reviews on qantas travel money card

Qantas Travel Money Card Review

While it’s straightforward to obtain foreign currency overseas, a quick trip to an ATM, or a currency exchange bureau, can leave you at the mercy of hidden fees and exchange rates. This is when a travel money card can be your friend. Travel money cards allow you to load up on foreign currency online wherever you are, so you can enjoy your holiday without the worry of sky-high exchange rates and fees.

What is the Qantas Travel Money card?

Qantas Travel Money is a prepaid debit card facility built into the back of the Qantas Frequent Flyer membership card. You can lock in exchange rates on multiple currencies and earn Qantas Points on eligible purchases at home and overseas. However, you must be an Australian resident to use Qantas Travel Money.

What can I use Qantas Money for?

You can use Qantas Travel Money like any other travel money card. Load your card up using Australian dollars via the app or website with your debit/credit card or bank transfer. From there you’re free to spend online or in store, anywhere that Mastercard is accepted.

You can load up to ten foreign currencies onto the Qantas Travel Money card: AED , CAD , EUR , GBP , HKD , JPY ,  SGD , THB and USD . You can also lock in exchange rates on these currencies before you fly, to avoid currency fluctuations.

Foreign currency exchange rates vary from time to time. Cardholders benefit from locked in rates that apply when you make a transaction or incur a fee in a currency loaded on your card.

Travellers should note that although the “Credit” button is used when making a purchase or a withdrawal at an ATM, this card is not a line of credit. The card cannot go into a negative balance.

Compare Travel Money Cards

If you’re a Kiwi and headed off overseas, check out the best in money cards. Here’s a rundown of some of the most popular cards in New Zealand:

The display order does not reflect any ranking or rating by Canstar. This information is not an endorsement by Canstar of travel money cards or any specific provider. Information correct as of 20/09/23. For full pricing details see individual providers’ websites.

Features of qantas cash card.

Please note these features are current at the time of writing. You should check the product provider’s website and product information at the current time.

• Global use: Use the card wherever MasterCard is accepted in over 210 countries and territories. Withdraw cash from millions of ATMs around the world displaying the MasterCard logo.
• Rewards points: Earn Qantas Points on all eligible purchases overseas and in Australia.
• Double dip: Spend with Qantas Frequent Flyer program partners using Qantas Travel Money and you’ll earn Qantas Points for eligible purchases from both the program partner and Qantas Travel Money.
• Online shopping: Shop online at international retailers.
• Security: Chip and PIN protected. Suspend your card if it is lost or stolen. Protected against fraudulent transactions with MasterCard Zero Liability.

Does the Qantas Travel Money card cost to use?

Unlike some prepaid cards, Qantas Travel Money doesn’t charge monthly or annual fees, making your holiday money travel further.

The only fees Qantas charges are an international ATM fee and a small load fee of 0.5% of the total load amount (when using a credit or debit card.

• Initial load fee: $0 (no fee)
• Currency conversion fee: $0 (no fee)
• Reload fee for bank transfers/app: $0 (no fee)
• Debit card load fee: 0.5% of the total load amount
• Transaction fee for purchases: $0 charged by Qantas, but some merchants may charge their own fee
• ATM fee (overseas): NZD 2.50 AED 6.50, USD 1.95, EUR 1.50, GBP 1.25, THD: 70, JPY 160, CAD 2.00, HKD 15.00, SGD 2.50

How do I get the Qantas Travel Money card?

• Order: If you’re already a Qantas Frequent Flyer, simply request a card online. If you aren’t a Frequent Flyer, you’ll need to register before you can apply for a Travel Money card.
• Register: Register your card online upon receiving it.
• Load: Load your card for the first time via online banking or ‘Instant Load’ via the Qantas Money app or website using a debit or credit card.

Where can’t I use Qantas Money?

As a MasterCard product, the Qantas Travel Money card may currently not be used in the following countries and regions due to economic or trade sanctions:

• North Korea

If you attempt to use your card or withdraw cash from an ATM in any of these countries, your request will be declined. New Zealand also imposes its own sanctions from time to time; please check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for details on the countries you intend to visit.

Eligibility to apply for Qantas Travel Money card

To apply for the Qantas Travel Money card, you must meet the following criteria:

• At least 16 years old
• An Australian citizen
• Member of Qantas Frequent Flyer program

Written by: Caitlin Bingham | Last updated: November 16, 2023

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Travel money cards with the lowest fees

We look at seven travel money cards from the big banks and airlines..

Prepaid travel money cards are offered by major banks, airlines and foreign exchange retailers like Travelex. Before travelling overseas, you load money into the card account, which locks in the exchange rate for foreign currencies at that time. 

You can then use the card for purchases and cash withdrawals just like a debit or credit card, usually wherever Visa and Mastercard are accepted. 

You can reload money on-the-go via an app or website, and if the card is lost or stolen, it can be replaced (usually at no cost to you).

Prepaid travel money cards also give you assurance that you're not handing the details of your everyday banking account to merchants you're not familiar with, and they provide easy access to cash when you want some, says Peter Marshall, head of research at money comparison website Mozo .

CHOICE tip: Travel money cards are best for longer trips. They're usually not worth your while if you're only taking a short trip, as some have closure, cash out and inactivity fees.

Travel money card fees

A major difference between prepaid travel cards and debit or credit cards is their fees. Some costs aren't immediately apparent, such as hefty margins built into the exchange rates.

And although fees have come down since we looked at these cards two years ago, you still need to watch out for:

• fees to load the card – either a percentage of the total or a flat fee
• ATM withdrawal fees
• a cross currency fee or margin when you use the card in a currency you haven't preloaded
• further fees if you close the account or haven't used the card for a period of time.

Travel money card with the lowest fees and best exchange rate

Westpac worldwide wallet.

Westpac closed its Global Currency Card in July 2021 and offers its new card in partnership with Mastercard.  It's also available from Bank of Melbourne and BankSA.

Currencies: AUD, USD, NZD, EUR, GBP, SGD, THB, JPY, HKD, CAD, ZAR.

Key features:

• No loading, reloading, closing or inactivity fees.
• Free to use it in network ATMs in Australia and partner ATMs overseas in a range of countries including the UK, US and New Zealand.
• A charge applies at non-Westpac and non-partner ATMs in Australia and overseas.
• Best exchange rates for the US dollar, the Euro and GBP in our comparison.*
• The only card that lets you preload the South African rand.

Other travel money cards

Next to the Westpac Worldwide Wallet, there are six other travel money cards available.

