin Australia Airlines Pty. Ltd. in selected domestic airports in accordance with Virgin Australia lounge Terms and Conditions, available at virginaustralia.com/lounge and as amended from time to time.
3. The complimentary domestic economy Virgin Australia return flight is only available between selected Australian cities and is available for booking by American Express Velocity Platinum Primary Card Members after your first Card spend in the first year, and then after your first Card spend each year after the anniversary of your Membership. All flights are subject to availability and neither Virgin Australia nor American Express guarantees that seats or tickets will be available on the dates or at the times you may wish to fly. Seat availability may be limited to certain dates and/or flights and it may be more difficult to book seats around public holidays, school holidays or special events. Some flights may not have any seats available for redemption. Route availability is subject to change without notice. All travel is subject to the American Express Velocity Platinum Card Benefits Terms and Conditions available here and travel is subject to Virgin Australia Conditions of Carriage available at Conditionsofcarriage/VirginAustralia.com.
4. Velocity Frequent Flyer Status Credits are subject to the American Express Velocity Platinum Card Benefits Terms and Conditions. 50 Velocity Frequent Flyer Status Credits will be awarded when you spend $25,000 on Eligible Spend within your membership year, and a further 50 Status Credits when you spend another $25,000 on Eligible Spend within the same membership year. Membership year is defined as commencing upon Card activation and renews on the day of your Card activation each subsequent year. Eligible Spend does not include Card fees and charges, for example annual fees, interest, late or dishonoured payments, cash advances, balance transfers, traveller’s cheques and foreign currency conversion. Please allow up to 2 weeks after you meet the minimum spend requirement for the Status Credits to be credited to your Velocity account. In addition to Status Credits, Velocity members need to fly on Virgin Australia marketed flights to earn Eligible Sectors to upgrade or maintain a level of membership. To find out more about the Status Credit and Eligible Sector requirements for Velocity membership levels please visit velocityfrequentflyer.com/the-basics/status
5. As long as your Account remains current and in good standing and you must be a member of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program to earn and redeem Velocity Points. Velocity Points are earned in accordance with the American Express Velocity Cards Points Terms and Conditions available at americanexpress.com.au/VelocityPointsTerms, and are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program available at experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com/member-support/terms-conditions. Exclusions apply. Eligible purchases do not include Card fees and charges, for example annual fees, interest, late payment fees, cash advances, balance transfers, fees for traveller’s cheques and foreign currency conversion. These do not earn Velocity Points. For the full list of exclusions, please refer to the American Express Velocity Cards Points Terms and Conditions. Certain transactions will earn 0.5 points per dollar with Merchants classified as; government, including the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post), federal/state and local government bodies. Industry specific earn rate may apply when you use a payment account, payment aggregator, services of a third party or online retailers that sell goods for another merchant. For example, a payment made to local government bodies processed through payment aggregator may earn rates at the government earn rate. Velocity Points earned on Virgin Australia spend are only valid for purchases made in Australia.
6. As long as your account remains current and in good standing.
7. Virgin Australia Guest Lounge Passes are subject to the American Express Velocity Platinum Card Benefits Terms and Conditions. Two single entry passes to the Virgin Australia lounge will be activated on the Primary Card Member’s Velocity Frequent Flyer membership account annually, on or after each anniversary of membership. Additional Card members are not eligible. Complimentary single entry Virgin Australia Guest Lounge Passes are not transferable, but may be used to enable other people (who are travelling with the Primary Card Member) to gain access to the lounge. The Virgin Australia lounge is operated by Virgin Australia Airlines Pty. Ltd. in selected domestic airports in accordance with the Virgin Australia Lounge Terms and Conditions, available at virginaustralia.com/lounge and as amended from time to time. Visit the Virgin Australia website for up-to-date information on Virgin Australia’s Lounge network.
8. The insurance on American Express Cards is subject to terms, conditions and exclusions (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits). You must use your American Express Velocity Platinum Credit Card to pay for your trip in order to be covered under the travel insurance and pay for eligible items for those items to be covered under the retail insurance benefits. It is important you read the American Express Velocity Platinum Credit Card Insurance Terms and Conditions and consider whether the insurance is right for you. We do not provide advice about the insurance or whether it is appropriate for your objectives, financial situation or needs. This insurance is underwritten by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (ABN 23 001 642 020, AFSL No. 239687) under a group policy of insurance held by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085, AFSL No. 291313). Access to this insurance is provided solely by reason of the statutory operation of section 48 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth). Card Members are not a party to the group policy, do not have an agreement with Chubb and cannot vary or cancel the cover. American Express is not the insurer, does not guarantee or hold the rights under the group policy on trust for Card Members and does not act on behalf of Chubb or as its agent. American Express is not an Authorised Representative (under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) of Chubb.
9. Additional Card Members must be 16 years of age or over. The Primary Card Member will be liable to pay for all transactions made by Additional Card Members. Earning of points is subject to the terms and conditions of the Rewards Program the Primary Card Member is actively enrolled. All points earned on Additional Card Member spend will go to the Primary Card Members Account. The Primary Card Member cannot add an Additional Card under their own name or email address and cannot add an Additional card under the name or email address of a previously approved Additional Card application on the Account.
10. You will have up to 55 days interest free on purchases provided you pay the full closing balance of your monthly statement by the due date each month. There is no interest free period on balance transfers or if you carry forward a balance from the previous statement period. The total of interest free days will depend on when you make the purchase and when your statement is issued.
