Qantas adds status credits earning to AMEX, ANZ credit cards
By David Flynn, March 7 2017
Disclaimer
Executive Traveller may receive a commission when you apply for these credit cards via our links.
You should seek independent advice and consider your own personal circumstances before applying for any financial product.
Qantas travellers will now be able to earn status credits alongside frequent flyer points with a swipe of their credit card.
Don't get too excited – it's a once-off promotion and you'll be limited to 75 status credits – but if you're asked to choose between earning zero credits and 75 credits, we think we know the answer. So here's the drill on the new deal.
American Express and ANZ cards only: Qantas 'bonus status credits' offer applies to new applicants for the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card and ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Card.
Note that American Express is simultaneously revamping its Qantas card portfolio – we've got the full breakdown here.
Add 75 status credits to any Qantas flight: once you've been approved for either card, use that plastic to book any Qantas return flight and complete your travel by 30 September, 2017 to score a one-off bonus of 75 status credits on top of what you'd usually earn for that flight.
This includes even the cheapest economy fare on a short trip such as Sydney-Melbourne, which would usually yield just 20 status credits as a return trip.
The flight can be domestic or international, as long as you're flying on Qantas– (no codeshares or partner airlines, or Classic Flight Reward bookings for that matter.
And for those with their eye on Lifetime Silver or Lifetime Gold, it's worth, we've confirmed with Qantas that those 75 status credits also count towards your lifetime balance.
75,000 Qantas Point sign-up bonus: to further sweeten the pot, there's a sign-up bonus of 75,000 Qantas Points on both the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card and ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Card.
The conditions for pocketing those 75,000 points vary somewhat between cards.
For the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, you have to spend $1,500 on eligible purchases in the first three months of approval.
For the ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Card, you'll need to splash out $2,500 on eligible purchases in the first three months of approval and "not currently hold or have held an ANZ Frequent Flyer card in the preceding 12 months."
Please note the 2017 publication date on this article, as offers mentioned here have now expired.
Disclaimer
Executive Traveller may receive a commission when you apply for these credit cards via our links.
You should seek independent advice and consider your own personal circumstances before applying for any financial product.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
28 Dec 2016
Total posts 69
75SC is a lot, im about to spend $600 chasing 60SC and thats under a double SC promotion..
10 Mar 2011
Total posts 531
Unfortunately I already have both cards... although I'm about to get rid of the ANZ card because they have ceased their affiliation with Amex.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 May 2015
Total posts 45
As an existing holder of both these cards this really shits me. Loyalty is just dead.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1446
No-one ever think about existing customers. They effectively force you to continuously jump between suppliers and I personally hate this practice.
14 Sep 2013
Total posts 14
Ye I recently closed a NAB card and when i got a survey asking about how easy it was to close it and would I recommend NAB i put int he comments I was closing it as there were other offers and that banks seem to value gaining new customers to retaining existing ones (which is meant to be cheaper for businesses) but doubt the penny will drop...
05 May 2016
Total posts 600
It is a big pain to have to change cards. If ANZ had offered me another 75,000 points if I spent another $1500 within 3 months I probably would have kept their card for that time, maybe even if it was just 40,000 points. Similar for NAB.
I agree that it would be nice if banks thought more about existing customers.
Now I need to hope either the bonus counts towards LTSC or that this "one-off" offer gets extended to a point where the extra SC are actually of some use. So rather than encouraging me to get an ANZ card again this encourages me to put off applying one till ~September to see if the offer will be extended.
05 May 2016
Total posts 600
Oops I meant another $2,500 as that's the spend for the sign up bonus on the ANZ card.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 May 2013
Total posts 17
Totally agree - I hate it when they purely focus on acquisitions and not loyalty/retention - just gives incentive to keep jumping from one card to another.
02 Dec 2015
Total posts 30
When is valid from? Now as I only applied recently?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2442
For American Express, from 2pm today; for ANZ, from tomorrow (March 8).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Mar 2017
Total posts 20
I'm very glad I saw this comment right at the bottom of the thread. I was about to sign up to the ANZ card, but thought it odd that I couldn't see any mention of status credits on the website. only to come back here to check through the comments to find for ANZ it doesn't start until tomorrow. It might be a good idea to put that into the main text of the article David. Cheers. I'll certainly sign up for a cheeky 75 SC. David do you know if they will be like the other purchasable status credits offers and not count toward lifetime SCs?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2442
We've confirmed with Qantas that those 75SCs do count towards your lifetime balance.
15 Aug 2014
Total posts 7
Wonder if any ANZ credit cards in NZ will have this? Or will we be the poor cousins again with no Status Points earning potential on our cards?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Feb 2016
Total posts 48
I already hold the AMEX, looking at this offer ongoing earn rate is 1.5 per $1. I currently get an earn rate x3 with QF, 2 at hotels and x2 overseas. As long as they don't alter the existing terms I think I am better with the current card.
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 271
This AND the dropping of AMEX - NAB, expect a call soon.
05 May 2016
Total posts 600
Does this count towards lifetime status? If not given the timing the 75 SC aren't going to help me.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2442
We've confirmed with Qantas that those 75SCs do count towards your lifetime balance.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Mar 2017
Total posts 1
Signed up and approved to QANTAS AMEX Ultimate on Sunday. Does this mean I need to withdraw and re-apply?
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3034
Just a one off? What a gimmick!
22 Jan 2016
Total posts 2
Does anyone know if the 75SC will count towards retaining Platinum One status. The loyalty bonus of 50SC or 8,000 points - the 50SC don't count towards retaining Plat One status - this may be the same.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Mar 2017
Total posts 20
Th T+Cs for the ANZ card say" Bonus Status Credits will not contribute towards attaining or retaining Platinum One or Loyalty Bonus."
24 Mar 2017
Total posts 1
Since the 75 SCs take up to 10 weeks to post, if they post in the following membership year (i.e.. the qualifying flight was taken near the end of the previous membership year), do you know if the 75 SCs apply to the new membership year or to the previous year in which the flight was taken?
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