We help you compare Amex cards and choose the best credit card deals. It can be confusing choosing the best credit card for points. You may already have an Amex card so this page will simplify the information for you and help you look into American express credit card points system to find the Best Amex card to suit you.
Amex Reward Points Earning Rates Per $1 Spent
American Express Personal Cards
Amex Reward Points Earning Rates
| Card Names | Category | Annual fee | Supermarket & Petrol | Overseas | Others | Gov’t | Other Major Benefits |
| Platinum card | tier-I | $1,450 | 2.25 | 1 |
$450 Travel Credit, Accor Plus Membrsp -$395, Hotel Elite Status, Priority Pass Sign up incentive: 150k Bonus Member reward points |
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| Explorer card | tier-III | $395 | 2 |
$400 Travel Credit, two complimentary entries per year to Lounges Sign up incentive: 70k Bonus Member reward points |
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| Essential | tier-III | $0 | 1.25 |
Smartphone Screen Insurance up to $500 for screen repairs, twice a year Sign up incentive: Receive $100 back |
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| Platinum Edge | tier-II | $195 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
$200 Travel Credit Sign up incentive: $0 Annual Card Fee in the first year |
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Points earned above are with American Express.
Qantas and Virgin Amex Personal Cards
| Qantas Amex Cards | Annual fee | Qantas Products | others | Government | Other Major Benefits |
| Qantas Ultimate | $450 | 2.25 | 1.25 | 0.5 |
$450 Qantas Travel Credit each year, Sign up incentive: 55k Bonus Qantas Points |
| Qantas Premium | $249 | 2 | 1 | 2 Complimentary Qantas Club lounge invitations
Sign up incentive: 30k Bonus Qantas Points |
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| Qantas Discovery | $0 | 1.75 | 0.75 | ||
| Virgin Amex Cards | Annual fee | Virgin Products | others | Government | Other Major Benefits |
| Velocity Platinum | $375 | 2.25 | 1.25 | 0.5 | complimentary domestic return flight
Sign up incentive: 75k Bonus Velocity Points |
| Velocity Escape | $0 | 1.75 | 0.75 | ||
Points earned above are with airline loyalty programs, not Amex. You can not transfer them to other airlines.
American Express Business Cards
| Business Card Names | Card Category | Annual Fee | Government | Others | Other Major Benefits |
| Platinum Business Card | tier-I | $800 | 1 | 2 |
Hotel Elite Status Sign up incentive: 200k bonus Rewards points |
| Gold Business card | tier-II | $105 ($89 Membership Enrolment Rewards fee) |
1.5 | Complimentary Travel Insurance covers up to $300,000 | |
| Corporate Card | tier-III | $70 ($89 Membership Enrolment Rewards fee) |
Complimentary Travel Insurance covers up to $150,000 |
Points earned above are with American Express.
Qantas Business Cards
| Card Names | Annual fee | Qantas Products | Government/ Utilities/Insurance |
Others | Other Major Benefits |
| Qantas Corporate Platinum Card | $1,200 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
TRIPLE Qantas Points for your business on eligible Qantas flights Qantas Club Lounge passes Sign up incentive: 200k Bonus Qantas Points |
| Qantas Corporate Gold Card | $105 ($89 Membership Enrolment Rewards fee) |
1.5 |
TRIPLE Qantas Points for your business on eligible Qantas flights Complimentary Travel Insurance covers up to $300,000 |
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| Qantas Corporate Card | $70 ($89 Membership Enrolment Rewards fee) |
TRIPLE Qantas Points for your business on eligible Qantas flights Complimentary Travel Insurance covers up to $150,000 |
Points earned above are with airline loyalty programs, not Amex. You can not transfer them to other airlines.
How to Compare Amex Cards Points Earning Capacity
When you compare Amex cards to determine which one earns the most point, bear in mind, reward points earned by NONE Qantas or Virgin cards will convert to fewer airline points, see conversion details below.
| Amex Points to Airline Points Conversion from 15th April 2019 | ||||
| Tier-I Premium |
Tier-II Ascent |
Tier-III Gateway |
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| Airlines | Air New Zealand | 200:1 | ||
| Other Eligible Airlines* | 2:1 | |||
| Eligibility | Qantas | Yes | No | No |
| Virgin Atlantic | Yes | No | ||
| Velocity | Yes | Yes | ||
| Hotels | Hilton Honors | 2:1 | ||
| Marriot Bonvoy | 3:2 | |||
* Amex reward points can be transferred to these airline reward programs
Asia Miles, Emirates Skyward Miles, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Etihad Guest, Singapore-Krisflyer, Malaysian Enrich, Thai Royal Orchid Plus, Velocity Frequent Flyer and Virgin Atlantic. Qantas Frequent Flyer, Virgin Atlantic or Velocity Frequent flyer may be excluded for some cards.
Qantas or Virgin cards earn Qantas or Virgin points, there’s NO conversion.
DO NOT transfer your points to airlines till you know which platform is the best for getting your redemption flights at the lowest points.
CONCLUSION
Generally, you get the most airline points per dollar spent on Qantas or Virgin credit cards, especially if you fly with them frequently.
However, Qantas Frequent Flyer Program is one of the most difficult redemption platforms to redeem your points.
For those who do not use Qantas or Virgin products frequently, Platinum Card earns you the most points, unless the majority of your expenses is on supermarket or petrol, then get Platinum Edge card.
You need to take into consideration the difference in annual fees, for example, Platinum Card earns you mostly 2.25 points/$ and Explorer Card earns you mostly 2 points/$, but the annual fee difference is $1055. If you do not need to transfer your points to Qantas, and do not value the other major benefits on Platinum cards, you need to spend approx $400k to justify the higher fees. However, for frequent travellers, who do value some of the benefits on Platinum Card, such as the Priority Pass for lounge access in most major airports, the higher level of hotel memberships which entitle you for free upgrades, late checkout, free breakfast or additional amenities, and Platinum card concierge service, the Platinum card is a better choice.
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