Emirates Credit Cards Australia

If you are a frequent overseas traveller, then an Emirates frequent flyer credit card (or a card that has a partnership deal with the airline) is a way to earn Emirates Skywards Miles points. These points can be put towards flight with the airline, and with the right kind of card, you could also have access to features like airport lounge access, and even free travel to the airport.

It is worth keeping in mind, though, that frequent flyer credit cards can be more expensive than other kinds of credit cards, and can potentially charge higher annual fees and interest rates compared to non-rewards cards. Interest rates on frequent flyer credit cards are typically around 20% p.a. It’s important to make sure your costs don’t outweigh the benefits received.

If you are considering a credit card that allows you to build Emirates Skywards Miles, it’s a good idea to first consider the following questions:

• Do you typically pay your closing credit card balance in full each month?
• Are you a frequent traveller, and if so, would earning Emirates Skywards Miles and other travel related benefits be rewarding to you?
• Are you likely to use your card enough to earn the rewards you’d need to justify the annual fee and any interest charged?

A frequent flyer credit card might not be the best option if you rarely pay off your credit card balance in full, as you could potentially face high interest payments in this scenario. Likewise, if you only plan to use your credit card occasionally, you may find that you do not earn enough points for a frequent flyer card to be useful to you.

If you are likely to have some debt on your credit card, it’s possible that your interest charges will outweigh the potential benefits of the card. If this is the case, you may want to consider other options like a low interest rate credit card instead.

There are a key few things to look out for when comparing these types of frequent flyer credit cards, as with any cards that earn frequent flyer points. These include:

• Points earn rate: Rewards credit cards will typically allow you to earn points by spending money on eligible purchases, and participating cards will allow you to transfer them to your Emirates account for Skywards Miles.
• Points transfer rate: Different credit card rewards programs may allow you to exchange your rewards points for Skywards Miles at different rates. Check the terms and conditions of your card to find out the exchange rate for rewards points.
• Annual fee and interest rate: Frequent flyer cards typically charge higher annual fees and interest rates than non-rewards cards, so it is important to consider whether the benefits you’ll get from one of these cards outweigh the potential costs.
• Extras: Many frequent flyer cards offer additional features to members, including such things as bonus travel insurance, lounge access at airports and hotel and travel credits. Remember to read the policy terms and conditions to understand what extras you may be eligible for if you sign up.

If you’re considering taking out a credit card where you can earn rewards points to put towards Skywards Miles and you would like to know what’s out there on the market, you can start your search by comparing cards with Canstar, using the comparison tool at the top of this page.

Depending on the kind of card you choose, you may also be eligible for additional features, which can include such things as:

• Airport lounge access: Some credit card rewards programs will give you a number of single-use airport lounge passes that can be redeemed each year.
• Airport transfers: Some rewards cards will offer complimentary airport transfer services to eligible customers. This feature may be available once a year or multiple times, depending on the provider.
• Complimentary travel insurance: Some rewards credit cards offer complimentary trave insurance for overseas trips that were booked with the card.
• Concierge services: Concierge services, available with certain rewards credit cards, can assist with a variety of things from booking events and hotels through to travel plans.
• Hotel credits: Some rewards cards will offer you credits to put towards bookings with partner hotels, and in some cases, may even offer a free night’s stay to eligible travellers.
• Travel credits: Some rewards cards offer vouchers for flight or travel credit annually.

There are currently no credit cards in Australia that allow you to earn Emirates Skywards Miles directly, You can, however, earn points from a participating rewards credit card, and then transfer these to your Emirates account to exchange for Skywards Miles

Each participating rewards credit card will have its own particular system for transferring rewards points to Emirates Skywards Miles. In general, though, the procedure will involve:

1. Linking your participating rewards credit card account with your Emirates account
2. Logging into your participating rewards credit card program account and choosing the number of points you wish to transfer
3. Confirming the details and following the prompts to complete the transfer

It is important to note that the transfer will likely not be instantaneous, and some providers advise that the estimated transfer time is one business day. You will need to check with your individual provider to find out how transfers work.

According to Emirates, Skywards Miles are valid for a minimum of three years from the date of the purchase transaction, and will expire at the end of the member’s birthday month on the third year.

Yes, Emirates allows you to redeem Skywards Miles with a variety of partner airlines around the globe. It is advisable to check the Emirates website or contact the airline directly to find out which partner airlines you can use your Skywards Miles with.

Generally speaking, any everyday spending on a credit card could be considered an ‘eligible purchase’ for the purpose of rewards points. This means, for example, that things like supermarket shopping, dining out, petrol and general retail purchases would all fall under the umbrella of eligible purchases.

On the other hand, transactions including cash advances, balance transfers, BPAY payments and the payment of fees and charges on the credit card itself would not count towards reward points. It is important, however, to read the terms and conditions to find out exactly what kind of purchases count towards reward points.