Australia Post Travel Platinum Mastercard

Available online or at post offices.

Currencies : AUD, USD, NZD, EUR, GBP, SGD, THB, JPY, HKD, CAD, AED.

• Fee to reload the card via BPay, debit card or instore, but free via online bank transfer.
• Closure fee.
• Fees for ATM withdrawals in Australia and overseas.

Cash Passport Platinum Mastercard

It's issued by Heritage Bank and is available online and from a number of smaller banks and credit unions (like Bendigo Bank and Bank of Queensland) as well as travel agents. 

• Fee to reload with a debit card or instore, but free via BPay.

CommBank Travel Money Card

CommBank Travel Money Card (Visa)

As NAB and ANZ have closed their travel money cards, this is the only other travel money card available from a major bank. This card has the largest variety of currencies that can be preloaded.

Currencies : AUD, USD, NZD, EUR, GBP, SGD, THB, JPY, HKD, CAD, AED, VND, CNY.

• Fee if you make a purchase with currencies not preloaded.
• Fee for withdrawals at overseas ATMs.

Qantas Travel Money Card

Qantas Travel Money Card (Mastercard)

The only travel money card offering from an airline. It can be added as a feature to your Qantas Frequent Flyer card, so you don't need a dedicated card, and you can earn points using it.

• Free to reload via bank transfer or BPay, but there's a reload fee if using debit card.

Travelex Money Card

Travelex Money Card (Mastercard)

Travelex is an international foreign exchange retailer. In Australia, it operates more than 140 stores at major airports and shopping centres, across CBDs and in the suburbs. It was the card with the best exchange rate for New Zealand dollars.*

Currencies : AUD, USD, NZD, EUR, GBP, SGD, THB, JPY, HKD, CAD.

Fees : 

• Load fee instore, but free via Travelex website or app.
• Reload fee instore or via BPay, but free via Travelex website or app.
• Closure fee and monthly inactivity fee (if not used for 12 months).

Travel Money Oz Currency Pass

Travel Money Oz Currency Pass (Mastercard)

The Travel Money Group is owned by Flight Centre and is a foreign exchange retailer. 

• Reloading the card via an online bank transfer or instore is free, but there's a fee if you reload via BPay, debit card or credit card. 
• Cash out (closure) fee. 

Travel money card tips

• Make sure the card allows the currencies you'll need, and also consider stopovers. For example, the South African rand is only supported by the Westpac card.
• Try to load your card with the right currencies and amounts on days with good exchange rates. 
• Make sure you know how to reload your card if you run out of funds while overseas.
• It may be more convenient to choose a card that has an app that can be linked to your bank account.
• Avoid loading more money than you'll need as there may be fees and exchange rate margins to get the unused money back.
• Remember to cancel the card once you're finished your trip, especially if it has inactivity fees.
• Be mindful that you still may need a credit card, as travel money cards may not be accepted as security for hotels and car rental agencies. 

Stock images:  Getty, unless otherwise stated.

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Qantas Cash Travel Card Review

Learn about the Qantas Cash Travel Card in this review to help you decide whether this is the card for you.

• Multicurrency Pre-paid Travel Card
• Use at millions of Mastercard locations
• Earn Qantas points with purchases
• Free Qantas Frequent Flyer Membership
• Load up to 11 currencies
• Lock in exchange rates
• No domestic ATM fees

Pros and cons of using Qantas Cash Travel Card

• Free to purchase and free reload
• Receive complimentary membership to the Qantas Frequent Flyer
• No foreign currency conversion fee
• You cannot change your PIN
• International ATM withdrawal fees

Benefits of the Qantas Cash Travel Card

• Chip and PIN
• Suspend your card and access emergency funds if your card is lost or stolen
• Mastercard Qantas Cash Global Support available 24/7
• Mastercard Zero Liability to protect your from fraud

Convenience

• Easy way to access different currencies while abroad, and manage your money effectively
• Use online or directly to pay for goods

• Free to purchase with free reloads
• Earn Frequent Flyer points with Qantas Cash with purchases at home and overseas
• No monthly account fees
• Plus, eligible Australians can receive complimentary Qantas Frequent Flyer membership with Qantas Cash, saving you $89.50

Manage Your Money

• Load easily online via BPAY, bank transfer or Debit Card Load
• Register online to load funds, check balance, transfer funds and view your transaction history

Currencies and Countries

Currencies supported.

• Australian dollars (AUD)
• US dollars (USD)
• Great British pounds (GBP)
• New Zealand dollars (NZD)
• United Arab Emirates dirham (AED)
• Hong Kong dollars (HKD)
• Canadian dollars (CAD)
• Singapore dollars (SGD)
• Thai baht (THB)
• Japanese yen (JPY)

Load Amounts

• Minimum Load $50
• Maximum Load $20,000 (single load), $100,000 (across all currencies)

Transaction Limits

• ATM Withdrawal Limit (24 hours) : AUD 3,000 (or currency equivalent)
• POS Transaction Limit (24 hours): AUD 15,000 (or currency equivalent)

All prices are in AUD

* A foreign exchange rate will apply to foreign exchange transactions

** Loading and reloading are free but will have a 1% charge when via Debit card

Qantas Cash Travel Card does not charge for balance enquiry fees, but you may be subject to charges by the ATM operator.

Leah lives in Melbourne but is originally from Perth. Her family and friends, with exception of a few, all still live in Perth, so Leah tries to visit home at least 3 times a year. As Leah visits a lot of places worldwide both for leisure and business, she was attracted to receiving the complimentary Frequent Flyer membership if she were to apply for the Qantas Cash Travel Card. She could earn Frequent Flyer points through her simple, personal purchases while abroad, and also earn points from her couch by using her card online. With no purchase or monthly fees, Leah applied for her Qantas Cash Travel Card and now uses it all the time, both online and by preloading her AUD into the currencies she needs for her destination. Bonus too when Leah now gets to use her points towards her flights back to Perth!

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Travel Money Card Comparison

How to find the best card for your next overseas trip.

In this guide

Travel money card comparison

What is a travel money card, the pros and cons of different options, what are the travel money card fees i should know about, how to find the best travel money card, top travel money tips, australian travel statistics, faqs about prepaid travel money cards.

Travel Money Cards

What you need to know

• The most important features to compare are the foreign transaction fees, exchange rates and usability.
• If you want to withdraw cash, a prepaid travel card or debit card will likely be cheaper than a credit card.
• It is a good idea to have several travel money options in case of loss, damage or theft.

