Best Credit Card(s) for $150,000 per annum spend?

[BJReplay]

I know this question has been asked before a million times, but...

I was a happy CitiBank Platinum No Fee for Life (upgraded from Gold) cardholder, who, for the first time, has been capped (7 months into my year), so I need a new primary card.

Also hold a Qantas American Express Premium Card which I use (until now) for business only expenses (mainly so I can simply pay the entire statement out of my business account - ease of accounting) earning at 1.25, and with a full fee rebate each year for the last 5 years.

I'm a bit of a fee-a-phobic - I don't hold any financial products that charge a fee - but, up until now, that hasn't meant I've missed out on features or benefits.

My options are to push say $120,000 out of $150,000 through my Qantas American Express Premium Card (assuming there is roughly $30,000 of spend where they either don't accept Amex, or the surcharge makes it not worthwhile), and deal with the fact I need to now split personal and business spending and the accounting overhead, or go out and get a new card.

At initial glance, the ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum looks like it might be the best bet: 210,000 points ($120,000 x 1.5 + $30,000 * 1 on CitiBank Visa) for $295. Or, another way (looks less good) is $295 for around 60,000 points more than I would earn if I just stuck with my CitiBank card.

Or, for potentially no fee (assuming with a much bigger spend they'll continue to waive my fee), using the Qantas American Express Premium Card, 180,000 points ($120,000 x 1.25 + $30,000 x 1).

Have I got the numbers right?

$295 for 60,000 points looks expensive, to me.

Do people get a fee waiver with ANZ, or any other 1.5 points per $ card?

Thanks for reading this far, and hitting the reply button.

 

[iqis60]

I found out today the Commbank have a promo going for the start of the year where all there cards, including platinum are fee free for the first year. It has 1.5 spend on Amex and 0.5 of mastercard into QFF. If you don't mind ringing up and cancelling in 11 months or at least threatening too to see if they will give it to you fee free, then it's not a bad option. Unfortunately they have a points cap and I think your spending pattern will hit it.
If you do chase this up, here's a hot tip, ask what they can do for you in regards to bonus points for signing on .

After talking to the guy for a while, he let slip that they will be releasing a diamond card soonish, that is meant to compete with some of the uncap cards. It will have a points cap of around 1 million a year with 1.5 into QFF, but an annual fee of approaching $400 I think.

 

[BJReplay]

I found out today the Commbank have a promo going for the start of the year where all there cards, including platinum are fee free for the first year.

Thanks for that. That will buy me some breathing space. Can work out what to do in 11 months about the fee.

If you do chase this up, here's a hot tip, ask what they can do for you in regards to bonus points for signing on .

After talking to the guy for a while, he let slip that they will be releasing a diamond card soonish, that is meant to compete with some of the uncap cards.

I was a bit lazy, just applied online via Netbank, where they have all my details. I'm a HVC with them, so should be able to at least get a fee waiver, but we'll see.

Bonus points would have been nice to recoup some of the capped points from CitiBank, but the longer I delay, the longer I'm not earning.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Have I got the numbers right?

Well if you mean by that maximising flights per $ spent. Then no, as most likely you can optimise your earn/burn ratio by use of other cards.

However firstly what do you want to redeem points for?
If flying (which delivers the most bang for ones point):

• Y
• J or F travel
• 1 pax at a time, or many
• Upgrades or?
• where to...
• Is status on paid flights important, and if so do you fy enough to obtain/retain status (This is important to some, and particulary those that have to fly a lot in Y))

From the above then consider which airline alliance, and then airline FF program is best. Or indeed is say being in more than once FF program best (For my circumstances I mainly accrue to SQ, but also accrue to QFF anf points that I cannot get to SQ)

Plug-into your decision making likely points earn from all means including flying, hotel, Woolworths etc..as well as any costs (card fees, spending surcharges etc..)

All FF programs have different pro-s and cons. Your preferences and other criteria will result in what FF (or FFs) and CC (or CCs) is optimum for you. This varies for each of us, and there is not one right answer.

 

[BJReplay]

From the above then consider which airline alliance, and then airline FF program is best.

Fair enough. I guess I should have saide for the QF FF program; primarily because the vast majority of my travel (and thus earning capability for points and status) is domestic, and most of my points / balance is in that program; so I'm looking to maximise points there.

I have 560,000 points (would now be 600k+ if not capped by ****tyBank), but currently Bronze, though likely to go back Silver or Gold this year. Will travel with family to europe next year, and should have enough points by then for J for me and Mrs and Y for the kids down the back of the plane

 

[Moopere]

and should have enough points by then for J for me and Mrs and Y for the kids down the back of the plane

Haha, thats the way to do it

 

[lovetravellingoz]

; so I'm looking to maximise points there.

Why? What is your objective?

Mine is to fly in J as often as possible on long-haul internationals.

$150K spend per year at best (ie non-Amex accepting businesses will mean it is lower) garner 225K QFF points = almost one J QFF ticket

$150 K using direct earn Amex's will:
* with some point running garner a lot more than 225K

• In my case I would guess this to be say an additional 30+ 25 + 45 +100 from June 2010 till June 2011 = 200K........and does not include 115K in sign-on bonii which will bring me to about 540K on the type of spend that you have indicated (and which is about mine) = 4 J tickets to Europe via SQ with 10K left over!!.

* allow redemptions on J (or F) on *A at generally at dramatically lower points cost than via QF.

So in my case by minimising my QF earn I maximise my objective.

Which is not to say that I ignore QFF, as I am still collecting points there from various sources that I cannot get to *A.

 

[BJReplay]

Why? What is your objective?

Mine is to fly in J as often as possible on long-haul internationals.

Mine is to fly in J as often as possible on long haul internationals - which (on average) I do once every 10 years, and to upgrade to J on PER MEL and PER BNE legs, which I do far more often, as well as J to AYQ, as well as (admittedly low value) domestic legs for the family to accompany me when I'm on business at a conference.

I perhaps should have titled my question "which is the best CC for earning QF points (because that's what I've chosen to do)"

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Mine is to fly in J as often as possible on long haul internationals - which (on average) I do once every 10 years,

I was just suggesting how you could possibly ramp that up if desired.

and to upgrade to J on PER MEL and PER BNE legs, which I do far more often,

A good use of points. However you can accrue points to both QFF for this....and to SQ for j internationals at a closer spacing of than once every 10 years.:idea:

as well as (admittedly low value) domestic legs for the family to accompany me when I'm on business at a conference.

Grabbing discount fares instead would probably assist in more J's and Upgrades.a...and more "bang" for your points.

I perhaps should have titled my question "which is the best CC for earning QF points (because that's what I've chosen to do)"

Well that is a different question. I was just trying to suggest other possibilities. It is up to each of us to decide what is optimum for ourselves...and you have chosen QFF exclusivity.