Card Offers Westpac Altitude Black offers: 120,000 Qantas or Velocity Points (expires 30/4/25)

[Dr Ralph]

Does applying for the Westpac Amex card affect the waiting/cooldown period on card offers directly by Amex?

I believe the answer is no.

And I'm also hoping the answer is no. I've just applied for an AMEX issued card and this Westpac combo. I'm expecting the full sign on bonuses for each card.

 

[Kangol]

I believe the answer is no.

And I'm also hoping the answer is no. I've just applied for an AMEX issued card and this Westpac combo. I'm expecting the full sign on bonuses for each card.

Which did you apply for first? Were they approved in the same order?

The Westpac Amex (issued by Amex) did not have an exclusion clause when it first was offered.
Now it has an 18 month clause only for the same specific card.

This has always been considered an Amex-issued card anyway. So the exclusion has only been mentioned to go one way for this particular card.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Which did you apply for first? Were they approved in the same order?

The Westpac Amex (issued by Amex) did not have an exclusion clause when it first was offered.
Now it has an 18 month clause only for the same specific card.

This has always been considered an Amex-issued card anyway. So the exclusion has only been mentioned to go one way for this particular card.

AMEX Explorer. Then Westpac bundle 10 days later.

Both approved.

AMEX Explorer received. Waiting on deliverer of Westpac bundle.

 

[NoName]

The unconfirmed info has been that for the purposes of sign on bonuses the Westpac AMEX is NOT considered an AMEX issued card (even though it is). Will be good to finally have some actual confirmation @Dr Ralph

 

[Kangol]

The unconfirmed info has been that for the purposes of sign on bonuses the Westpac AMEX is NOT considered an AMEX issued card (even though it is). Will be good to finally have some actual confirmation @Dr Ralph

Unconfirmed as in people have applied for non-Westpac Amex cards within 18 months of closing the Westpac Amex and still received the sign on bonus?
That's a positive sign, however you wouldn't have a leg to stand on if they denied you the bonus, because the terms are clear.

 

[NoName]

Unconfirmed as in people have applied for non-Westpac Amex cards within 18 months of closing the Westpac Amex and still received the sign on bonus?
That's a positive sign, however you wouldn't have a leg to stand on if they denied you the bonus, because the terms are clear.

Unconfirmed as in this is the info that a couple of the websites like pointhacks have been told. However to my knowledge no one here has tried to this point.

 

[Dr Ralph]

however you wouldn't have a leg to stand on if they denied you the bonus

This isn't true.

The relevant terms state, inter alia:

"Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any other American Express Westpac Altitude Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the preceding 18 month period are ineligible for this offer."

Therefore it's clear that the exclusion period only applies to Westpac products issued by Amex NOT all Amex products.

On this basis you would only be prevented from gaining the reward points should you have held an 'American Express Westpac Altitude Card product' in the previous 18 months.

I haven't held such a product in the preceding 18 months.

I held an Amex issued Amex Explorer card about 10 days before applying for the Westpac product.

I'm more than prepared to go in hard should they try to deny the bonus points. I would really enjoy some free points again as its been a while since a bank stuffed up with their terms with me.

 

[Kangol]

This isn't true.

The relevant terms state, inter alia:

"Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any other American Express Westpac Altitude Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the preceding 18 month period are ineligible for this offer."

Therefore it's clear that the exclusion period only applies to Westpac products issued by Amex NOT all Amex products.

On this basis you would only be prevented from gaining the reward points should you have held an 'American Express Westpac Altitude Card product' in the previous 18 months.

I haven't held such a product in the preceding 18 months.

I held an Amex issued Amex Explorer card about 10 days before applying for the Westpac product.

I'm more than prepared to go in hard should they try to deny the bonus points. I would really enjoy some free points again as its been a while since a bank stuffed up with their terms with me.

What you are saying is fine, but it does not relate to what I mentioned, which is what k336 brought up - both of us are referring to the opposite.

