Qantas adds status credits earning to AMEX, ANZ credit cards

Qantas travellers will now be able to earn status credits alongside frequent flyer points with a swipe of their credit card.

Don't get too excited – it's a once-off promotion and you'll be limited to 75 status credits – but if you're asked to choose between earning zero credits and 75 credits, we think we know the answer. So here's the drill on the new deal.

American Express and ANZ cards only: Qantas 'bonus status credits' offer applies to new applicants for the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card and ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Card.

Note that American Express is simultaneously revamping its Qantas card portfolio – we've got the full breakdown here.

Add 75 status credits to any Qantas flight: once you've been approved for either card, use that plastic to book any Qantas return flight and complete your travel by 30 September, 2017 to score a one-off bonus of 75 status credits on top of what you'd usually earn for that flight.

This includes even the cheapest economy fare on a short trip such as Sydney-Melbourne, which would usually yield just 20 status credits as a return trip.

The flight can be domestic or international, as long as you're flying on Qantas– (no codeshares or partner airlines, or Classic Flight Reward bookings for that matter.

And for those with their eye on Lifetime Silver or Lifetime Gold, it's worth, we've confirmed with Qantas that those 75 status credits also count towards your lifetime balance.

75,000 Qantas Point sign-up bonus: to further sweeten the pot, there's a sign-up bonus of 75,000 Qantas Points on both the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card and ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Card.

The conditions for pocketing those 75,000 points vary somewhat between cards.

For the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, you have to spend $1,500 on eligible purchases in the first three months of approval.

For the ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Card, you'll need to splash out $2,500 on eligible purchases in the first three months of approval and "not currently hold or have held an ANZ Frequent Flyer card in the preceding 12 months."

Please note the 2017 publication date on this article, as offers mentioned here have now expired.

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.