A travel money card is a prepaid card which you can add multiple foreign currencies onto to use while you're travelling overseas. You can use it to make purchases and withdraw cash from ATMs.

Prepaid travel cards work similarly to debit cards as you can deposit a certain amount of money into the card and only spend what you've got available in the account. However, unlike a standard debit card, a prepaid travel card allows you to lock-in exchange rates before you travel.

You can also avoid some of the fees that you might be subject to if you were to use your normal bank card. Many transaction accounts have international transaction fees or other limitations, so getting a travel money card can save you money there. It can also feel safer to have a travel money card, avoiding the risk of losing your money if something were to happen to your bank card.

ING Orange Everyday Account

There is no universal best travel money card as your options vary from country to country and person to person. In saying that, some of favourable features of travel cards include:

• No additional fees: including ATM fees, reloading fees and card closure fee
• The option to lock in exchange rates before you leave
• The option to add multiple currencies onto the one card
• Digital wallet compatibility so you can add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay
• Low or no additional cost to convert your left-over money back to AUD
• Security, including card pin

You should also consider exchange rates, conditions, limits and safety.

Here are our top travel money tips:

• Pay for your purchases in the local currency. This will help avoid any currency conversion fees.
• Keep an eye on your transactions . It's always a good idea to regularly check your transaction history to make sure there's no unauthorised transactions - and if there are, you should report them to your bank immediately.
• Always take more than one travel money option. You don't want to be left stranded if you lose your card or it gets stolen. Consider bringing 2 forms of travel cards to avoid being left cashless in a foreign country.
• Keep your travel money in a few different places. Having all your foreign cash and cards in a wallet means you'll have no backup if you lose your wallet. Instead, consider keeping some of your travel money in a separate place. For example, you could keep most of your cash in a hotel safe or a locked part of your luggage.
• Inform your bank. If you're using your regular debit or credit card, let your bank know. You wouldn't want your card to be cancelled due to a 'suspicious transaction' while you're overseas because your bank thinks you're still in Australia.

Australia is a nation of travellers. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 8,337,080 resident returns from overseas for the year 2022 - 2023. The most popular reason we travel is for a holiday, and the median trip duration is 15 days.

How do you top up travel money cards?

You can top up your travel money card if you need more money while you're on your trip. Depending on your specific travel money card, you can reload your card online, using BPAY, through your bank's app or via your bank's branch. Look into the card you are topping up because some methods do incur fees e.g. the Qantas Travel Money Card has an instant reload fee of 0.5% while its BPAY and bank transfers are free.

Can you get your money back if you don't spend it all?

You can generally get your money back if you don't end up spending it all while overseas. However, you might encounter fees to get the remaining money back into your regular bank account.

What should I do if my travel money card is lost or stolen?

The first thing you should do upon discovering that your card is missing is call your card provider. Reporting the theft or loss immediately will help protect the funds on your card.

Most of the card companies provide 24/7 customer service emergency numbers. Some even accept reverse charges, so it can be as simple as dialling the operator to connect your collect call. If you dial the number directly, you may be charged for the call.

• CommBank Travel Money Card: +61 2 9999 3283
• Cash Passport Platinum Mastercard: +44 207 649 9404
• Qantas Travel Money Card: +61 1300 825 302
• Travelex Money Card: 1800 303 297
• Revolut: +61 1300 281 208

What are the travel money card exchange rates?

Travel credit cards typically use the Mastercard or Visa network and use the daily exchange rates that the networks provide. You can find out the daily exchange rate by going to the Mastercard or Visa website. Prepaid travel cards allow you to lock in the exchange rate beforehand, so if you find a favourable one you can lock it in and not have to worry about fluctuations while you're away.

What is a cross currency conversion fee?

A cross currency conversion fee is charged when you use your Australian card with Australian dollars to make a purchase in a foreign country. The money is exchanged from Australian dollars into the local currency electronically. You can avoid this fee by choosing to pay in the local currency.

When are inactivity fees charged with prepaid travel cards?

If you have a travel card that charges an inactivity fee (a fee that's charged every month when your account is inactive for a period of time), you will lose any remaining funds on the card, but your account won't go into a negative balance. Once the card has a zero balance, this fee will not be charged.

Amy Bradney-George

Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Read more on this topic

The Wise Travel Money Card supports over 40 currencies, with free loading by bank transfer and an instant, virtual card. Here’s how its other features compare.

Revolut offers virtual and physical Visa cards, support for over 30 currencies and other travel perks – plus 3-month Premium trial with this offer.

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Discover the travel money options available for young people and how to prepare for a trip overseas.

The Travelex Money Card lets you load and spend in 10 currencies, with fee-free ATM options and overseas Wi-Fi. Check out its other features here.

Want to avoid fees and charges when using your card overseas? This guide explains the most common pitfalls when using travel cards.

This guide explains how you can get back any leftover funds from your travel money card after your trip.

Use this guide to understand foreign currency exchange and discover how to get the best deal.

Spend in up to 13 major currencies, lock in exchange rates and manage your account with the CommBank app when you use the Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card.

With Qantas Travel Money cards (previously Qantas Cash), you can carry multiple currencies using a single card and earn rewards points.

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320 Responses

When travelling from Australia to Switzerland is it best to exchange money at Australia Post from AU dollars to Swiss Franc in advance rather that change on arrival in Switzerland.

Hi Marjorie,

If you exchange your money at an airport or at a kiosk once you’ve arrived overseas, you may pay a hefty commission – it’s hard to know what charge in advance. Banks and licensed currency exchange outlets are likely to offer the best rates overseas but again, its hard to know what fees you’ll pay.

AustPost exchange is conveneint but it is not always the cheapest. Today, if you exchange $1000: – At AustPost, you’ll get CHF541.80 – The same transfer with Travelex is CHF550.80 – With Wise, you get CHF572.05

It pays to shop around and compare to find the best value.

Hope this helps!

I want a good all-rounder card, locked in FX, no maintenance charges, ATM fees , no withdrawal fees. What card is best ?

Hi Charles,

The comparison table in this guide includes details of ATM fees, load and re-load fees that can help you compare different options. For example, currently the Wise Travel Money Card and Revolut standard card both offer $0 ATM withdrawal fees for the first $350 per month, with charges for further ATM withdrawals. The Travelex Money Card also offers $0 ATM withdrawal fees.