Same with the points NoName brought up.

ie. does a Westpac Amex count as "holding an Amex card in the previous 18 months" when applying for a non-Westpac Amex card? By definition yes, and there is no specific description saying otherwise.

Hence the "one way" comment earlier.

Apples and oranges, unfortunately (for customers).

 

[Dr Ralph]

What you are saying is fine, but it does not relate to what I mentioned, which is what k336 brought up - both of us are referring to the opposite.

The comments I have made ARE relevant. It's definitely not 'apples and oranges'. I read the original OP's post very carefully before responding. My comments clearly indicate that AMEX products and Westpac AMEX products are being viewed independently of each other.

ie. does a Westpac Amex count as "holding an Amex card in the previous 18 months" when applying for a non-Westpac Amex card? By definition yes

I say no.

, and there is no specific description saying otherwise.

I say that there is.

I have highlighted this for you already.

Terms of a contract are not to be read in isolation. Terms derive their meaning from context. The context I have shown you clearly indicates that AMEX and Westpac/AMEX are different products.

 

[NoName]

If no one tries the Westpac AMEX then AMEX direct card in that order before hand, I will be doing this in the new year the first time the Explorer goes to 100k. My 18 months from previous Explorer is up then however I only cancelled the Westpac AMEX in April.

 

[Kangol]

The comments I have made ARE relevant. It's definitely not 'apples and oranges'. I read the original OP's post very carefully before responding. My comments clearly indicate that AMEX products and Westpac AMEX products are being viewed independently of each other.

Not both ways they aren't. A Westpac Amex is issued by Amex and fits the definition shown below - bold and underlined.

Explorer card:

American Express Explorer Credit Card | Amex AU

The Explorer Credit Card offers great benefits. Get annual Travel Credit, airport lounge access, smartphone screen cover, and more. Apply for yours today.

www.americanexpress.com

Bonus & Eligibility. Offer only available to new American Express Card Members who apply online, are approved, and spend $3,000 on their new Card within the first 3 months from the Card approval date. Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the preceding 18 month period are ineligible for this offer. Eligible purchases do not include cash advances, interest, balance transfers, fees and charges for traveller’s cheques and foreign currencies. 50,000 Membership Rewards Bonus points will be awarded to the eligible Card Member’s account 8-10 weeks after the spend criteria has been met. This advertised offer is not applicable or valid in conjunction with any other advertised or promotional offer.

 

[Kangol]

I have highlighted this for you already.

Terms of a contract are not to be read in isolation. Terms derive their meaning from context. The context I have shown you clearly indicates that AMEX and Westpac/AMEX are different products.

You edited this after my last post above, however the Amex Explorer example is quite clear.

Going back to this question:

Does applying for the Westpac Amex card affect the waiting/cooldown period on card offers directly by Amex?

If you apply for the Westpac Amex, then the Westpac Amex is the only card counted in the exclusion terms.
If you apply for a non-Westpac Amex, then any Amex (including the Westpac Amex) is counted in the exclusion terms.

This disproves the theory that they are "independent of each other".
Whether they actually follow through is a different matter and exactly what we discussed above.

The best example of "independent of each other" is ANZ rewards vs ANZ frequent flyer.

 

[coles525]

Did a stupid (but bearable) thing today...

I applied for a westpac platinum card online.

Instantly rejected, but I rang and questioned...

Seemed I was a few hundred $$ short in the declared income (fortnightly, after tax) part.

Rep changed everything required (annual income), now pending approval with a "please explain" phone chat with in 3 days....

Stupid thing to this? If approved (20k+ limit), I 99.998% know I won't receive bonus velocity points! As I just saw a bill that was issued less then 6 months ago! (12 month waiting period for points ).

I can dream though!

Still happy as the credit limit is very generous for me to use on monthly bills to pay!

 

[exceladdict]

If no one tries the Westpac AMEX then AMEX direct card in that order before hand, I will be doing this in the new year the first time the Explorer goes to 100k. My 18 months from previous Explorer is up then however I only cancelled the Westpac AMEX in April.

