Very new to amex points : quick question

[Mr_Orange]

You might want to get Jetstar Platinum for the rest because it's offering 1pts per dollar spent on Mastercard with 40k points bonus on signup for $69.

Thanks. That must be one of the few remaining 1pt/$ non-Amex cards, although I note that the annual fee is only $69 in the first year and thereafter it is $149 plus $39 for an additional card holder.

 

[nightelves]

Yeap $69 for 40k points is good conversion rate and no fees for booking Jetstar flights. In one year's time there'll be another credit card non-amex cc with the same 1:1 conversion rate.

 

[blueythecat]

I've just joined the rarefied air of the Amex Platinum Card and am trying to get my head around maximising points earn.

I currently have a NAB QF card at 1.5pts/$ and a BW World at 1pt/$ (reducing to 0.66pts/$).

With the Amex card I'll be up to 3pts for restaurants and 2 for airlines (except QF where it is 2.5 with NAB) and 2 on accomodation.

Utilities that take Amex/Paypal are better off on the NAB.

Where do services such as Netflix fit in? Is that classed as a utility or other?

My child care facility takes Amex too, so that earns 1.5 at the moment but presumably would be either 1 or 0.5 on the Platinum card?

What about health funds (BUPA, HIF, etc)?

How soon do new customers mornally apply for the Platinum Edge Credit Card to boost supermarket earning to 3 pts/$ and petrol stations to 2pts/$?

Is there anything I have missed?

TIA.

Don't forget to account for the difference in value between the various "points". For example you might value MR points more than QFF points, hence the 1.5 pts/$ on the NAB card might not seem so valuable. Of course this isn't relevant if you are planning to convert MR points to QFF points.

Also don't forget that the Plat Charge seems to get bonus point transfers to both QFF and VA once or twice a year. The last QF transfer bonus was 15% (if my memory hasn't failed) and the current VA is 25%.

 

[junbugging]

Also don't forget that the Plat Charge seems to get bonus point transfers to both QFF and VA once or twice a year. The last QF transfer bonus was 15% (if my memory hasn't failed) and the current VA is 25%.

I only see 15% for the latter, is the 25% offer targeted?

Transfer your Membership Rewards points between 1 May 2016 and 31 May 2016 and receive 15% Bonus Velocity Points*.

 

[nightelves]

Yes its targeted to Platinum and Centurion members. If I were you I would transfer MR points to Asia Miles because of it's fantastic RTW Awards Redemption at 260k for 1st Class RTW.

https://www.asiamiles.com/am/en/redeem/charts

 

[Mr_Orange]

Don't forget to account for the difference in value between the various "points". For example you might value MR points more than QFF points, hence the 1.5 pts/$ on the NAB card might not seem so valuable. Of course this isn't relevant if you are planning to convert MR points to QFF points.

Also don't forget that the Plat Charge seems to get bonus point transfers to both QFF and VA once or twice a year. The last QF transfer bonus was 15% (if my memory hasn't failed) and the current VA is 25%.

Good point. I hadn't considered anything but QFF, but now that I can warehouse in MR I should look into other schemes for the bi-annual pilgramage to the Motherland.

 

[big_RED]

What's the point of a normal Amex MR card over a banks rewards credit card?

Can you book flights through Amex concierge so booking flights on points is easier as it's amex booking and not you?

Or is it purely stockpiling the points and then transferring them over to your FF account?

 

[blueythecat]

What's the point of a normal Amex MR card over a banks rewards credit card?

Can you book flights through Amex concierge so booking flights on points is easier as it's amex booking and not you?

Or is it purely stockpiling the points and then transferring them over to your FF account?

For me it is about stockpiling points and having freedom of choice in FF programs I use (I find I get better value this way). AMEX MR also offers a lot more FF transfer partners than most bank programs.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Another question... Do the MR points from the Platinum Edge accrue to the same Ascent account as the Platinum Charge when you have both cards?

I've noticed that there is Ascent Premium and just Ascent. I don't particularly want points in 2 separate schemes with different redemption partners.

 

[blueythecat]

Another question... Do the MR points from the Platinum Edge accrue to the same Ascent account as the Platinum Charge when you have both cards?

I've noticed that there is Ascent Premium and just Ascent. I don't particularly want points in 2 separate schemes with different redemption partners.

They do indeed. They will all accumulate under your Ascent Premium account if you have a Platinum Charge card - which will give you the option of transferring them to QFF if you want.

 

[Mr_Orange]

They do indeed. They will all accumulate under your Ascent Premium account if you have a Platinum Charge card - which will give you the option of transferring them to QFF if you want.

Phew, thanks for confirming. QFF is the likely destination but I will take the time to evaluate other programmes for potential long haul awards.

 

[blueythecat]

Phew, thanks for confirming. QFF is the likely destination but I will take the time to evaluate other programmes for potential long haul awards.

No problems, that's the great thing about Amex MR - no commitment to any FF program required until it's time to book (or there is a transfer bonus on the table)

 

[junbugging]

They do indeed. They will all accumulate under your Ascent Premium account if you have a Platinum Charge card - which will give you the option of transferring them to QFF if you want.

Do you have to do something to set that up? Mine accrue separately...

 

[blueythecat]

Do you have to do something to set that up? Mine accrue separately...

No it should be automatic. Assuming both cards are visible under the same online login. If it isn't working correctly you should be able to contact AMEX (I'd recommend their secure email service) and they should be able to combine both accounts under Ascent Premium (ie move the Ascent points into the Ascent Premium account).

 

[junbugging]

OK, thanks very much. It obviously hasn't worked automatically for me.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Do you have to do something to set that up? Mine accrue separately...

OK, that was a concern....

No it should be automatic. Assuming both cards are visible under the same online login. If it isn't working correctly you should be able to contact AMEX (I'd recommend their secure email service) and they should be able to combine both accounts under Ascent Premium (ie move the Ascent points into the Ascent Premium account).

Mine are, so looks like it is all good .

 

[unfunkable]

Hmm
Just another thought
My CBA AMEX earns 3 points per dollar which is 1.5 Velocity points

SO it's pretty much useless to use my amex issued card to earn anything less than 1.5 MR points/dollar, as its a 1:1 transfer from MR to velocity?

I just paid a stack of bills this morning using mastercard, before I realised I could of paid them via postbillpay paypal option (using my amex card) ..... :-(

 

[blueythecat]

Hmm
Just another thought
My CBA AMEX earns 3 points per dollar which is 1.5 Velocity points

SO it's pretty much useless to use my amex issued card to earn anything less than 1.5 MR points/dollar, as its a 1:1 transfer from MR to velocity?

Assuming you only want to transfer to velocity from MR then you are spot on (not taking into account the regular transfer bonus's on offer from MR to VA). Of course a big benefit of AMEX MR is that you aren't locked into a particular FF program until you transfer the points - flexibility can be priceless sometimes!

 

[burmans]

Assuming you only want to transfer to velocity from MR then you are spot on (not taking into account the regular transfer bonus's on offer from MR to VA). Of course a big benefit of AMEX MR is that you aren't locked into a particular FF program until you transfer the points - flexibility can be priceless sometimes!

Flexibility AND the ability to stockpile so you CAN take advantage of transfer bonuses as and when these arise.

 

[unfunkable]

ok thanks for that
I am only paying $119 per annum for my diamond CBA card as I used to be gold and got upgraded for free twice. I think it's good value so far getting 1.5VP/$ on amex. If changes come in and they start reducing the rate, I will change to my AMEX edge card (which I use at supermarkets at the moment)