11. You can create an Instalment Plan as long as your account is in good standing. We may withdraw this offer, prevent you from creating any new Instalment Plans or cancel any of your existing Instalment Plan(s) at any time if your Card Account is overdue, or if you do not comply with your Card Conditions. The minimum Plan amount is AUD$100. We may also limit the amount that can be transferred to an Instalment Plan. You will be charged a Monthly Plan Fee for each Instalment Plan created (unless a promotional plan is available). This fee will be charged each month your Instalment Plan is active and will be disclosed to you at the time of creating your Instalment Plan. Each Instalment Plan will begin from the date it is successfully created, as communicated to you in your Online Account. Payment of your first Monthly Instalment will be due in your next payment cycle. You may request to cancel your Instalment Plan(s) at any time through your Online Account or the Amex App. Any billed Monthly Plan Fees will remain payable, but no further Monthly Plan Fees will be billed after cancellation is effective. As cancellation can take 24-48 hours to process (“Processing Time”), you may be charged a further monthly plan fee after requesting cancellation if the Processing Time occurs on your payment date. View the full Plan It® Instalment Terms and Conditions here. The insurance on American Express Cards is subject to terms, conditions and exclusions (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits). You must use your American Express Velocity Platinum Credit Card to pay for your trip in order to be covered under the travel insurance and pay for eligible items for those items to be covered under the retail insurance benefits. It is important you read the American Express Velocity Platinum Credit Card Insurance Terms and Conditions and consider whether the insurance is right for you. We do not provide advice about the insurance or whether it is appropriate for your objectives, financial situation or needs. This insurance is underwritten by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (ABN 23 001 642 020, AFSL No. 239687) under a group policy of insurance held by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085, AFSL No. 291313). Access to this insurance is provided solely by reason of the statutory operation of section 48 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth). Card Members are not a party to the group policy, do not have an agreement with Chubb and cannot vary or cancel the cover. American Express is not the insurer, does not guarantee or hold the rights under the group policy on trust for Card Members and does not act on behalf of Chubb or as its agent. American Express is not an Authorised Representative (under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) of Chubb.
Customer notice: this article provides general information only and does not consider personal circumstances. We may receive a commission if you apply for a card via our Amex partner link (read more in our Cards Disclosure). Thank you for your vital support!
The American Express Platinum Card takes pride of place at the front of our wallets, as it does for so many points and travel enthusiasts we know, for one simple reason: its exceptional rewards and benefits.
From premium travel and dining perks, to access to exclusive events and experiences, a flexible rewards program and more, the Platinum Card offers compelling value, even with its $1,450 annual fee (the value of the benefits can be triple that amount each year).
For a limited time, our readers can also receive 200,000 Bonus Membership RewardsPoints when you apply online via our Amex partner link
by 25 August 2026, are approved and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months (T&Cs apply; new Amex Card Members only).¹
Here’s an overview of the card benefits you can enjoy.
Earn points fast and enjoy flexible rewards
The card rewards program, Membership Rewards, has a stellar reputation among loyalty program experts.
Platinum Card Members earn a very strong 2.25 Membership Rewards points per $1spent on purchases (1 point per $1 spent with government bodies), which is uncapped.²
What we especially love about Membership Rewards points is that they are very easy to spend on a variety of rewards. For example, you can use them to pay for card purchases or pay for travel with American Express Travel.
You can also transfer Membership Rewards points to over 10 airline, hotel and retail partners, including both Qantas and Virgin Australia (a very rare feature among cards in Australia).³
Other airline transfer partners include Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Malaysia Airlines, British Airways, Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic.
Choose from many airline transfer partners including Qantas
Having so many airlines to choose from means it can be easier to find award seats when the time comes to book, especially if you want to fly in a sought-after business or first class cabin.
Experience valuable benefits with top hotels
You’ll gain elite status with major hotel loyalty programs, including:
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status⁴ – Marriott is the world’s biggest hotel group with brands such as Sheraton, Westin and Aloft
Hilton Honors Gold status⁵ – in addition to Hilton hotels, you can also enjoy perks with brands like Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and Doubletree
Radisson Rewards Premium Status⁶ with Radisson Hotel Group
ALL Accor Gold status (via your complimentary ALL Accor+ Explorer membership – see below) – Accor includes brands like Sofitel, Pullman and Mercure.
Elite benefits vary from program to program and can include complimentary room upgrades at check-in, early and/or late checkout, complimentary internet access, and free breakfast.
When we put the Hilton Gold status to the test during a trip to Tokyo, we scored over $1000 of complimentary benefits including an upgrade to a club room and free breakfast for two people. You can read about that experience here.
You’ll also receive complimentary ALL Accor+ Explorer membership⁷ valued at $349 p.a., which grants access to the most expansive hotel, dining and lifestyle membership program in Asia Pacific. Benefits include two ‘Stay Plus’ complimentary nights stay each year (each complimentary night must be booked in conjunction with a paid night) at over 1,300 participating hotels in Asia Pacific, 30% off dining for up to 10 guests at over 1,600 participating restaurants, 15% off drinks in Asia Pacific, and more.
You also get access to the American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts program⁸, which provides complimentary benefits at over 1,600 five-star properties worldwide, including daily breakfast for two people, guaranteed 4pm late checkout, room upgrades when available, a special amenity at each property, and more. These benefits offer an average value of US$550 for a two-night stay. When we tried this out during a trip to Vienna, we scored over 600 Euros of benefits.
