Qantas Amex Ultimate vs Platinum

[NaughtyHazz]

Hey guys,

Have had qantas amex ultimate for 5 or so years now and have recently gotten an amex platinum for the perks of the card ahead of some Europe travels.

As a qantas frequent flyer, I was meticulous in getting qantas/oneworld flights for the sake of the points ans status credits. However just after making the booking on my new platinum amex did I remember that I wasn't going to get qantas FF points for the purchase.

A bit devastated, I've started trying to research the amex points rewards program to try justify my blunder. A bit confused so I thought I'd get your opinions on what I've done and to ask if there's any silver linings to not just using my qantas amex instead of platinum.

Is getting FF points through qantas amex ultimate the best value points system? Or am I underselling the amex points reward system and should be excited about making a big purchase under that program?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Pvcmenace]

Hey guys,

Have had qantas amex ultimate for 5 or so years now and have recently gotten an amex platinum for the perks of the card ahead of some Europe travels.

As a qantas frequent flyer, I was meticulous in getting qantas/oneworld flights for the sake of the points ans status credits. However just after making the booking on my new platinum amex did I remember that I wasn't going to get qantas FF points for the purchase.

A bit devastated, I've started trying to research the amex points rewards program to try justify my blunder. A bit confused so I thought I'd get your opinions on what I've done and to ask if there's any silver linings to not just using my qantas amex instead of platinum.

Is getting FF points through qantas amex ultimate the best value points system? Or am I underselling the amex points reward system and should be excited about making a big purchase under that program?

Thanks in advance!

Thinking of doing the same, Amex rewards convert 2:1 QFF, but you don't get bonus points on QF purchases. I look forward to others opinions.

 

[NaughtyHazz]

Thinking of doing the same, Amex rewards convert 2:1 QFF, but you don't get bonus points on QF purchases. I look forward to others opinions.

So I wouldn't get FF points on buying qantas flights with amex anyway?

 

[albyd]

I don’t have a Qantas direct earn card but regularly get bonus transfer offers from Qantas which could swing the balance in its favour.

For ‘general’ spend, the points earn on Platinum is 1.125 Qantas points vs 1.25 on the Ultimate card. Depends on how much you spend especially with Qantas directly as to how the numbers pan out with the Platinum vs direct earn. You do get a choice with Platinum to transfer to other airlines which means Qantas have an incentive to continue offering transfer bonuses.

Just my 2 cents worth. YMMV.

 

[NaughtyHazz]

I don’t have a Qantas direct earn card but regularly get bonus transfer offers from Qantas which could swing the balance in its favour.

For ‘general’ spend, the points earn on Platinum is 1.125 Qantas points vs 1.25 on the Ultimate card. Depends on how much you spend especially with Qantas directly as to how the numbers pan out with the Platinum vs direct earn. You do get a choice with Platinum to transfer to other airlines which means Qantas have an incentive to continue offering transfer bonuses.

Just my 2 cents worth. YMMV.

Thank you the insight mate

 

[levelnine]

How loyal are you to Qantas? There's potentially way more value in converting Amex MRs to Singapore KrisFlyer, for example.

 

[NaughtyHazz]

How loyal are you to Qantas? There's potentially way more value in converting Amex MRs to Singapore KrisFlyer, for example.

I mean I am only loyal to Qantas because I fly with them a lot through works and therefore have accrued a good amount of points. I dont have any preference otherwise but can't see myself amounting lots of points through just leisure flights unfortunately.

 

[Daver6]

While you're going to earn fewer points but booking with the platinum card, you get better insurance. I too have both cards and always go with the platinum card for international travel for the better insurance.

 

[NaughtyHazz]

While you're going to earn fewer points but booking with the platinum card, you get better insurance. I too have both cards and always go with the platinum card for international travel for the better insurance.

Such a good point. Thanks

 

[Daver6]

Such a good point. Thanks

I'm actually considering just using the Platinum card for domestic QF bookings in future too. I'm not convinced the few extra QFF points are worth it over the lesser insurance.

 

[NaughtyHazz]

I'm actually considering just using the Platinum card for domestic QF bookings in future too. I'm not convinced the few extra QFF points are worth it over the lesser insurance.

Whats your main attraction of the insurance on domestic flights?

 

[Daver6]

Whats your main attraction of the insurance on domestic flights?

These days it would be my luggage not turning up. I've got a mountain of unused QF points at the moment so a small amount extra I'd get by using the QF card doesn't make much difference. MR points with Amex are also more attractive as I can transfer them to other programs if and when I need.

It's a bit like financial advice though. Everyone's situation is different. If you're looking to build your QF points balance then the Ultimate card would be the way to go, especially for QF domestic.

 

[cbourl]

How loyal are you to Qantas? There's potentially way more value in converting Amex MRs to Singapore KrisFlyer, for example.

Yeh except SQ Krisflyer points expire eventually even given the multiple extensions and re- re -re extensions since COVID SQ is becoming increasingly less relevant in the AU market except of their decipels from South and South East Asia

 

[levelnine]

Yeh except SQ Krisflyer points expire eventually even given the multiple extensions and re- re -re extensions since COVID SQ is becoming increasingly less relevant in the AU market except of their decipels from South and South East Asia

That's why you keep them in Amex until you need to redeem.

And if you think SQ redemptions are hard to come by, trying redeeming on Qantas!

 

[cbourl]

Ok I

That's why you keep them in Amex until you need to redeem.

And if you think SQ redemptions are hard to come by, trying redeeming on Qantas!

know! Thats why my main frequent flyer programs are Lufthansa, United, American Airlines and Virgin Australia Kwantas only in by default because its our once again bailed out "nashnal cawwier" Otherwise , like for most of the Planet, Strayan airlines renamed to qantas is a non-entity.....

 

[missluna]

Hi! I am considering signing up for a credit card and tossing between AMEX Platinum Card and Qantas Ultimate Card.

I have 2x asia trips this year that I need to book flights for + 2 more asia trips in 2025 then possibly a Europe trip in 2026/2027.

Will the Platinum offer me more value?

 

[PointsDude]

The short answer is probably the Ultimate to take advantage of the 100k Qantas points on offer atm. Amex is usually pretty happy to add new cards for someone who has a history with them, so you can always get the Platinum after the fact if you find it suits your needs better.

The long answer is probably that it’s impossible to say without knowing about how much you’d be spending, what features of the Platinum card you’d get use out of, whether you want to earn Qantas points or be airline agnostic, and whether you have any reward seat travel goals.

Also I’d consider how much $1450 means to you. I have friends with the Platinum for which the card is expensive relative to their income but treat it as a luxury (and squeeze every benefit from the card), and I have friends for who $1450 is nothing and claim part of the annual fee on their tax. Certainly easier to recommend if you fit into that latter camp.

 

[super5]

I have friends for who $1450 is nothing and claim part of the annual fee on their tax.

How can this be done? For personal tax return as a tax deduction expense? ATO will allow that?

 

[albyd]

But OT but wondering while the wording of the SUB rules out getting it, are there any DP if you have MR card (which I won’t shut down), whether do get the QFF SUB on the ultimate? QFF is t my preferred FF program as I’m a lowly bronze but domestic J is relatively easy to find compared to international J availability.

 

[Franko Costa]

How can this be done? For personal tax return as a tax deduction expense? ATO will allow that?

Yes that is fine. If 60% of the card is biz spend then that's how much you can claim