All of these cards also let you lock in FX rates for supported currencies, but may charge fees when you’re spending in a currency that’s not loaded on the card. So it’s a good idea to consider which currencies you plan to spend, as this could have a big impact on the overall costs and help you choose a card that’s suitable for you. You can also view more details on potential costs for each card on Finder’s review pages. I hope this helps.

I am going to the Uk in 2019. Confusions is supreme. I see there is information about conversation currency fees, however on individual travel card sites they claim 0 fees. If I have a facility with my current domestic bank that charges no fees to transfer money to another facility and I use a travel card that states they have 0 fees for upload and currency conversation fee, am I correct in believing that there will be no cost to me to upload AUD to GBP. I am traveling for about 3 months and with a budget of around AUD 20,000. What cards should I consider compared to using my domestic Credit and Debit cards. I have tried using your search engine for best card for country but it is not uploading.

Thanks for getting in touch.

Sorry to hear about your confusion as to which card you would bring to the UK and apologies as well if you’re having a hard time uploading our page. Nevertheless, to help you narrow down your options, you can refer to our guide on travel money to the UK . From the page, you’d be able to compare your options for pre-paid, debit, and credit cards, and even foreign cash. Just click on the tabs to see the list. Once you have chosen a particular travel card, you may then click on the “Go to site” button and you will be redirected to the provider’s website where you can proceed with your application or get in touch with their representatives for further assistance.

With regard to the cost, usually, there’s no cost in loading AUD to the prepaid travel cards. If the currency is supported by the card, say GBP, it’s also free.

I hope this has helped.

Cheers, May

Hello, just wanted to let you know that unless I’m mistaken, the Qantas Cash card has differing information on your website. On one page it says that there is a 1% reload fee and on another that there is 0%. That said, thanks for offering unbiased easy to understand information, much obliged…

Thank you for your inquiry.

There are actually two ways to reload your Qantas Cash Card. The first option is via bank transfer or BPAY which has 0% fee and the second option through Direct Debit that charges 1% of the total amount. As a sample, this is how Direct Debit works:

If you wish to load or reload 200 AUD onto your card using Debit Card Load, you will be charged a fee of 1% of the load amount being AUD 200 x 1% = AUD 2. This means you will be required to pay AUD 202 to complete your Debit Card Load transaction.

Please also note that you may be charged other fees by third parties in relation to the Debit Card reloading transaction like the fees charged by your financial institution.

I hope this information helps.

I am traveling to South Africa and wanted to take a prepaid debit card but do not know who to contact for something like that. I talked to Travelex but they do not deal in South African currency. Any suggestions?

Thank you for contacting Finder .

Our Travel money guide to South Africa will provide you some options that may suit your needs. On the page, is a comparison table for a list of travel debit cards and prepaid travel money cards. You can use the table to help narrow down your options. Once you have selected one, you may proceed by clicking the green “Go to Site” button.

Before applying, please ensure that you read through the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions.

I hope this helps.

Cheers, Danielle

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Help and Support

Qantas travel money, 27/02/2024 • knowledge, information.

What is Qantas Travel Money?

Qantas Travel Money is a prepaid debit card facility built into the back of the Qantas Frequent Flyer membership card. You can lock in exchange rates on multiple currencies and earn Qantas Points on eligible purchases at home and overseas. You must be an Australian resident to use Qantas Travel Money. Qantas Travel Money is issued by EML Payment Solutions Limited ('EML') (AFSL 404131) (the Issuer). Consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDF)  and Target Market Determination (PDF) . Conditions apply. Learn more about  Qantas Travel Money .

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Qantas Cash Travel Card - Australia Forum

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Qantas Cash Travel Card

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Hi, just curious for responses to the effectiveness of the Qantas Cash Travel Card, also known as the Frequent Flyer card. I have just discovered this and wonder who has used it overseas.

I am loathe to pay international transfer fee costs when using any card to buy goods or services, but know its payable when you have to take cash out of an ATM. So I was searching for a suitable card.

This seems like a good one, especially if you leave it in AUD, then the day you use it overseas, its whatever that day's cash rate is that gets charged. Good for if the currency is down when you load the card, then goes up - yes I know the other side of the story too.

So any comments on this particular card, or something else that might be better - thanks in advance

Start here on travel card comparisons - Qantas charge a 3% FX fee

https://www.canstar.com.au/travel-money-cards/

Travel cards are a poor choice. Have a read of this thread which covers it well:

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g255093-i698-k9968990-Foreign_money_exchange-Adelaide_Greater_Adelaide_South_Australia.html

Exceptionally poor. Financial products like these target those who seek 'convenience' at an excess cost.

When I last checked the Qantas card had a very poor exchange rate, with an effective fee closer to 6% than 3%,

To get cash overseas, open a Citibank Plus bank account, which comes with a Visa debit card that has no overseas ATM withdrawal fees and an excellent exchange rate. For larger purchases, get a 28 Degrees Mastercard which has no fees for overseas purchases (in person or over the Internet) and again an excellent exchange rate. These cards have no account fees.

I suspect it was an incredibly big ego boost for some people at mastercard and qantas to make this card available, actual uptake and usage ...well hmm.

I used CBA cash card in Canada and USA 2 years ago. I imagine Qantas card would not be any better. Stay away from it. It is a huge rip off.

Well, thanks everyone for your advice. I checked their cash rate yesterday against Ozforex and it was a little lower, but even the banks are always lower than them. The one bonus I feel it has going for it, I can use it here at home for my daily purchases (remembering to top it up regularly), and be earning Qantas Frequent Flyer points at the same time, without any cost to me. I absolutely refuse to pay a yearly charge to have a credit card, regardless of what it will do for me. Unfortunately, as I am now retired, I cannot obtain a new credit card - they don't want to know me, regardless of how much money I have in the bank.

Just for the record, there are no account fees for either Citibank Plus account or 28 Degrees Mastercard.

>> I checked their cash rate yesterday against Ozforex and it was a little lower<<

Check it against the actual inter-bank rate, which you can get from Google by asking "100 AUD in USD". The interbank rate is what you get from these two cards.

Lyn B, I feel your pain. We are exactly in the same position - retired and unable to get any new cards except the cash card issued by the bank or the travel exchange. Before we travelled last year I tried on line to apply for a 28 degrees MasterCard but unfortunately didn't meet the criteria. That card is something I wish I'd known about while I was still working (8 years ago). We have a Citibank Rewards credit card, not a Plus account, which we use for booking travel and use the complimentary travel insurance, but we can't increase the limit on this card either because we no longer have an "income".

