[xco]

With the pending closure of the Ezy MasterCard program, the past weeks have been an effort in trying to identify a replacement card, which earns the maximum amount of Qantas Frequent Flyer points with the lowest card fees.

Below is a summary of what I've come up with

Primary Card - This is the one to do as much spending on as possible.
The Qantas American Express Premium Credit Card.
On offer for those who signed up by 31/8/06 was 17500 bonus points. 10000 for signing up, 5000 for first spend, and 2500 for purchasing Qantas products. No annual card fee ($195) for the first year, supplementary card was however $30.

Earn 1.25 Qantas Frequent Flyer points for every dollar spent every day using your the Premium Card, Earn 1 additional point for every dollar spent on your Premium Card in Australia on selected Qantas services

No limit to the number of points you can earn
Two Qantas Club Invitations every year when you spend on your Card in Australia on selected Qantas services

Check out the link it may still work, or you may be able to call Amex and do a deal.
Credit Cards - The Qantas American Express Premium Credit Card - American Express Australia

The only pitfall thus far with this card is that some merchants DO NOT accept it, and some charge 2% surcharge.

So what to go for as an extra or replacement card??

Citibank
Wow how frustrating it is to speak with customer service in Phillipines. This is one reason I'm steering clear of this. However if you want a Citibank card this is what I've uncovered.

Spending on the card acrues 1 point per dollar $

Gold card
$119 yearly fee
$30 supp card
Credit limit $5 - $25k
Points capped at 60000 per year

Platinum card
$250 yearly fee
$90 supp card
Credit limit $12 - $30k
Points capped at 120000 per year

The link below get you the gold card with 6.9%pa and no annual fee ever.
http://www.citibank.com.au/cardsoffer/offers/gold_nofee_A.htm

Commonwealth Bank
Although I'm dirty on Com Bank for dropping the Ezy MasterCard, they appear to be the only bank with a half decent program.

Platinum Card
$1.00 spent = 1 reward point
1 reward point = 1 QF point

Costs
$200.00 per year
$15.00 suppl cards

Points capped at 150000 per calendar year

I'm told that if you push hard enough with the bank branch manager you may get the first year fee removed. I tried this recently and was told that once I applied and was issued a card I could then ask for the yearly fee to be waived. Were is there incentive once they've already issued me the card. (I'll keep trying on this and update you all when I get a respoinse)

Final Summary
Over 12 months using the Amex card for everyday household bills and spending I should earn at least 70000 points. Topped up with the Comm Bank Platinum card where Amex is not accepted I shoud be able to make all purcahses through the year with a credit card.

70000 points, thats Asia Pacific from Australia return, and one way to New York or Frankfurt.

If anyone has a better card suggestion or combination let me know.

[lovetravellingoz]

Yes...that is what is in the other strings. You may wish to read through them for all the pros and cons.

Best deal for me at present is the free fora year but with 17500 FF bonus for joing Qantas Amex boosted with the free for life Citibank Visa at an earn rate of 1;1.

I have 10 months to finda free replacement for the AMEX....or eralier if there is a 1;1.5 deal going....

[one9]

You don't seem to have chosen the best Amex card. It may be better to chose an Amex card that offers 1.5 points per dollar. (Of course the signup bonus on the Qantas American Express Premium Credit Card is attractive. Maybe have this one and another Amex one offering 1.5 points)

[Febs]

Originally Posted by one9

You don't seem to have chosen the best Amex card. It may be better to chose an Amex card that offers 1.5 points per dollar. (Of course the signup bonus on the Qantas American Express Premium Credit Card is attractive. Maybe have this one and another Amex one offering 1.5 points)

Perhaps not the best for earning, but the best "overall" deal IMO.

Free for a year with 1.25 points, as opposed to $399/year (or thereabouts?) and 1.5 points for the top of the line Qantas AMEX.

Cheers,
- Febs.

[one9]

Originally Posted by Febs

Perhaps not the best for earning, but the best "overall" deal IMO.

- Febs.

Overall depends on someones spending pattern.

For example, I believe the NAB Ant Gold Amex card is available free for a year.

So if you use this card and providing you spend more than $70,000 on your card in the year, then the NAB Ant Gold Amex card would work out better.

The Qantas card is attractive (especially getting 17500 points for virtually no spedning), but if you are spending a lot on your card, then you should be aware you will lose out on the points.

[Jim]

I spend several hundred thousand dollars per year using FF credit cards. I have a AMEX Qantas ultimate card with uncapped 1.5 FF points per $1 spent. I have two CBA platinum cards which cap at $150,000 each and a free gold citibank that caps at $60,000.

I understand St.George Private Bank visa is uncapped but they require you to borrow or invest at least one million dollars with them. Is there any other FF Visa or Mastercard that is UNCAPPED and converts at 1 FF point per dollar spent?

[PaulZ]

Originally Posted by Jim

a free gold citibank that caps at $60,000.

My Citibank Gold card didn't cut out after spending $60,000. We spent over $100k and got 1:1.

The terms and conditions actually talk about minimum. i.e. the gold card is eligible for a minimum of 60,000 pts. (from memory).

Originally Posted by Jim

I understand St.George Private Bank visa is uncapped but they require you to borrow or invest at least one million dollars with them.

You are correct.

Originally Posted by Jim

Is there any other FF Visa or Mastercard that is UNCAPPED and converts at 1 FF point per dollar spent?

Not that I know of (except for the St George)

[oz_mark]

Originally Posted by PaulZ

My Citibank Gold card didn't cut out after spending $60,000. We spent over $100k and got 1:1.

The terms and conditions actually talk about minimum. i.e. the gold card is eligible for a minimum of 60,000 pts. (from memory).

60,000 points is the minimum maximum they can restrict a gold card to. The terms and conditions:

Citibank may at its absolute descretion choose to limit the maximum number of Reward points that may be awarded to each Account in any 12 months beginning from the day Your Account's annual fee (even if waived) is chargeable, but will not limit such Reward points to less than:

(i) Silver Account: 40,000 Reward points;
(ii) Gold Account: 60,000 Reward points;
(iii) Platinum Account: 120,000 Reward points.

[xco]

Here We Go Again

Although the Comm Bank Platinum Card has been good I rarely use it enough to justify the $$$ yearly fee. All of my spending has been done on teh Amex Rewards Maximiser which has been great although the card is not accepted everywhere (maybe one day Amex will resolve this with merchants)

I want to replace the Comm Bank Platinum Card with a lower yearly fee card but still get 1 for $1 points.

Any suggestions

[lovetravellingoz]

Originally Posted by xco

Here We Go Again


I want to replace the Comm Bank Platinum Card with a lower yearly fee card but still get 1 for $1 points.

Any suggestions

Read the Citibank Free for life Gold posts...and geta Citibank card witha 1:1 earn.