Qantas Pay Travel Card Review 2025
The Qantas Pay travel card – previously called the Qantas Travel Money card – is offered to Qantas frequent flyers to make spending overseas simple. Cards can hold 10 major currencies, with no ongoing fees. But is it the best option for your travel spending?
This Qantas Pay review covers how the card works, the key benefits and fees associated, and alternatives to use abroad which you might want to compare. We’ll briefly touch on Wise and Revolut as good alternatives which support more currencies and which may have lower overall costs.
Qantas Pay travel card: key features
- Hold, exchange and spend 10 major currencies, with no ongoing fees to pay
- Add money to your account in AUD from your bank, or with BPay, for free
- Currency conversion uses the Qantas rate which includes a markup – a fee
- Spend currencies you hold for free when you travel, and earn Qantas rewards as you do
- Alternative providers like Wise and Revolut can support more currencies, and may have lower overall costs and better exchange rates
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ 10 supported currencies
✅ Some free top up methods available ✅ No fee to spend a currency you hold ✅ Earn 1.5x rewards for foreign currency spending ✅ Use your card anywhere the Mastercard network is available |
❌Exchange rate includes a markup
❌ ATM fees apply |
The Qantas Pay travel card might make sense if you’re a Qantas fan and want ways to earn more rewards when you’re travelling. Check the exchange rates offered for currency conversion, as there are fees here which can be tricky to spot. This guide will help you compare your options for a travel money card, so you can find the right one for your specific needs.
Who is the Qantas Pay travel card for?
You can get the Qantas Pay card if you are a Qantas frequent flyer, over 16, with a residential address in Australia. Cards can hold 10 currencies and can be used anywhere that accepts Mastercards. There are opportunities to earn Qantas rewards, including higher rewards on foreign currency spending, which might make this a good card for customers looking to get rewards when spending in one of the supported currencies.
What is a Qantas Pay travel card?
The Qantas Pay card is a travel money card which supports 10 currencies for holding and exchange. You can add money in AUD from your bank or with your debit card, and then convert it to the currency you need to spend when you travel. Conversion uses the Qantas exchange rate which includes a fee. There’s then no extra charge to spend currencies you hold in your account, but there is a small Qantas ATM withdrawal charge when you get cash.
Is the Qantas Pay card a multicurrency card?
Yes. The Qantas Pay card supports the following currencies for holding and exchange:
- Australian Dollars (AUD)
- United States Dollars (USD)
- Great British Pounds (GBP)
- Euros (EUR)
- Thai Baht (THB)
- New Zealand Dollars (NZD)
- Singapore Dollars (SGD)
- Hong Kong Dollars (HKD)
- Canadian Dollars (CAD)
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED)
If you’d prefer a more flexible account which supports a broader range of currencies, you may want to look at Wise or Revolut instead. Wise accounts hold and exchange 40+ currencies, while Revolut supports 25+ currencies. More on these alternatives is coming up next.
Alternatives to Qantas Pay travel card
The Qantas Pay travel money card supports 10 currencies, and exchange rates include a markup which can push up the overall costs you pay to spend and make withdrawals. It’s worth comparing your options – particularly when it comes to fees and exchange rates – to make sure you get the best possible deal. Here’s an overview of Qantas Pay versus Wise and Revolut, two popular non-bank account and card providers which are available in Australia.
| Providers / Services | Qantas travel money card | Wise travel money card | Revolut travel money card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | Qantas frequent flyer members resident in Australia | Customers in Australia and many other countries | Customers in Australia and many other countries |
| Card order fees | No fee | 10 AUD | None – delivery costs may apply |
| Monthly fees | No fee | No fee | 0 AUD to 24.99 AUD |
| Foreign transaction fees | No foreign transaction fee | No foreign transaction fee | No foreign transaction fee |
| International money transfers | Not available | From 0.33% | 0.3% – 2% |
| International transfer speed | Not available | Often instant, 90% arrive in 24 hours | Variable – estimates are given in the app |
| International ATM withdrawals | Variable fee depending on the currency | Some no fee withdrawals monthly, before charges apply | Some no fee withdrawals monthly, before charges apply |
| Currency exchange | Exchange rate includes a markup | Mid-market rate | Mid-market rate to plan limit |
| Multi-currency account | Supports 10 currencies | Supports 40+ currencies | Supports 25 currencies |
| Business account | Not available | Available | Available |
*Details correct at time of writing, 9th October 2024
Wise travel card
Wise accounts can hold 40+ currencies and don’t have any foreign transaction fee, making them a great pick for international use. You can add money online or in the Wise app and then either convert to the currency you need, or just let the card convert for you when you pay.
- One time card order fee, no minimum balance, no ongoing charges
- Currency exchange uses the mid-market rate with fees from 0.33%
- Spend in 150+ countries, wherever the card network is accepted
Revolut travel card
Revolut has 3 different account plans in Australia, including the Standard plan which has no monthly fees. All accounts support 25 currencies for holding and exchange, and offer some weekday no fee currency conversion before fair usage fees begin.