Being retired is not so much of an issue. If you have a basic super and pension income you would still be eligible albeit with a lower credit limit. And also I believe it is ANZ which uses asset value. 28degrees you do not need to prove income. I would consider Bankwest too as they have a no fee and no intl surcharge card.,

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Qantas Premier Credit Card

Who is the credit provider and issuer of Qantas Premier credit cards?

Why choose a Qantas Premier credit card?

How long does the application process take?

Can I transfer a balance from another credit card?

Who can apply for a Qantas Premier credit card?

Can I add an additional cardholder?

What’s the difference between the Qantas Premier Everyday, the Qantas Premier Platinum and the Qantas Premier Titanium card?

Can I have a Qantas Premier Platinum, Qantas Premier Titanium and Qantas Premier Everyday card?

How do I apply for a Qantas Premier credit card?

How do I remove an additional cardholder from my account?

How do I reduce the size of an image I need to upload?

Change my product

Can I still spend on my current credit card whilst my new one arrives?

Am I eligible for any sign up bonus Qantas Points when changing Qantas Premier credit cards?

What happens to any additional cardholders that are currently on my credit card?

How long will it take for a change of Qantas Premier credit card to be processed?

What will happen to any periodic payments I have set up on my card?

What will happen to the annual fees when my product change is approved?

What happens to the benefits on my card?

How can I change my Qantas Premier credit card account?

What happens to the statements from my old credit card?

Features and rewards

What travel insurance cover is included with my card?

What is ‘Get away interest free for 6 months’?

When will I receive my Lounge Invitations?

How many Qantas Premier Titanium flights discounts do I get a year?

Where can I use my Qantas Premier credit card?

Do bonus Status Credits expire?

How can I book a flight to earn bonus Status Credits?

How do I link my Lounge Invitations to a flight?

How many Qantas Points will I earn on purchases?

When will I receive my bonus Qantas Points?

What services are provided by the Qantas Premier Concierge?

How can I view the bonus Status Credits I’ve earned on my account?

Is there an interest-free period on my account?

What extended level of coverage does my Qantas Premier Titanium credit card provide?

If I cancel my booking, am I eligible for another Qantas Premier Titanium flight discount this year?

How do I make a travel insurance claim?

How can I use my Qantas Premier Titanium metal card for contactless payments?

What flights are eligible to earn bonus Status Credits?

Can I earn bonus Status Credits on Classic Reward bookings?

Which transactions will earn Qantas Points?

Can I use Points Plus Pay to book my flights and earn bonus Status Credits?

Do bonus Status Credits count towards Lifetime Membership tiers?

How long are my Lounge Invitations active for?

How do I claim any missing bonus Status Credits?

Can bonus Status Credit help me acquire or maintain Platinum One membership status?

How can I change my booking made using my Qantas Premier Titanium flight discount?

How do I order from Qantas Wine?

How do I sign up for my complimentary Qantas Wine Premium Membership from my Qantas Premier Titanium credit card?

How do I book discounted companion fares?

Can I book a multi-city flight using my Qantas Premier Titanium flight discount?

Where can I redeem my Lounge Invitations?

Can I share my Lounge Invitations with a person I’m travelling with?

How do I book a flight with my Qantas Premier Titanium flight discount?

My flight was cancelled, and I was moved to another flight, how do I claim my missing bonus Status Credits?

Complimentary Travel Insurance

Personal Baggage, Valuables, Money and Travel Documents

Trip Cancellation and Amendment

Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Other Questions

Eligibility for Cover under the policy

Overseas Medical Expenses

Rates and fees

What interest rates apply?

What fees apply and when are they charged?

Balance Transfers

How can I get the most out of my Balance Transfer?

If I have Balance Transfers at different rates, which one does my credit card payments get applied to first?

What is a Balance Transfer?

What are the benefits of closing my other credit cards after a Balance Transfer?

How does a Balance Transfer work?

How does a Balance Transfer affect the interest charged on my account?

Managing your account

How do I report suspicious transactions?

How do I activate my card?

How can I pay bills with my card?

How do I decrease my credit limit?

How do I increase my credit limit?

How can I unsubscribe from marketing emails?

What should I do if my card is lost or stolen?

Why do I need to enter a password to access certain features?

How are my monthly repayments calculated?

How can I withdraw cash from my account?

Can I choose my own card PIN?

What format is the transactions file in?

How can I pay my credit card bill?

Where can I find my statements?

How can I manage my Qantas Premier account?

Will my replacement card have the same card number and PIN number?

How do I close my account?

How do I update my address or personal details?

How far back can I download my transactions?

How do I download my transactions?

How do I dispute a charge on my Premier credit card?

How are payments allocated if I have additional cardholders?

Cancelling a recurring payment

What is Apple Pay?

How does the Apple Pay experience compare to using my plastic card?

Which Qantas Premier products can be used with Apple Pay?

What do I need before I can start using Apple Pay?

Which devices are compatible with Apple Pay?

How do I set up my Qantas Premier card on Apple Pay?

How do I set my Qantas Premier card as the default card in Apple Pay?

Can I add the same card to more than one device using Apple Pay?

How do I remove my card from Apple Pay?

The card image I see in Apple Pay does not match my physical card. Is there an issue with my Apple Pay set up?

Can I add more than one card on Apple Pay?

Where can I use Apple Pay?

How do I make an in-store purchase with Apple Pay?

Do I need to have an active internet connection for Apple Pay to work?

Will I need to enter my card PIN?

Why was my request to add my card to Apple Pay declined?

How much of my credit card available limit can I access when using Apple Pay?

How can I reverse a transaction made using Apple Pay?

How do I return a purchase if I used Apple Pay to make the payment?

How can I keep track of purchases I’ve made with Apple Pay?

How do I dispute a purchase made with Apple Pay?

Can I use Apple Pay overseas?

Can I use Apple Pay at ATMs?

Is Apple Pay secure?

What is a Device Account Number?

What should I do if my device is lost or stolen?

Does Apple Pay have access to my credit card account?

If my device is formatted or jailbroken, will my Apple Pay information remain on it?

Will I continue to enjoy the features and benefits of my Qantas Premier credit card, including points earn, when I use it for payment with Apple Pay?

What should I do if I lose my card and I’m issued a replacement card?

What should I do if my card expires and I’m issued a renewed card?

Can I continue to use my physical card if I disable Apple Pay or remove my digital card from Apple Pay?

