Our Pick Of The Best Business Frequent Flyer Rewards Credit Cards

To determine our pick of the best business frequent flyer credit cards, Forbes Advisor Australia compared 15 different products. We conducted a thorough analysis of each credit card, using a wide range of data points to rank each one out of five.

We did this by comparing:

• Whether you can earn membership points directly with a single frequent flyer program, or across multiple (flexible reward programs);
• For flexible programs, what is the transfer rate to various frequent flyer programs;
• If there is a sign-up points bonus, and if so, what is it;
• The points-per-spend ratio;
• The annual fee and if there are any special offers such as the first year free;
• How many additional cardholders can be added (if any), and if there is a cost for each additional card;
• If points earning is capped each statement period;
• Whether there is an annual travel credit for cardholders;
• If the card offers access to airport lounges and, if so, which ones;
• If it’s compatible with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and/or Samsung Pay;
• Which complimentary insurances are offered with the card, if any;
• Any other perks, including club memberships, hotel upgrades and discounts;
• The interest rate on the card;
• Length of the interest-free period; and
• If there is a minimum annual business turnover required to be eligible for the card.

These features were all then carefully considered and compared to establish the pros and cons, allowing Forbes Advisor Australia to determine our top picks.

A Note On Star Rankings

You will note that we have included a star rating next to each product or provider. This rating was determined by the editorial team once all of the data points above were considered, and the pros and cons of each product attribute was reviewed. The star rating is solely the view of Forbes Advisor editorial staff. Commercial partners or advertisers have no bearing on the star rating or their inclusion on this list. Star ratings are only one factor to be considered, and Forbes Advisor encourages you to seek independent advice from an authorised financial adviser in relation to your own financial circumstances and investments before you decide to choose a particular financial product or service.

A business rewards frequent flyer credit card is similar to a personal frequent flyer rewards card, with one key difference: they are designed for businesses and not individuals. Applications are based on your business revenue rather than your personal earnings, and the cards usually allow more additional card holders than a personal credit card (depending on the provider).

Of course, just like with a personal frequent flyer card, you can choose to earn directly with  Qantas or Virgin Velocity or choose a flexible points rewards program that allows you to earn and redeem across a range of airline partners. The best decision will depend on your business. If you’re an Australian company whose employees travel mostly interstate, then you’re likely to be happy with either a Qantas or Velocity direct earn card. However, if you conduct business across the globe, then you may want to redeem those points across a wide range of airline programs and will therefore be more interested in flexible points.

Note that while it may seem like flexible points programs are superior due to the range of frequent flyer programs you can access, they are more limiting in some respects than direct earn credit cards. This is because flexible points often transfer at lower rates. For example, transferring Altitude Rewards points accrued on the Westpac Altitude Rewards credit card to Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and other loyalty programs will convert at a 3:1 ratio. This means 150,000 credit card points will convert to just 50,000 airline points. 

Conversely, if you earn directly with one airline program, such as Velocity, the ratio is usually 1:1. 

Related: Our pick of the best frequent flyer credit cards for Australians

Similar to personal credit cards, business cards often offer bonus points at sign-up; yearly travel credits; insurance, including complimentary travel insurance; as well as access to global business airport lounges.

Businesses will also have to weigh up the annual fee; how many additional cardholders you can have; and the interest-free period.

Whether or not your business and its employees should have a corporate frequent flyer credit card depends entirely on the company’s spending and cash flow, as well as the level of travel required.

As Meg Galloway, a business advisor with The Business Centre tells Forbes Advisor Australia, business credit cards “certainly have their place”.

“Provided business owners pay their credit cards off before they incur any interest, they can be worthwhile, but they are not there to solve poor money habits and underlying cash flow issues,” Galloway tells Forbes Advisor Australia.

Galloways says credit card perks like frequent flyer points “provide a tax-deductible way to make a non-tax-deductible business trip”. 

“For example, if I run a cleaning business the chances are I cannot claim my trip to Paris as a tax deduction. If I spend via a rewards credit card on supplies and business operating expenses though, there’s nothing stopping me from using the points accrued from business activities on a holiday to Paris,” she says.

In fact, Galloway says in most cases, rewards cards would be “the only type of business credit cards I would recommend”.

Business credit cards can be beneficial because they help business owners separate expenses at tax time; monitor cash flow and reporting; and manage employee spending. Of course, with a rewards credit card, you also get the added benefit of points to redeem for rewards, such as frequent flyer miles.

Galloway stresses that businesses must understand that “credit cards need constant maintenance and are a huge commitment”.

“You need to be prepared to consistently repay your credit card before you start incurring interest and need to be mindful of the ongoing fees,” she says.

“Even if they say interest-free for the first 12 months, there will still be an annual fee, and transaction fees and your payments will generally attract a higher payment processing fee than a standard debit card.

“You need to be incredibly disciplined. If you miss even one month’s credit card bill, it’s generally a downward spiral from there.”

In fact, Galloway sees business credit cards as the preserve of businesses that are turning a profit.

“Use business credit cards as an added bonus when business is doing well; they are not there to pull you out when the business is facing challenges,” Galloway says.

To begin the process of applying for a business credit card, you should:

• Research a range of business rewards credit cards, paying attention to the annual fee and minimum business revenue requirements. Our list above can help get you started.
• Once you’ve chosen the card you want to apply for, read its terms and conditions online to ensure you are aware of all fees, sign-up bonuses and the interest rate.
• If everything looks good, click apply on the card issuer’s website.
• Fill in the form, which will ask you for business and personal details. These will vary depending on the financial institution.

Once you’ve applied, the card issuer will assess your application and you will receive a response as to whether or not you have been approved within a certain time frame.

Upon approval of your application, you can then get start using your credit card to earn your sign-up bonus points and enjoy the perks that come with your chosen card.

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