The 6 top Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards to take you further

Picture this: you buy your groceries, shop the mid-year sales, pay your bills, buy a round at the pub, and every dollar you spend gets you closer to where you really want to be - which is lying on a beach somewhere in the tropics.

Sound too good to be true? It’s not when you have a top value Velocity Frequent Flyer card in your wallet. These are direct earn cards, which means all your rewards points are automatically credited to your Velocity membership, to get you that much closer to a free flight, hotel or other travel must-have.

To get you there sooner, we’ve rounded up some of the top Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards around right now.

Frugal options for savvy globetrotters

1. American Express Velocity Escape

Key features:

• 20.74% purchase rate
• No annual fee
• 7,500 bonus Velocity points
• Multiple Mozo Experts Choice Awards Winner 2016

What we think:
With no annual fee and a generous bonus point offer when you spend $350 in the first 3 months from approval, this is one of the best value rewards cards around - which is why we’ve given it multiple Experts Choice Awards. It’s perfect for frequent travellers who’ll be using plastic to buy their Virgin Australia flights, since you’ll earn 2 points per $1 shopping with Virgin, instead of the 1 point per $1 you’ll earn on other purchases.

2. NAB Velocity Rewards

*Update 12/2/18: this card is no longer available.

Key features:

• 19.99% purchase rate
• $95 annual fee
• Complimentary purchase protection
• No expiry date on rewards points

What we think:

If you’re not fussed about the bells and whistles that come with a high powered rewards card, but still want to earn a heap of Velocity points, then check out this piece of plastic. It comes with both an AMEX and Visa card, on which you’ll earn 1 point per $1 spent and 0.5 points per $1 spent respectively. Just remember that although points never expire, they are capped at 20,000 each month.

3. Virgin Money Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer - Purchase Rate Offer

Key features:

• 0% purchase rate for 12 months (20.74% after)
• $129 annual fee
• $129 Virgin Australia gift voucher
• Mozo Experts Choice Awards Winner 2016

What we think:

Want all the rewards without the steep price tag? This special offer means you can use your card interest free for the first 12 months and still cash in on great travel freebies like transit accident insurance and access to a concierge service. Plus, the $129 Virgin gift voucher on offer neatly cancels out the cost of the annual fee, making this one a very wallet-friendly option.

Premium options for five-star spenders

4. American Express Velocity Platinum

Key features:

• Earn up to 3 points per $1 spent
• Complimentary Virgin Australia return domestic flight each year
• 50,000 bonus Velocity points when you spend $1,500 within first 3 months
• Complimentary travel insurance and purchase protection

What we think:

This card is jam packed with all the freebies and bonuses you could ask for from a Frequent Flyer credit card, including a free flight after your first spend each year, complimentary overseas travel insurance and a hefty bonus points offer. But it does come with a $349 annual fee and 20.74% interest rate - so it’s suited to big spenders who will get enough use out of the features to justify the price tag.

5. NAB Velocity Rewards Premium

*Update 12/2/18: this card is no longer available.

Key features:

• 19.99% purchase rate
• $150 annual fee
• Freebies including overseas travel insurance and concierge service
• Mozo Experts Choice Awards 2016 Winner

What we think:

Although it’s got a higher annual fee than the basic version, this luxe option certainly comes packed with enough rewards value to justify the cost. It comes with both a Visa and AMEX card, but if you’re more likely to use the latter you’ll get the best value, earning 1.5 points per $1 you spend. Other freebies on offer include a concierge service, international travel insurance, extended warranty and purchase protection.

6. Virgin Money Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer

Key features:

• 20.74% purchase rate
• Up to 30,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months
• $129 Virgin Australia gift voucher each year
• Mozo Experts Choice Awards Winner 2016

What we think:

This premium option comes with a $289 annual fee, which might seem a bit high at first - but when you consider that in the first year it’s slashed to just $144, and there’s a tonne of travel rewards on offer, it’s not so hard to justify for dedicated travellers. Not only will you score a $129 Virgin Australia gift voucher each year, but you’ll also get two single entry passes to the Virgin Australia Domestic lounge and access to exclusive flight deals that’ll save you heaps.

To compare the other rewards cards on the market and find one that will take you where you want to be, head over to our rewards credit card comparison tool.

More of a Qantas kind of traveller? Check out the best Qantas Frequent Flyer cards.