If I switch devices, do I need to set up my card in Apple Pay all over again?

If my device is formatted or jailbroken, will my Google Pay information remain on it?

What is Google Pay and Google Wallet?

Can I use Google Pay overseas?

Can I add more than one card to Google Wallet?

How do I make a purchase using my Qantas Premier Card in apps and websites?

How much of my credit card available limit can I access when using Google Pay?

How do I return a purchase if I used Google Pay to make the payment?

Can Additional Cardholders add their cards to Google Wallet?

Will I need to enter my card PIN with Google Pay?

How can I keep track of purchases I’ve made with Google Pay?

Can I add the same card to more than one device?

How do I remove my card from Google Wallet?

How do I make a purchase using my Qantas Premier card in-store?

Can I continue to use my physical card if I disable Google Pay or remove my digital card from Google Pay?

If I switch devices, do I need to set up my card in Google Pay again?

How do I reverse or dispute a Google Pay transaction?

Will I continue to enjoy the same features and benefits of my Qantas Premier credit card, including points earn, when I use it for payment with Google Pay?

Do I need to have an active internet connection for Google Pay to work?

Does Google Wallet or Google Pay have access to my credit card account?

What happens if there are fraudulent transactions made using Google Pay?

What should I do if I lose my card, or my card expires and I'm issued a replacement card?

What happens if my device is lost or stolen?

Why was my request to add my card to Google Wallet declined?

Whom can I talk to for further help with Google Pay?

Which Qantas Premier credit cards can be used with Google Pay?

How do I set my Qantas Premier Card as the default card in Google Wallet?

Where can I use Google Pay?

How do I set up Google Pay and add my Qantas Premier card?

Are Google Wallet and Google Pay secure?

Which devices are compatible with Google Pay?

Instalment Plans

Can I change the term of my Instalment Plan?

How will my repayments be applied to my card?

Can I have more than one Instalment Plan?

How do I make the monthly instalment repayment?

Who can create an Instalment Plan on my card?

Does an Instalment Plan earn Qantas Points?

What happens if I return a purchase that was converted into a Statement Instalment Plan?

How do instalment plan(s) appear on my statement?

How can I track my instalment plan?

Can I pay more than my monthly instalment amount?

Why am I not eligible for a Cash Instalment Plan?

Is the instalment plan amount part of my existing credit limit?

When will I be charged my first monthly instalment?

Can I pay off my instalment plan early?

Will I be able to set up a Statement Instalment Plan if I have a direct debit set up?

What is a Statement Instalment Plan?

Will an instalment plan affect my interest-free days on my purchases?

Is there a fee to set up an instalment plan?

What happens if I miss paying the initial interest charge or monthly instalment repayment by the Payment Due Date?

Open Banking

What is Open Banking?

What information can be shared with Accredited Data Recipients (ADRs)?

How does data sharing work?

Can any institution request access to my data?

Where can I find out more about the Consumer Data Right legislation?

Financial difficulty

What if I’m finding it hard to meet my Qantas Premier credit card repayments?

Loss of a loved one

How can I tell which emails are genuine?

What do I do if I receive a suspicious phone call?

How does Qantas Money protect my Qantas Premier account?

How does Qantas Money protect my financial data?

How can I protect myself online?

What are some scams I need to be aware of?

Customer Support and Complaints

Accessibility and Disability Support - Qantas Premier credit card

Managing your cash flow during COVID-19

Family and Domestic Violence

Coronavirus update

How do I lodge a complaint relating to my Qantas Premier Credit Card?

Qantas Travel Money Card

Changes to Qantas Travel Money

Why is Qantas Travel Money changing to Qantas Pay?

Does my existing Qantas Travel Money card still work?

How do I join and get a Qantas Pay card?

How do I access my Qantas Travel Money account after 21 May?

Will I still earn points with Qantas Pay?

Can I use my Qantas Travel Money card as my Qantas Frequent Flyer membership card?

Can I activate my Qantas Travel Money replacement card after 21 May?

Can I activate my Qantas Travel Money card for the first time after 21 May?

What is changing for the Qantas Frequent Flyer membership card?

How can I access my Qantas Frequent Flyer number?

How can I access and set my Qantas Pay card PIN?

Does Qantas Pay have a digital card?

What fees apply to Qantas Pay?

Can I schedule recurring currency loads from my nominated bank?

General information

Which currencies are available on Qantas Travel Money?

What is the Qantas Card and Qantas Travel Money all about?

Who's eligible for Qantas Travel Money?

Is Qantas Travel Money a credit card or a debit card?

Why does the Qantas Card have two sides?

Does this mean that Qantas is now also a bank?

What are the benefits of Qantas Travel Money?

Apply and activate

How do I apply for and activate Qantas Travel Money?

How do I enable the travel money facility on my Qantas Card?

How do I get the Qantas Card and Qantas Travel Money?

If I select to be verified against Illion (formerly Dun & Bradstreet) records will a credit check be conducted?

Can I apply for and activate Qantas Travel Money if I have a foreign passport?

How do I use Qantas Travel Money?

What if the details on the Qantas Travel Money identity verification form are incorrect?

What if I don’t have an Australian Passport or an Australian Driver’s Licence?

What do I do if I'm unable to activate Qantas Travel Money online?

What if I don't want to use Qantas Travel Money?

I’ve forgotten my Qantas Travel Money card PIN, how do I retrieve it?

What if my PIN is blocked at an ATM or in-store?

How do I get my card PIN?

Is my card PIN different to my Qantas Frequent Flyer PIN?

How do I change my PIN?

Rates, fees and limits

What exchange rate applies to Qantas Travel Money?

What fees apply to Qantas Travel Money?

What limits apply to Qantas Travel Money?

Do fees apply if I don’t have the local currency on my card?

What happens if I make a purchase in a foreign currency and I don’t have enough money in that currency on my card?

Can I arrange a back-up or secondary card?

How do I cash out remaining funds on the Qantas Travel Money card?

How do I transfer between currencies on the Qantas Travel Money card?

What is a pre-authorisation?

Does the card come with Mastercard Contactless?

Do I get a line of credit or overdraft with Qantas Travel Money?

I am a Qantas Club member and have a Qantas Club card. Do I need both cards?

How do I update my local time and time zone?

When to use

Where can I use Qantas Travel Money?

Can I use Qantas Travel Money if the local currency isn’t available?

Can Qantas Travel Money be used for Qantas in-flight duty free purchases?

Can I use Qantas Travel Money to pay for flights at qantas.com?

