Westpac is capping rewards points monthly from June 17th 2013

[k3nnis]

Oh ok. Thanks. Lucky you. I only have the premier advantage package for my home loan. So only entitled fee free for altitude black or earth black.

How do you decide whether to use earth black Amex or altitude black Amex??

They are not charging me an annual fee so can't say if they would have reduced fee for the two cards

 

[blessed11]

Oh ok. Thanks. Lucky you. I only have the premier advantage package for my home loan. So only entitled fee free for altitude black or earth black.

How do you decide whether to use earth black Amex or altitude black Amex??

Depends which FF program I want to focus on for the month. Given I've got Citi Select as well which is mainly used for SQ my Earth will get a harder workout for QF as my other cards earn 1 QF point per dollar.

 

[zzyss]

Boo. Got declined for a product transfer. I wonder if it's because my limit is below the $18k threshold, I recently applied for (and got) an Amex Plat Edge, or some other factor...? Will try again later when they officially start migrating over existing Altitude cardholders instead of trying to jump the queue.

 

[k3nnis]

You need at least $18K credit limit before you can get the black cards.

Boo. Got declined for a product transfer. I wonder if it's because my limit is below the $18k threshold, I recently applied for (and got) an Amex Plat Edge, or some other factor...? Will try again later when they officially start migrating over existing Altitude cardholders instead of trying to jump the queue.

 

[zzyss]

You need at least $18K credit limit before you can get the black cards.

Rep I spoke to was well aware of my credit limit and told me she didn't think there would be any problem with the switch. Although partly my fault too, as she started the application process but I asked her to do a product switch instead. Maybe I should've just gone through with the application and got the higher limit (although that may also have led to the same result seeing as I have a big chunk of new debt potential in the Amex Plat Edge).

I've heard others mention that they've simply had their cards switched over to black and I had the impression that some of them had less than the $18k limit?

 

[k3nnis]

Hi,

Yeah the rep I had specifically said I had to apply for a credit increase first to $18K then do the product switch. They called the black line to double check.

Also my limit was previously $9K, so I doubled it. I had Altitude Plat prevously on my home loan package. I just did the credit limit increase online and it was approved in 5 mins. Then I called up the next day to do a product switch to the black and that got approved over the phone in minutes as well.

Cheers,
K.

 

[zzyss]

Yeah the rep I had specifically said I had to apply for a credit increase first to $18K then do the product switch. They called the black line to double check.

Also my limit was previously $9K, so I doubled it. I had Altitude Plat prevously on my home loan package. I just did the credit limit increase online and it was approved in 5 mins. Then I called up the next day to do a product switch to the black and that got approved over the phone in minutes as well.

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I think that's the route I'm gonna have to take as well, although now that I've had a rejection there's a lockout period before I can apply for anything again, unless I call up yet again. The reps probably recognise me by now - I think I've called up about this half a dozen times in the past couple of weeks already

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I haven't posted in this thread for a while - didn't want to say anything until all finalised! I didn't receive an invite, and WBC didn't reply to my email...

Requested a product switch online from Earth Plat Plus to Black, with a limit of $12.5k. It was 'referred' for approval, and the next day it came back as a yes (I received an email). Finally have the cards (took them nearly 3 weeks to get the cards to me...) I know I may need to pay the higher annual fee in the first year, but of my cards, it's the only one that earns 2.5/$1 on QF spend - and looking at last year's figures, those points are worth more than $395.

Now just waiting for the concierge app to be released - should be very helpful!

But yes, if you haven't already, perhaps try for a product transfer online

 

[zzyss]

But yes, if you haven't already, perhaps try for a product transfer online

Actually, my situation is kinda reverse to yours.

I'm happy to report that I've finally been approved for Altitude Black! Product switch came back negative, but I went through and applied for the cards manually through the online banking, entered in all my details, and BAM! approved straight away. I know that I'm going to have to call them up to get the Premier Advantage Package fee waiver code applied, and I wonder how Westpac handles the integration with my existing (still valid) Altitude Platinum cards/rewards, but at the end of the day I'M BLACK, BABY!

 

[zzyss]

WoooOOOooooOOOoooo! Just clocked 40k points from the sign-up bonus!

 

[k3nnis]

So you got your black cards now?

 

[zzyss]

So you got your black cards now?

I got mine a couple of days after being approved. PIN letter has yet to arrive though, so for now still have to sign for the cards.

 

[djchuckles]

We spoke with them about 3 weeks ago now and they said they would move us across. Still not received the cards

Phoned on the weekend and they said they were some delays in card manufacturing and we should get them soon.

We'll see!

 

[wasabiman]

Just got my cards from the invite today in the post.

The card itself seems to be from a thinner matte plastic (like the CBA cards) as opposed to my old glossier Platinum Plus card.

Managed to finally find one drawback of Black from Platinum Plus though - apparently one difference between Private Bank P+ and normal P+ is that PB P+ could choose between QFF points or Altitude points, but now they are being told it's either Altitude Black or Earth Black. Did not know PB'ers could do that - meh, not my problem.

 

[Beta4Me]

Managed to finally find one drawback of Black from Platinum Plus though - apparently one difference between Private Bank P+ and normal P+ is that PB P+ could choose between QFF points or Altitude points, but now they are being told it's either Altitude Black or Earth Black. Did not know PB'ers could do that - meh, not my problem.

Is there any real difference between Altitude Qantas and Earth anyway?

 

[wasabiman]

Is there any real difference between Altitude Qantas and Earth anyway?

From what I understand from the documents, PB allowed you to switch between QFF and Altitude as you like (I guess similar but not quite to how Amex Plat charge card lets you convert your points to QFF still), but with the Black it's one or the other like the rest of us. Anyway I'm not a PB so I wouldn't really know for sure.

 

[Beta4Me]

From what I understand from the documents, PB allowed you to switch between QFF and Altitude as you like (I guess similar but not quite to how Amex Plat charge card lets you convert your points to QFF still), but with the Black it's one or the other like the rest of us. Anyway I'm not a PB so I wouldn't really know for sure.

OK. I'm with Private Bank and I had no idea I could do that!

 

[alien]

Alien, I can't find the details you provided in the link on the Westpac website, maybe I'm looking in the wrong area, or did you receive the details about the Altitude Black card in a direct email to you ?? Before I ring them for my invite I would like to know if it was targeted or you found the details on their website, in which case it should be avail to all current Altitude Platnium / Plus card holders. ??

When you go to the link on the right side of the webpage is a black box "look out for your new black cards' Read more. Click on that and a small box pops up with the information.

 

[Mardi]

Got my new black cards last week... nice! Now I have to work out what automatic charges I have on the old ones, which is a PITA.

 

[strat]

Got my new black cards last week... nice! Now I have to work out what automatic charges I have on the old ones, which is a PITA.

Was this from a invite?

Did you call them or anything i received the invite but have not hassled them just waiting it out.

Wondering when i might receive them in the mail.