Frequent flyer card for low income earner

[djjk78]

Hi
Looking for a credit card that links to frequent flyers. Pref Qantas but another is also ok.

It is for my sister. She is a low income earner (on about $500 p/w) while at uni. She has no debt but is only 18 years old.

Strangely, she has already been rejected for a few so any other suggestions? She doesnt have bad credit but i guess cos she is young doesnt have much of a record.

Thx

 

[Moopere]

Hi
Looking for a credit card that links to frequent flyers. Pref Qantas but another is also ok.

It is for my sister. She is a low income earner (on about $500 p/w) while at uni. She has no debt but is only 18 years old.

Strangely, she has already been rejected for a few so any other suggestions? She doesnt have bad credit but i guess cos she is young doesnt have much of a record.

Thx

I would have thought that the Woolies EverDayRewards CC would be a good starter. $89 / year, 1:1 earner for QFF and usually some bonus points to go with it. Have a look at this section of the forums:

Credit Card Loyalty Programs


The 1:1 earn on the mastercard is particularly nice for a low end card as its nigh on impossible to find elsewhere at this price point.

 

[MAX_1]

Woolworths Credit Card is offering no fee for first year plus 5000 free points to qantas as a bonus. (Must be a member of QFF) . 1 Qff point per $1 spend. Also any purchase from Woolworths stores over $30 will give extra ponts so as an example - purchasing $100 groceries and charging them to the credit card will earn 170 QFF points. Also Woolworths will send special bonus point offers for purchases eg double points.
Make sure the card is paid on time. Using Bpay takes 2 days to come through.I normally take cash into Woolworths and ask it to be paid off the Credit card account.

Comapre this card to Citi Select and Signature card. Same earn with Qantas 1:1 , also uncapped , but they cost $700 and $395 per annum. So the WOW EDRC Credit card is exceptional value.

 

[djjk78]

Thanks guys but she doesn't meet the min income of $50k. She's only on about $35k. Any other cards?

 

[samillionaire]

Qantas Amex Discovery Card seems to meet your criteria http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/partners/card/american-express-discovery-card

in a nut shell $0 Fees/ 1:1 / Bonus points / min eligibility $35k p.a

however as you mentioned that as your sister has applied for a few and rejected I might want to caution you on the number of credit enquiries (if significant) may raise flags for an automated rejection in applying for any card.

good luck!

 

[Isochronous]

ANZ that gives 16,000 bonus for signing up is probably a good idea too.

 

[haivee]

I think the Jetstar Platinum MasterCard only requires an income of $30,000. Hope that helps

 

[rayonline]

I think the Jetstar Platinum MasterCard only requires an income of $30,000. Hope that helps

Not sure how it works in AU. I am from NZ. If you pick your most ideal CC. Then apply for a lower CC from that bank/institution even if it gets no air mileage. Over time the bank may allow you to increase your limit every 6 months or they may send you a letter telling you they already upgraded your credit limit and if you don't want it you need to call them.

Build up the limit by this way and then transfer to your ideal CC without providing extra info etc...

As a student, there may be banks who offer student packages ie., student CC.

But let's get real. Buying stuff with a CC doesn't really get you a lot of points. To get points you are much better off to fly.

 

[JetLagged]

But let's get real. Buying stuff with a CC doesn't really get you a lot of points. To get points you are much better off to fly.

Not an entirely accurate picture there, rayonline.

Over the past twelve months (somewhat a variance compared to the previous few years), I've earned 125,000 QFF points: 66000 worth of flying (4 domestic sectors and one RTW - previous few years have done a heck of a lot more flying, all self-funded), but I also earned 57,000 by using my credit cards for both paying for airfares, shopping and bill paying. Al depends on your usual spend pattern - low income earner will have less expenses, but still good idea to look at grocery spends, what cc can be used to pay bills, etc.

 

[rayonline]

Not an entirely accurate picture there, rayonline.