Using overseas

Is there anything I need to do before I go overseas?

Do i press cheque, savings or credit when i make a purchase or withdraw cash using qantas travel money, can i view my qantas travel money balances at overseas atms, what should i do with my card when i return from overseas, what will happen if the local currency isn’t available to load on qantas travel money, i’d like to use qantas travel money in the united states - will my card be accepted, should i pay in australian dollars instead of the local currency when i’m overseas, are there any countries where the qantas travel money card won’t work.

Transactions

Why has a transaction declined when I have enough funds on the card to complete the purchase?

Why would an online transaction be declined if I have enough money to complete the purchase on the card?

Contact Information

Accessibility and Disability Support - Qantas Travel Money

What should I do if my card is lost, stolen or damaged?

How do I lodge a complaint relating to my Qantas Travel Money Card?

Qantas Money App

Understanding your PINs and Passwords

Can I use my fingerprint to log in?

The app doesn’t recognise my fingerprint

What if I’ve forgotten my passcode?

How do I log out?

Managing your finances

Why use the Qantas Money app?

Connecting accounts

How do I delete an account?

What does ‘pending’ mean?

I can’t see my transactions

I can’t find my bank in the list

Can I transfer money using the app?

Is it OK to enter my online banking login details?

How do I add a new account with a connected financial institution?

What type of accounts can I connect?

Why is the transaction date different to the date I made the transaction?

When are my balances and transactions updated?

Transaction categories

How are my transactions categorised?

What happens to my categories if I delete an account?

Are my categories applied to past transactions?

Notifications

What are notifications?

What kind of notifications can I set up?

How do I receive notifications?

Is there a cost for receiving notifications?

How do I set up notifications?

Can I delete or change my notifications?

Will I receive notifications if I’m not connected to the internet (e.g. Wi-Fi, 4G, etc)?

Can I view notifications I’ve previously received?

Why do I need to turn on my App Notifications settings?

Why can I see a notification in my notification history that I didn’t receive?

I’ve received a notification, but can’t see it in my history?

Can I set my own Travel Money low balance alert amount?

Why can’t I find notifications in the app?

How can I make sure that I get access to all available notifications?

What happens when new types of notifications become available?

Contact details

How do I update my contact details?

What if I notice a suspicious transaction?

Qantas Points

Missing Qantas Points?

How can I use my Qantas Points?

How do I view my Qantas Points balance?

Card Offers

Card Linking

Can I link an additional card to Card Offers?

Can I use any card that I have added to my Qantas Money App for Card offers?

Can I link another card in addition to my Qantas Premier Card?

Can I link and earn points with a debit Mastercard® or Visa® card?

Why can't I see my Card Offers on the Qantas Money website?

Why am I not receiving any/many offers?

How long will my offers be valid for?

What are the terms and conditions of the offers?

Why am I receiving offers that don't seem well matched to me?

Can I share an offer with my partner/friend etc?

Why did my friend get an offer for a specific store and I did not?

Are offers applicable to both purchases in-store and online?

What retailers are included in the program?

Earning bonus Qantas Points

Why does it take up to 15 days to receive my points?

How can I check if I have successfully earned points on an offer?

Missing Points

How do I follow up on missing points from Card Offers?

What if I forget to use my linked card, can I still earn the points?

How can I opt out of Card Offers?

All Categories ​>​ ​Qantas Travel Money Card ​ > ​ ​Using overseas

Once you have successfully applied for Qantas Travel Money and loaded your card with funds, you should also 1. Download and log in to the Qantas Money mobile app to ensure you have access while you’r…

You must press the CREDIT button when making purchases or withdrawing cash with Qantas Travel Money.

Some ATMs will display your total Qantas Travel Money balance in local currency. For accurate balances for each currency log in to the Qantas Money mobile app or website or contact Mastercard Qantas…

You can continue to use your card to earn Qantas Points at home by making eligible purchases in store or online. If you have funds remaining in foreign currency, you may wish to transfer funds to Aus…

If you visit a destination where the local currency is not available to load on your card, for example, Brazil, you can still transact using Qantas Travel Money provided Mastercard is accepted. The t…

You can use Qantas Travel Money at home and overseas, at millions of Mastercard locations worldwide#, including the United States. When travelling with Qantas Travel Money in the United States, we re…

If you make a purchase or ATM withdrawal in a country where the local currency is the same as a currency on your Qantas Travel Money facility (e.g. using your US Dollar funds in the US) and you opt t…

Yes. It is not possible to use your Qantas Travel Money Card in countries and geographical regions currently affected by sanctions. These include: Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and the Crimea, Done…

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Australia's Qantas Probing Reports of Data Breach at Loyalty App

Australia's Qantas Probing Reports of Data Breach at Loyalty App

FILE PHOTO: Qantas planes are seen at a domestic terminal at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia, November 16, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File Photo

(Reuters) -Australia's Qantas Airways said on Wednesday it was investigating issues impacting its frequent flyer application, after media reports suggested there was a data breach allowing users access to other passengers' travel information.

Multiple local media outlets, citing Qantas customers, are reporting that some users can see strangers' full travel information, with at least one user being able to cancel someone else's tickets.

"We're urgently working to resolve the issue impacting the Qantas app this morning," the carrier said in a statement on its website.

"We're investigating whether this issue may have been caused by recent system changes."

Qantas did not provide any further information about the issue in its statement. It did not provide any details of the reported data breach when Reuters reached out separately.

(Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Rashmi Aich)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

Tags: Australia

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Do Frequent Flyer Points Expire?

Updated: Apr 30, 2024, 1:15pm

Table of Contents

Frequent flyer expiry dates explained, bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Frequent flyer program members earn points from doing exactly that: flying frequently. Keen point earners may also invest in a frequent flyer credit card to increase their points balance with every purchase, or earn points via other means specified by their frequent flyer program.

Each program is different, and that includes whether or not your frequent flyer points have an expiration date.

This guide runs through the two primary frequent flyer memberships in Australia, Qantas and Virgin, followed by an overview of international airline programs and their frequent flyer expiry dates.

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas Frequent Flyer is Australia’s largest frequent flyer membership, boasting 14.7 million members as of 2023. To join directly, you’ll be charged a joining fee of $99.50. However, there are many ways to avoid this fee, including by signing up to a Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Card .

To keep your Qantas Frequent Flyer points active, you’ll need to earn or use your points at least once every 18 months. This 18-month period starts from the date of your last activity on your membership: for example, if the last time you had earned Qantas Points was from an eligible flight, your last date of activity would be when the flight was taken.

