I've had a westpack earth black amex/mastercard combo in my wallet for years now and always thought the earn rate was right up with the best, and i had a $200 annual fee due to when i first got the card. I have the invite to get westpac new amex issued card but im wondering at this point if its time for a change to a more effective combo. would welcome any suggestions, earn about 200k points on the card per year so dont mind an annual fee.
Would recommend a Amex combo direct - if you don't mind a charge card - go with a Plat charge card (and additional Plat Reserve credit card) - sure the $1200 annual fee seems a bit steep, but when you combine the travel credits with both cards (400 & 300 respectively), and the benefits of Gold SPG\Marriott and other perks - plus the points earning power on both cards - from memory 2points on travel\accom for every $1 and you can transfer to just about any good carrier, it makes it worthwhile, and there are a few other perks like smartphone screen insurance, etc, etc -
highly recommend if you earning 200k+ points a year on other cards.....
not sure what the intro free points are for new applicants, but would be north of 75K easy...
That’s quite a good card. Problem is I have a lot of spending that is non amex. Thinking I need and Amex and a MasterCard/visa, but I wonder if it’s better to get two separate cards rather than a combo card.
If you are looking for qantas points i would recommended St.George/Bank of Melbourne Amplify Signature, .825 qantas points per dollar and to pair with an amex I use the explorer card $395 annual fee ($400 travel credit included) and I use the amex to pay for my hotels. We earn upwards of 600 k points per year through this combo
That’s quite a good card. Problem is I have a lot of spending that is non amex. Thinking I need and Amex and a MasterCard/visa, but I wonder if it’s better to get two separate cards rather than a combo card.
Last edited
by blingwad at Feb 03, 2018, 12.30 PM.
Amex is having a bit of a resurgence, especially with the changes to surcharges by the Govt, you find more merchants are now accepting Amex, that didn't before because of the surcharges - likewise the Banks are dumping their Amex products now that its not worth it to compete with Amex direct for what is basically the same product, service.
I've been with Westpac for 18 years and only had to pay $150 annual fee for the black card. I still cancelled it last month.
Before the devaluation it was one of the best card I agree. But since Jul last year it's not worth keeping anymore.
For non-Amex spend, there are several cards that offer 1ppd on QF up to a decent amount per month, Eg. ANZ black up to $7500 and QF premier up to $10000. Personally I went with ANZ cuz they still award points on government spends like rates and land taxes, which QF premier doesn't.
Amex wise, Explorer is a no brainer. Still earns 1.5ppd just like Altitude used to be. $395 annual fee may seem big but it's offset by $400 TC.
Unfortunately due to the RBA changes the only combo card (one account for both Amex and MasterCard/Visa) left is the CBA and it is not very competitive so you are better off having 2 separate accounts.
*Amex*
Amex Explorer is great Amex all rounder with an effective earn rate of 1.5 airline points/$ and currently comes with 100k points bonus (75k airline miles).
It is also one of the few cards that comes with LDW car rental insurance which is particularly helpful for the U.S.
Alternatively if you wanted to earn Qantas Points the Qantas Ultimate also has an earn rate of 1.5/$ and comes with 100k Qantas points
The annual fee for both is offset with a travel credit.
*Visa/Mastercard*
As a Visa/MasterCard combo as mentioned above there are quite a few cards that earn 1 QF pt/$ with a limit per statement.
HSBC World up to $10k (Premier customers only)
Qantas Premier up to $10k
ANZ Black up to $7.5k
NAB Qantas Signature up to $5k
Macquarie Black up to $4k
Jetstar Platinum, Woolworths, HSBC Platinum, Qudos up to $2.5k
Macquarie Platinum up to $1k
*If you spend more than $13500 per statement:*
Go uncapped with an effective rate of 0.875 (0.75+10%bithday bonus) from Bank of Melbourne/ St George Qantas Signature.
*For Velocity* 1pt/$
Virgin Money High Flier up to $8k
ANZ Black up to $5k
Many of these cards come with lounge passes and at the moment most of these cards have sign up offers of up to 100k points
I think the Amex Qantas ultimate and hsbc premier could be a good combo. Net annual fee of 99 once the travel credit is used. Lounge access kinda useless for me though being QF platinum.
QF premier is good with a signup bonus also but higher annual fee.
