Best Ways to Book Qantas Airways First Class With Points [Step-by-Step]

Qantas first class is undoubtedly one of the most difficult products in the world to book. Getting to the Great Outback has been, and continues to be, exceedingly difficult and expensive. Making this logistical journey via a nonstop flight turns the odds significantly against our favor.

As it turns out, Qantas is one of the few companies connecting the U.S. to Australia, and there’s a lot of demand for this niche. Qantas has built a reputation around making a hub-and-spoke business model work as its bread and butter.

For this reason, Qantas has opted to offer superjumbo aircraft on most direct U.S. routes to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Furthermore, the A380 is the only plane offering a first class product, so you’ll need to book one of these (offered to Sydney and Melbourne) to fly Qantas first class.

Note: With the COVID-19 outbreak hampering commercial aviation, Qantas has suspended or downgraded most of its U.S. routes. The only U.S. A380 route still being offered at the moment is between Los Angeles (LAX) and Sydney (SYD). 

Booking Qantas first class using points is an incredibly difficult feat to achieve. Let’s get into all the best ways you can go about booking this aspirational product.

A Look Inside Qantas First Class

Qantas first class is somewhat of a legendary product. Although it’s not necessarily as famous as Emirates first class or Etihad First Class Apartments, it lands solidly in our list of the best international first class airlines in the world.

Qantas is known for having a well-rounded first class product. Whereas Emirates may blow you away in the amenities offerings and may fall short in some small touches, Qantas is consistently one of the best choices out there.

Consider, too, that Qantas’s U.S. flights are ultra-long-haul journeys, meaning that if you book this flight with points, you’ll have anywhere from 13-17 hours of true bliss in your first class seat.

Qantas International First Lounge

Some first class lounges have reputations entirely separate from the inflight first class experience they’re associated with; the Qantas International First Lounge is one of those lounges. If you’re originating in Australia, you’ll have access to an amazing ground experience before stepping on your flight.

In the hub airports of Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL), you’ll be whisked through check-in and security and enter the glorious Qantas International First Lounge, with its sleek marble decor and signature touches of nature.

You’ll even get complimentary massage treatments— Qantas will reach out to you the day before your flight to schedule your spa appointment.  It’s no surprise that these are considered some of the best first class lounges in the world.

The Qantas International First Lounge at LAX is one of the best lounges in the U.S., so you won’t be disappointed by it. In fact, this lounge is so popular that those with Oneworld Emerald status go out of their way to visit it when departing Los Angeles on domestic American Airlines flights. With a reputation for great food and drink and a relaxing atmosphere, you won’t mind a small delay… or a long layover.

First Class Seat and Bed

Qantas doesn’t have the same flash as Emirates first class or the amazing amount of space that you’ll find flying the Apartments on Etihad, but what you will get is an amazingly comfortable flight. Because a flight from Dallas to Sydney is roughly 17 hours, comfort is going to be very important!

While you change into your pajamas, a flight attendant will make your bed. Not only will you get a nice blanket and a couple of pillows, but Qantas provides a mattress pad fitted to your seat to make your rest even more comfortable.

As soon as you step on the plane, you’ll find a spacious and private first class seat, a bountiful amenity kit, and some of the plushest bedding you’ll ever find on a plane, period. The amenity kit contains Aspar amenities and Martin Grant pajamas.

Your meal will be delicious. If you’re trying to figure out what to expect during the meal service, try imagining a classic Australian dinner.

First, you’ll start with a caviar creation paired with a fine bottle of Champagne. Then, you’ll savor a rich vegetable soup. After that, you might find yourself slicing through a juicy, tender filet mignon with all of the fixings. Of course, you’ll want to have a glass of red wine with that steak. Lastly, you’ll close out with popular Western desserts with fruity accents. Then, you’ll enjoy a cheese plate before unwinding into a food coma.

How does Qantas first class sound to you? If you’re sold on a nonstop first class flight that can retail for up to $15,000 to/from Australia, let’s get on with showing you how you can book Qantas first class using points!

How to Fly Qantas First Class Using Points

Qantas is a Oneworld member airline, which means you can redeem most miles from Oneworld frequent flyer programs for travel on Qantas, including American AAdvantage.

Additionally, you can redeem non-alliance partner miles, such as Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan to book Qantas first class.

