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Qantas looks set to to release a black edition of its Premier credit card following up the successful 2017 launch of the Premier platinum card.
The airline has conducted a series of invitation-only workshops to sound out current Qantas Premier platinum cardholders on the appeal of a more exclusive Qantas Premier black card aimed at high-spending high flyers.
According to an Australian Business Traveller reader who attended one of the closed-door sessions, the focus group polled cardholders on everything from additional perks which a Qantas Premier black card should deliver through to its appearance and how the card itself could convey a 'luxury feel'.
Approached for comment by Australian Business Traveller, a spokesperson for Qantas said the airline was "always testing concepts and ideas with our customers" but had no further information to share "at this stage."
Qantas' entry into the direct credit card space opened up a rich seam in the financial services market, where the airline estimates that over one-third of all credit card spending in Australia – which totalled $303 billion in 2016 – is already done on a Qantas-branded credit card.
Trumping the Qantas Premier platinum card with a Qantas Premier black card would seek to deliver an ever greater share of those profits into the coffers of the Qantas Loyalty group, and cracking the 'black formula' will be central to Qantas' uber-platinum play.
Black cards – which are already issued by major banks and American Express – typically partner higher annual fees with a higher earn rate of frequent flyer points per dollar, more generous access to airport lounges, free hotel room upgrades and in some cases complimentary airport limousine transfers.
We've got no doubt that Australian Business Traveller readers would be in Qantas' crosshairs for its Premier black card – this is, after all, a premium audience of high-earning and high-spending high flyers..
So it begs the question: what would you want to see from a Qantas Premier black card, compared to the current Qantas Premier platinum card and other black cards on the market?
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.
05 May 2016
Total posts 529
Here's my wishlist:
A sign up bonus of over 100k pointsRegular points earn above 1 point per dollar uncapped
No annual fee/heavily reduced annual fee for the first year
No join fee for QANTAS Club
4 QANTAS Club lounge invitations
05 May 2016
Total posts 529
13 Feb 2015
Total posts 39
There are already a myriad ways to earn points. Which become meaningless if its difficult to spend them in anything other that economy.
Status credits are where it's really at.
05 May 2016
Total posts 529
Status Credits are definitely valuable.
With so many credit cards cutting rewards it would be good if a QF card tried to push things back the other way to increase rewards.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 275
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
31 Oct 2016
Total posts 72
My (NZ Issued) AIR NZ Card gives me status points, and that was the deciding factor when it came to me signing up for that particular one.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jun 2018
Total posts 9
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Jul 2016
Total posts 12
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Dec 2017
Total posts 44
-QF Gold equivalent baggage allowance
All things that will cost the airline virtually nothing while being able to charge a premium for the card!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2014
Total posts 228
08 Jan 2015
Total posts 2
08 Jan 2015
Total posts 2
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Sep 2016
Total posts 13
There are so many credit cards on the market earning points, SC's, lounge access, etc, etc
If QF really want people to take up and they want to create a premier "black" card, they need to think outside the box - a few SC's or sign on points just aint going to cut it - you can get ~80-100K points on any higher end credit card these days, and if you ware really a frequent traveler, is 50 or 75 or 100 SC's really going to cut it, you most likely at Gold or Plat anyway just with your annual travel if a new high end card is appealing anyway?
They need to offer what the Banks, Amex, etc are not offering - things that will lure travelers, perks that you wont get on other cards, or via Airline alliances.
Put the new card holders in the upgrade hierarchy for seats above Gold, for example
allow you to catch earlier or later flights on the day of travel, even if your seat code is different to what you have booked (sure with in the same class)
If you book your flight on the new card, you don't incur change fee's, etc
If QF have done workshops with actual travelers not just internal teams, etc as stated, these things would have come out from frequent travelers -
What is QF going to come out with for us to ditch our Amex's, etc and go for a branded MC or Visa from Qantas?
29 Jan 2012
Total posts 108
Totally agree: perks unique to the QF brand and not the same old gimmicks offered by competitors. Make the card unique and charge accordingly - customers will pay extra for value added! We need to remember that most customers using this product will be either QF Gold or Platinum customers anyway.
Lets look at:
Last minute airport upgrades at reduced pricing on QF flights.
Automatically increased baggage allowances when travelling on QF flights.
Last minute flight changes with nil penalties for same day flights given availability.
Reduced Qantas Club yearly fees for those who are not already eligible.
No extra charge Premium seating in economy cabins.
