Card Know How
by American Express
There are lots of different types of Cards. Discover how Credit Cards and Charge Cards work and how to choose yours.
Card Know How by American Express
There are lots of different types of Cards. Discover how Credit Cards and Charge Cards work and how to choose yours.
Already a Card Member?
Already a Card Member?
Understanding Credit Cards and Charge Cards
Credit Card Interest
Learn when interest is charged on your account and what interest free periods are.
Credit Score
Find out how a credit score is calculated, what can affect it and how to check yours.
Card Surcharge
A surcharge is an additional cost applied to a Card transaction by the merchant provider. Learn more about it.
What is a Charge Card?
A Charge Card has flexible spending power1 and you need to pay off the full balance each month.
Personal Cards vs. Business Cards
Personal Card or Business Card? Let’s explore how to choose the right option for your needs.
Considerations before you apply for a Card
Keeping on top of your Account is key to making the most of your Card’s benefits and managing financial difficulty.
Earning points2
Find out how to earn more points in more places and boost your points-earning potential2.
Redeeming points2
Find out how to redeem your Membership Rewards points for travel3, online shopping4 or to reduce your Account balance5.
Where is Amex accepted?
Discover the places that accept American Express across Australia.
Using your Amex Card abroad
American Express Cards are accepted around the world, so you can use your Card to make purchases overseas. Just keep in mind currency conversion fees.
Find the Card that meets your needs
Explore Rewards Cards
You can earn Membership Rewards® points on all eligible purchases on your Card2. Then redeem your points for eligible travel with Amex Travel Online3, Gift Cards6, online shopping using Pay with Points4 or pay off eligible transactions using Cover Charges with Points5.
Explore Travel Cards
Turn purchases into travel benefits and experience all the perks and convenience of your Card when going away.
Explore Quantas Frequent Flyer Cards
Enjoy a range of Quantas Frequent Flyer rewards with a Qantas Card from American Express and turn your eligible purchases into Qantas Points.
Explore Velocity Frequent Flyer Cards
Enjoy a range of Velocity Frequent Flyer rewards with a Velocity Card from American Express and turn your eligible purchases into Velocity Points.
Explore No Annual Fee Credit Cards
With access to great Card Member benefits, a No Annual Fee Card provides both convenience and value.
Explore Business Cards
Access cash flow days, features to support your Business and rewards on all eligible business spend with Amex Business Cards.
Rewards Cards
You can earn Membership Rewards® points on all eligible purchases on your Card2. Then redeem your points for travel10, Gift Cards5, online shopping3 or choose to pay off eligible purchases with points4.
Travel Cards
Turn purchases into travel benefits and experience all the perks, convenience and security of your Card when going away.
Frequent Flyer Credit Cards
Enjoy a range of Frequent Flyer rewards with a Qantas or Velocity Frequent Flyer Credit Card from American Express and turn your purchases into Qantas Points or Velocity Points.
No Annual Fee Credit Cards
No Annual-Fee Cards can be a great entry point as they often have simpler rewards structures and fewer perks than Cards with a higher annual fee.
Business Cards
Access cash flow, features to support your Business and rewards on all eligible Card spend with Amex Business Cards.
Earning and Redeeming Membership Rewards® points2
You earn Membership Rewards® points on all eligible purchases on your Card2. To maximise your points earning potential:
1
More points in more places
Use your Card for everyday purchases such as petrol, grocery shopping, mobile phone bills and eating out. You can also earn points on utilities, insurance and government bodies2. As long as your Account is in good standing, your points won’t expire.
2
Boost your points-earning potential with Additional Cards
Add Additional Cards for your family7 to earn points on their spend. Please note that the Primary Card Member is liable to pay for all transactions made by Additional Card Members.
3
Refer friends
Successfully refer a friend or a fellow business and you could both earn Bonus Points8.
Whether it’s on travel3, using points to shop online4 or reducing your Account balance5, our Membership Rewards® program lets you choose from a wide range of rewards:
1
Pay with points
You can use your points to pay for eligible purchases on your Card5 or use a combination of points and payment. You can also use your points to pay for your annual fee on selected Cards or to get a credit on your Account9.
2
Use points to travel
Transfer your Membership Rewards® points to a wide range of airline and hotel partner programs10; or use your points to book flights, hotels or car rental with Amex Travel Online3.
3
Get Gift Cards
Redeem your points for Gift Cards from leading brands and retailers6.
Shop with confidence
We’re serious about your Card security. That’s why you’ll get the backing of our fraud protection and Card Purchase Cover on eligible Cards, along with support for things like emergency Card replacement.
Card fraud protection
Get peace of mind with fraud alerts, SafeKey protection and Fraud Protection Guarantee11 to help protecting you against unauthorised charges. Learn more.
Protection on purchases
Don't be left out of pocket when shopping with your American Express® Card. Find out how our 90-day Card Purchase Cover and Card Refund Cover12 works with eligible Cards. Learn more.
Card support
If your Card gets lost, damaged or stolen, we can arrange to get you a replacement Card virtually anywhere you are in the world, 24/7.
