Help me choose an Amex card!

[ozkid]

Hi folks
first post

I'd like to get the forum's advice on whether it is still a profitable method to channel spend on the ATO/govt bills to get reward points; and if so, which is the best card to do this.

Background: QFF Gold, through a mix of domestic and international flights (pay my way, own business, so claimed as tax deduction). QFF points are through my Qantas linked mastercard, but I would like to start accumulating points so I can also build up a portfolio across MH, SQ, etc.

My research so far:
1. I can probably get about 200k membership reward points just through funnelling all the company bills through amex at 0.5points/$
2. However given the amex charge at close to 1.5%, this would mean a $6000 just in surcharge (though this can be deductible - accountant said yes)
3. 200k through say MH should be = 2x J flights to Europe though, less for other carriers.

What cards fit this spend?
1. Plat edge
2. Plat charge (but $900pa?? not sure I would be able to fully utilise all the freebies)

3. Left field choices (1.5:1 redemption to QFF/Velocity/Krisflyer/Enrich) through own reward program
CommBank Diamond
Westpac Black
HOWEVER, the T&C explicitly states no points earned from BPay (is this truly applied?). If this is true then will nix these as an option


Have I missed anything? Love to hear some feedback.

 

[DaveB]

Welcome to the site that you never stop learning from though be warned it is extremely addictive.
The only Amex cards useful for ATO is the big 4 banks earning you 1.5 FF points and if you have considerable spend, go for Westpac enabling you to warehouse points for use amongst the various airlines later. Small ATO spends of around $5-10k per month, I would just go with Woolies EDR until they pull the pin on you at some stage.
I use a mix of Amex Edge (3x and 2x points)and NAB Amex (1.5x) for personal spend with Citi Select (1.33x) for my main bulk spend with ATO currently going to NAB Amex and a small amount to Woolies EDR (1x).

 

[wxxnxs]

3. Left field choices (1.5:1 redemption to QFF/Velocity/Krisflyer/Enrich) through own reward program
CommBank Diamond
Westpac Black
HOWEVER, the T&C explicitly states no points earned from BPay (is this truly applied?). If this is true then will nix these as an option

Unfortunately, that is true, WBC never gives points to BPay transactions, and CBA stopped since Nov last year.

 

[prozac]

I can't add anything to what has been said other than to suggest that if you are going to get an Amex card regardless you look at The Platinum Reserve Credit Card for the additional joining points. This amounts to 40,000 points if referred by someone. The annual fee is $395 which is $100 more than the standard Plat Edge card. The Plat card will give you 60k points on a referral but has a whopping $900 annual fee.

 

[amaroo]

Hi folks
first post

I'd like to get the forum's advice on whether it is still a profitable method to channel spend on the ATO/govt bills to get reward points; and if so, which is the best card to do this.

Background: QFF Gold, through a mix of domestic and international flights (pay my way, own business, so claimed as tax deduction). QFF points are through my Qantas linked mastercard, but I would like to start accumulating points so I can also build up a portfolio across MH, SQ, etc.

If status is important I'd stick with one FF program.

For ATO earn I agree with what has been posted already.

If you have high $$$ spend on QF (x3) Restaurants (x3) hotels (x2) foreign spend (x2).......Qantas Amex Ult is worth looking at - 50,000 sign up bonus at the moment. The fee is higher but it's off-set with travel insurance & free return flight. It's useless for anything else!

Depends on your spending pattern.

Of course, you're stuck with QF with this option.

 

[cove]

Westpac Altitude Black and a Woolies Everydayrewards would get you plenty of points at a reasonable cost but you then have 2 different alliances running.

 

[ozkid]

Hi guys
great thanks for confirming my research. And yes - this forum is really addictive. Wish I joined up a couple of years ago though - could have used all the advice (and had a chance to rack up a lot of points...grrr) earlier. Learning heaps.

Finally signed up for an altitude black after all, I'm hedging my bets and don't like the idea of putting all my points into QFF. Instead will warehouse the amex points, and still accumulate some on the QF mastercard for everything else that doesn't like amex.

 

[prozac]

Good choice.