Westpac is capping rewards points monthly from June 17th 2013

[kpc]

Did the letter mention the exciting new card?

No......,,

I received letter tonite. Changing effevtive from 4 July 2013. However, they said i will soon receive an invitation to increase my points-earning potential for no additional cost, with the introduction of their new premium Altitude Black Credit cards, which are Altitude Black World MasterCard and Altitude Black American Express Card. Altitude Black gives uncapped points and 1.25 points use Mastercard within Australia, 3 points at Overseas. Same 3 points when using AMEX card. Invitation will be received prior to 4 July 2013.

I seem to be missing something here....:shock::evil:

 

[Princess Fiona]

I received letter tonite. Changing effevtive from 4 July 2013. However, they said i will soon receive an invitation to increase my points-earning potential for no additional cost, with the introduction of their new premium Altitude Black Credit cards, which are Altitude Black World MasterCard and Altitude Black American Express Card. Altitude Black gives uncapped points and 1.25 points use Mastercard within Australia, 3 points at Overseas. Same 3 points when using AMEX card. Invitation will be received prior to 4 July 2013.

Ok that sounds a bit more promising unless it comes with a Centurion style eye-watering annual fee
I'm email my Relationship manager tomorrow

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I sincerely hope that there's an Earth Black credit card (or a QFF direct sweep option from Altitude Black a la CBA Diamond) - they'd be (even more...) stupid to only offer a World MC with a single rewards card type!

 

[AdMEL]

Ok that sounds a bit more promising unless it comes with a Centurion style eye-watering annual fee
I'm email my Relationship manager tomorrow

Standard Annual fee will be $395, however as mentioned above, many existing cardholders will be offered Black at no additional cost. Black card will be sent out prior to points capping applying - just need to activate to accept.

I sincerely hope that there's an Earth Black credit card (or a QFF direct sweep option from Altitude Black a la CBA Diamond) - they'd be (even more...) stupid to only offer a World MC with a single rewards card type!

There is an Earth Black Card too. No direct QFF sweep from Altitude, unless you took up Altitude Qantas when it was offered a few years ago, in which case, there will be a Black Altitude QFF offer.

Note that Visa card holders of either Earth or Altitude will not be offered a Black at this stage - expected later this year.

 

[d00dz]

Note that Visa card holders of either Earth or Altitude will not be offered a Black at this stage - expected later this year.

What about "Earth Platinum" ? Will they get the Black offer?

Is there a min requirement for it? My Earth Platinum comes free with my foreveraloan.jpg package.

 

[blessed11]

Standard Annual fee will be $395, however as mentioned above, many existing cardholders will be offered Black at no additional cost. Black card will be sent out prior to points capping applying - just need to activate to accept.




There is an Earth Black Card too. No direct QFF sweep from Altitude, unless you took up Altitude Qantas when it was offered a few years ago, in which case, there will be a Black Altitude QFF offer.

Note that Visa card holders of either Earth or Altitude will not be offered a Black at this stage - expected later this year.

Is this letter based off speaking to your RM or from letter received? Will the Black card be available to all or only to those who are part of WBC Private etc?

 

[kpc]

Standard Annual fee will be $395, however as mentioned above, many existing cardholders will be offered Black at no additional cost. Black card will be sent out prior to points capping applying - just need to activate to accept.




There is an Earth Black Card too. No direct QFF sweep from Altitude, unless you took up Altitude Qantas when it was offered a few years ago, in which case, there will be a Black Altitude QFF offer.

Note that Visa card holders of either Earth or Altitude will not be offered a Black at this stage - expected later this year.

the last sentence is interesting. My Amex Altitude Plat Plus card is associated with a Visa (maybe why letter came with no offer?), and my Amex Earth Plat Plus card is associated with a MC (letter not yet arrived so shall wait and see). It does not make sense to me that you seemingly get offered the Black card if your Amex is associated with a MC, but not if it is associated with a Visa.

Anyway, I shall wait and see what unfolds before I contact Westpac...in the last year, I have put in excess of 500k through both these cards so the cap mentioned will be a disaster for me!

 

[AdMEL]

3,750 QFF points on a platinum card?

Wow that's generous... ANZ better never try it...