Enjoy complimentary room upgrades and other benefits at stylish hotels
Finally, the Amex Hotel Collection¹⁹ includes more than 500 properties in over 30 countries, including brands like Hyatt and Hilton. Every time you book a two-night stay you’ll receive a hotel credit worth up to US$100 to spend on dining, spa and resort activities, as well as a complimentary room upgrade at check-in when available.
Enjoy airport lounge access in Australia and overseas
Start your trip in style with access to 1550+ airport lounges⁹ in more than 140 countries, including unlimited entries to:
Virgin Australia Lounges – located at select domestic terminals around Australia (you can bring in one guest for free)
The Centurion Lounge – Amex’s flagship lounges in Sydney, Melbourne and more than 40 locations around the world (two guests permitted)
Priority Pass Lounges – Priority Pass is the world’s biggest lounge network, with a presence in more than 500 cities. Membership is complimentary for you and one Additional Card Member (you may bring in one guest each at no charge)
Plaza Premium Lounges – Plaza Premium is an independent lounge operator with a strong presence in Asia. Access is complimentary for you and an Additional Card Member (you may bring up to 2 guests in each at no charge)
Escape Lounges – located across the USA (two guests permitted)
Delta Sky Club Lounges when flying Delta (guest access rules vary).
Enjoy many other lifestyle benefits
There are plenty of other perks to take advantage of – too many to list in full here – but the ones we like most are:
a $450 Travel Credit¹⁰ each year which is redeemable for flights, hotels or car hire through American Express Travel
up to $400 back¹¹ each calendar year until 31 Dec 2026 when you dine at over 2,000 restaurants in 20 countries: up to $200 in Australia and up to $200 overseas (enrolment required)
up to 4 complimentary Additional Cards¹² for family members or friends
smartphone screen cover, with up to $500 available twice a year for screen repairs (with a 10% excess)
complimentary domestic and overseas travel insurance cover for you and your family (includes COVID cover)¹³
complimentary digital subscription to The Australian Premium¹⁴, including full digital access to The Australian and The Wall Street Journal
invites to American Express Experiences¹⁵ that are not open to the general public – from sporting to fashion and dining, plus access to exclusive lounges at selected events
cash back and bonus points with top brands via Amex Offers¹⁶
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards and Avis Preferred memberships: enjoy savings on car rentals worldwide and complimentary upgrades when available
up to 20% discount on First and Business Class fares with some of the world’s leading airlines¹⁷
compatibility with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay
the Amex Experiences App, which gives Platinum Card Members access to information about their benefits, travel offers, events and recommended merchants all from the palm of their hand.
As this is a charge card, it comes with flexible spending power, also known as no-pre-set spending limit.¹⁸ The balance must be paid in full each month.
Plus 200,000 bonus points
Receive 200,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points when you apply online via our Amex partner link
by 25 August 2026, are approved and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months (new Amex Card Members only; T&Cs apply)¹.
Use your points to experience Singapore Airlines business class
This offer is only available to new American Express Card Members. That means you must not have held a card issued directly by American Express Australia in the last 18 months. However, you are still eligible for this offer if you’re an Additional Card Member on someone else’s account.
Amex no longer specifies a minimum income to be eligible for this card.
Important: This article is not intended to suggest that you should apply for a card. You should seek independent, professional advice and consider your personal circumstances before deciding to apply for a card.
American Express income and credit approval criteria applies. Subject to Terms and Conditions. Fees and charges apply. All information, including fees and charges are correct as at 2 October 2024 and are subject to change. Applicants must be 18 years of age or over to apply for the American Express Platinum Card. They must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident or hold a long term visa. Long term means 12 months or more and does not include a student visa.
200,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points are only available to new American Express Card Members who apply online by 25 August 2026, are approved and 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. Please allow 8-10 weeks for the bonus points to be credited to your Account after the spend criteria has been met. 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. The American Express Platinum Card has an Annual Card Fee of $1,450. This advertised offer is not applicable or valid in conjunction with any other advertised or promotional offer.
Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards program available here. You will earn 1 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.
Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards program available here. To transfer Membership Rewards points into an airline rewards or frequent guest partner program you must be a member of the partner program. Membership of the partner program is the Card Member’s responsibility and is subject to the Terms and Conditions of the applicable program. A joining fee may apply.
As a Platinum Card Member you are eligible to enrol in complimentary Marriott BonvoyTM Gold Elite Status. Once you request enrolment within the Marriott Bonvoy Program at the Gold Elite Status level, American Express will share your enrolment information with The Marriott BonvoyTM Program. Marriott Bonvoy may use this information in accordance with its privacy statement available at marriott.com/privacy. You will maintain Gold Elite Status without meeting otherwise required Marriott Bonvoy criteria as long as you remain an eligible American Express Card Member or until American Express notifies you that the benefit is terminated. Marriott Bonvoy member benefits are subject to change, availability and certain eligibility requirements. Reservations booked through third parties and online booking sources are not eligible. For complete Marriott Bonvoy Program terms visit marriott.com/signInOverlay.mi. Marriott Bonvoy program amenities may not be combined with the Fine Hotels + Resorts program. Upgrades are based upon availability and will vary by property.
