QantasAMEX: $0 Annual Card Fee, 5000 points, $50 on Qantas Services

[beardoc]

Thanks for your quick answer! I guess I'll have to familiarize myself with the Ascent program (I don't know the first thing about it). I tend to dislike credit cards with very high annual fees, though. With the value of QFFF points diminishing on a regular basis, I don't feel comfortable investing $$$ on generating them (now, if we had a small business which caused us to spend lots of $$$ regularly, it would be a different story).

Yes, Ascent is a better deal, but if you're not spending a lot with Amex, the costs are going to not be worth it (after all, in the time you accrue an award, you'll have spent that much or more in fees. If you're a member of a professional organisation, you can get a fee free Gold Amex with free Ascent Rewards, though - so if you're a member of the AMA, CPA, etc. then you should check with them.

[lovetravellingoz]

Or just ask them to waive the fee.....it works for me

But yes they will only waive it if you are spending a reasonable amount with then...I would guess $30-50K +

But yes your point is a valid one...any cost of aquistion has to be deducted from the value of the award to assess value.

[lovetravellingoz]

the recent changes to the Ascent program (this week), you might find that an Amex with Ascent Rewards far better!

Yes..I currently have both a Max and a QF Premium Card (both fee free)

I had been accumulatingy my Amex spend on the Max Card apart from Qantas spend on the QF to maximise earn.


I will certainly now concentrate on the Maximiser.....but on the other hand if there are still "free", or exceptionally cheap, bonus points going for QF I will still pick them up.

Plus even though I will now save my Maximiser points for a likely SQ (*A), AA or VA redemption....as I still have dollars going through my Citibank VISA for when companies do not take AMEX I will still unless they change thier options need to transfer those points to QFFF at some stage.




The part that I am really going to have to think long and hard on now is do I award my domestic Qants Flights to QF or change to AA???

[beardoc]

The part that I am really going to have to think long and hard on now is do I award my domestic Qants Flights to QF or change to AA???

You're doing exactly the same things that I'm doing - ditching the QANTAS Amex Cards and concentrating on the MR earning cards, and using the Citibank Visa for when you can't use Amex.

This for me is finally the impetus I need to start sending my QANTAS Domestic Flights to AA. I already have QP Life Membership (bought it when I could) so I'm looking more for the earn/burn ratios now on rewards.

Time for a platinum challenge on my next international trip, I feel!

[edison]

Yes..I currently have both a Max and a QF Premium Card (both fee free)

Hang on, you mean Rewards Maximiser fee free for life? If so, how do you get it?

[geffa18]

I recently cancelled my QF premium card and they told me when i did this that if i wanted to reinstate within 6 months i can without doing a credit check, do you think, or has anyone experienced calling up and asking to be transferred to this new fee free qantas card and they would do it without putting me through credit checks and stuff.

[lovetravellingoz]

Hang on, you mean Rewards Maximiser fee free for life? If so, how do you get it?

No..I did not say fee free for life (like the Citibank is).

They bill the cost each year...and then I ring up and ask them to waive it.

[Jenelle]

I just received my Amex under this deal today - it says "Card Membership Annual Fee - NIL"

Now the catch is further down the column -

$30 - Currency conversion fee- "payable when any charge (including a cash advance) is process in a currency other than australian dollars"

Um - so this, for me renders it basically useless. A $30 fee for a non-Australian dollar transaction? You have to be kidding?!

Has anyone else seen anything like this?!

[Danger]

Sounds like it's good for a quick 5k QFF points and that's it.

[oz_mark]

That's quite a fee for forex.