Westpac Singapore KrisFlyer Credit Card

[lovetravellingoz]

Just spoke to Westpac re credit back on annual fee.

I have close to a million points and they would not take a single dollar off the annual fee.

I am pretty p@#* off, but there is no other krisflyer card alternative.

If you have loans with them, they are more receptive.

 

[cove]

Why would you think the card renewal should be zero?
After all you can run up a quick chunk of points because Westpac will allow your account to go into credit if your credit limit is modest.
A direct Amex card does not work as well!

 

[ZeroPoint]

I personally don't believe in paying annual fees.

 

[burmans]

Just spoke to Westpac re credit back on annual fee.

I have close to a million points and they would not take a single dollar off the annual fee.

I am pretty p@#* off, but there is no other krisflyer card alternative.

Not sure it has to be Krysflyer alternative, my script would be "I can get better (or similar) points redemption elsewhere at lower cost". Would definitely be interesting to develop a script to get reduction in fee (I think reduction is more likely to removal).
I've been very succesful at getting Qantas Amex fee waved after a helpful agent told me you have to threaten to cancel. So I think script has to go something like
- I really like the card but
- I can get similar/better elsewhere at lower cost
- Can you offer reduced/waived fee, if you can't I probably have to cancel

Any thoughts, clearly only certain people are authorised to approve fee reductions so maybe you should threaten to cancel first?

 

[Foreigner]

If you have loans with them, they are more receptive.

Through my relationship manager, I managed to get the whole of the renewal fee credited. As an aside, AMEX discounted by 50% the renewal fee for platinum charge card.

 

[kamchatsky]

Not sure it has to be Krysflyer alternative, my script would be "I can get better (or similar) points redemption elsewhere at lower cost". Would definitely be interesting to develop a script to get reduction in fee (I think reduction is more likely to removal).
I've been very succesful at getting Qantas Amex fee waved after a helpful agent told me you have to threaten to cancel. So I think script has to go something like
- I really like the card but
- I can get similar/better elsewhere at lower cost
- Can you offer reduced/waived fee, if you can't I probably have to cancel

Any thoughts, clearly only certain people are authorised to approve fee reductions so maybe you should threaten to cancel first?

+1 on this. You have to threaten to cancel to get any chance of fee reduction. I have been doing this every year.

 

[JohnK]

I am pretty p@#* off, but there is no other krisflyer card alternative.

Maybe not direct sweep but Amex Ascent transfers to KrisFlyer but not sure how the earning compares to this card.

 

[cove]

Well in the first year we made millions of points so asking for a fee cut is not something we really need to ask about.
If we can pick up about $200,000 retail travel value a year for a very low cost then that is a very big win from any Bank.

 

[cove]

If you think Westpac Kris is having a lend of you with their system you definitely have not tried Citi Select.
Need grey hair in a hurry....try Citi to get unlimited QF points on VISA.
It took 8 days for a cheque to clear thru their preferred Australia Post payment system.
After 2 months they enrolled the QF points request and all the points earned previously went to the wrong place and could not be transferred to QF.
Cannot get an online statement.
Yes Citi make Westpac and American Express look very professional.
Of course I still need a point a dollar QF Visa card so I am still there at Citi.....White hair looks distinguished doesnt it?

 

[albatross710]

I personally don't believe in paying annual fees.

Also consider that the Platinum card includes travel insurance. Even for the $250 fee (which was $0 yr 1, the yr 2 reduced to $125 ) I have saved about $500 annually on separate travel insurance.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well in the first year we made millions of points so asking for a fee cut is not something we really need to ask about.
If we can pick up about $200,000 retail travel value a year for a very low cost then that is a very big win from any Bank.

And particularly when the card is meant "officially" to be for private purposes anyway.

So in your case I would certainly not be getting anyone to review your spend.

Might kill off what is a very fat golden goose for you.

 

[ZeroPoint]

Also consider that the Platinum card includes travel insurance. Even for the $250 fee (which was $0 yr 1, the yr 2 reduced to $125 ) I have saved about $500 annually on separate travel insurance.

I guess that really depends on your circumstances. If you're single or travelling alone, then the travel insurance is quite cheap (~$50-$80). If you have a family though then yes I can see the value.

My main argument is that if I spend xx_ amount of dollars on my credit, the bank gets a cut each time. If it's a very large spend then, then based on the fact that they'll earn more from the transaction cost then the annual fee, I see no reason why any company would not waive the annual fee to keep the customer.