As a Platinum Card Member you are eligible to enrol in complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status. Please note that a Hilton Honors Membership Number is required before you are able to enrol in this benefit. For Card Members who are new to Hilton Honors, please sign up here. Your full name and email address must match on both your American Express account and Hilton Honors account to successfully complete your registration. Offer available only to Platinum Card Members and is not transferable. Full details of Gold status can be found at HiltonHonors.com/MemberBenefits and are subject to change by Hilton. Gold status benefits are subject to availability at participating hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. Once you request enrolment in Hilton Honors Gold status, American Express will share your enrolment information with Hilton. Hilton may use this information in accordance with its privacy policy available at Hilton.com/PrivacyPolicy. If you already have Hilton Honors Gold Status, you can maintain the benefit in the future because you don’t need to meet any stay requirements. You maintain Gold status without meeting otherwise required criteria only while an eligible cardholder or until American Express notifies you that the benefit is terminated. Hilton Honors membership, earning and redemption of Points are subject to Hilton Honors Terms & Conditions. All Hampton by Hilton™ hotels in the Republic of China are excluded from the Hilton Honors program. Visit HiltonHonors.com/Terms for more details.
Enrolment in the Radisson Rewards program is required for membership to be upgraded. Benefits are subject to change and availability may vary by property. Radisson Rewards benefits may not be combined with benefits offered by American Express and other loyalty programs. All American Express terms and conditions apply. All Radisson Rewards terms and conditions apply. To view terms and conditions visit radissonhotels.com/en-us/terms-and-conditions. American Express reserves the right to instruct Radisson Rewards to cancel your membership if you cease to be a Platinum Card Member or your Account is not in good standing.
An annual ALL Accor+ Explorer Membership is valued at AU$349, found at accorplus.com/au/benefits as at 1 October 2025. Eligible American Express Card Members are required to enrol to receive a complimentary ALL Accor+ Explorer membership. An ALL Accor+ Explorer membership is available only to the Primary Platinum Card Member. Membership privileges will only be granted on presentation of a valid membership card and a member must identify themselves as an ALL Accor+ Explorer member at time of booking. Accommodation bookings must be made in advance through the ALL.com app. American Express reserves the right to instruct Accor Plus to cancel your membership if you cease to be a Platinum Card Member or your Account is not in good standing. Complimentary membership is a continuing benefit of your American Express Platinum Card, however American Express reserves the right to discontinue the benefit, upon providing you with reasonable notice. Once enrolled, enrolment continues for at least 12 months. If you become ineligible for this benefit or if this benefit ends, the ALL Accor+ Explorer membership standard eligibility criteria will apply to you. A Stay Plus Free Night may be subject to availability at participating properties. Use of the Stay Plus is subject to the conditions as listed on accorplus.com/au/terms-and-conditions. Membership privileges are subject to exceptions listed at accorplus.com/au/benefits-exceptions. Dining and drinks discounts do not apply to room service, mini bars, meeting rooms, selections from the kids’ menus or takeaways; and public holidays or during special events. For more information, please visit here: accorplus.com/benefits/more-flavours. Dining privileges are subject to the Accor Plus membership terms and conditions which are found here: accorplus.com/au/terms-and-conditions.
Average US$550 value based on FHR bookings in 2023 for stays of two nights. Actual value will vary based on property, room rate, upgrade availability and use of benefits. Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program benefits are available for new bookings made through American Express Travel with participating properties and are valid only for eligible Platinum Charge Card Members and Centurion® Members. Platinum Credit Card Members who are not also Australian Platinum Charge Card Members or Centurion® Members, are not eligible for FHR program benefits. Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express® Card, in the eligible Card Member’s name, and that Card Member must be travelling on the itinerary booked. Noon check-in and room upgrade are subject to availability and are provided at check-in; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. The US$100 credit will be applied to eligible charges up to the amount of the credit. To receive the US$100 credit, the eligible spend must be charged to your hotel room. The US$100 credit will be applied at check-out. Advance reservations are recommended for certain US$100 credits. The type and value of the daily breakfast (for two) varies by property; breakfast will be valued at a minimum of US$60 per room per day. To receive the breakfast credit, the breakfast bill must be charged to your hotel room. The breakfast credit will be applied at check-out. If the cost of Wi-Fi is included in a mandatory property fee, a daily credit of that amount will be applied at check-out. Benefits are applied per room, per stay (with a three-room limit per stay). Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members travelling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional FHR benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the property reserve the right to modify or revoke FHR benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you may have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your FHR benefits. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not combinable with other offers unless indicated. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in USD or the local currency equivalent. Benefits, participating properties, and availability and amenities at those properties are subject to change. To be eligible for FHR program benefits, your eligible Card Account must not be cancelled. For additional information, please call the number on the back of your Card.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection
The Centurion® Lounge: Platinum Card Members have complimentary access to all locations of The Centurion Lounge. Gold Card and Green Card Additional Cards on your Platinum account are not eligible for complimentary access. Card Members may bring up to two (2) companions into The Centurion Lounge locations in the U.S. and select international locations as set forth on the Centurion Lounge website at thecenturionlounge.com (the “Centurion Lounge Website”). Guest access policies (including, but not limited to, guest fees and number of complimentary guests per visit) applicable to international locations of The Centurion Lounge may vary by location and are subject to change. Visit the Centurion Lounge Website to learn more about lounge locations and guest access policies applicable to international Centurion Lounge locations. For more information on the Australian Lounges access, visit americanexpress.com.au/airportlounge.All access to The Centurion Lounge is subject to space availability. To access The Centurion Lounge, Platinum Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight (during a layover Platinum Card Members may enter The Centurion Lounge in the connecting airport at any time) and present The Centurion Lounge agent with the following upon each visit: their valid Platinum Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for a departing flight on the same day on any carrier and a government-issued I.D. Note that select lounges allow access to Card Members with a confirmed reservation for any same-day travel (departure or arrival). Refer to the specific location’s access policy for more information. Failure to present the above documentation may result in access being denied. Card Members must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or legal guardian. All Centurion Lounge visitors must be of legal drinking age in the jurisdiction where the Lounge is located to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. American Express reserves the right to remove any person from the Lounge for inappropriate behaviour or failure to adhere to rules, including, but not limited to, conduct that is disruptive, abusive or violent. Soliciting other Card Members for access into our lounge is not permissible. Hours may vary by location and are subject to change. Amenities vary among The Centurion Lounge locations and are subject to change. Card Members will not be compensated for changes in locations, rates or policies. In addition to the complimentary services and amenities in the Lounge, certain services, products or amenities may be offered for sale. You are responsible for any purchases and/or servicing charges you make in The Centurion Lounge or authorise our Member Services Professionals to make on your behalf. Services available at the Member Services Desk are based on the type of American Express Card used to enter the Lounge. American Express will not be liable for any articles lost or stolen or damages suffered by visitors to The Centurion Lounge. If we in our sole discretion determine that you have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with lounge access in any way or that you intend to do so, we may remove access to The Centurion Lounge from the Account. Use of The Centurion Lounge is subject to all rules and conditions set by American Express. American Express reserves the right to revise the rules at any time without notice.
