The HSBC Platinum Qantas credit card comes fully loaded with rewards for the frequent flyer. With it you can earn up to 2 QFF points per dollar spent overseas and 1 QFF point per dollar spent in Australia. It also has the added benefit of comprehensive overseas travel insurance, a personal concierge service available 24/7 and various lifestyle rewards.

Frequent Flyer Points

As its name would suggest, the main thrust of this card is the potential to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points. There are two earn rates, one for international purchases and the other for domestic purchases. If you use your card while travelling outside of Australia, you can earn 2 QFF points per dollar spent. Any purchases made within Australia will be rewarded at the rate of 1 QFF point per dollar. Balance transfers and cash advances are not eligible to earn rewards. Compared to other cards on the market, these earn rates are extremely favourable, particularly if you travel abroad regularly for business or leisure.

Other Rewards

Besides earning Qantas Frequent Flyer points, this card offers other forms of rewards and perks. A personal concierge is available for cardholders on a 24/7 basis to take care of menial tasks such as booking tickets, reserving tables, sending gifts, etc. It’s a very helpful feature, especially for people with a busy lifestyle.

A range of lifestyle rewards are available through the Visa Platinum program. Rewards include preferential access to theatres and cinemas, concerts and special events, discounts and advice on home entertainment products, as well as exclusive travel services such as getting met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Any self respecting platinum level credit card has complimentary travel insurance, and the HSBC Platinum Qantas credit card won’t let you down in that regard. Cardholders get international travel insurance with cover for loss or damage to personal items, medical and hospital expenses, travel cancellations of delays, damage to rental vehicles, and legal liability.

Pros

Clearly the main benefit of this card is getting rewarded with QFF points. The earn rate for purchases in Australia is consistent with many of the other cards we’ve reviewed before. However, the earn rate on purchases made overseas is ahead of the rest. If you spend a lot of time outside Australia, then this card will really help you build up your QFF points balance.

Having a range of complimentary insurance is also a boon, and is in line with what’s offered by many other cards on FrequentFlyerCreditCards.com.au at this time. Complimentary international travel insurance, transit accident insurance, purchase protection insurance and extended warranty insurance provide extra peace of mind to cardholders. Even if you decide to maintain your existing travel insurance plan, you can never be too protected!

Interest rates are, broadly speaking, in line with competing offers. Purchases and cash advances are charged at 20.99% p.a. and 21.99% p.a. respectively, assuming you don’t pay them off before interest is charged.

Lastly, the personal concierge service, which is available 24/7, is very useful. Any time you need to book a flight, arrange a restaurant reservation for a meeting or organise a gift for a client, for example, you can simply call your personal concierge and get them to do it for you. That in and of itself is worth having!

Cons

If you are looking to transfer your existing balance and get the lowest rate possible, then this is probably not the best card for you. At 0% p.a. for 6 months, you will get a rate that’s lower than what you currently pay. However, there are cheaper balance transfer offers available on the broader market, and within the frequent flyer card niche.

Also on the subject of balance transfers, if you do transfer an outstanding balance to the HSBC Platinum Qantas credit card, but fail to pay it all off before the introductory period expires, the rate will revert to the higher cash advance rate (21.99% p.a.).

Eligibility

As a platinum level card, you can expect the bar to be a little higher. You’ll need to be a permanent resident or citizen who is at least 18 years old. Your credit record needs to be good and you should earn $60,000 at the minimum.

Is This Card Right For You?

If you spend a lot of your time overseas, then there really isn’t many better credit cards out there, particularly in terms of earning QFF rewards. Even if you aren’t travelling a lot, the earn rate is good. Combine these good earn rates with all the additional insurance cover and you have a very strong card indeed. If it ticks all the boxes for you, why not apply online today?