Before booking the first class ticket, however, you’ll need to research which Qantas flights offer first class. These are:

Overall, you have several ways to book first class on Qantas.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

A great way to book Qantas first class is through the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program. Flying between North America and Australia will cost 70,000 Mileage Plan miles for a one-way ticket in first class.

To book, go to Alaska’s website and follow these simple steps:

1. Go to the Alaska Airlines website.
2. Sign in to your account.
3. Search for your desired route (make sure you select Use Miles).
4. Select your desired flight and click Add To Cart.
5. Pay the necessary taxes/fees and complete your booking.

You can book a stopover on a one-way award ticket booked with Mileage Plan miles. Also, you will not pay for any fuel surcharges when flying Qantas.

Hot Tip: If you want to have a better chance of getting award availability, consider using Qantas Frequent Flyer, which costs many more points but has better award access.

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

The Japan Airlines Mileage Bank program uses a distance-based award chart, which is broken into tiers based on how many miles you’re flying. If you fly multiple segments, you’ll also need to account for the distance between each airport.

Check out the following distance-based award chart to get a better idea:

Japan Airlines does require you to call when booking Qantas award tickets, but the process is simple.

1. Go to the Japan Airlines website.
2. Log in to your JAL Mileage Bank account.
3. Select JMB Partner Airlines Award Ticket Reservation.
4. Select Qantas under Partner Airlines.
5. Select first class, your travel dates, and the departure and destination airports.
6. Select your flights and hit Next.
7. Confirm the Mileage Bank miles and taxes/fees required.
8. If your booking involves a connection with another partner of Japan Airlines (such as American Airlines), you will have to call to complete the booking.

Japan Airlines allows stopovers, so you might be able to see multiple destinations if your stopover doesn’t add too many flight miles.

Hot Tip: For other ways to earn Japan Airlines miles, read our best ways to earn Japan Airlines miles. 

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific’s loyalty program, Asia Miles, provides an easy way to book online. Additionally, you can book a stopover and an open-jaw to take your trip to the next level.

However, this can change the required miles for the booking and so check mileage by partner airline using the calculator. Also, you can only book one-way flights with at most 1 partner airline, unless you’re thinking about a multi-city, complex award booking.

As an example, Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Sydney (SYD) first class one-way is 135,000 miles.

To complete a booking online, follow these simple steps:

1. Go to Asia Miles.
2. Log in to your account.
3. Scroll over Redeem Miles.
4. Select Flight Awards from the drop-down menu.
5. Enter your flight details (make sure you select Qantas).
6. Select your desired flight (Standard Awards are what you want to look for).
7. Review the mileage cost and the taxes/fees.
8. Complete your first class booking.

If you need more miles to complete a booking, Cathay Pacific partners with American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, and Capital One Miles.

Amex, Citi, and Capital One each transfer to Asia Miles at a 1:1 rate. Citi ThankYou Points generally transfer within 24 hours, and transfers from Membership Rewards are almost instant. Capital One transfers may take up to 36 hours to process.

Hot Tip: Use our Transfer Partner Tool to easily calculate how many miles you’ll need to transfer for your award.

American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines AAdvantage is one of the most commonly used programs for booking Qantas first class.

This loyalty program is very useful if you need to connect to an airport in the U.S. where Qantas operates. This is because American Airlines restricts its flights to provide more availability to those booking through American AAdvantage.

For this reason, you’ll have better luck booking an itinerary, for example, from Phoenix (PHX) to Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) in a single reservation.

For flights between the U.S. and Australia, you’ll pay 110,000 AAdvantage miles. For flights between Singapore and Australia or Hong Kong and Australia, you’ll pay 50,000 AAdvantage miles. Lastly, for flights between Singapore and London, you’ll pay 90,000 AAdvantage miles.

To book with AAdvantage miles, you can head directly to American’s website.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Visit American Airlines and log in.
2. Select your route and travel dates.
3. Check the box next to Redeem Miles.
4. Select First MileSAAver to see first class options.
5. Select the date you want to fly.
6. Select your desired flight. If there is a connecting flight within the U.S., expand the flight details to make sure the long-haul segment on Qantas is in first class.
7. Click Continue.
8. Fill in the passenger details and pay the required taxes to finish booking.

