Qantas Premium AMEX or Rewards Maximiser Gold Credit Card

[nowork]

Hi guys,

I currently have a Qantas Premium AMEX which I have taken advantage off with the first up bonus points and the 1.25 points per dollar etc, but am looking at changing it to the Rewards Maximiser Card as this card offers 1.5 points per $1 and you can use for whatever you like if you dont want to just use for Qantas and also other airlines I believe.

The other reason is that I still haven't received my Qantas Club Invitations and went overseas during the year and did not have them. I have called them up but they seem so slack.

I was wondering if anyone thinks I should go the Rewards Maximiser or try upgrade to Qantas Ultimate for the extra bonus points?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Cheers.

[serfty]

Absolutely; the Amex Ascent/Spririt program have far more flexibility than simply directing the points to Qantas automatically.

If you do want them to go to Qantas you can do so very easily in lots of 2000 or more.

[nowork]

Okay another silly question, whats the difference between Ascent and Spirit?

[serfty]

They are names of the two Amex programs that allow transfer of MR points to QFF.

In the case of the AMEX rewards maximzer, Ascent is the go.

More here: https://www.americanexpress.com/aust...o_ascent.shtml

BTW, welcome to AFF.

[lovetravellingoz]

Originally Posted by nowork

Hi guys,


I was wondering if anyone thinks I should go the Rewards Maximiser or try upgrade to Qantas Ultimate for the extra bonus points?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Cheers.

Lets consider:

Well they both earn at 1.5 points per $. Though Qnatas spend on Ultimate will earn at 2.5.

Max is currently free for the first year..Ultimate is $395, but with a fre domestic flight toa limited number of locations.


So what suits you...at what cost and for what intended gain.

What is you likely yearly spend and where do you mainly spend?

What benefits do you want froma card...and how will you seek to burn your points?

ie with Ultimate your points go straight to QFF...with Maximiser you can keep them for various redemptions including several airlines including Qantas.



In my case I seek maximum total points for lowest possible cost.

So after a free 18 months on two Premium Cards with combined sign on bonuses of 35K (which more than offset any loss from its lower eran rate of 1.25 ,particularly as I had some Qantas spend at 2.25 as well)..I have moved onto the Maximiser with its free months and higher eran rate of 1.5 (compared to 1.25).

The higher earn rate is handy to me now as I now paying 3 sets of school fees and the schoolk has recently started accpting Amex. rather than just VISA/MC.

When my Premium becomes due..i will ask for the $195 to be waived so that I can keep it for Qnatas spend...but if they decline I will axe it.


With my Maximiser I will seek likewise....and as over the next year it will probably have had $50-70K pumped through it I will imagine they will say yes.

I use cash where it is cheaper...and Citibank free for life VISA with an earn rate of 1.0 where they do not take AMEX or charge extra to do so.


I build points to make redemptions for international flights...normally 5 economy tickets at a time for my family of 5. I am thinking about some RTW tickets as my next redemption, though am off to Noumea next March with 5 redemptions, after 5 tickets to Thailand 18 months back.

I pay for only about 6 flights a year and so moving points to AA is not attractive to me. If you fly a lot AA may be attractive.

I manily redeem now with QANTAs, but use to redeem with Ansett.

Having the Maximiser now has increased options for me with whom I redeem....and so I will stockpile most new points there....with some already stashed at QFF in the names of my family of 5....and some old points ina Westpac Altitde account now no longer used...except for some minor spend to keep it active (the card is free).


But that is me....what are your goals?

[nowork]

Thanks for that, since I have got you

If you are first up signing up to AMEX, would you go the QANTAS ULTIMATE or the Platinum Card..........Question for a friend of mine.

I thought maybe the Qantas one first, just to rack up some quick points and then change to the Platinum afterwoods.


Thanks again.

[nowork]

Originally Posted by lovetravellingoz

What is you likely yearly spend and where do you mainly spend?

I try to spend every expense on my Amex to take advantage of the points. Only two things i cannot get done, is the rent and shopping at a farm. Everything else goes on AMEX.

Originally Posted by lovetravellingoz

What benefits do you want froma card...and how will you seek to burn your points?

I thought the Qantas would be enought, but after reading about some of the AMEX Reward things, I would prefer to be able to use for all sorts of things

Originally Posted by lovetravellingoz

But that is me....what are your goals?

To get as many points as possible for not only travelling, but to be able to purchase anything.

Thanks for all your help guys.

---------------

Is the Travel Insurance good on the AMEX Premium?

[casp]

Originally Posted by nowork

Hi guys,

I currently have a Qantas Premium AMEX which I have taken advantage off with the first up bonus points and the 1.25 points per dollar etc, but am looking at changing it to the Rewards Maximiser Card as this card offers 1.5 points per $1 and you can use for whatever you like if you dont want to just use for Qantas and also other airlines I believe.

The other reason is that I still haven't received my Qantas Club Invitations and went overseas during the year and did not have them. I have called them up but they seem so slack.

That's excatelly my situation. I still haven't got my club invitation and called them several times. AE said they have post it to me in August and posted a replacement one recently but so far I got nothing.
I have just cancelled my Qantas Preimum card yesterday and transferred the balance/credit limit to my new Reward Maximiser. They said I will even have partial annual fee refund.
Reward Maximiser is a lot better than Qantas Preimum, not just 0.25 extra point per dollor, you can also transfer the points to other frequent flyer programs such as Virgin Atlantic Flying club. A return business class seats to Hong Kong with Qantas require 120000 points but just 80000 with Virgin Atlantic. Moreover, Virgin Atlantic got much better availability on the reward seats.
Therefore, don't wait anymore, apply your reward max card now!

[nowork]

Originally Posted by casp

That's excatelly my situation. I still haven't got my club invitation and called them several times. AE said they have post it to me in August and posted a replacement one recently but so far I got nothing.
I have just cancelled my Qantas Preimum card yesterday and transferred the balance/credit limit to my new Reward Maximiser. They said I will even have partial annual fee refund.
Reward Maximiser is a lot better than Qantas Preimum, not just 0.25 extra point per dollor, you can also transfer the points to other frequent flyer programs such as Virgin Atlantic Flying club. A return business class seats to Hong Kong with Qantas require 120000 points but just 80000 with Virgin Atlantic. Moreover, Virgin Atlantic got much better availability on the reward seats.
Therefore, don't wait anymore, apply your reward max card now!

Hi, Did you call them to cancel your card or just do it online?


Cheers.

[nowork]

DONE, applied now. Bring on the Rewards Max Card.