The Bank of Queensland (BoQ) Platinum credit card is one of the more prestigious frequent flyer card offers available with a high level of rewards through the Q Rewards program, a helpful concierge service and a range of insurance cover for cardholders.

Frequent Flyer Points

With the BoQ Platinum credit card you’ll earn 2 Q Rewards points for every dollar that you spend. Although not directly linked with the Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards program, or that of any other airline, you are able to redeem your points for flights with any airline operating in or from Australia. This gives you a degree of flexibility often not found with other frequent flyer cards. Points may be redeemed through the Take Flight Cashback program. The benefit of this is that you can fly any airline at any time and not have to work around blocked out busy times. Points do not expire, adding to the flexibility afforded by the BoQ Platinum credit card.

Pros

The biggest advantage of this card is the flexibility offered by the Q Rewards program and the fact that points can be redeemed for flights with airline through the Take Flight Cashback program. On top of this you won’t have to worry about your points expiring.

Apart from earning points through Q Rewards, the BoQ Platinum card comes with other features that will appeal to the frequent traveller who gets around.

First up is the 24/7 concierge service, which, according to BoQ, is “like having your very own personal assistant on hand 24 hours a day”. And they would be right. Your concierge will be able to help you get things done when you don’t have the spare time available. Need a flight and accommodation booked? Taking clients out for a meal and need a table reserved? The concierge will be able to arrange whatever you want, whenever you want it.

The BoQ Platinum credit card also comes with a comprehensive complimentary travel insurance policy underwritten by Zurich. Therefore, when you book a ticket using your card you will be covered against inconvenient cancellations, loss or damage of personal goods and personal liability. Should you require medical assistance while travelling, the policy offers unlimited cover for any medical expenses incurred. The Bank of Queensland Platinum credit card’s travel insurance policy will also cover family members travelling with you in most cases. Although this is a really useful feature, whether you are comfortable relying on it fully for your travel insurance is a personal decision.

Purchase cover insurance is also available, covering you against the loss, theft or damage of goods purchased using your BoQ Platinum card for a period of 3 months. The policy means that you can have your goods repaired if possible, replaced if not repairable, rebuilt or reinstated where possible. An extended warranty insurance policy also adds on 12 months of extra warranty on goods purchased with your account (when the manufacturer’s warranty is for less than 5 years).

Cons

While the flexibility of the card is great, if you are looking to earn as many points as possible for a particular airline, say Qantas, then there are better deals out there with more rewards points per dollar spent. The $99 p.a. annual fee is also on the high side and there are cards with lower annual fees, or none at all, that are linked with one particular airline and have a better points to spend ratio. The ANZ Platinum Frequent Flyer credit card comes to mind.

Eligibility

Like any card on the market, the BoQ Platinum does have criteria for approval. These are that you must be an Australian citizen of 18 years of age or more without any defaults on payments against your name and have a good credit score. You’ll need to be able to prove that your annual income is $40,000 or more.

Is This Card Right For You?

If you have no allegiances in terms of who you fly with, like the thought of having a 24/7 personal assistant and want to be rewarded for spending, then this card could be the one for you.