Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Uncharted6264]

If you don't mind a contrarian opinion, QF availability even for QF non-WP is absolutely garbage for interational business class. Depending on your travel patterns, I genuinely find the following programs to be better value for Australians, under most circumstances;

1. SQ - expensive, but almost guaranteed (in my experience) reward availability if booking ~1 year out in advance to almost anywhere, because of their 5th freedom flights. No fuel or carrier surcharges (unlike QF and VA) on SQ metal.
Most programs in Australia transfer at 3:1 to SQ (I think Citibank is still 2.5:1, and HSBC Premier AU (not US, annoyingly...) is 2:1 I think, which, given the exchange rate, is honestly pretty good) Meanwhile US Amex, Chase, etc have a 1:1 ratio, plus of course you get points multipliers in USA.

2. Air Canada - just like VA with last minute availability on some Star Alliance partners, e.g. United Polaris to SFO, NH to HND, but usually booking last minute when unsold seats get released. Again, no carrier or fuel surcharges, genuine taxes only.

Similar availability to VA but lower surcharges, plus there are also other *Alliance partners e.g. Air China (if you really want to...), EVA air, as well as LH F if you somehow end up in Europe.

3. Avios - if you really need to stay within oneworld, I think Avios is better than QF. A tiny number of sweet spots left domestically (e.g. MEL-PER I think), but you can get to Europe for ~140k Avios in Qsuite (e.g. AKL-DOH-LHR) vs just nope on QF and I don't recall what the VA price was but VA charged ~110k miles + 455 AUD on AKL-DOH vs 84.5k Avios + ~140 NZD booking via QR.

QF's pseudo-RTW product is legitimately great value, if you don't count the literal hours on the phone with QF trying to fix things when they are guaranted to go wrong (unless you use your P1 to get Hobart). But IMHO it isn't worth signing up for US cards (pay ~0.5% each way for forex when spending in AUD, Global Mail, US phone number, HSBC Premier, ITIN, time zones, all fees are in USD so multiply by 1.5, etc) if you are happy with QF because you could just churn Citibank Premier/Prestige AU cards for 150k SUBs on QF (until NAB blacklists you)

I have found seats.aero and similar sites to be very good for availability, yes you need to pay but you probably will pay less in seats.aero subscriptions than the ~300 AUD carrier surchage from booking via SQ AC or QR vs VA or QF. US Amex cards also come with a free (I think?) paid subscription to point.me as well.

Don't mind the contrarian opinion at all - I'm actually actively looking for a reason to stop accumulating QF but can't see alternatives haha.

1. SQ: Definitely sounds good, but doesn't fit my travel patterns unfortunately which are short term and flexible. My trips are sometimes days or months out at most right now. I have no idea where I'll be 1y from now.

2. AC - Decent, I'm dying to book an emirates flight on Aeroplan to avoid those hideous taxes. But most flights that are relevant to me are 2x more expensive points wise (seeing 227k for one way J to NA most places) with more stops than equivalent QF version

3. Avios - would love these to work, seeing some J for SYD to LHR for example. But they're on BA (...) @ 190,000 Avios and QF @ 144,600 which both points are worth the same according to US amex transfer atleast


A few general points as to why QF for AU based:
- Multi city planner much easier to find awards than any other airline to my knowledge
- Easy and free to add legs to smaller cities, creating more availability (IE: If SYD > LAX, I can add a BNE leg at no extra cost due to miles table). Many of the other intl. airlines only do SYD, MEL which is annoying for me, have to take risky repositioning flights
- Reward release requests. For the above purpose, and for intl. flights generally. Have had it come through quite a few times
- Domestic flights very easy

So yeah in my situation and specific circumstances, unfortunately don't see any way out of QF's grip

Post automatically merged: Sep 1, 2024

Maybe time to just let it go.

don't trust me - call amex and check. It bit me in the cough a few weeks ago. Comes with the useful bit of info as well, the GT is broken for biz cards on the amex website at the moment and it is not actually possible to GT to a biz card via the website right now with a passport. Calling and signing up that way totally bypasses this.

 

[pyramidforce]

I don't think your application is sent to the IRS until they've uploaded all 3 forms, you should also get an email that it's been sent, I received mine to confirm it's been sent to the IRS this morning and all 3 documents were completed

When you submitted your form, do you remember what address was on the form? Mine has some address in California (not mine) and the agent told me not to worry and that I could change it l later if I wanted to.