Over the past twelve months (somewhat a variance compared to the previous few years), I've earned 125,000 QFF points: 66000 worth of flying (4 domestic sectors and one RTW - previous few years have done a heck of a lot more flying, all self-funded), but I also earned 57,000 by using my credit cards for both paying for airfares, shopping and bill paying. Al depends on your usual spend pattern - low income earner will have less expenses, but still good idea to look at grocery spends, what cc can be used to pay bills, etc.

Yeah depends on how much one spends - but due to a low income earner ..

I am trying to think about Qantas from last memory. As AirNZ's is so diff. Isn't it $100 spending gives you 100 Qantas Points. But a return AU to Asia might need 60-78k points. $35k income, let's say spend $10-15k on the card per year. Stuff like rent cannot be put on the CC. Doesn't get you that far really apart from maybe domestic and short haul flights (intl) like to NZ or Fiji. Oh I guess that Qantas points don't expire so that might be one advantage to use more than 5yrs ....

But yeah .. 57k points earned for the year might need to put $57,000 on the card. At least on the NZ Qantas CC that I have seen.

This is the platinum CC with a more generous 2nd tier threshold than the std card.

• Earn one Qantas Frequent Flyer point[SUP]#[/SUP] per $1 spent on eligible purchases up to $30,000 per annum[SUP]**[/SUP].
• After that, you will earn one point per $2 spent on eligible purchases.

Another options might be if you just want status and/or reward flights. There are programmes other than Qantas that mighe be easier to work with. But I know you said you had a preference for Qantas.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Where is your sister looking to fly mostly?


Virgin has some very good sign up bonuses going on at the moment while redemption for J class (points and pay) travel is super cheap on some routes (PER-SYD for 6990+~$140 for J compared to some QF routes - JASA ~43k and points oneway). For transcon runs, this is very good value.
(Even the Gold with 20k bonus is worth the sign up, IMO. Having said that, getting your sister to qualify might be hard.)

Best of luck

 

[ricee007]

Not an entirely accurate picture there, rayonline.

Over the past twelve months (somewhat a variance compared to the previous few years), I've earned 125,000 QFF points: 66000 worth of flying (4 domestic sectors and one RTW - previous few years have done a heck of a lot more flying, all self-funded), but I also earned 57,000 by using my credit cards for both paying for airfares, shopping and bill paying. Al depends on your usual spend pattern - low income earner will have less expenses, but still good idea to look at grocery spends, what cc can be used to pay bills, etc.

I completely agree.

Think about it, 12 short-haul domestic flights a year (a fair bit for most people) is only 12,000 points. Spending $1,000 a month is not hard for most people.... and would give you $12,000 points on a 'low-end' 1:1 card... let alone the 1.5 points per $ and 2 points per $ cards out there.I get an awful lot more points from using my CC than from flying.

Syd to London is what, 64,000 one way economy? That is 64 domestic flights.... or spending $64,000 on a CC. I'll spend $64k before I make 64 domestic flights.... despite doing Adl-Bangkok (return) this month, Adl-Syd (return) next month, Adl-Mel (return) in March.

EDIT:-> This ignores the fact that you can EASILY get two credit cards, say one with a 16k signon bonus, another with a 10k sign on bonus.... this is already 26,000 points.

 

[Robert K]

get the free amex discovery card for now.

 

[rayonline]

afaik QFF points don't expire, so unless they go bankrupt, they should work out. but being a low income earner, it may take you up to 3yrs to get a long haual flight. as you say 12 short flights and the 10k PA spending on the CC.

not sure what the CC ratio is. could be higher in Oz. let's assume 1:1. and let's not forget that some fares that you undertake, the cheaper fares may not earn points. depends .. sparing the CC sign up bonus which might be a once off. looking long - term, you're spending 3yrs to chase one long haul airfare .... just saying that yeah could work out but a lot of work for less freq activities.

 

[medhead]

afaik QFF points don't expire, .

they don't expire as long as you have activity. If there is no activity they will expire after 18 months.


Sent from the Throne (80% chance) using Aust Freq Fly app