Let’s say you travel a lot. Because of that, you think a frequent flyer credit card would be the best bet for you. Frequent flyer cards will give you rewards more directly relevant to your lifestyle than other types of rewards cards. You want to be able to save on things like flights and accommodations. Who wouldn’t? But after you’ve narrowed down the type of credit card you want, how do you actually compare one frequent flyer card offer to another?

We’ve looked at some of the specifics of comparing rewards credit cards and balance transfer credit cards. Today let’s focus on frequent flyer credit cards, and some of the details you might want to look at when comparing them.

1. The Frequent Flyer Programme the Card Works With

Generally to get frequent flyer points through your credit card, the card has to be connected to a frequent flyer programme membership. If you’re a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer Programme for example, you’ll want to choose a credit card that can earn points for that programme like the Qantas American Express Premium credit card or the NAB Qantas Gold card.

2. Annual Fees

While it’s possible to find a frequent flyer credit card with no, or low, annual fees (like the American Express Gold Ascent credit card), most have higher annual fees than other types of cards. That’s easy enough to compare when you’re looking at credit card offers side by side. However, it gets more complicated when you consider how fees are listed.

For example, make sure the fees you’re comparing include both the regular annual fee for the privilege of having the card and any annual fee for the rewards programme that lets you earn points. Also take into consideration fees involved in joining a frequent flyer programme that can be tied to your card (if you’re not already a member of one).

3. Frequent Flyer Point Expiration and Caps

Ideally you’ll want to find a frequent flyer card that doesn’t cap your points potential, like the ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum card. You’ll also want a card where your points won’t expire as long as the card is active, like the Qantas American Express Classic credit card.

These things are important because to really get your money’s worth with frequent flyer cards you’ll need to be able to earn a lot of points, and unless you’re a big spender it might take quite a while to earn enough points to be able to redeem them.

By no means are these three things the only ones you should look at when comparing frequent flyer cards, but they’ll give you a solid foundation. These are some areas where frequent flyer cards can differ somewhat drastically. You’ll also want to look at how many points you’ll earn per dollar spent, interest rates, and overall redemption options for your frequent flyer points.