Im just wondering if the ITIN application has the wrong address will it make a problem if I need to submit it for ID check and it shows a different address, etc.

 

[levelnine]

Specifically with regard to this - You have to be earning rewards to the point where you'll never need them for travel again/don't care at all about it right? I'm sitting on a couple M points at the moment and I couldn't imagine cashing them out for 30k when compared to all the awesome flying in J I could do with friends and family. Also if I ever "buy" points with card conversion fees it's usually @ 1.75 AUDc so wouldn't really work for thath

Yes that's correct.

I'm earning many multiples of the number of points I could possibly need for the foreseeable future, so I'm cashing out some and earning money on them. Remember every point sitting unused in Amex/Chase/C1/Citi is a cent that could be earning interest somewhere else.

This is not a problem for most people as most people spend more on travel than they earn in points, but if you're one of the lucky few who earns more points than they could possibly spend on even the most luxurious award travel, it's something to consider.

 

[blacksultan]

After receiving my first chase ink biz I can’t seem to be verified over phone as my card has been placed under fraud review for want of a US telephone no they can cal me on . They can’t call me on my text now number .is there any other US no I can obtain quickly for this purpose ?
Does it have to linked / registered to my hame for this purpose ? Thanks in advance .

Post automatically merged: Sep 2, 2024

I got approved my second GT (Gold card) and is there any issues asking replacement card send it my Australian address after 10 days?
Anyone had any experience?

No issues . Done it many times .

 

[levelnine]

After receiving my first chase ink biz I can’t seem to be verified over phone as my card has been placed under fraud review for want of a US telephone no they can cal me on . They can’t call me on my text now number .is there any other US no I can obtain quickly for this purpose ?
Does it have to linked / registered to my hame for this purpose ? Thanks in advance .

Try Tello.

 

[blacksultan]

Try Tello.

Thanks . Will the $5 plan work ? Does anyone have a referral code ?

 

[levelnine]

Thanks . Will the $5 plan work ? Does anyone have a referral code ?

As long as you choose a plan with minutes, you'll be fine.

 

[Daventry]

Thanks . Will the $5 plan work ? Does anyone have a referral code ?

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My referral code: P35QSR3D

 

[Grrr]

With regards to getting a GT sent to an Aus address, can you do this for the first one ?

I'm almost at 10 days since card creation (due 3 September, but I guess could be messy due to US long weekend), and my US address has already received a 'welcome to membership rewards' letter, but no card...

 

[djchuckles]

If you don't mind a contrarian opinion, QF availability even for QF non-WP is absolutely garbage for interational business class. Depending on your travel patterns, I genuinely find the following programs to be better value for Australians, under most circumstances;

1. SQ - expensive, but almost guaranteed (in my experience) reward availability if booking ~1 year out in advance to almost anywhere, because of their 5th freedom flights. No fuel or carrier surcharges (unlike QF and VA) on SQ metal.
Most programs in Australia transfer at 3:1 to SQ (I think Citibank is still 2.5:1, and HSBC Premier AU (not US, annoyingly...) is 2:1 I think, which, given the exchange rate, is honestly pretty good) Meanwhile US Amex, Chase, etc have a 1:1 ratio, plus of course you get points multipliers in USA.

2. Air Canada - just like VA with last minute availability on some Star Alliance partners, e.g. United Polaris to SFO, NH to HND, but usually booking last minute when unsold seats get released. Again, no carrier or fuel surcharges, genuine taxes only.

Similar availability to VA but lower surcharges, plus there are also other *Alliance partners e.g. Air China (if you really want to...), EVA air, as well as LH F if you somehow end up in Europe.

3. Avios - if you really need to stay within oneworld, I think Avios is better than QF. A tiny number of sweet spots left domestically (e.g. MEL-PER I think), but you can get to Europe for ~140k Avios in Qsuite (e.g. AKL-DOH-LHR) vs just nope on QF and I don't recall what the VA price was but VA charged ~110k miles + 455 AUD on AKL-DOH vs 84.5k Avios + ~140 NZD booking via QR.

QF's pseudo-RTW product is legitimately great value, if you don't count the literal hours on the phone with QF trying to fix things when they are guaranted to go wrong (unless you use your P1 to get Hobart). But IMHO it isn't worth signing up for US cards (pay ~0.5% each way for forex when spending in AUD, Global Mail, US phone number, HSBC Premier, ITIN, time zones, all fees are in USD so multiply by 1.5, etc) if you are happy with QF because you could just churn Citibank Premier/Prestige AU cards for 150k SUBs on QF (until NAB blacklists you)

I have found seats.aero and similar sites to be very good for availability, yes you need to pay but you probably will pay less in seats.aero subscriptions than the ~300 AUD carrier surchage from booking via SQ AC or QR vs VA or QF. US Amex cards also come with a free (I think?) paid subscription to point.me as well.