Just to name a few!
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 5
05 May 2016
Total posts 529
18 Apr 2015
Total posts 68
13 Feb 2015
Total posts 62
13 Feb 2015
Total posts 62
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Jan 2017
Total posts 16
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Dec 2017
Total posts 19
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 466
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jun 2018
Total posts 9
13 Feb 2015
Total posts 39
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2984
That, and the 'one third' figure covers all Qantas-earning credit cards in Australia, not just those of Qantas Money. While chasing the other two thirds of the market, Qantas would also be chasing much of the existing Qantas-earning market too, given the data insights that spending on a Qantas Money card provides to Qantas Loyalty (same as spending on Qantas Cash).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 343
However, it can certainly improve on the perks. (Just like Citiprestige card, despite point earn becomes one of the worst, it's the perks that justifies the annual fee.) So perhaps like the AAdvantage card they have in US, the QF black card should have unlimited QF lounge access (or complimentary QC membership) maybe 2x/yr upgrade certificate on domestic flights (whenever classic award is available), increased luggage allowance....etc. It might not appeal to current QF gold or platinum members, but there are many QF loyal customers that can never reach gold/platinum with their work situation (not everyone travel for work!) and a card that'll give them similar perk to gold member will appeal to them.
17 Oct 2017
Total posts 13
I understand the thought a lot of people are having when they say free qantas club or equal gold perks however if they did that there would not longer be any need for all the current silver and gold members to stay loyal. Why spend 20K a year with an airline to reach status only to be outdone by a guy with a $400 a year credit card. On top of that the lounges would be flooded with people, they would not be the same.
I think realistically if they could do:
120,000 sign up bonus after 5K spend
2.5 points per dollar on Amex
1.5 points per dollar on MasterCard
1 point per dollar on govt spend
Yearly fees returned in form of a travel voucher
4 lounge passes
Proper travel and hire car insurance
Your choice between 20,000 bonus points or 50 status credits per year
That would be a realistic winning formula
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 343
To me personally I would rather see increased point earn rather than QC perks (as I'm an existing QC member) but realistically speaking, I can't see Citi offering that sort of point earn. Already with their $700 Citiprestige they can't even offer 1:1 on VA/QF points, I doubt it can do much better than 1:1 with a QF black card, and certainly not on government spent.
What I don't understand though, is why does QF has to use Citibank to issue its credit card? Can't it simply pair with one of the Australian big 4? Like, CBA which has the worst credit card products on the market?
11 Jan 2012
Total posts 20
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Oct 2016
Total posts 11
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Dec 2014
Total posts 55
24 Feb 2017
Total posts 10
I jest of course (i.e a High end card giving perks for budget travel), but it would be nifty - at least on some card.
13 Jun 2017
Total posts 10
In addition to the above posts
- No overseas transaction feeI like mentioned above the choice of either
28 Sep 2017
Total posts 7
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Dec 2014
Total posts 6
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jan 2017
Total posts 73
They need to think out of the box and offer up what is hard to get elsewhere, valued by QF loyalists and effectively costs them nothing to give away.
Perhaps
- move up the respective wait list queue(s)
- double point or status earning for actually flying where they get revenue stream (as opposed to supermarket shopping)
- luggage allowance
- perks when travelling with significant other
- discounted points for reward flights
Whatever they decide they need to have a compelling argument for loyalty and not to churn every 12 months (the latter is what sign up bonuses encourage).
My benchmark is they have to be better than ANZ Black. Apple pay, high signup bonus. 1:1, reduced/no fee first 12 months, uncapped earning (although reduced after 7kpm)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Jun 2018
Total posts 2
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jan 2017
Total posts 73
15 Nov 2017
Total posts 2
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 1
15 Mar 2018
Total posts 19
The perks for being loyal soon get whittled down if all it takes is to spend money on your credit card and as an infrequent flyer to get the same recognition.
31 Jul 2012
Total posts 21
1.x points earn on a M/C.
Forget status credits - these should be earned by flying. If they offer it should be token amount so as not to devalue those that earn them (max 50).
QF lounge access (unlimited). Not everyone at this income will be a high tier FF.
Perhaps F lounge passes but unlikely.
To be honest, a 1.25 or 1.5 point per dollar rate would be enough for me alone at around $400p.a.
Partner premium reduced fares year round.
Now that Citi has Apple Pay, no excuse for these cards not to have it.
04 May 2018
Total posts 24
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Is Qantas planning a Premier Black credit card?