Escape Lounges – The Centurion® Studio Partner: This benefit is available to Platinum Card Members. Additional Gold Cards and Additional Green Cards on your Platinum account are not eligible for complimentary access. Card Members receive complimentary access to all US locations of the Escape Lounges. Card Members may enter with up to two complimentary guests. Card Member must present his or her valid Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same-day travel on any carrier and government-issued I.D. Card Member must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or legal guardian. All Escape Lounge visitors must be of legal drinking age in the jurisdiction where the Lounge is located to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. Card Member must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Card Members and their guests will receive all of the complimentary benefits and amenities afforded to the Escape Lounge customers, including access to purchase non-complimentary items. Some product features may be subject to additional charges. Escape Lounge locations are subject to change. Additional restrictions may apply.
Delta SkyClub: Effective January 1, 2024: Eligible Card Members travelling on a same-day Delta-operated flight with Basic Economy (E) fare tickets will not have access to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go. This benefit is available to the Platinum Card Members. Platinum Card Members must present their valid American Express Card, government-issued I.D., and boarding pass to the Delta Sky Club ambassador. Boarding pass must show a reservation for a same-day Delta-operated flight (Delta or Delta connection) departing from or arriving at the airport in which the Delta Sky Club is located. Name on boarding pass must match name on the Card. Eligible Platinum Card Members on departing flights can only access the Delta Sky Club within three hours of their flight’s scheduled departure time. During a connection between Delta-operated flights on the same ticket, you may use the Delta Sky Club in your connecting airport at any time during the layover. Delta reserves the right to limit access for non-revenue flyers at any Delta Sky Club. Additional Gold Cards and Additional Green Cards on your Platinum account are not eligible for complimentary access. Access to Delta Sky Club partner lounges is not permitted. Individuals must be at least 18 years of age to access Delta Sky Club, and 21 years of age to access locations with a self-service bar, unless accompanied by a responsible, supervising adult who has access to the lounge. Eligible Card Members must adhere to all Delta Sky Club House Rules while accessing participating airport clubs. Participating airport clubs and locations subject to change without notice. Eligible Platinum Card Members may bring guests into the Delta Sky Club subject to the most current Delta Sky Club access and pricing policies, and must use their valid Platinum Card as the payment method for guest access. Guests must also be flying on a same-day Delta-operated flight. Guest access and fees subject to terms and conditions of participating airport clubs. For the most current Delta Sky Club access and pricing policy, please visit delta.com/skyclubaccess. All Delta Sky Club rules apply to Delta Sky Club membership and use. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/skyclub. Benefit and rules subject to change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply.
Plaza Premium Lounges: This benefit is available to Platinum Card Members. Additional Gold Cards and Additional Green Cards on your Platinum account are not eligible for complimentary access. Card Members receive complimentary access to any global location of Plaza Premium Lounges. Card Member must present their valid Card, a confirmed boarding pass for same-day travel on any carrier and government-issued I.D. In some cases, Card Member must be 21 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. Card Members may bring up to two (2) guests into Plaza Premium Lounges as complimentary guests. Card Member must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Card Members and their guests will receive all of the complimentary benefits and amenities afforded to the Plaza Premium Lounge customers, as well as access to purchase non-complimentary items. Some product features may be subject to additional charges. Plaza Premium Lounge locations are subject to change.
Virgin Australia: This benefit is available to Primary Platinum Card Members. Access is complimentary for Primary Platinum Card Members and one complimentary guest only. The Primary Platinum Card Member and guest must be travelling with Virgin Australia domestically on the same Virgin Australia flight. Access is to Virgin Australia-branded lounges at their city of departure in Australia only. The Platinum Card Member must present their valid Physical Platinum Card and same-day boarding pass to Virgin Australia lounge agents and the name on the boarding pass must match the name on the Platinum Card. The guest must also present their boarding pass. One guest per Primary Platinum Card Member permitted. All access is subject to space availability. Additional Gold Cards and Additional Green Cards on your Platinum account are not eligible for complimentary access. This benefit is subject to change.