I doubt, CBA always have points capping, then NAB followed, now WBC, won't be long for ANZ.

Whilst ANZ may not cap their points, they do reduce them to stupidly low levels at a stupidly low threshold - at least they did when I had an ANZ Frequent Flyer card a year or so ago and the same applied whenever they offered a platinum upgrade.

 

[AdMEL]

What about "Earth Platinum" ? Will they get the Black offer?

Is there a min requirement for it? My Earth Platinum comes free with my foreveraloan.jpg package.

All Earth cards, whichever type, may get an offer. Depends on spend. Which loan package gives yours free?

Is this letter based off speaking to your RM or from letter received? Will the Black card be available to all or only to those who are part of WBC Private etc?

No and No - have a look at my personal details and hopefully it will be clear. Black will be available to all.

the last sentence is interesting. My Amex Altitude Plat Plus card is associated with a Visa (maybe why letter came with no offer?), and my Amex Earth Plat Plus card is associated with a MC (letter not yet arrived so shall wait and see). It does not make sense to me that you seemingly get offered the Black card if your Amex is associated with a MC, but not if it is associated with a Visa.

Anyway, I shall wait and see what unfolds before I contact Westpac...in the last year, I have put in excess of 500k through both these cards so the cap mentioned will be a disaster for me!

It makes sense in the context of restrictions in the agreement with Visa. I would be surprised if you didn't get an offer for your Earth MC.

 

[blackcat20]

Will be interesting to see if I get anything in the mail, I have all my personal and business banking with Westpac...

 

[drewbles]

Yes, I've noticed that the QF Amex Ultimate is no longer being offered, though if you've already got one, they seem to be renewing with them (I hope!)

I got my QF ultimate cards last week so yes, definitely renewing (phew!)

 

[Simo]

Looks like all the Westpac Cards will be switched to other banks.

 

[k_sheep]

I don't spend more than $2k/month on my card anyway, but will feel like a traitor if I stay with them :shock:

 

[blackcat20]

I don't spend more than $2k/month on my card anyway, but will feel like a traitor if I stay with them :shock:

I don't usually either, but it's nice to have the option, especially when it comes to booking air fares.

 

[Deleted User]

I don't spend more than $2k/month on my card anyway, but will feel like a traitor if I stay with them :shock:

Yes, but you are now restricted if you wanted to spend above this anytime in the future, even small limit cards are now affected and no point spend then re-loading the small limit cards at westpac any more.

Lets all just cancel, this is what they want anyway....so my thinking is the quicker the better

 

[ij05]

What I don't understand is what is the purpose of an Altitude Black which is the same cost (edit: to existing card holders) - but allows uncapped points, but the Platinum Plus is only 7500. A ridiculously small cap - lets say you go buy a new fridge and tv one weekend - and you'll be over the points cap very easily. Do you think Westpac will extend this cap to the StGeorge programs too?

 

[Programme]

Are any of you who have received letters holders of Altitude Platinum (non-Plus) cards as part of the Premier Advantage Package (loan package)? It looks like most users here are Platinum Plus holders.

Even at the lower earn rate of the vanilla Platinum AMEX card, the cap is comically low. Haven't received anything yet - but this is enough to make me want to leave Westpac altogether, mortgage included. Their service and loan products/rates are nothing special and in many respects poorer than that of the competition, and the rest of the package was just comparable - until now!

 

[cove]

The Queen song will apply here namely "another one bites the dust".
I will keep the Kris Flyer Platinum for each of us and all the rest will bite the dust.

 

[Beta4Me]

The Queen song will apply here namely "another one bites the dust".
I will keep the Kris Flyer Platinum for each of us and all the rest will bite the dust.

Would you consider upgrading to this mythical Altitude Black? Despite the cost, I might for the 1.5ppd Amex with warehoused (rather than direct) points.

 

[legroom]

Would you consider upgrading to this mythical Altitude Black? Despite the cost, I might for the 1.5ppd Amex with warehoused (rather than direct) points.

I opted for the yet-to-be activated Alt Plat Plus over the Kris Flyer Plat because of the direct point sweep issue.

Now I changed my mind, preferring the Kris card once I return the Alt Plus Plat ones.

It is unlikely I will expire any point within 3 years.

The (travel) bug had bitten hard !