I don't have a credit card!!! What should I get???

[yoursnowtographer]

That changes everything.

Is that because you earn 1 point per $ instead of 2?
If so would it be worth getting the Jetstar Platinum for $69 first year, including saving on fees and getting Jetstar dollars to use over the 10 or so trips?

I only will be flying Jetstar for work to Narita, we fly Qantas when we holiday, so does the Jetstar Platinum MC give decent Qantas points?

Thanks

 

[rweir]

Not to be rude, but have you considered looking at the Jetstar Platinum website? It explicitly states this on the front page.

 

[Colin 2905]

Also keep in mind that you won't get any Aquire points on your Jetstar flights.

 

[yoursnowtographer]

Thanks guys for all the info
After much reading and calculations, aa I'm not a regular Qantas flyer, will be doing an Italy trip at the end of the year with family. I think I'd be better off with a no fee card.
So the AMEX discovery seems good for me, I will also apply to get the NAB Platinum as it has zero fee first year, and use this for purchasing tickets etc to Italy.

I noticed with all these cards that an overseas spend insure a fee, so when pre-booking my hire car would it be best to load up my Frequent Flyer debit card and transfer required money to EURO then book the car with that card?

Thanks

 

[robd]

Thanks guys for all the info
After much reading and calculations, aa I'm not a regular Qantas flyer, will be doing an Italy trip at the end of the year with family. I think I'd be better off with a no fee card.
So the AMEX discovery seems good for me, I will also apply to get the NAB Platinum as it has zero fee first year, and use this for purchasing tickets etc to Italy.

I noticed with all these cards that an overseas spend insure a fee, so when pre-booking my hire car would it be best to load up my Frequent Flyer debit card and transfer required money to EURO then book the car with that card?

Thanks

IMO, the 28 Degree MC is the best card for O/S spend & purchases (no fees).

 

[rweir]

so when pre-booking my hire car would it be best to load up my Frequent Flyer debit card and transfer required money to EURO then book the car with that card?

no, that card is a very expensive way to buy stuff in Europe. 28Degrees or Bankwest Platinum are, as far as I know, the only credit cards in Australia that don't charge ridiculous fees for overseas use. If you really want to apply for the other cards (and thus probably will be rejected for a third), get a Citibank Plus account with *debit* card for overseas use.

 

[exceladdict]

If you haven't submitted your applications yet, you may wish to consider the Bankwest Qantas Platinum.

$160 fee, but with 50k points (worth $333 in wish gift cards at the lowest end or $2500 in the upgrades I cash QPs in for), low threshold travel insurance and no foreign transaction fee, it may suit your needs.

You may also be able to upgrade it to a world mastercard if you're lucky.

 

[yoursnowtographer]

no, that card is a very expensive way to buy stuff in Europe. 28Degrees or Bankwest Platinum are, as far as I know, the only credit cards in Australia that don't charge ridiculous fees for overseas use. If you really want to apply for the other cards (and thus probably will be rejected for a third), get a Citibank Plus account with *debit* card for overseas use.

Is this because of the exchange rate offered? The way I read how the Qantas Cash Card works is you transfer your loaded amount into the currency you are going to be using (Euro in my case in Italy) and you are not charged a currency conversion fee. If I go to Switzerland though and use it there I would be charged 3% currency conversion because the card doesn't have a Swiss Franc virtual wallet that I can transfer money into.

If you haven't submitted your applications yet, you may wish to consider the Bankwest Qantas Platinum.

$160 fee, but with 50k points (worth $333 in wish gift cards at the lowest end or $2500 in the upgrades I cash QPs in for), low threshold travel insurance and no foreign transaction fee, it may suit your needs.

You may also be able to upgrade it to a world mastercard if you're lucky.

Yes I looked at this, almost applied for it but the insurance doesn't cover off-piste skiing so will have to get additional insurance anyway, also the NAB card is currently first year free with 40k points, and according to the Qantas Cash site the only fees that will effect me are the ATM withdrawal fee (1.50EUR) as I'll be in Italy and have the card loaded with Euro so I won't be charged the 3% currency conversion fee.

 

[Colin 2905]

Qantas Cash and similar cards sting you via lousy exchange rates. Avoid.

 

[exceladdict]

Is this because of the exchange rate offered? The way I read how the Qantas Cash Card works is you transfer your loaded amount into the currency you are going to be using (Euro in my case in Italy) and you are not charged a currency conversion fee. If I go to Switzerland though and use it there I would be charged 3% currency conversion because the card doesn't have a Swiss Franc virtual wallet that I can transfer money into.



Yes I looked at this, almost applied for it but the insurance doesn't cover off-piste skiing so will have to get additional insurance anyway, also the NAB card is currently first year free with 40k points, and according to the Qantas Cash site the only fees that will effect me are the ATM withdrawal fee (1.50EUR) as I'll be in Italy and have the card loaded with Euro so I won't be charged the 3% currency conversion fee.