Access more insights on Credit Cards
Five ways to make the most of a Credit Card
To get you started, we’ve put together five ways to make the most of a Credit Card. Remember to stick to your budget, track your spending and pay your monthly bills in full.
Stay on top of your Credit Card bills
Paying off your Credit Card in full every month may seem like a no-brainer but it’s not always that simple if the unexpected happens.
How to choose the right Card for you
To find the right Card for you, start by looking at your needs and objectives, your spending habits and the main purpose for getting a Card.
Life With Amex: make the most of Amex Cards
Read our Life With Amex articles and discover tips on managing your Card, lifestyle inspirations, travel recommendations, event ideas and business insights.
Life With Amex: make the most of Amex Cards
Read our Life With Amex articles and discover tips on managing your Card, lifestyle inspirations, travel recommendations, event ideas and business insights.
Already a Card Member?
See all the ways you can redeem your points and use your rewards.
Life with Amex
From money-saving ideas to travel inspiration, daily life tips and business insights, get inspired to do great things and make your life more rewarding.
Cards are offered, issued, and administered by American Express Australia Limited ABN 92 108 952 085, Australian Credit Licence No. 291313. American Express income and credit approval criteria applies. Subject to Terms and Conditions. Interest rates, fees and charges apply. All information, including fees, charges and interest rates are correct as at 8 May 2025 and are subject to change. Applicants must be 18 years of age or over to apply. They must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident or hold a long-term visa.
1. Flexible Spending Power: Unless we tell you otherwise, your American Express Charge Card comes with flexible spending power, also known as no pre-set spending limit. This means that the amount you can spend is dynamic and can adapt based on your transaction patterns, your personal credit rating and other factors. The way you use your Card can help your spending power grow, particularly in the first few months. To help maximise your spending power, you can make regular transactions and don’t miss any payments.
2. Membership Rewards Program. Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards program available here. Merchants classified as "government" include the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post), Federal/State and Local Government bodies. Industry specific earn rate may apply when you use a payment account, payment aggregator, services of a third party or online retailers that sell goods for another merchant. For example a payment made to Local Government bodies processed through a payment aggregator may earn rates at the government earn rate. There may be tax implications associated with participation in the Membership Rewards program. You are advised to check with your accountant or tax adviser for further information.
3. American Express Travel Online. To earn or redeem Membership Rewards points, Cards must be enrolled to the American Express Membership Rewards program, and your Card Account must be in good standing. To redeem Membership Rewards points with American Express Travel Online, you need to have available limit on your Card for the full transaction amount of the booking. You will then receive a statement credit within 3 business days for your points redemption. If the credit isn’t on the same statement as the transaction, it should appear on your next statement. Please pay all amounts due each month. You will earn Membership Rewards points on the full dollar amount charged to your Card. All bookings are subject to the terms and conditions of our Membership Rewards Program.
4. Pay with Points. You may use Points to make purchases at certain retailers listed on our website. You need to indicate at the time of purchase that you wish to Pay with Points. Individual retailers provide specific delivery and refund polices. Refund policies for Pay with Points retail Partners are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the retail Partner. The retailers’ conditions and refund policies may be amended by the retailers from time to time.
5. Cover Charges with Points. For each successful transaction with covered with points, points will be debited from your Membership Rewards account and a credit placed on your Card in line with the points chosen to be used for the Eligible Charge. A minimum of 1,000 Membership Rewards points is required to cover any eligible transaction with points. Any credit to your Card account cannot exceed the amount of the relevant Eligible Charges. A credit will appear on your statement identified as “Membership Rewards Credit”. Points will be debited immediately and the credit will take up to 3 business days to appear online. Credits processed after the Card account’s statement closing date will appear in the following statement. You are still responsible for payment of the amount due on your Card account by the due date. Any charges covered by points is not redeemable for cash via Credit balance refund. American Express will select and display each eligible charge that can be covered with points (“Eligible Charge”) and the points rate required to cover the Eligible Charge. Each Eligible Charge must: (a) appear within the Online Statement of the Summary of Accounts page; (b) be redeemed within 2 months of the charge appearing on your Card account; (c) not currently or have previously been disputed; and (d) not be a fee. Eligible Charges, including the points rate required to pay for the Eligible Charge, may be changed at any time without notice. Eligible transactions can be covered by points via your online account or American Express mobile app. Covering charges with points is available only to Basic Cardmembers enrolled in the Australian Membership Rewards program and is subject to the full Membership Rewards Terms and Conditions. Authorised agents, authorised account managers, additional Cardmembers and Authorised Additional Cardmembers are not eligible. All Linked Card accounts must be in good standing. For more information on Cover Charges with Points click here.
6. Gift Cards. Gift Card or voucher rewards are not redeemable or exchangeable for cash or credit and are valid for a period of minimum 3 years from the date of issue, unless otherwise stated. We are not responsible if any Gift Card is lost, stolen, or destroyed, or the Gift Card is used without your permission. Membership Reward terms and conditions apply. Normal retailer gift card or voucher conditions apply, refer to the gift card or retailer website for details.