A number of people are trying this with the current Qantas Ultimate Amex referral offer having cancelled their westpac amex in under the last 18 months. Consensus is they're pretty likely to award the points.

 

[Kangol]

The $0 annual fee for the first year for the Amex only is still available via online banking, until 15 Oct 2019:

Special offer for a limited time
This special introductory offer ends 15th October 2019. New cards only.

Get up to 120,000 bonus Altitude, Velocity or Qantas Points

You'll receive:

• 80,000 bonus Altitude, Velocity or Qantas Points when you apply, are approved and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases on your new Mastercard within 90 days of card approval. ^
• Plus 40,000 bonus Altitude, Velocity or Qantas Points when you apply, are approved and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on the new American Express Westpac Altitude Black Card within 90 days of Card approval. ~

Offer excludes customers who hold/held any Westpac Rewards credit card in the last 12 months.^

The important numbers
Our American Express Westpac Altitude Card bundles consist of two cards, each with its own points earn rates, fees and interest rates.

The minimum income to apply for this bundle is $75,000.

Westpac Altitude Black Mastercard



Annual card fee: $250

Annual rewards fee: $0 if you choose Altitude Rewards; $50 if you choose Altitude Velocity or Altitude Qantas

Variable purchase rate: 20.49% p.a.

Variable cash advance rate: 21.49% p.a.

Interest free days on purchases: Up to 45

Minimum credit limit: $15,000

Issued and serviced by Westpac

American Express Westpac Altitude Black Card



Exclusive annual card fee offer: $0 in the first year, $199 thereafter**

Interest Rate on purchases: 20.24% p.a.

Cash advance rate: Cash advances are not available

Interest free days on purchases: Up to 45

Minimum credit limit: $3,000



Exclusive annual card fee offer is only available for existing customers who apply online via this page by 15th October 2019. New cards only.**

Issued and serviced by American Express

 

[Kangol]

A number of people are trying this with the current Qantas Ultimate Amex referral offer having cancelled their westpac amex in under the last 18 months. Consensus is they're pretty likely to award the points.

On paper it would be the contrary, however we'll have to wait and see.
What is the difference for someone applying for the card with vs without the referral link? The public offer is the same.

 

[exceladdict]

On paper it would be the contrary, however we'll have to wait and see.
What is the difference for someone applying for the card with vs without the referral link? The public offer is the same.

Depends whether you want the affilliate (point hacks, qantas, etc) or a referring friend to get paid for your application. Sometimes the offer is the same; sometimes it differs. I think that last time I applied the public offer was 60k and referral offer 120k with point hacks having something in between.

Edit: many applicants will have contacted Amex to get some sort of confirmation in writing that they'll be eligible for the points in their circumstance.

 

[renatts]

Not sure if this is still being argued or not, but here’s my personal experience;

I held the Westpac Amex and got the bonus points for the offer originally posted in this thread.

I applied for the Qantas Ultimate Amex while still holding the Westpac Amex.
I got the Amex bonus points.

Westpac is considered a bank issued card, not an Amex issued card, even though Amex physically issue it.

Hope this clears things up for anyone wondering.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Westpac is considered a bank issued card, not an Amex issued card, even though Amex physically issue it.

Agree. Some people won't be told though.

 

[Kangol]

Not sure if this is still being argued or not, but here’s my personal experience;

I held the Westpac Amex and got the bonus points for the offer originally posted in this thread.

I applied for the Qantas Ultimate Amex while still holding the Westpac Amex.
I got the Amex bonus points.

Westpac is considered a bank issued card, not an Amex issued card, even though Amex physically issue it.

Hope this clears things up for anyone wondering.

You are probably the first person to report back about successfully doing this and thankyou for doing so.
Up until now, this had never been reported upon, only speculated Afaik.

Wonder why they say "Issued and serviced by American Express"...