 

[cove]

This card is one of the pieces of the puzzle solution where we can move our family and friends around the world in style.
Yes you dont need to draw attention to yourself with a Bank that is helping our travel plans.
Keep that goose alive by not disturbing anything.

 

[burmans]

I guess that really depends on your circumstances. If you're single or travelling alone, then the travel insurance is quite cheap (~$50-$80). If you have a family though then yes I can see the value.

My main argument is that if I spend xx_ amount of dollars on my credit, the bank gets a cut each time. If it's a very large spend then, then based on the fact that they'll earn more from the transaction cost then the annual fee, I see no reason why any company would not waive the annual fee to keep the customer.

Agreed we should all make our calculations of benefit but sometimes you need to pay a little to get a lot. I'd rather pay $125 and get $1000 a year of benefit than have a free card and get $300. Sure getting no fee is great but if the benefit I get is much greater than the fee then I have to think a "I wont pay a fee" attitude is as they say "cutting off your nose to spite your face". For me cheap platinum cards can achieve the benefit cheaper than free base cards.

 

[cove]

Yes everyone has different circumstances and it can be a waste of time to run up a trip over say 4 years by paying 4 years card fees.
With Kris the points expire in 3 years so it would be easy to get no benefit if you forget to use the earned points.

 

[lepetitprince]

1. Someone posted a message saying they paid their taxes with an amex credit card. How do you do this? I couldn't do it at all despite being a ABN holding sole trader .

2. I guess redeeming tickets also depends on how many people you are competing against in a particular sector. I travel to MAA once a year, but my Indian brethren in Oz don't seem to have gotten into the habit of running up points and haven't seem to have entered the redemption rat race. Last year I got 2 Js easily. This year I got 6 Ys (for me, missus and family) easily, on the days I wanted, return, multi city, despite booking in peak season. We must remember that SIN-MAA is a milch cow for SQ - it is one of the busiest routes, always full, MOST f* expensive (its costs the same for me to travel to MAA from OZ as it costs me to travel to Europe - can you believe this?!)

3. I got the card fee waived this year, but did not get a voucher with my statement. However, when I attempted to book online, a 'westpac platinum' promotion drop down box popped up and implored me to use it! I still havent. The T&C says that I will be allowed to use it only once.

4. When you redeem, you end up paying only the taxes and surcharges - will this qualify you for travel insurance on a platinum? Or do you have to purchase an entire ticket?

 

[savydog]

Pay tax by credit card here : How to pay

 

[ZeroPoint]

4. When you redeem, you end up paying only the taxes and surcharges - will this qualify you for travel insurance on a platinum? Or do you have to purchase an entire ticket?

It's not based on the taxes/surcharge, but the points. If the points came entirely from the Westpac KF card then yes you are, but if there were multiple sources then (eg. some from flights, some from Citibank, etc) then you won't be covered.

 

[lepetitprince]

Thanks savydog.

Zeropoint, are you saying that if I have x points directly from the KF card and transfer y points from my amex membership rewards ascent account in order to redeem my wanted tickets, then I wont be eligible for the travel insurance?

 

[joeymelb]

... if I have x points directly from the KF card and transfer y points from my amex membership rewards ascent account in order to redeem my wanted tickets, then I wont be eligible for the travel insurance?

According to Page 14 of "Singapore Airlines Westpac Platinum Credit Card Insurance Policy" document (effective March 7th 2009). The above statement appeared to be true. See the BOLD and underline section below:

“use of the cardholder’s eligible credit card
account” means that the total value (i.e. including but
not limited to money and/or frequent flyer points and/
or staff discounts) of the return overseas travel ticket
(but not taxes, airport or travel agent charges) was
obtained for your journey by one or a combination of
the following methods:

• was paid for being charged to a cardholder’s eligible credit card account; and/or

• the cardholder is a current Singapore AirlinesWestpac Platinum cardholder and a member of the KrisFlyer Programme and has redeemed their frequent flyer points earned on the cardholder’s eligible credit card account to obtain your return overseas travel ticket.

Anyone care to comment how how Westpac and KF can prove we are using points earned via Bum-in-Seat or via Credit Card?

Edit: I guess the best way to ensure one's totally covered... just buy Y fare and get C redemption.