- Choose the account plan that suits your spending needs
- No fee for currency conversion to your plan limit – 0.5% fair usage fee after that
- Hold and exchange 25 currencies for convenient international use
Qantas Pay travel card fees & spending limits
Let’s have a closer look at how Qantas Pay works on fees and limits, so you can see if the card is likely to suit your specific needs.
Qantas Pay limits
| Qantas Pay limits | |
|---|---|
| Minimum load | 50 AUD |
| Maximum load | 20,000 AUD
Lower limits apply for debit card loads |
| Maximum balance at any one time | 100,000 AUD |
| Maximum annual balance | 100,000 AUD |
| Maximum daily cash withdrawals | 3,000 AUD |
| Maximum daily transactions | 15,000 AUD |
*Details correct at time of writing, 9th October 2024
Qantas Pay fees
| Qantas Pay fees | |
| Charge for AUD top ups | No fee for bank transfer or BPAY
0.5% fee for debit card |
| Cash withdrawals | Variable fee based on currency, around 2 AUD |
| Foreign transaction fee | No foreign transaction fee, but exchange rates include a markup |
| Closure fee | None |
| Maintenance fee | None |
*Details correct at time of writing, 9th October 2024
Exchange rates
When you exchange currencies Qantas sets the exchange rate used. This applies when you exchange at the point of topping up your card, or if you’re spending in a currency you don’t hold in your account.
Qantas uses an exchange rate which is made up by taking the mid-market rate and adding a markup. This is a fee. The markup covers Qantas’ costs and revenue – but it does make it harder to see exactly what your currency conversion is costing you, because the fee is not split out separately from the rate applied.
How to get Qantas Pay travel card
You can apply for your Qantas Pay card online as long as you’re a Qantas frequent flyer and meet the other eligibility criteria. Just navigate to the Qantas Pay website and tap Sign Up – you’ll be guided through the process by on screen prompts. Once your card arrives in the mail you have to activate it before you can start to spend and withdraw.
What documents you’ll need
Qantas must check your identity before you can get a Qantas Pay card. When you enter your personal details – including your name, address and date of birth – Qantas will check the details against government records. If they can’t verify you this way you might need to provide more ID. This can vary, but will usually mean providing your ID document, such as a passport, and your proof of address, such as a bank statement. You can provide these documents online or at a branch of Australia Post.
What happens when the card expires?
You’ll need to order a new Qantas card if yours is expiring soon. Make sure you have 5 to 7 business days before you travel, to give time for the new card to arrive by mail.
How to use a Qantas Pay travel card?
The Qantas Pay travel card can be used for spending and withdrawals anywhere you see the Mastercard logo. You’ll need to add a balance to your card in AUD and then convert to the currency you need for spending before you start to transact, but then you can use your card to tap and pay in stores, or to withdraw cash at an ATM.
Make sure you’ve activated your card before you start to transact. This can be done in the Qantas app.
How to withdraw cash with a Qantas Pay travel card?
Use your Qantas Pay card to make ATM withdrawals internationally, in exactly the same way as you would at home. Just look out for an ATM which displays the Mastercard logo, and you’re good to go.
Is the card safe?
Yes. The Qantas Pay card is issued in partnership with Mastercard, and comes with lots of inbuilt security features. You can lock your card with your phone, and receive instant transaction notifications, for example. Plus, Mastercard offers 24/7 support and emergency cash in the case you run into any problems when you’re away.
How to use the Qantas Pay travel card overseas?
You can use your Qantas Pay card overseas easily. Look for the Mastercard network symbol which is displayed on ATMs, online and at the payment terminal in stores. Then just use your card as you would at home – to tap and make a contactless payment, to make a chip and PIN payment or to withdraw cash. You can also use your card to shop online.
Remember that there are limits to the amount you can spend on your Qantas Pay card – 15,000 AUD per day for POS transactions in stores and online. It’s also worth weighing up the exchange rates available from Qantas against other services like Wise and Revolut. You might find other cards offer better rates which means getting a lower overall cost.
Conclusion: is the Qantas Pay travel card worth it?
The Qantas Pay travel card lets Qantas frequent flyers earn rewards when they spend in foreign currencies. There’s no fee to get or maintain the card, but there are charges in the form of exchange rate markups, and when you use an ATM. The exchange fees can be particularly tricky as you can’t easily see exactly what currency conversion is costing you. Compare the rates available from Qantas, against some alternative travel cards, to see which is best for your transaction types.
Take a look at the Wise account and card for currency conversion which uses the mid-market rate with low fees from 0.33%. Or try Revolut for accounts which offer some no-fee conversion with flexible cards for payments and withdrawals.
Qantas Pay travel card review FAQ
How does the Qantas Pay travel card work?
The Qantas Pay travel card has no order fee and no ongoing costs, and supports 10 currencies. You can use your card for spending and withdrawals at home and abroad, and earn rewards from Qantas as you do so.
Is the Qantas Pay travel card an international card?
Yes. The Qantas Pay card supports 10 currencies for holding and exchange and can be used for spending and withdrawals anywhere Mastercard is supported.
Are there any alternatives to Qantas Pay travel cards?
Shop around before you sign up for the Qantas Pay card. Alternative providers like Wise and Revolut can support more currencies, and may have lower overall costs and better exchange rates.