Priority Pass™ – Platinum Personal Charge Card. This benefit is available to Platinum Personal Charge Card Members. Platinum Card Members and one Additional Platinum Card Member as nominated by the Primary Card Member may enrol in the Priority Pass™ program. Additional Gold Cards and Additional Green Cards on your Platinum account are not eligible for complimentary access. Priority Pass is an independent airport lounge access program. You acknowledge and agree that American Express will verify your Card Account number and provide updated Card Account information to Priority Pass. Priority Pass will use this information to fulfill on the Priority Pass program and may use this information for marketing related to the program. Once enrolled, Platinum Card Members whose Card Account is not cancelled may access participating Priority Pass lounges by presenting your Priority Pass card and airline boarding pass. If the Card Account is cancelled, you will not be eligible for Priority Pass and your enrolment will be cancelled. At any visit to a Priority Pass lounge that admits guests, you may bring in 1 guest for no charge. You will be charged the prevailing retail rate for any additional guests. Some lounges do not admit guests. In some lounges, Priority Pass member must be 21 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. Priority Pass members must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Amenities may vary among airport lounge locations. Conference rooms, where available, may be reserved for a nominal fee. Priority Pass lounge partners and locations are subject to change. All Priority Pass members must adhere to the Priority Pass Conditions of Use, which will be sent to you with your membership package, and can be viewed at www.prioritypass.com. Upon receipt of your enrolment information, Priority Pass will send your Priority Pass card and membership package which you should receive within 10-14 business days. If you have not received the Priority Pass card after 14 days, please contact American Express using the number on the back of your American Express® Card. To receive immediate access to the lounges after enrolling in Priority Pass, you can activate your membership online by using your Priority Pass membership details to receive a Digital Membership Card. For a step-by-step guide on the activation process, visit prioritypass.com/activation.
Lufthansa: This benefit is available to Platinum Card Members. Additional Gold Cards and Additional Green Cards on your Platinum Card Account are not eligible for complimentary access. Platinum Card Members have complimentary access to select Lufthansa Business Lounges (regardless of ticket class) and Lufthansa Senator Lounges (when flying business class) when flying on a Lufthansa Group flight. To access the Lufthansa lounges, Platinum Card Members must present their valid Platinum Card, a government issued I.D., and a same-day departure boarding pass showing confirmed reservation on a Lufthansa Group flight (Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian airlines). Card Members must adhere to all rules of participating lounges. Participating lounges and locations subject to change without notice. Additional guest access and fees subject to terms and conditions of participating lounges. In some Lounges the Platinum Card Member must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. Must be of legal drinking age to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. For the most current list of Lufthansa lounges, guest access requirements, rules, and pricing policy, please visit https://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/lounges.
Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges: American Express offers access to additional lounges in the Global Lounge Collection where Platinum Card Members have complimentary access to participating locations. Card Members must present their valid Platinum Card, a government-issued I.D., and a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same-day travel on any carrier. Guest access and associated fees are subject to the terms and conditions of the participating lounge provider. Participation, locations, rates, and policies of lounges are subject to change without notice, and Card Members and their guests will not be compensated for such changes. Amenities, services, and hours may vary by participating lounge and are subject to change without notice. American Express and the participating lounge will not be liable for any articles lost or stolen, or damages suffered by the Card Member or guests inside the participating lounge. For participating lounges with a self-service bar, the Card Member may be required to be of legal drinking age in the participating lounge jurisdiction to enter without a parent or legal guardian. All Card Members and their guests must be of legal drinking age to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. Each participating lounge may have their own policy allowing for children under a certain age to enter for free with the Card Member who is a parent or legal guardian. Card Member must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges If American Express, in its sole discretion, determines that the Card Member or their guests have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with access to participating lounges in any way, or that the Card Member or their guests intend to do so, we may remove access to the Additional Lounges from the Account. American Express and the participating lounge reserve the right to revise the rules at any time without notice. For the most current list of participating lounges and access requirements, please use the Lounge Finder feature in the American Express App or visit www.americanexpress.com.au/platinumlounges.
If your Card has a Travel Credit benefit, the Primary Card Member is eligible for an annual Travel Credit, subject to the full Travel Credit Terms and Conditions at amex.com.au/platinumtravelcreditterms. The Travel Credit can be redeemed through American Express Travel Online on a single eligible travel booking by selecting the Travel Credit when you checkout. To redeem the Travel Credit, the full value of the Travel Credit (or more) must be charged to the eligible Primary Card. Eligible travel includes flights, hotels and car hire when you prepay in advance. The 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 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 Travel Credit has already been used and associated statement credit applied to your account, you will forfeit your annual 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 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 Travel Credit.
Global Dining Credit.
Maximum amount back is $200 on spend at participating local restaurants (Local Dining Credit) and AUD$200 on spend at participating abroad restaurants (Abroad Dining Credit) per redemption period: Each redemption period resets on 1 January until the offer end date of 31 December 2026. The redemption periods are: 1 January – 31 December 2025 and 1 January – 31 December 2026. Spend can be in one or more transactions. You cannot carry any unused offer value from one redemption period into the next.
Primary Card Member Only: The Benefit is only available to Primary American Express Australia Platinum Card Members using their Platinum Personal Charge Card. Transactions made with an Additional Card is not eligible for this Benefit.
Save this Benefit First: A one-time enrolment is required. You must first save the Benefit to your Platinum Card before making your payment to qualify for the Benefit. Benefit limited to the Card to which the offer is saved and only spend on this Card counts towards the Benefit. If you use another card to make a payment at any time, you will not be eligible for the Benefit on that card. If you switch to a new Card product that is not eligible for this Benefit, enrolment will be removed from your Card Account. If a Card you hold is ineligible, you will not be able to see the Benefit, nor will you be able to save the Benefit to the Card. If you are no longer eligible for this Benefit due to a change in Account status, including but not limited to fraudulent flags, suspension or cancellation, it will be removed from your Account.
