CBA adds JAL, United and other airline transfer partners?

[jinks485]

iflyflat has published a blog post today saying you can now redeem your Commbank Awards Points to fly with nine new airline partners:

• Air Asia - Big points
• Air France / KLM - Flying Blue
• Eva Air - Infinity MileageLands
• China Eastern - Eastern Miles
• Etihad - Guest
• Malaysia Airlines - Enrich
• United Airlines - MileagePlus
• Japan Airlines - MileageBank
• Lufthansa - Miles & More
• Plus - IHG Rewards, the loyalty program of InterContinental Hotels Group, is also available as the bank's first hotel transfer partner.

I can't find this info on CBA's website - it just lists Velocity and Qantas.

Has anyone received notification from CBA? Perhaps this info is embargoed and iflyflat has jumped the gun on the announcement.

Japan Airlines, United Airways and 7 more airlines are now accessible with CBA Awards Points.

 

[JinbaIttai]

I just logged into my CBA Diamond awards site and got the following options:



Plus Qantas which requires the card to be configured for "direct sweep"

And the terms and conditions say:


Global Frequent Traveller Program

1. The redemption of CommBank Awards points for global frequent traveller program points or miles is processed by Kaligo Solutions, who provide this service to us.
2. If you redeem Awards points for frequent traveller program points or miles via the Awards website or the CommBank Awards call centre, we’ll give Kaligo Solutions your name and frequent traveller membership number so they can process your request. Please note that Kaligo Solutions and some of the frequent traveller program partners are based overseas. For more information about how Kaligo Solutions manages your personal information, you can view their Privacy Policy via this link.
3. You need to be a member of the relevant frequent traveller program to redeem CommBank Awards points for frequent traveller points or miles through Kaligo Solutions. Fees may apply. The redemption of frequent traveller points or miles and membership of the frequent traveller programs offered by Kaligo Solutions’ frequent traveller partners is subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant frequent traveller program.
4. Transfer of points to the following frequent traveller programs is subject to their additional terms and conditions which can be found on these website pages:
   • EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
   • Air France and KLM Flying Blue
   • United Airlines MileagePlus
   
5. Members must convert a minimum of 2,500 CommBank Awards points to frequent traveller points or miles, and redemptions greater than 2,500 points must be in increments of 1,000 points for each transfer request (for example, 3,500 points, 4,500 points, 5,500 points (etc.).
6. Most points transfer requests are processed within 3 business days, but it may take up to 15 business days depending on the relevant frequent traveller program.
7. Frequent traveller member details (for example, name or frequent traveller membership number) provided must be correct or the points transfer may be rejected. CommBank Awards will try to contact the member to resolve any rejections as member assistance may be required when liaising with the frequent traveller program.

Qantas Frequent Flyer Direct

1. Subject to the CommBank Awards Program Terms and Conditions, CommBank Awards members can opt-in to Qantas Frequent Flyer Direct and automatically redeem their CommBank Awards points for Qantas Points at the following conversion rates: Awards credit card: 2.5 CommBank Awards points will be required to redeem for 1 Qantas Point;
   Gold Awards credit card: 2.5 CommBank Awards points will be required to redeem 1 Qantas Point;
   Platinum Awards credit card: 2.5 CommBank Awards points will be required to redeem 1 Qantas Point;
   Diamond Awards credit card: 2.5 CommBank Awards points will be required to redeem 1 Qantas Point.
2. The Bank charges an additional annual fee of $30 to opt-in to Qantas Frequent Flyer Direct.
3. For other applicable terms and conditions of Airline Rewards refer to the Airline Rewards section of the Program Terms and Conditions.

Velocity Frequent Flyer

1. When converting CommBank Awards Points to Velocity Points, members must convert a minimum of 3,600 CommBank Awards points to Velocity Points. Redemptions greater than 3,600 points must be in increments of 1,000 points, for example, 4,600 points, 5,600 points, 6,600 points (etc.). If such a redemption results in a Member’s CommBank Awards points balance falling below 3,600 points, they are ineligible to make further redemptions under this Award until their Awards points balance is at least 3,600 points.
2. Points can only be transferred to a Velocity Account in the same name as the primary card holder of the CommBank Awards account.
3. Points transferred to Velocity, Velocity Points earn and redemption and membership of Velocity is subject to the Velocity Membership Terms and Conditions, available at www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/TermsConditions, as amended from time to time.
4. Subject to Condition 1, members can redeem their CommBank Awards points to Velocity points at the following conversion rates:
   Awards credit card: 2.5 CommBank Awards points will be required to redeem 1 Velocity point.
   Gold Awards credit card: 2.5 CommBank Awards points will be required to redeem 1 Velocity point.
   Platinum Awards credit card: 2 CommBank Awards points will be required to redeem 1 Velocity point.
   Diamond Awards credit card: 2 CommBank Awards points will be required to redeem 1 Velocity point.
5. To earn and redeem Velocity Points, you must be a Velocity member.

 

[burmans]

This would have been useful if they hadn't also gutted the program with removal of the Amex!

 

[wxxnxs]

The transfer rate is horrible, probably one of the worst in Aus credit market.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

The transfer rate is horrible, probably one of the worst in Aus credit market.

Probably is an understatement - The CBA just dont give a toss about competitive in the Premium Credit card segment it appears.

 

[Deeks]

I usual get gift cards for my points awards with CBA but was wondering if any of these new partner programs offer better value when transferring points.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Commonwealth Bank Awards adds 10 new airline, hotel points partners - Australian Business Traveller

 

[Paddy55]

Commonwealth Bank Awards adds 10 new airline, hotel points partners - Australian Business Traveller

Might have been interested a while ago, however I'll be off CBA's cards before their Amex disappears!

