Qantas American Express Cards - Changes underway?

[Newk]

http://www.americanexpress.com/australia/campaigns/qantas/pdfs/pds_ultimatecard.pdf

they haven't rooted all references out just YET

 

[greenfrog86]

So I just called Amex again and the staff received a bulletin this morning confirming this card has been removed from all the websites and is currently under review.

The product managers have not given customer service staff much information at all, including no information around whether it will be 'enhanced' or indeed removed...

If I put on my speculative hat I would say they will try and make the Platinum Charge the premium card to keep up membership... Otherwise many people would have changed to the Ultimate I suspect, particularly those people who like to travel on QF points and wish to be covered by travel insurance without the dumb rules attached to the Platinum Charge insurance.

So people, watch this space!

I simply didn't believe it could be a mistake for Amex to allow almost very link to be killed on their website and also external ones like Qantas.

 

[TonyHancock]

I posted elsewhere that my Ultimate Card fee has been reduced to $250 on an ongoing basis if I keep the plat charge card. (I called up to cancel today in the hope of another fee free year.) I took the offer because in it's present format it is a pretty good card if the majority of your travel is QF. I do fear enhancements coming along though.

 

[greenfrog86]

I posted elsewhere that my Ultimate Card fee has been reduced to $250 on an ongoing basis if I keep the plat charge card. (I called up to cancel today in the hope of another fee free year.) I took the offer because in it's present format it is a pretty good card if the majority of your travel is QF. I do fear enhancements coming along though.

I'd be open to this...

3 pts to QF for eating, 2 points for travel, 1.5 points for 'regular' spend on the QF card, 2.5 points with QF, free flight on QF (maybe?), insurance coverage through the QF card when booking travel using QF points...

 

[pazz0102]

I had a successful application for this on Monday, so will see if the card comes in.

 

[TonyHancock]

I'd be open to this...

3 pts to QF for eating, 2 points for travel, 1.5 points for 'regular' spend on the QF card, 2.5 points with QF, free flight on QF (maybe?), insurance coverage through the QF card when booking travel using QF points...

Don't forget 2 points on overseas transactions. (On the plat charge.)

 

[k3nnis]

Tony,

I take it you are going to keep your plat charge?

 

[TonyHancock]

Tony,

I take it you are going to keep your plat charge?

I need to until May 2013 because I have award bookings through till then*. At the moment I'm leaning towards canning it and paying the $450 for the Ultimate, if it is not significantly enhanced, and using HSBC plat for overseas spend, and Citibusiness Gold for local non Amex. This will give me an annual fee of about $800. If I kept the plat charge card I'd drop the HSBC card so my annual cc fees would be about $1300.

There is a bit of value in Priority Pass for me, but not enough to justify $500. There is little value in the 3 points on restaurants and I'll only lose a few points on the 2 points for travel - mainly on Australian Hilton stays. (Although my locals stays are predominantly IHG and Citibusiness looks after me nicely there.

*I have long haul international JASA's and FASA's in August, September and December 2012, and March April and May 2013.

 

[casanovawa]

Hmmm, bit of a pity if it is ending, but for me hard to change over from my ANZ Plat Amex that i now get fee free pr year, only needing to pay the $55 QFF membership part per annum, get the 1.5 QFF points/$1 and the travel insurance is pretty good kicking in after only $250 or so has been spent on flights or accomodation... Even though in Perth (and so the free flight thing being better value), with Jetstar i can get to the east coast for $300 or so return... So about all i might get for the extra $100 or so is the 30,000 or so QFF points (that i don't get bonus offers for keeping my ANZ Amex each year) and maybe a higher hurdle of spend to qualify for their travel insurance (if its any good)?? Although the 3 points at restaurants might be good, not that i would eat out more than a couple of times a month and at pretty low end eating establishments anyway so wonder what qualifies as 'eating' or is that only at restaurants within their program???

Plus the last one or two times i have applied for a direct Amex card they have knocked me back while very other bank seems fine?!?!

 

[greenfrog86]

I had a successful application for this on Monday, so will see if the card comes in.

If you've been approved, then you'll get the card.

It seems they are stopping the active promotion of it and preventing new applications being started online and by phone agents...

 

[oz_mark]

I posted elsewhere that my Ultimate Card fee has been reduced to $250 on an ongoing basis if I keep the plat charge card. (I called up to cancel today in the hope of another fee free year.)

Do you have the Reserve card as well? I was under the impression that you could swap the complimentary Reserve card for an Ultimate card.

 

[TonyHancock]

Do you have the Reserve card as well? I was under the impression that you could swap the complimentary Reserve card for an Ultimate card.

No Reserve Card. (I said Discovery in my original post I meant I was offered the Reserve Card in place of the Ultimate)

I was hoping for exactly that response but the customer service person was adamant that if I wanted to keep the ultimate Card it is an ongoing $250 per year as long as the plat charge is kept. No swap out.

With the removal of the ultimate card from QF and Amex websites I needed to make sure I walked away with it in my pocket still. I fear enhancements, but until they are published this is a very good card for me.

 

[k3nnis]

Ok thanks I would have gone QF ultimate but I find it too hard to redeem full awards on QF plus the burn rates are not very good. For OW I use asiamiles and maybe soon to be MH.

I need to until May 2013 because I have award bookings through till then*. At the moment I'm leaning towards canning it and paying the $450 for the Ultimate, if it is not significantly enhanced, and using HSBC plat for overseas spend, and Citibusiness Gold for local non Amex. This will give me an annual fee of about $800. If I kept the plat charge card I'd drop the HSBC card so my annual cc fees would be about $1300.

There is a bit of value in Priority Pass for me, but not enough to justify $500. There is little value in the 3 points on restaurants and I'll only lose a few points on the 2 points for travel - mainly on Australian Hilton stays. (Although my locals stays are predominantly IHG and Citibusiness looks after me nicely there.

*I have long haul international JASA's and FASA's in August, September and December 2012, and March April and May 2013.

 

[pazz0102]

If you've been approved, then you'll get the card.

It seems they are stopping the active promotion of it and preventing new applications being started online and by phone agents...

When I activate the card, will ask that I will still receive the 30,000 bonus points.

 

[immature]

Hmm, interesting that this card was removed from the website... Mine has just come up for renewal, and was thinking of asking for a reduced annual fee. Any thoughts on whether this would be likely...? What would be the best way to ask for this?

 

[lovestotravel]

Hmm, interesting that this card was removed from the website... Mine has just come up for renewal, and was thinking of asking for a reduced annual fee. Any thoughts on whether this would be likely...? What would be the best way to ask for this?

Ring up and ask, but unless you are spending more than $150,000 pa or perhaps $200k on the card don't expect anything!

 

[Newk]

I was just speaking to customer service about this card. I want to "refer a friend" and cannot anymore because the card has been removed from the "I own this card" list.
The long and short of it is that this product is being reviewed (as discussed here already) and will likely be re-launched in the next month or two with "improvements"

 

[N860CR]

My timings great as always... just went to apply for it and it's gone.

It'll be interesting to see what it is "re-launched" as. I think this leaves the "Big 4" as the only institutions with $1=1.5 QFF point cards.

 

[anchew]

Not to worry. It's back and it seems that the website has been revamped.
https://www.americanexpress.com/au/content/frequent-flyer-cards/qantas-ultimate/

 

[lovestotravel]

With a big red note saying This Product Is Not Currently Available