Eligible Transactions: Benefit only available for dine-in services made in-person at a participating restaurant in Australia. Full participating restaurant list can be found here. Participating restaurant list subject to change without notice, please check before you dine as you won’t be eligible to receive a credit if the restaurant isn’t on the list at the time of your transaction.
Excluded Transactions: Benefit excludes purchases of gift cards and vouchers, transactions made towards deposits charged upfront by the venue, booking, cancellation, and no-show charges, takeaway or dine-at-home services.
Direct Payments Only: If you pay using payment processors such as QR payment or restaurant in-app purchases, you may not be eligible for the Benefit. Please request to pay at the restaurant’s designated checkout register.
Award of Credits: Credit(s) should appear on your billing statement within 30 days from the date of payment but may take longer. Credit(s) are not redeemable for cash or any other payment form. Credit may be reversed if your qualifying purchase is refunded or cancelled.
Expiry or Withdrawal of Benefit: The Benefit will expire on 31 December 2026. American Express can withdraw the Benefit at any time by giving you 60 days’ notice.
Your use of participating restaurants: Your purchase of goods and/or services from the participating brands is governed by their respective terms and conditions (including privacy policies). American Express is not responsible in any way for the goods and/or services of the participating brands. Inquiries or complaints related to the participating brands’ goods and/or services should be directed to their customer service.
Our General Offer Terms: Our General Offer Terms also apply to the Benefit and contain important additional terms.
Additional Card Members must be 16 years of age or over. The Primary Card Member will be liable to pay for all transactions made by Additional Card Members. Earning of points is subject to the terms and conditions of the Rewards Program the Primary Card Member is actively enrolled. All points earned on Additional Card Member spend will go to the Primary Card Members Account. The Primary Card Member cannot add an Additional Card under their own name or email address and cannot add an Additional card under the name or email address of a previously approved Additional Card application on the Account.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If the unexpected happens on your travels and a medical emergency arises, your first port of call is Chubb Assistance. In the event of an incident and to ensure you get appropriate, and fast, treatment from a doctor who speaks your language, you must call Chubb Assistance on +61 2 9335 3492 or the number on the back of your Card before seeking medical treatment, or you may be responsible for your medical expense costs. The insurance on American Express Cards is subject to terms, conditions and exclusions (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits). You must use your American Express Platinum Card to pay for your trip in order to be covered under the travel insurance and pay for eligible items for those items to be covered under the retail insurance benefits. It is important you read the American Express Platinum Card Insurance Terms and Conditions and consider whether the insurance is right for you. We do not provide advice about the insurance or whether it is appropriate for your objectives, financial situation or needs. This insurance is underwritten by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (ABN 23 001 642 020, AFSL No. 239687) under a group policy of insurance held by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085, AFSL No. 291313). Access to this insurance is provided solely by reason of the statutory operation of section 48 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth). Card Members are not a party to the group policy, do not have an agreement with Chubb and cannot vary or cancel the cover. American Express is not the insurer, does not guarantee or hold the rights under the group policy on trust for Card Members and does not act on behalf of Chubb or as its agent. American Express is not an Authorised Representative (under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) of Chubb.
The Australian Premium Subscription benefit offer (‘Benefit’) is available to eligible American Express Australia Card Members (‘Card Members’). Once you have requested to enrol in The Australian Premium Subscription, American Express Australia Limited (‘American Express’) will determine your eligibility to enrol in the Benefit via the enrolment process. If eligible then American Express will share your enrolment information with Nationwide News Pty Ltd (‘News Corp’). News Corp may use this enrolment information in accordance with its privacy policy available here. The Benefit will provide eligible Card Members with; (a) a 12 month digital access to The Australian which provides premium content at theaustralian.com.au and via The Australian app; (b) eligibility to activate a digital subscription to the Wall Street Journal which will run concurrently with the subscription in (a) above; (c) a bespoke The Australian Premium e-newsletter sent every week and exclusive to subscribers of The Australian Premium subscription; and (d) access to The Australian annual event. Eligible Card Members must activate the Benefit described in (a) above in order to be provided with the opportunity to activate or enjoy the other parts of the Benefit. Card Members are not required to pay for the Benefit. Subscriptions provided under the Benefit will be automatically renewed every 12 months provided American Express and News Corp continue their arrangements in relation to this Benefit. Under the Benefit, you are limited to one digital subscription per eligible Card Member; not to be used in conjunction with any other offer; subscription is for digital content only; physical newspapers are not included. In addition to these terms and conditions, your use of the Benefit is subject to News Corp’s full digital subscription terms and conditions available here. For avoidance of doubt, terms and conditions contained here will take precedent in the event of inconsistency. Eligible Card Members will be required to agree to News Corp’s terms and conditions and privacy policy to activate the Benefit. News Corp may cancel any digital subscription provided under the Benefit at any time if the Card Member subscriber is in breach of these terms and conditions or the News Corp terms and conditions for any part of the Benefit, if notified by American Express that a Card Member is no longer eligible for this subscription or if American Express and News Corp cease to have an agreement relating to the continued provision of the Benefit. The value of the Benefit is not redeemable for cash or any other payment form. American Express may end this Benefit at any time.
Invitations will be sent by email only. A valid email address and opt-in to Platinum Marketing communications is required. Event availability is strictly limited.