Hot Tip: The ability to put award seats on hold for 5 days makes using American miles one of the easiest ways to book Qantas first class!

Emirates Skywards

If you’re considering flying on Qantas first class but you only have Chase Ultimate Rewards points, one of your only options is to transfer to Emirates Skywards. Although you’ll pay a large number of miles when booking through Emirates Skywards, it’s pretty much your only option besides British Airways Executive Club, which charges insane amounts of miles.

If you are planning on booking through Emirates Skywards, you’ll need to follow these steps:

1. Search for availability via the American Airlines or Alaska Airlines methods above.
2. Call Emirates Skywards at 800-777-3999.
3. Give the agent your flight details and information.
4. Provide passenger information and pay for the ticket using miles plus a credit card for taxes and fees.

Other Options for Booking Qantas

You’re probably wondering why we haven’t included Qantas as one of the best options for booking its own first class award seats. Unfortunately, its award chart is so uncompetitive that it doesn’t earn a spot among the best options.

As a Oneworld member, you can also use several other programs to book Qantas flights including British Airways, Malaysia Airlines, and Qatar Airways.

Great Qantas First Class Redemptions

Qantas doesn’t have many routes to the continental United States. In fact, it only flies to and from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles International (LAX), John F. Kennedy-New York City (JFK), and San Francisco International (SFO).

Let’s compare the different ways you can book these flights so you can decide which miles to use when booking Qantas first class.

Here are the mileage costs of one-way first class award tickets to/from Melbourne and Sydney.

As you can see, there is no doubt at all that using either Mileage Plan or AAdvantage miles is the best choice. On U.S. routes, Alaska Airlines charges the lowest cost. On foreign routes, American Airlines charges the least.

How to Earn Enough Miles for Qantas First Class

If you’re ready to book a flight in Qantas first class but don’t have enough miles for the itinerary you want, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of ways to earn more.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, and Capital One miles can be transferred to Asia Miles at a 1:1 ratio.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Recommended Citi ThankYou Cards (Personal)

Citi Premier^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

Citi Premier^® Card

*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

Welcome Offer

No offer available

No offer available

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$0

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.24% - 29.24% variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Premier^® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• Annual hotel credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• No welcome offer available
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou^® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Recommended Capital One Cards That Earn Miles (Personal)

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Apply Now(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.49% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.49% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Apply Now(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.49% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.49% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Emirates Skywards

Emirates Skywards can be transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1), American Express Membership Rewards (1:1), Capital One Miles (1:1), and Marriott Bonvoy (3:1).

Marriott Credit Cards

You can earn Marriott points and transfer those to Japan Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Emirates Skywards at a transfer rate of 3:1. Plus, for every 60,000 Marriott points that you transfer, you’ll receive an extra 5,000-mile bonus.

See our guide that discusses the best Marriott credit cards available.

When Should You Search for Award Space

First class award availability on Qantas is notoriously difficult to find. If you really want to fly Qantas first class, you need to start looking 330+ days from departure — or be prepared to check back just a few days before the flight. Even then, it’s unlikely that you will find award space.

Qantas routinely releases lots of first class seats during April-May for travel during September-February. Qantas has done this for the last several years, so waiting for that time period is a great way to increase your odds of booking Qantas first class.

Also, Qantas has released up to 4 first class seats on lots of dates on the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Sydney (SYD) route, though this was bookable only with 189,000 Qantas points + ~$238 in taxes each way.

Your best chances will be on booking tickets for 1 person at a time and hoping that 1 more ticket is released.

If you’re wanting more information on award availability, explore our step-by-step guide on searching Oneworld award availability.

Final Thoughts

Let’s be clear — finding Qantas first class award availability will not be easy, and if you do find some, it’s going to be booked by someone very quickly. When you consider both the inflight experience and the first class lounge experience, this comes as little surprise to anyone.

If you have Mileage Plan miles in your account, that will require the fewest number of miles to book Qantas first class on U.S. routes. If you’re considering foreign routes like Singapore (SIN) to Sydney (SYD), then AAdvantage holds the upper hand.

If you are going to transfer points to one of Qantas’ partner airlines, remember to keep in mind the transfer times, which can foil your travel plans quicker than you think. You might be better off booking with American Airlines since it allows 5-day holds on award tickets.

In the end, however you book this amazing flight, you won’t be disappointed!