I am looking for a credit card with maximum benefits. I travel 2-3 times in a year to USA/Singapore/India. The card will also be used to pay in hotels, utility bills etc. and more importantly for my business. Looking at a spend of approx. Please suggest a good card.
Max persk will also be max fees, think that the highest one I saw was Aud$399 per year.
Westpac has got some card accounts, that for an annual fee of that $399, you get 2 cards, you get a Visa Credit and also, at the same time, an AMEX card as well.
On the Visa Credit side, you do earn less points, 1.5 points per $1 spent, but for merchants that accept AMEX its 2 points per $1 spent.
Read somewhere too, that was it Westpac and Krisflyer that have had a falling out, or some bank and some airline's FF program had a falling out, and the earn rates have dropped.
Over all though, over the past 12 months or so, a lot of credit cards earn rates have (except AMEX) dropped from a 2 point earn per $1 spent to 1.5 points per $1 spent, or even worst 0.5 points per $1 spent.
Only banks offer (in Australia) Visa and Mastercard credit cards, the scheme themselves in Australia don't offer cards. AMEX does have a range of cards, as does Diners.
I recently got a Amex - Velocity Platinum which I'm quite happy with:
50k points for signing up, Return domestic flight once a year. THREE velocity points when you spend with Virgin and with a lot of restaurants in Australia. 2 points for international expenses + some travel operators 1 points for everything else essentially
Since I've had the Amex which is about 4 months, I've also got about $200 on various cash back promotions with Amex for spending money at Myer, David Jones, Dan Murphys etc. There's been some good deals.
I use that with my velocity high flyer card (visa) and I'm raking in a huge amount of points every month. I think you really need to have the two cards for it to work. The Velocity card has 1.25 points per every dollar spent.
The only downside to the Amex is the $349 annual fee, but your free flight really covers that.
ANZ black Frequent Flyer card has a visa and an Amex will give you lounge access at airports and free travel insurance also gives you up to 1.5 points for every dollar spent.go to the ANZ website and check it out.hope this helps
Westpac Alitude Black Master Card with an AMEX is good but has a high fee $395PA and the points can be transfed to;
Virgin Australia's Velocity
Malaysia Airline's Enrich
Air New Zealand Airpoints
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles
1.25 points per $ on and 3 points per $ AMEX but not Altitude points are only worth 0.5 airline miles. Plus the other features like Starwood Preferred Guest Gold Membership , two Priority Pass passes per year along with some other ones too
The bank/amex run programs can be great for hoarding your points and then transfering them to a program when you want to cash them in.
However, beware the conversion rate,, (as 1 Altitude point may not equal 1 frequent flyer point), as well as the admin as you'll need to go in and transfer points/maintain several different frequent flyer accounts.
I've got a NAB Velocity Platinum, which has a good point earn rate and a great annual fee. But the perks aren't nearly as good. No lounge invites, no free return airfares, no premium status at hotel/airline loyalty programs.
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I am looking for a credit card with maximum benefits.
Harry123
Harry123
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
Member since 07 Jan 2015
Total posts 2
I am looking for a credit card with maximum benefits. I travel 2-3 times in a year to USA/Singapore/India. The card will also be used to pay in hotels, utility bills etc. and more importantly for my business. Looking at a spend of approx. Please suggest a good card.
johnaboxall
johnaboxall
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 24 Aug 2011
Total posts 384
What is your spend? Preferred airline alliance? Do your suppliers accept American Express?
Harry123
Harry123
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
Member since 07 Jan 2015
Total posts 2
Spend is around 5K per month. Dont have any preferance with airlines but I prefer Cathay & Singapore Airlines. Not all accept Amex.
Serg
Serg
QFF
Member since 12 Apr 2013
Total posts 923
Some Amex cards offer serious perks, but at high annual fee, so you should weight one against other. Go to Amex website for comparison.
iFLYflat
iFLYflat
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 20 Nov 2012
Total posts 40
Just FYI,
I can help, I'm the founder of iFLYflat - but of course depends if you see personal value in our services - www.iflyflat.com.au
Cheers
Steve
Andrew Barkery
Andrew Barkery
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Mar 2011
Total posts 433
Max persk will also be max fees, think that the highest one I saw was Aud$399 per year.
Westpac has got some card accounts, that for an annual fee of that $399, you get 2 cards, you get a Visa Credit and also, at the same time, an AMEX card as well.
On the Visa Credit side, you do earn less points, 1.5 points per $1 spent, but for merchants that accept AMEX its 2 points per $1 spent.
Read somewhere too, that was it Westpac and Krisflyer that have had a falling out, or some bank and some airline's FF program had a falling out, and the earn rates have dropped.
Over all though, over the past 12 months or so, a lot of credit cards earn rates have (except AMEX) dropped from a 2 point earn per $1 spent to 1.5 points per $1 spent, or even worst 0.5 points per $1 spent.
Only banks offer (in Australia) Visa and Mastercard credit cards, the scheme themselves in Australia don't offer cards. AMEX does have a range of cards, as does Diners.
MEL Traveller
MEL Traveller
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 Dec 2014
Total posts 17
This is s a great card with many benefits, including a very good points earn for overseas spend. And it is currently fee free for life.
http://www.citibank.com.au/credit_cards/vedascore-offer.htm?cid=ATL-CreditCards-Facebook_VedaScore-CC112014
bob342
bob342
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 24 Apr 2014
Total posts 35
I recently got a Amex - Velocity Platinum which I'm quite happy with:
50k points for signing up,
Return domestic flight once a year.
THREE velocity points when you spend with Virgin and with a lot of restaurants in Australia.
2 points for international expenses + some travel operators
1 points for everything else essentially
Since I've had the Amex which is about 4 months, I've also got about $200 on various cash back promotions with Amex for spending money at Myer, David Jones, Dan Murphys etc. There's been some good deals.
I use that with my velocity high flyer card (visa) and I'm raking in a huge amount of points every month. I think you really need to have the two cards for it to work. The Velocity card has 1.25 points per every dollar spent.
The only downside to the Amex is the $349 annual fee, but your free flight really covers that.
Merc25
Merc25
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 29 Jun 2013
Total posts 317
ANZ black Frequent Flyer card has a visa and an Amex will give you lounge access at airports and free travel insurance also gives you up to 1.5 points for every dollar spent.go to the ANZ website and check it out.hope this helps
Joseph
Joseph
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 05 Sep 2013
Total posts 28
Westpac Alitude Black Master Card with an AMEX is good but has a high fee $395PA and the points can be transfed to;
Jono
Jono
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 25 Jan 2013
Total posts 108
The bank/amex run programs can be great for hoarding your points and then transfering them to a program when you want to cash them in.
However, beware the conversion rate,, (as 1 Altitude point may not equal 1 frequent flyer point), as well as the admin as you'll need to go in and transfer points/maintain several different frequent flyer accounts.
I've got a NAB Velocity Platinum, which has a good point earn rate and a great annual fee. But the perks aren't nearly as good. No lounge invites, no free return airfares, no premium status at hotel/airline loyalty programs.