7. Additional Card Members. Additional Card Members must be 16 years of age or over. The Primary Card Member will be liable to pay for all transactions made by Additional Card Members. Earning of points is subject to the terms and conditions of the Rewards Program the Primary Card Member is actively enrolled. All points earned on Additional Card Member spend will go to the Primary Card Members Account. The Primary Card Member cannot add an Additional Card under their own name or email address and cannot add an Additional card under the name or email address of a previously approved Additional Card application on the Account.
8. American Express credit approval criteria apply. Participation in the "Refer A Friend" program is subject to eligibility deemed by American Express. All information is correct as at 15 October 2025 and is subject to change. This offer is only available to those who reside in Australia. Cards are offered, issued and administered by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085), Australian Credit Licence No. 291313. ® Registered Trademark of American Express Company.
Don't Spam!
American Express discourages spamming. You should only send referral messages to friends and family who genuinely want to receive them. By participating in ‘Refer a Friend’, you agree to these terms and conditions:
- Friend: For the purpose of these terms and conditions, the term ‘friend’ means:
- For American Express Consumer Card referrals, individuals that are your friends, family or close associates; and
- For American Express Business Card referrals, entities that are known to you including companies, partnerships and sole proprietors that hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN).
- For the avoidance of doubt, if you already have an American Express Card, you are prohibited from referring yourself for any American Express Card.
- Only Friends & Family: You must only send referral messages to close friends and family.
- Ask Their Permission First: You must ask the person for their permission and be given consent to send them an email about your Card product. Sending emails to people without permission is considered spam.
- We encourage fair usage of this referral program and so limit the number of individuals who can apply using your referral link. This is capped at 25 in any 30-day period. The amount of Bonus Points you may receive under the 'Refer a Friend' program for Personal Cards is capped at 200,000 points per year. The amount of Bonus Points you may receive under the 'Refer a Friend' program for Business Cards is capped at 10,000,000 points per year.
- Your friend must apply from the referral link we have given you. If your friend applies from a separate link or applies independently (i.e. if they visit www.americanexpress.com.au directly) you will not receive your points.
- You must not market or promote this offer through paid advertising channels or to the public at large (i.e. on public blog sites, search engines or in sponsored ads).
- You will only receive Bonus Points if your friend's Card application is approved (in accordance with our usual Card application processes and assessments). Note: We will not tell you if your friend's Card application is approved or declined for privacy and confidentiality reasons.
- Your friend may not receive any points if they hold or previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the past 18 months.
- You must be enrolled in the relevant rewards loyalty program to receive Bonus Points.
- It may take 8 to 10 weeks to be credited Bonus Points if you are successful.
Why should I comply?
Any violation, abuse or failure to comply with these 'Refer a Friend' Terms and Conditions including, sending emails to individuals with whom you have no business, personal or family relationship, referring yourself, and efforts to bypass, manipulate, obscure or otherwise modify the delivery and accurate presentation of the referral link, sharing tools, content, disclosures, instructions or other materials we provide will be considered a breach of these Terms and Conditions and make you ineligible for any referral bonus, reverse any referral bonus awarded, and may result in your termination from the ‘Refer a Friend’ program and cancellation of your Card account.
For full terms and conditions for your Card product please log in here.
9. Points for Credit: The redemption of Points for a credit to your Card (Points for Credit) will be administered by us within three business days and cannot be reversed. Amounts credited will appear on the first monthly statement following redemption. If you hold multiple Cards linked to the one Membership Rewards Account, the Points for Credit redemption will automatically be credited to the Primary Account only. Points may be redeemed by the Card Member for a credit on the Primary Card Account. American Express may decline a Points for Credit request where the Card Account or Card Member’s other accounts with American Express are not in good standing.
10. Transfer Points to Partners. To redeem points at any Partner Program you must be a member of the applicable Program. Enrolment in such Programs is solely your responsibility and fees may apply. The minimum requirement and transfer rate varies. Subject to the Membership Rewards Terms and Conditions.
11. Fraud Protection Guarantee. Provided that you do not contribute to or unreasonably delay reporting any misuse of your Account and you have complied with your Card Conditions, you will not be held liable for any unauthorised charges.
12. American Express Insurance. The insurance on American Express Cards is subject to terms, conditions and exclusions (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits). You must use your American Express Card to pay for eligible items for those items to be covered under the retail insurance benefits. It is important you read your American Express Card Insurance Terms and Conditions and consider whether the insurance is right for you. We do not provide advice about the insurance or whether it is appropriate for your objectives, financial situation or needs. This insurance is underwritten by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (ABN 23 001 642 020, AFSL No. 239687) under a group policy of insurance held by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085, AFSL No. 291313). Access to this insurance is provided solely by reason of the statutory operation of section 48 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth). Card Members are not a party to the group policy, do not have an agreement with Chubb and cannot vary or cancel the cover. American Express is not the insurer, does not guarantee or hold the rights under the group policy on trust for Card Members and does not act on behalf of Chubb or as its agent. American Express is not an Authorised Representative (under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) of Chubb.