A high-end credit card ideal for heavy spenders and frequent travelers is the Citi Premier Qantas. When you apply, are accepted by May 31, 2023, and spend $6,000 within the first 90 days of receiving your card, you will receive 70,000 bonus Qantas Points as part of the company’s current bonus point promotion. And when you leave your card open for more than a year, you’ll receive an additional 30,000 bonus Qantas points.
For new members of the Citi Premier credit card, Citi is providing up to 200,000 extra Rewards points in addition to a lower first-year annual fee of $150 (normally $300 p.a.). This offer is valid through May 31, 2023. When transferred out of Citi Rewards, this is equal to 80,000 KrisFlyer miles or 100,000 Velocity points.
The $300 recurring annual charge for the Citi Premier credit card comes with two annual passes to Priority Pass lounges and the option to transfer points from the Citi Rewards Program to several partners. The card also earns one Citi reward Point for every dollar spent.
Only new cards who sign up for the Citi Rewards-linked card are eligible for the incentive, though cardholders have the option to earn Qantas Points even without it.
Here are some ideas of how you can use the current 200,000 bonus points, which can be converted to Velocity Points at a ratio of 1:0.5 or 100,000 Velocity Points.
This premium frequent flyer credit card earns between 0.5 and 1 Qantas Point for every $1
spent on eligible purchases, with internet and overseas purchases yielding the highest earning rates. If you’re a new cardholder, the 100,000 bonus Qantas Points would be sufficient for a roundtrip business class travel from Sydney to Tokyo (82,000 points) or a one-way economy flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles (83,8000 points plus fees and taxes), with points left over.
Key Benefits of the Citi Premier Qantas Credit Card
- Qantas Points bonus of up to 100,000: Spend $6,000 on qualifying purchases within 90 days of the card’s acceptance, and you’ll receive 70,000 additional Qantas Points when you apply for the card by May 31, 2023. When you keep your card active for more than a year, you’ll then receive an additional 30,000 bonus Qantas points.
- Annual fee discounts: The first year’s annual fee for the Citi Premier Qantas credit card is $350. However, if you spent $48,000 on qualified purchases or cash advances in the prior year, it gives a reduced yearly cost of $175 in the second year and each succeeding year. Included with this is the $50 yearly Citi Qantas Rewards charge. The deadline for this offer is May 31, 2023.
- Per $1 spent, earn 1 Qantas Point: All qualifying foreign purchases and eligible internet transactions will earn you one Qantas Point for every $1 spent. On domestic qualified transactions in Australia, you can earn up to 100,000 Qantas Points in a calendar year by spending $1.
- Insurance for travel abroad: When you use the Citi Premier Qantas Card to pay for your return international flight tickets, you will receive free international travel insurance. When they are eligible, your spouse and/or dependent children may also be covered under your policy.
- Access to the Priority Pass airport lounge: This card offers a free digital Priority Pass membership, which includes two free access to lounges each year.
- Service for personal concierges: Gain access to a concierge service that is available around the clock and can assist with everything from making dinner reservations to ordering flowers and more.
- Invest in insurance: For qualified purchases made with the Citi Premier Qantas credit card, this card offers extended warranty insurance in addition to purchase protection insurance to cover the cost of loss, theft, or damage.
- Pricing Guarantee Program: Through this service, you might be able to claim a refund for the price difference if you make a purchase with your card and later discover the identical item for less elsewhere.
Pros
- If your application is accepted and you spend $6,000 or more within 90 days of approval on eligible transactions, you’ll earn up to 100,000 extra Qantas Points. You’ll also earn an additional 30,000 bonus points if you retain your card for more than 12 months. Annual fee: $350 for the first year. If you spent $48,000 or more on qualified purchases or cash advances in the prior year, you will receive $175 in consecutive years.
- Free Priority Pass lounge access and flight insurance for travelers
- Free insurance is offered, including Mobile Phone Protection.
- Citi’s My Cashback program offers cash rewards when used at participating merchants. Please be aware that there are restrictions.
Cons
- There is a cap of 100,000 Qantas Points each calendar year (excluding Citi PayAll points).
- If you don’t meet the criteria for the discount, the annual fee is $350.
- If you have a balance transfer, the 55 days interest-free period won’t apply to retail transactions.
- The current APR for cash advances is 22.24%.
What we have to say
One of Citi’s top-tier Qantas Frequent Flyer offerings is the Citi Premier Qantas credit card. The card offers premium features like insurance and has a competitive rate at which points are earned. The package also has a $350 annual charge, which includes up to 55 days of interest-free credit.
This card is best suited for someone who wants to get rewarded for their spending, given its main attributes. Other perks include no additional cardholder fees and Overseas Travel and Medical Insurance, which is comparable to comparable products.
You may gain 70,000 bonus Qantas Points in the first year and 30,000 bonus Qantas Points in the second year if you apply for the Citi Premier Qantas credit card during the promotional period. Before applying, you should be informed of the eligibility requirements to qualify for this offer.
Conclusion
The Citi Premier Qantas card has a ton of premium features, so the usual annual fee is $350. This is an average cost for a high-tier rewards card, and if you can afford the 50% yearly discount, it’s a really good deal.
However, the annual fee is higher than many others on the market, so you’ll need to be using the card a lot on online and international spending to make the fee worthwhile. Also, note that points earned are now capped at 200,000 Citi reward Points over 12 months. The Citi Premier credit card is still to be considered for high volumes of points earned outside of Qantas Frequent Flyer on a Visa or MasterCard.
It’s quite helpful to have the option to transfer points to Velocity or KrisFlyer and to occasionally switch the card between earning Qantas or Citi reward points.
To get the most out of the card, be sure you would make enough purchases annually to qualify for the bonuses and earn a respectable number of Qantas Points. Overall, it’s a card that offers a variety of ways to earn points, along with bonuses and other benefits, and has the potential to offer excellent value for your (points-earning) money.