The following are not Eligible Cards: Business Cards that are affiliated with a wholesale partner, American Express Business Travel Accounts, Government Cards, Corporate Purchasing Cards, Corporate Meeting Cards, Corporate Cards. To view Amex Offers, simply log into your Online Account or the American Express Mobile App. The account must being in good standing to be eligible for offers.
International Airline Program
American Express reserves the rights to change these conditions from time to time with 21 days prior notice and/or to discontinue the whole programme. To earn or redeem Membership Rewards points, Cards must be registered to the American Express Membership Rewards program, and be active and current in their payments. When paying with a combination of your American Express Card and Membership Rewards points, only the value applied to the Card is eligible to earn Membership Rewards points. Membership Rewards Terms and Conditions apply when booking on the American Express Travel website. Please visit the Membership Rewards website to view the full Terms and conditions (membershiprewards.com.au/termsandconditions).
Airlines reserve the right to change, cancel or restrict flight operations without notice. IAP upgrades or specially negotiated fares may be limited by airlines to certain flights and/or dates (“blackouts”). IAP is subject to the terms and conditions of each participating carrier. American Express does not guarantee that seats or tickets will be available. Cabins of service and discounts vary by airline and route.
To qualify for the IAP upgrades or specially negotiated fares: a) Your journey must start and end at the same port as designated by the participating airline and be completed within the period during which your selected carrier participates in the programme. You will be advised of any applicable dates at the time of booking. b) IAP tickets must be purchased through the American Express Travel Service and must be charged to a valid Australian American Express Platinum Card which is in good standing. c) The Platinum Cardmember who purchases the ticket(s) must be one of the travellers. d) IAP tickets are non-transferable and nonendorsable.
Any travel on non-participating airlines must be ticketed and paid for separately and is not part of the IAP. Certain code share or flights on the worldwide partners of the participating airlines may not apply.
Certain IAP airlines or non-participating airlines impose restrictions such as ticketing time limit on advance booking to indicate a timeline for ticketing upon making your reservations. For each individual airline Terms & Conditions, please check with the Platinum Travel Service for details.
IAP upgrade offers or specially negotiated fares may not be combined with any other promotion, discount, negotiated or corporate rate.
American Express acts only as an agent for travel service providers and does not own or operate any airline or means of transportation. American Express is not liable for service deficiencies on the part of airlines or other service providers, including but not limited to: accidents and injuries; delays; changes in routes or itineraries; loss, theft or damages to possessions. American Express strongly advises travellers to insure themselves against travel risks. Travellers are responsible for ensuring that they have valid documentation and for complying with the health, customs, currency and other laws of any country they enter or attempt to enter.
IAP is available to Platinum Cardmembers from a variety of participating airlines each with specifically designated ports of departure and arrival. Please refer to the Platinum Travel Service for details of participating airlines, applicable routing and timetables and fares in force at any particular time. Other International Airline Program Terms & Conditions may apply.
Savings are based on full-priced retail year-round airfares from Australia to select destinations with participating airlines in selected booking classes in First, Business and Premium Economy. Savings are calculated on the base fare and do not include applicable charges such as taxes, service fees, date change fees and cancellation fees. A maximum of 8 tickets can be purchased per Card Member per transaction. Prices are subject to availability and subject to change. All airfares must be purchased through the Platinum Travel Service and paid for on the Platinum Card. Airfares at sale prices may be released in the market at any time and reduce the featured savings. Fare rules including Advance Purchase, Min/Max Stay, any Penalties/Refunds, Stopovers/Transfers, Discounts (child/infant), and Taxes/Surcharges, are dependent on the airline’s Terms and Conditions and can vary. Airline Partners and offers vary and are subject to change. Contact Platinum Travel Service for full details on the International Airline Program.
Unless Amex tells you otherwise, your American Express Charge card comes with flexible spending power, also known as no-pre-set spending limit. This means that the amount you can spend is dynamic and can adapt based on your transaction patterns, your business’ credit rating, and other factors. The way you use your Card can help your spending power grow, particularly in the first few months. To help maximise your spending power, make regular transactions and don’t miss any payments.
The Hotel Collection (THC) benefits are available for new bookings of two consecutive nights or more, with participating properties, made through Platinum Travel Service, Centurion Travel Service or American Express Travel Online. Bookings are valid only for eligible Card Members of the following American Express Cards: American Express® Rewards Advantage Card, American Express® Explorer Credit Card, American Express® Platinum Reserve Credit Card, American Express® Gold Card, American Express® Gold Business Card, American Express® Business Gold Plus Card, American Express® Platinum Card, American Express® Platinum Business Card and American Express® Centurion Card. Excludes Gold Credit Card Members who are not also Australian Rewards Advantage, Gold or Platinum Charge Card Members. Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express® Card, in the eligible Card Member’s name, and that Card Member must be travelling on the itinerary booked to be eligible for benefits described. Noon check-in, late check-out and the room upgrade are subject to availability; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. The type of US$100 credit and additional amenity (if applicable) varies by property; the US$100 credit will be applied to eligible charges up to US$100. To receive the US$100 credit, the eligible spend must be charged to your hotel room. The US$100 credit will be applied at check-out. Advance reservations are recommended for certain credits. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Benefits are applied per room, per stay (with a three-room limit per stay). Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional THC benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke the THC benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your THC benefits. Benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not combinable with other offers unless indicated. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in US Dollars or the local currency equivalent. Benefits, participating properties, and availability and amenities at those properties are subject to change. To be eligible for THC program benefits, your eligible Card Account must not be cancelled. For additional information, call the number on the back of your Card.
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