Altitude Rewards changes to points transfer rate

[Drakecula]

I've noticed those separate points balances. But do you have the option of choosing which balance you are redeeming from? Or are they treated as one when you redeem?

I had the option of selecting which account to transfer out of. And it said if what I wanted to transfer out was more than what was in the account, it would take remaining from the other account. Which is what I did, as I wanted all of the points. But that seems to me that you could just take out the points from the Mastercard and not touch the Amex.

 

[Dr Bob]

Would imagine if you could close the MC & keep the Amex for future earn (3 points per $ so 1Kris point per $) then it would reduce your exposure. But still wise to move all points if you can use them in 3 years. With their last enhancement from 2 for 1 to 2.5 for 1 I only lost the potential for 30K Kris points but this time I'll stand to loose the potential for well over 100K so will definitely need to send then somewhere.
I'll need to research but dose anyone know if after points are redeemed you can convert to QF direct & opt out of rewards ( presuming the QF direct redemption is viable & doesn't also become 3 for 1).

 

[k_sheep]

Thanks for heads up, have just transferred all of mine to SQ. 272 points remaining ... think I'll can that and cancel now.

 

[mad_atta]

I had the option of selecting which account to transfer out of. And it said if what I wanted to transfer out was more than what was in the account, it would take remaining from the other account. Which is what I did, as I wanted all of the points. But that seems to me that you could just take out the points from the Mastercard and not touch the Amex.

That's very useful to know, thanks!

Would imagine if you could close the MC & keep the Amex for future earn (3 points per $ so 1Kris point per $) then it would reduce your exposure. But still wise to move all points if you can use them in 3 years. With their last enhancement from 2 for 1 to 2.5 for 1 I only lost the potential for 30K Kris points but this time I'll stand to loose the potential for well over 100K so will definitely need to send then somewhere.

Agreed. I have about 180K Altitude points so not a huge amount but still useful. I think I'll make a call on where to transfer those to then change earning style to automatic Velocity credit, given ability to transfer from there to SQ, as VA and SQ are typically where I transfer my points to anyway.

 

[jgm]

Before you cancel the MC, be aware that you can't use the Amex card for Bpay.

 

[marks]

Before you cancel the MC, be aware that you can't use the Amex card for Bpay.

You don't get points for bpay anyway.

 

[shuuy]

Saw on SQ that KF->VA transfers are going from 1.35:1 to 1.55:1 - wonder if the same will happen for VA->KF (effective 1 Jan '19)...

 

[albyd]

Just hope the Westpac group (ie Altitude and Amplify programs) conversion rate to SQ doesn’t also change.

 

[Dr Bob]

Saw on SQ that KF->VA transfers are going from 1.35:1 to 1.55:1 - wonder if the same will happen for VA->KF (effective 1 Jan '19)...

It did say vice versa

 

[shuuy]

Just hope the Westpac group (ie Altitude and Amplify programs) conversion rate to SQ doesn’t also change.

You're aware of the devaluation in November, right?

 

[albyd]

You’re right one part of Westpac group has already done it. Hopefully Amplify will be spared.

 

[kamchatsky]

You’re right one part of Westpac group has already done it. Hopefully Amplify will be spared.

I think it is a matter of time ......

 

[gizzard]

If you're a chaser of SQ miles then from what I can work out the best strategy looking at the Mastercard (I don't have Amex) is:

Until 9 November transfer all Altitude to SQ, 2.5 points for 1 SQ mile (0.5 SQ miles per $ as $1=1.25 points); turn on Auto-redemption
9 November - 1 January Auto-redeem VA at 2 points for 1 VA mile or 0.463 SQ miles per $ after a Krisflyer transfer at 1.35
31 December - Transfer from VA to SQ at 1.35
1 January contact Westpac and ask them to turn off Auto redemption and redeem SQ miles manually to earn 0.417 SQ miles per $

The exact dates depends on your earning/likely earning and your statement dates when Auto occurs.

(Happy to have the maths corrected).

 

[BB1]

This has been a bit of a shock. We have been long term banking points in Altitude Rewards with over 1.5 million points currently.
Cant afford to take a massive hit like that and unsure of whether to transfer to SQ or VA??
No big travel planned yet except a possible to USA/Mexico in early 2019.
What is my best option - transfer to SQ or into VA?
I want the best chance of reward seat availability and that seems to be SQ

We constantly have a trickle of points from all the usual sources like BP etc that keeps the VA countdown from expiring. Does a transfer of points from VA to SQ reset the expiry clock or is that always counting down?

All advice appreciated

 

[gizzard]

If you mean the SQ expiry clock then my understanding is that it is always counting down but can be lengthened at a cost in points.

If you do nothing then you face a depreciation from 0.5 SQ miles per $ to 0.417.
If you do nothing then your 1.5 million points will depreciate by around 125k SQ miles on 9 November, that's a round trip in J to Asia.

If you transfer them to VA then you're going to lose even more if you end up transferring them to SQ eventually.
At the moment they'd reduce from the equivalent of 750k SQ miles to around 555k miles with the 1.35 transfer and on 1 January to around 483k miles.

If you really don't think you'd have an use on SQ or *Alliance (bookable through Krisflyer) over the next 3 years or longer if you pay the points to extend them then you're going to have to take the loss.

Personally, I'd transfer them to SQ now and enjoy the trips.

 

[lonewolf]

OMG, I also have 1.5 million altitude points, havent really touched it much since i joined. I dont know what to do now, I was planning on finally flying business class somewhere one day but havent really gotten around to it yet. Was even thinking maybe can do it for my family and inlaws as well.

Anyway, sounds like people are recommending to transfer over to krisflyer? I fly international more than i fly domestic. But i generally fly different airlines and dont generally stick to any one airline. Hence why i just never got around to using the points .

 

[gizzard]

Remember you can book any *Alliance flight through Krisflyer not just SQ.

 

[lonewolf]

Remember you can book any *Alliance flight through Krisflyer not just SQ.

Is there any advantage on booking SQ over krisflyer as opposed to other airlines in the alliance? As in does SQ get better rates? So you would recommend i transfer everything over to Krisflyer now ?

 

[gaz1]

I'm extremely annoyed they are applying this change retrospectively (last time they kept old points seperate so you could transfer at the old rate).
This certainly devalues the whole Altitude program to a point there are many better options.
Up until they announced the change from 1:1.35 to 1:1.55, auto-transfer to Velocity was a good option. Good transfer rate & didn't lose too much if you decided to transfer from Velocity to KF later. i.e. it still gave some flexibility to choose Velocity or KF for future bookings.
Now that 1:1.55 is eminent, you really need to decide to which program you would like to send all your points.
KF is generally very good, but exceptions occur for many routes.
The main issue with "gambling" on transferring all to KF is the 3 year expiry date (whereas it is easy to keep Velocity points from expiring).
What is everyone else planning to do?

 

[gizzard]

What is everyone else planning to do?

See my earlier post:
Altitude Rewards changes to points transfer rate