See other threads on the forum about the best travel cards and the pitfalls of qantas cash - mainly the fact the exchange rate includes a 1-2% hidden commission. Check for yourself comparing the qantas cash rate to xe.com

Add those up and your $160 bankwest fee is paid for.

 

[yoursnowtographer]

Again, thank you for the info!

 

[Colin 2905]

See other threads on the forum about the best travel cards and the pitfalls of qantas cash - mainly the fact the exchange rate includes a 1-2% hidden commission. Check for yourself comparing the qantas cash rate to xe.com

FWIW, QCC's rate for EUR right now is 0.6802, whereas the mid-market rate reported on xe.com is currently 0.71086, making QCC about 4.3% worse for EUR.

On my most recent trip overseas I used my Bankwest Platinum Zero MasterCard for larger purchases, and pulled cash out of local ATM's with my Citibank Plus Visa Debit card to pay for the smaller ones. In both cases the rates I was getting were within 1% or so of the mid-market rates at the time, and with no fees.

 

[exceladdict]

FWIW, QCC's rate for EUR right now is 0.6802, whereas the mid-market rate reported on xe.com is currently 0.71086, making QCC about 4.3% worse for EUR.

On my most recent trip overseas I used my Bankwest Platinum Zero MasterCard for larger purchases, and pulled cash out of local ATM's with my Citibank Plus Visa Debit card to pay for the smaller ones. In both cases the rates I was getting were within 1% or so of the mid-market rates at the time, and with no fees.

I did the same, and using the citi bank atm finder, never paid a cent in atm fees either

 

[yoursnowtographer]

Is there a reason why you guys use the BW Platinum Zero for larger purchases, and not use the Citibank Plus Visa Debit if you have enough cash to load it up before you leave?

Also is the 28 degrees and BW Platinum Zero the same features? The extra insurance offered by BW will not apply to me as it doesn't cover off-piste skiing, so I will need to take additional insurance anyway.

 

[Colin 2905]

Is there a reason why you guys use the BW Platinum Zero for larger purchases, and not use the Citibank Plus Visa Debit if you have enough cash to load it up before you leave?

In my case, it's just a hangover from how I run my finances when I'm home in Australia, I guess. ie; Instead of parting with your own money at the time of purchase, use the credit card's interest free period to enable you to get a little bit more interest paid on your savings. Mind you, in today's low interest rate environment, it doesn't amount to much.

Also is the 28 degrees and BW Platinum Zero the same features? The extra insurance offered by BW will not apply to me as it doesn't cover off-piste skiing, so I will need to take additional insurance anyway.

The BW card has higher minimum income and credit limit requirements, so if the insurance offered by it is of no use to you, you might prefer the 28 degrees card. (I paid for my flights with a different card, so it didn't apply to me either.)

 

[exceladdict]

Mind you, in today's low interest rate environment, it doesn't amount to much.

If it's offsetting your home loan it does

 

[yoursnowtographer]

Thanks so much for all the help guys.

I've gone with the first year free NAB Premium AMEX+Visa and the Citibank Plus Debit when overseas, I don't have an offset home loan so no real advantage.

Last question, if I'm offered the option to pay for my Italian rental car online for example in A$ and I use the NAB AMEX to take advantage of the points, will it incur a currency conversion fee?

 

[Colin 2905]

Last question, if I'm offered the option to pay for my Italian rental car online for example in A$ and I use the NAB AMEX to take advantage of the points, will it incur a currency conversion fee?

Yes. It used to be the case that the cards that stung you 3% or so would only do so when it was a real currency conversion, ie; something other than AUD. But nowadays, they all seem to have jumped on the bandwagon that stings you simply because it's an overseas merchant, regardless of the currency. The NAB card in question is no exception.....

Personal banking fees and charges - NAB

So whilst you'll get some points, they'll cost you.

 

[exceladdict]

Yes. It used to be the case that the cards that stung you 3% or so would only do so when it was a real currency conversion, ie; something other than AUD. But nowadays, they all seem to have jumped on the bandwagon that stings you simply because it's an overseas merchant, regardless of the currency. The NAB card in question is no exception.....

Personal banking fees and charges - NAB

So whilst you'll get some points, they'll cost you.

Ditto - it does depend to some extent though.

My amex issued card seems to charges me a foreign currency fee (ie purchases in USD) but not a foreign transaction fee (overseas in AUD). I have found that bank issued cards tend to charge both, you need to read your PDS carefully.

Secondly, if a merchant offers you multiple currencies, they are probably making a profit off you on hidden commission in the exchange rate.

 

[yoursnowtographer]

Thanks for the help guys, believe it or not, I don't think I have any more questions