 

[wxxnxs]

Might have been interested a while ago, however I'll be off CBA's cards before their Amex disappears!

Nothing to lose, as the transfer rate is a joke anyway.

 

[Comoman]

No SQ is a disappointment

 

[Chicken]

The transfer rate is horrible, probably one of the worst in Aus credit market.

Really? Am I missing something?

Using QF points as an example, in the format of
CBA Diamond - Citi Qantas
$379 - $444

CBA
$1 = CBA 1.25
QF 1 = CBA 2.5 = $2

Citi
$1 = QF 0.5
QF 1 = $2

Seems CBA is better than Citi, except I have Citi free for life ...

 

[wxxnxs]

Really? Am I missing something?

Using QF points as an example, in the format of
CBA Diamond - Citi Qantas
$379 - $444

CBA
$1 = CBA 1.25
QF 1 = CBA 2.5 = $2

Citi
$1 = QF 0.5
QF 1 = $2

Seems CBA is better than Citi, except I have Citi free for life ...

I'm not talking about Qantas and Velocity transfer, as they can be easily replaced by other credit cards in the market which have much better earn rate. The new transferring partners which have been recently added just approve CBA awards stand very little value.

 

[burmans]

I'm not talking about Qantas and Velocity transfer, as they can be easily replaced by other credit cards in the market which have much better earn rate. The new transferring partners which have been recently added just approve CBA awards stand very little value.

I think this is missing the point rather. Yes we agree the points earn/burn ratio for the CBA card wasnt great, but that's not where people saw the value of the card. The value of the card for those who had a HL package was
- fee free
- free insurance and one of the best, i.e. you didn't even need to put travel on the card
- no FX fee on international spend on the Amex vs about 3% on most cards

The last was the main reason most people have this card, aside from this only Cit Debit and 28 degress really compare in a FX fee free card and they dont get any points at all.

So, yes the points were cough but they were just a bonus and for a bonus having additional places to spend them would be a good thing.

But thats all dead when they get rid of the Amex.

 

[Chicken]

The one I think stands out is Eva Air, for people who are Taiwanese / travel to Taiwan. It is a monopoly market, and there is no credit card partner for any Taiwanese airline in Australia I don't think?

 

[Einherjar]

Maybe not directly (like JAL's Mileage Bank) but you may get better welcome bonuses/redemption with Krisflyer which Eva Air is part of the Star Alliance?

1.25 CBA points = $1
3 CBA points = 1 EVA Air Mile
So 15 CBA Points = 5 EVA Air Mile = $12

EVA Air's Return flight between Oceania and Asia is 100000 miles? - Requirements - EVA Air | Global

Krisflyer's Alliance is 70000 KF miles? - https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/charts/StarAlliance_RoundTrip.pdf

My calculations could be off but if I use Platinum Edge (without welcome offer), I can maximise 3 points to $1 with supermarkets ...

 

[GSP]

I think this is missing the point rather. Yes we agree the points earn/burn ratio for the CBA card wasnt great, but that's not where people saw the value of the card. The value of the card for those who had a HL package was
- fee free
- free insurance and one of the best, i.e. you didn't even need to put travel on the card
- no FX fee on international spend on the Amex vs about 3% on most cards

The last was the main reason most people have this card, aside from this only Cit Debit and 28 degress really compare in a FX fee free card and they dont get any points at all.

So, yes the points were cough but they were just a bonus and for a bonus having additional places to spend them would be a good thing.

But thats all dead when they get rid of the Amex.

Agree with all the benefits (as also had the HL package), the other one was with the AMEX if you had no intention of converting to airline points but rather gift cards, then the BLACK earn rate for Rewards points was good relative to other proiders - i.e 3 points per dollar spent, however this was recently watered down to only apply at Supermarkets, Department stores, a few other randoms and International spend and a (drastically) reduced rate elsewhere.

Also re: Fx fee waiver, the Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard also provided FX fee free (and also any fees on the card) much like the 28 degs...and a good FX rate at that. It also did not earn any points however.

 

[pangwen]

Maybe not directly (like JAL's Mileage Bank) but you may get better welcome bonuses/redemption with Krisflyer which Eva Air is part of the Star Alliance?

1.25 CBA points = $1
3 CBA points = 1 EVA Air Mile
So 15 CBA Points = 5 EVA Air Mile = $12

EVA Air's Return flight between Oceania and Asia is 100000 miles? - Requirements - EVA Air | Global

Krisflyer's Alliance is 70000 KF miles? - https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/charts/StarAlliance_RoundTrip.pdf

My calculations could be off but if I use Platinum Edge (without welcome offer), I can maximise 3 points to $1 with supermarkets ...

From my experience, the sole Eva Air route to Australia (BNE-TPE) has very restricted reward availability for members of other Star Alliance programs (for example, see Michael Kao's comment on EVA Air Limiting Business Class Partner Award Space - One Mile at a Time)

 

[Einherjar]

From my experience, the sole Eva Air route to Australia (BNE-TPE) has very restricted reward availability for members of other Star Alliance programs (for example, see Michael Kao's comment on EVA Air Limiting Business Class Partner Award Space - One Mile at a Time)

Good to know, thanks. Unless I fly solely for Eva Air and regularly, I wouldn't hinge my cards and accumulation on one airline. Even when I focused my cards on Asia Miles they have blue updated their redemption table. Considering if it's still worth pushing on or expanding to QFF space

 

[Tad]

No SQ is a disappointment

You can transfer CBA points to Velocity and later from Velosity to SQ KrisFlyer. Long winded, but a way around this deficiency

 

[jasecao]

You can transfer CBA points to Velocity and later from Velosity to SQ KrisFlyer. Long winded, but a way around this deficiency

would work out to be like approx 3 CBA points for 1 krisflyer come Jan 1 =(