Amex & QFF points -- a serious degrading of the earn rate

[Walter_Plinge]

Just received a form letter from Amex advising that from 22 July 2013 the earn structure for QFF points will change -- and very much for the worse. So much so I'll probably cancel my Platinum card.

New earn structure

Most purchases -- 0.5 points per $1 spent (e.g., utilities, ATO, phone bills,)

1 point per $1 - All other provides other than those above

2 points per $1 - Accommodation, airlines, overseas currencies

3 points per $1 - Restaurants and 'selected' Qantas services.

I wonder if this is just Amex or if other card providers will soon follow.

 

[k3nnis]

Which QF Amex is this?

 

[oz_mark]

There's a few threads on this rolling through the various cards that missed out in the last round!

 

[lovestotravel]

2 points per $1 - Accommodation, airlines, overseas currencies
3 points per $1 - Restaurants and 'selected' Qantas services.

This is still better than most/all other Qantas earning cards out there...

I only use my Amex issued cards for the above spend now, and use the Commonwealth Bank Amex for everything else which is 1.5 points per $1

 

[pshepvic]

2 points per $1 - Accommodation, airlines, overseas currencies
3 points per $1 - Restaurants and 'selected' Qantas services.

This is still better than most/all other Qantas earning cards out there...

I only use my Amex issued cards for the above spend now, and use the Commonwealth Bank Amex for everything else which is 1.5 points per $1

I've actually found my points earn has increased on average - obviously being on this site I travel a lot, and so have a lot of accommodation, airline, and restaurant expenses. I also have a Platinum Edge card to get the 3 points at supermarkets and 2 points for petrol. Then all other expenses go onto either my Virgin High Flyer at 1.25 points, or CBA Diamond for all other Amex purchases at 1.5 points.

Overall, my points have increased by around 20-30% since this change.

 

[k3nnis]

Can I ask which QF AMEX do you have? Premium?

I've actually found my points earn has increased on average - obviously being on this site I travel a lot, and so have a lot of accommodation, airline, and restaurant expenses. I also have a Platinum Edge card to get the 3 points at supermarkets and 2 points for petrol. Then all other expenses go onto either my Virgin High Flyer at 1.25 points, or CBA Diamond for all other Amex purchases at 1.5 points.

Overall, my points have increased by around 20-30% since this change.

 

[pshepvic]

Cent.......

 

[k3nnis]

Nice. I wonder if I will get an invite. I've got the plat charge now but I think even if I had one I don't think I can justify $4300

 

[pshepvic]

Nice. I wonder if I will get an invite. I've got the plat charge now but I think even if I had one I don't think I can justify $4300

It's very much a case of weighing up the benefits vs cost - I did the sums and I still work out ahead. Free breakfast at Hilton Hotels (through Hhonors diamond) nets me at least $300-400 benefit a year, at least a free night a year at a hotel (this year it will be at Peninsula Hong Kong for me) is another $300+, the flight/hotel on the Plat Reserve is about $200-250. That's 20% of the cost alone. Insurance is great for me as 70-80% of my travel is either work or on points and so I need a policy that covers me without having to buy tickets on the card. This is the only card that does that now, so for myself and y partner it saves us around $1500+ a year on a decent travel insurance policy, which is another 40%. Plenty of other benefits too, and for me the value is there. Not everyone else will find it though.

 

[serfty]

...

Overall, my points have increased by around 20-30% since this change.

So you obviously had not been using it to pay four+ figure sums to the ATO.

 

[pshepvic]

So you obviously had not been using it to pay four+ figure sums to the ATO.

No. I don't run a business and the ATO generally owes me a significant amount of money each year!

 

[k3nnis]

Does Amex invite plat charge holders to centurion after 1 year on the charge? Do we need to spend big amounts on the plat charge??

 

[pshepvic]

Does Amex invite plat charge holders to centurion after 1 year on the charge? Do we need to spend big amounts on the plat charge??

It's based more on what you spend on, rather than the total amount. Rumours abound that you need to spend $200k+ which are not true. However invites are only sent if you spend a lot on what are considered discretionary items - airfares, restaurants, accommodation, overseas etc. The actual criteria is only known to Amex!

 

[pshepvic]

By the way, I had Plat for at least 5 years before an invite...

 

[Walter_Plinge]

So you obviously had not been using it to pay four+ figure sums to the ATO.

My beef exactly. I have been. Five-figure sums actually.

 

[k3nnis]

Ok thanks for the info.

By the way, I had Plat for at least 5 years before an invite...

 

[simongr]

It's based more on what you spend on, rather than the total amount. Rumours abound that you need to spend $200k+ which are not true. However invites are only sent if you spend a lot on what are considered discretionary items - airfares, restaurants, accommodation, overseas etc. The actual criteria is only known to Amex!

Agreed - I got an invite with only 80K spend - but mostly on discretionary including an overseas trip and visits to Tiffanys...

 

[Brooke01]

It's based more on what you spend on, rather than the total amount. Rumours abound that you need to spend $200k+ which are not true. However invites are only sent if you spend a lot on what are considered discretionary items - airfares, restaurants, accommodation, overseas etc. The actual criteria is only known to Amex!

Also agree with the above. I went from Gold Charge straight to Centurion - I travel alot for work and do a couple of o/s trips a year for leisure.

Just got stung with my first $5k annual fee - boo It's still worth it to me though - but would like to see a few more partners/enhancements (of the positive nature !) come in.

Cheers,

Brooke

 

[ozflier]

I emailed Amex and complained . I received some weird response saying that in view of my current 1.5 miles earning rate ( wrong ) and in view of the extra points I would earn from overseas travel ( no link provided and could find none ), I was better off!!
I wrote back and asked for someone who was not just reading from a screen with incorrect info to contact me.
I got a response - my complaint escalated to some executive person.
Result - nothing for 3 weeks and still nothing.
If I had know the changes , I would not have renewed my annual membership.
I no longer believe that Amex provide a quality service!

 

[wxxnxs]

I emailed Amex and complained . I received some weird response saying that in view of my current 1.5 miles earning rate ( wrong ) and in view of the extra points I would earn from overseas travel ( no link provided and could find none ), I was better off!!
I wrote back and asked for someone who was not just reading from a screen with incorrect info to contact me.
I got a response - my complaint escalated to some executive person.
Result - nothing for 3 weeks and still nothing.
If I had know the changes , I would not have renewed my annual membership.
I no longer believe that Amex provide a quality service!

Most of their call centre service have been moved back to US.