I was in the exact same position as the 1st poster. Seriously unimpressed with Westpac, so I dumped their combo and now have a David Jones Platinum AmEx and an HSBC Platinum Visa. For spending overseas, I use 28o Platinum Mastercard. It's a combination that suits me. The DJ AmEx is particularly good for earning points. I may rejoin Westpac after a year's break to acquire the 120,000 QF FF points.
blingwad
blingwad
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Jun 2015
Total posts 74
I've had a westpack earth black amex/mastercard combo in my wallet for years now and always thought the earn rate was right up with the best, and i had a $200 annual fee due to when i first got the card. I have the invite to get westpac new amex issued card but im wondering at this point if its time for a change to a more effective combo. would welcome any suggestions, earn about 200k points on the card per year so dont mind an annual fee.
daniesut
daniesut
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 15 Sep 2016
Total posts 43
blingwad
blingwad
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Jun 2015
Total posts 74
That’s quite a good card. Problem is I have a lot of spending that is non amex. Thinking I need and Amex and a MasterCard/visa, but I wonder if it’s better to get two separate cards rather than a combo card.
Kitch
Kitch
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 Jun 2015
Total posts 72
If you are looking for qantas points i would recommended St.George/Bank of Melbourne Amplify Signature, .825 qantas points per dollar and to pair with an amex I use the explorer card $395 annual fee ($400 travel credit included) and I use the amex to pay for my hotels. We earn upwards of 600 k points per year through this combo
daniesut
daniesut
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 15 Sep 2016
Total posts 43
That’s quite a good card. Problem is I have a lot of spending that is non amex. Thinking I need and Amex and a MasterCard/visa, but I wonder if it’s better to get two separate cards rather than a combo card.
Amex is having a bit of a resurgence, especially with the changes to surcharges by the Govt, you find more merchants are now accepting Amex, that didn't before because of the surcharges - likewise the Banks are dumping their Amex products now that its not worth it to compete with Amex direct for what is basically the same product, service.
Michael Kao
Michael Kao
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 06 Nov 2014
Total posts 163
I've been with Westpac for 18 years and only had to pay $150 annual fee for the black card. I still cancelled it last month.
romaau
romaau
Member since 20 Feb 2012
Total posts 2
Unfortunately due to the RBA changes the only combo card (one account for both Amex and MasterCard/Visa) left is the CBA and it is not very competitive so you are better off having 2 separate accounts.
Amex Explorer is great Amex all rounder with an effective earn rate of 1.5 airline points/$ and currently comes with 100k points bonus (75k airline miles).
It is also one of the few cards that comes with LDW car rental insurance which is particularly helpful for the U.S.
Alternatively if you wanted to earn Qantas Points the Qantas Ultimate also has an earn rate of 1.5/$ and comes with 100k Qantas points
The annual fee for both is offset with a travel credit.
*Visa/Mastercard*
As a Visa/MasterCard combo as mentioned above there are quite a few cards that earn 1 QF pt/$ with a limit per statement.
HSBC World up to $10k (Premier customers only)
Qantas Premier up to $10k
ANZ Black up to $7.5k
NAB Qantas Signature up to $5k
Macquarie Black up to $4k
Jetstar Platinum, Woolworths, HSBC Platinum, Qudos up to $2.5k
Macquarie Platinum up to $1k
*If you spend more than $13500 per statement:*
Go uncapped with an effective rate of 0.875 (0.75+10%bithday bonus) from Bank of Melbourne/ St George Qantas Signature.
Virgin Money High Flier up to $8k
ANZ Black up to $5k
Many of these cards come with lounge passes and at the moment most of these cards have sign up offers of up to 100k points
blingwad
blingwad
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 04 Jun 2015
Total posts 74
I think the Amex Qantas ultimate and hsbc premier could be a good combo. Net annual fee of 99 once the travel credit is used. Lounge access kinda useless for me though being QF platinum.
Larkin
Larkin
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 18 Nov 2017
Total posts 2
Does anyone know if any of the cards discussed above allow ATO spend?
ericjhenry
ericjhenry
Member since 24 Sep 2018
Total posts 2
I was in the exact same position as the 1st poster. Seriously unimpressed with Westpac, so I dumped their combo and now have a David Jones Platinum AmEx and an HSBC Platinum Visa. For spending overseas, I use 28o Platinum Mastercard. It's a combination that suits me. The DJ AmEx is particularly good for earning points. I may rejoin Westpac after a year's break to acquire the 120,000 QF FF points.
ericjhenry
ericjhenry
Member since 24 Sep 2018
Total posts 2
NB, that's an HSBC Qantas Platinum Visa, to maximise sign up points.