Does Citi/NAB not have a 12 month wait then? I’m sticking with my Prestige now as still have a Payall set up til next year but after that I’ll happily churn

 

[pyramidforce]

Does Citi/NAB not have a 12 month wait then? I’m sticking with my Prestige now as still have a Payall set up til next year but after that I’ll happily churn

I honestly don't think they do, you just can't apply for the same card while hiding it still.

Former citi issued cards are strange, there are ozbargain reports of people applying for, getting the SUB, cancelling then applying again in 3 months for the Virgin Flyer card for 60,000 velocity points over and over.

 

[sudoer]

NAB has a clearly defined 18 month exclusion period with QFF / Rewards being treated separately.

This offer isn’t available to existing customers who received NAB Rewards Bonus Points in the last 18 months for a new personal NAB Rewards credit card, or when closing or transferring from another NAB branded credit card account, or in conjunction with other NAB credit card offers.

This bonus Qantas Points offer is not available to existing customers who have received or are entitled to receive NAB Qantas Rewards bonus points for a new personal NAB Qantas Rewards credit card in the 18 months prior to the opening of a NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card or NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card. This advertised offer of bonus points is not applicable or valid in conjunction with any other advertised or promotional offer

Citi does not have wording like this, however it does say "New credit card customers only" without any definition of what that means exactly.

 

[nthd_nthd]

I honestly don't think they do, you just can't apply for the same card while hiding it still.

Former citi issued cards are strange, there are ozbargain reports of people applying for, getting the SUB, cancelling then applying again in 3 months for the Virgin Flyer card for 60,000 velocity points over and over.

From Dec 2023 till now - I have 3 so far with their Promo extra 30K. Closed it after got pts - reapplied when promo on - got rejection - sent email to ask for recon - got approved. 3 times. P2 also 2 times.

Post automatically merged: Sep 2, 2024

NAB has a clearly defined 18 month exclusion period with QFF / Rewards being treated separately.





Citi does not have wording like this, however it does say "New credit card customers only" without any definition of what that means exactly.

New customers without timeframe so your can be creative

 

[sudoer]

reapplied when promo on - got rejection - sent email to ask for recon

You asked for a recon with Citibank Australia? Never heard of recon in Australia being a thing

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

After receiving my first chase ink biz I can’t seem to be verified over phone as my card has been placed under fraud review for want of a US telephone no they can cal me on . They can’t call me on my text now number .is there any other US no I can obtain quickly for this purpose ?
Does it have to linked / registered to my hame for this purpose ? Thanks in advance .

Post automatically merged: Sep 2, 2024

No issues . Done it many times .

Why doesn't your TextNow number work? It seems to work for others.

 

[levelnine]

You asked for a recon with Citibank Australia? Never heard of recon in Australia being a thing

If you look through the comments section of the Virgin Flyer posts on OzBargain, you'll find details of the email to contact and template to use to overturn a denial.

 

[blacksultan]

Why doesn't your TextNow number work? It seems to work for others.

Not for chase . Could it be because I have a free account ?

Post automatically merged: Sep 2, 2024

With regards to getting a GT sent to an Aus address, can you do this for the first one ?

I'm almost at 10 days since card creation (due 3 September, but I guess could be messy due to US long weekend), and my US address has already received a 'welcome to membership rewards' letter, but no card...

Will be difficult for them to identify you without first card details .

 

[Triben]

Not for chase . Could it be because I have a free account ?

Post automatically merged: Sep 2, 2024

Will be difficult for them to identify you without first card details .

Try set up your account using confirmation email they sent you after approval of your application and wait for 10 days and contact them through chat.
Its work for me on my first GT AMEX card but for the second card they ask me contact "card replacement Team"

 

[mattr00]

I believe the standard procedure for getting your first Amex shipped overseas after the 10 days is getting verified through NotaryCam after calling Amex. From what I’ve seen chat success rate is low (personally never happened for me)

 

[blacksultan]

Why doesn't your TextNow number work? It seems to work for others.

Does the text now free plan work for chase verification for others ?