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Other eligible activity includes earning or using Qantas Points with Qantas’ program partners; redeeming Qantas Points for flights; and shopping at the Qantas Points store.It does not include transferring points to or from a family member’s account, or the transfer of points from Qantas Business Rewards.

Related: What The Qantas Frequent Flyer Program Changes Mean For You

Virgin Velocity

The loyalty program of Virgin Australia is known as Velocity Frequent Flyer, with a membership base of 11 million members as of 2022. Unlike the Qantas program, membership to Velocity is free, and you can begin earning points immediately.

Virgin Velocity points expire after 24 months of account inactivity; as is the case with Qantas, this means not spending or earning any points within this period. However, you can see, Virgin Velocity gives its members an extra six months before expiry compared to Qantas Frequent Flyer.

“Essentially, every time you earn, redeem or buy points, you’re renewing your points for another two years,” the website states.

This means if you had a Velocity Rewards Credit Card that you used regularly, you’d never have to worry about your balance expiring even if you weren’t flying—as every transaction on your credit card would earn you points.

Note that receiving points via family pool transfers won’t count as account activity.

Related: Our Pick Of The Best Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

American Airlines AAdvantage

Looking at overseas frequent flyer programs with major airlines that serve Australia, we’ll start alphabetically: American Airlines. This membership program is known as AAdvantage, with points known as ‘AAdvantage miles’. It’s free to join, and can be worthwhile for Australians considering AAdvantage miles can be redeemed on Qantas flights.

American Airlines AAdvantage miles expire after 24 months of inactivity; any type of qualifying activity on your account will restart this period.

It’s worth noting that customers under the age of 21 are not subject to this expiration period; however, as soon as the customer turns 21 years old, the 24-month policy will begin—even if the AAdvantage miles were earned prior.

British Airways Executive Club

For a frequent flyer membership with British Airways, you’ll need to join their Executive Club—which is free.

The loyalty currency is known as ‘Avios’, and is the same across partner airlines Qatar, Iberia and Aer Lingus. This means you can combine Avios from an Iberia Plus, AerClub or Qatar Airways Privilege Club account and choose how (or where) you spend them.

Unused Avios will expire after 36 months of inactivity; so, as long as you collect, spend, buy or share at least one Avios every 36 months, your frequent flyer points will remain.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

In August 2022, Marco Polo Club and Asia Miles combined into one rewards program: Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles. Pre-existing members were automatically enrolled in the new program, while new members can sign up via Cathay Pacific for free.

Asia Miles will remain active as long as you earn or redeem on your account at least once every 18 months.

Like other frequent flyer programs, it’s not only flying that can earn you points. Cathay Pacific’s website states it has more than 800 partners worldwide that you can spend with to earn Asia Miles, across shopping, credit cards, dining, hotels and more.

SkyMiles is Delta’s loyalty program, which is free to join and, unusually for a frequent flyer program, does not have an expiry date. Your miles will remain in your account as long as it is open.

As Delta is US-based, it may not be as enticing to join as membership programs closer to home are. Yet, with more than 20 airline partners across the globe—including the nearby China Airlines and Vietnam Airlines—it can still serve Australians looking to gain miles without the fuss of regularly earning or spending points.

Australians can also earn SkyMiles on Airbnb stays worldwide (when booking through the dedicated Delta-Airbnb site ) and choose SkyMiles as the reward of choice when staying in global hotel chains such as Marriott Bonvoy or World of Hyatt.

Emirates Skywards

Emirates Skywards is yet another free membership program, allowing frequent travelers to earn points—Skywards—through travel and more.

The expiry date for Emirates Skywards isn’t as clear-cut as other programs, however. Instead, Skywards expire at the end of your birthday month, three years after they were earned.

For example, if your last flight was in January 2023 and your birthday is September 10, your Skywards would expire on September 30, 2026.

You can’t extend the validity of your Skywards through account activity, either. Instead, you have the option to pay to extend them an additional 12 months from the aforementioned expiry date.

Etihad Guest

Being a member of the Etihad Guest loyalty program is free, and allows you to earn Etihad Airways Guest Miles.

Activities that allow you to earn these miles include earning, spending or buying them. Inactivity in your account will see your Etihad Guest Miles expire after 18 months.

To avoid this, you need to make a transaction; the first qualifying activity in a month resets the expiry date again.

For Etihad Platinum Guests, there is no expiration of miles as long as they maintain their Platinum status.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is another global membership that allows Australian travellers to earn points both locally and abroad, and is also free to join.

After earning KrisFlyer Miles, members have three years to use them—regardless of whether or not there is activity within the account..

You can extend this expiration date for six months for a fee; however, Singapore Airlines notes there is no way to get KrisFlyer Miles back if they have expired.

Members of Singapore Airline’s PPS Club are exempt from the expiration rules.

United Airlines MileagePlus

Like Delta’s SkyMiles, United Airlines’ MileagePlus is a program whose miles never expire.

It’s free to join, and United is part of Star Alliance, the biggest airline alliance in the world, which includes our nearby carriers of Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.

Outside of Star Alliance, MileagePlus members can also earn (and redeem) miles when flying with Virgin Australia.

As you can see from our guide, all frequent flyer programs vary with their conditions on whether or not your frequent flyer points will expire. This includes how you can extend your expiration date, and how long the validity period lasts for.

Remember to read the terms and conditions of your frequent flyer membership carefully so you understand how long you have to spend your points.

Will my frequent flyer points expire if I don’t fly?

Not necessarily While the expiration of frequent flyer points is dependent on the individual frequent flyer program, it is common that points will remain valid as long as there’s activity oni your account. This doesn’t just mean flying: you can also earn, spend, and buy points through other means.

Are frequent flyer points and airline miles the same?

In short, yes. ‘Frequent flyer points’ is commonly used in Australia, whereas many overseas programs will use the term ‘miles’ as their reward currency. Some have their own names entirely, like British Airways, who use ‘Avios’.

How can I earn frequent flyer points?

Frequent flyer points can be earned through a range of means. This includes flying with the airline that your program is associated with (or an airline partner), having a credit card that earns frequent flyer points , spending points at a frequent flyer rewards store, and even buying points to top up your balance.

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Sophie Venz is an experienced editor and features reporter, and has previously worked in the small business and start-up reporting space. Previously the Associate Editor of SmartCompany, Sophie has worked closely with finance experts and columnists around Australia and internationally.