Westpac Singapore KrisFlyer Credit Card

[WA flyer]

Unless you have special arrangements in place it will not be free up front like the Altitude Card can be when you have the Professional Pack, or similar.

I don't have any "special arrangements" with Westpac, but I do have a number of mortgages with them and a hefty business loan with them.

I have been getting both the Kris and recently discarded Eath free untill now, so would surprised if this didn't continue!

Just received by latest statement to 15th March which states that " you can earn1 KrisFlyer mile per dollar spent on purchases with merchants located within Australia".

If they've done an about turn, it's too late as I've just began to use the Citi Select with it's 1.33:1 KF earn!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Just received by latest statement to 15th March which states that " you can earn1 KrisFlyer mile per dollar spent on purchases with merchants located within Australia".

If they've done an about turn, it's too late as I've just began to use the Citi Select with it's 1.33:1 KF earn!

My statement to Mar 9 also states this - however from their web site:

I doubt there is / will be an about turn.

 

[Foreigner]

Absolutely 100% correct - but AMEX Plat is better at same earn rate IMHO as it gives me flexibility in transferring points to a number of carriers if I choose to do so - AND - I just love those % bonus that are occasionally offered to transfer points from AMEX to KF.

I wasn't aware of this occasional bonus on Amex to SQ transfers. Would definitely add value to the KF cards. Does Amex send emails of such offer?

 

[WA flyer]

I wasn't aware of this occasional bonus on Amex to SQ transfers. Would definitely add value to the KF cards. Does Amex send emails of such offer?

I think the last one was a mail-out, but I'm sure someone will post it on AFF before it reaches us in Perth!

Velocity and VA will often do Thor own promos which were up to 50% in the early days, but now usually 25% which is still a handy top-up!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I wasn't aware of this occasional bonus on Amex to SQ transfers. Would definitely add value to the KF cards. Does Amex send emails of such offer?

They are random and not that frequent.

Last time it was advised as part of various offers in the mail in a booklet, was on the website etc. points could be moved to various partners with a bonus.

Was good for me as I then moved 1.5 Million to KF to get the extra 150K.

Apart from the 10% bonus.....various bonii on earn come all the time on direct Amex cards.

So end result is that you earn at average well above 1.5 (or at least I do...and then if you can hold out long enough you might be able to boost it bya further 10% .

 

[WindowSeat]

Apart from the 10% bonus.....various bonii on earn come all the time on direct Amex cards.

I've been wondering about this as the only Amex direct card I've had is Qantas co-branded (Ultimate), and I've never seen any real bonus offers. I assume the bonii are for people earning points in the Membership Rewards Ascent program only?

Or do they usually only apply to Charge Cards (ie not Plat Edge/Reserve)?

 

[albatross710]

Or do they usually only apply to Charge Cards (ie not Plat Edge/Reserve)?

I've been thinking about that. It must be the airlines that want to encourage people to move points/miles out of their bank rewards accounts into the airline system. The incentive for the airline is that the banks would have to pay them for the points earlier than they would otherwise. I guess they have to give a bonus so that the bank can be seen to be generous by having negotiated a 50% bonus but probably the airlines are taking a haircut on the transaction.

Just my thoughts.

 

[AdMEL]

I've been wondering about this as the only Amex direct card I've had is Qantas co-branded (Ultimate), and I've never seen any real bonus offers. I assume the bonii are for people earning points in the Membership Rewards Ascent program only?

Or do they usually only apply to Charge Cards (ie not Plat Edge/Reserve)?

I've been thinking about that. It must be the airlines that want to encourage people to move points/miles out of their bank rewards accounts into the airline system. The incentive for the airline is that the banks would have to pay them for the points earlier than they would otherwise. I guess they have to give a bonus so that the bank can be seen to be generous by having negotiated a 50% bonus but probably the airlines are taking a haircut on the transaction.

Just my thoughts.

I was advised by Amex that because Plat Edge already earns 3-2-1 points, the recent Hopscotch promotion ($20 spend = 250 points?) did not apply. I took that to also mean that Plat Edge will not be eligble for most, if not all, future bonus points offers.

 

[Dr Ev]

Heading to Italy in May.
Am I correct in assuming that Westpac Krisflyer Platinum Visa and Platinum Amex both earn 1.5 miles per $AU,
but the transaction fee on the Visa is 3% compared to 3.5% for Amex?

In other words, am I better off using Visa platinum rather than Amex platinum Overseas?

 

[Dr Ev]

Any thoughts?

 

[cove]

Dr Ev, to avoid mistakenly using that Visa card it would be a good idea to shelve it seeing the value in OZ has been halved.
Suggest you only use the co branded Westpac Amex to show westpac how you feel about the moving of goalposts mid year.

 

[albatross710]

Looking at the Krislfyer terms and conditions http://www.westpac.com.au/docs/pdf/pb/SIA_Platinum_Conditions_of_use.pdf they do have different fee structures for Visa v Amex. The exact fees are specified in the link but in a separate document sent with the card.

I also notice that on pp19-20 they explain that Visa is one transaction from Euro to AUD whereas Amercian Epress is two conversion ie Euro - USD - AUD.

The KF miles earning rate on the KF Visa and Amex are the same outside of Australia with overseas merchants.

It looks that you may be onto something with the higher fees on Amex.

Alby

 

[burmans]

Heading to Italy in May.
Am I correct in assuming that Westpac Krisflyer Platinum Visa and Platinum Amex both earn 1.5 miles per $AU,
but the transaction fee on the Visa is 3% compared to 3.5% for Amex?

In other words, am I better off using Visa platinum rather than Amex platinum Overseas?

At a 3% transaction fee not sure I'd be using either card. For me the points benefit would be unlikely to outweigh the extra costs over other cheaper cards for international use.

Must admit with my yearly anniversary coming up in early May am seriously considering ditching this card. Visa has already been dropped from use and switching to the AMEX Plat reserve seems a good option with the free flight, 30K bonus and same 1.5 points. Higher annual fee of course but a free international flight more than covers (if you travel to NZ, and I do).

Question to those on the forum, who is still using this card, and more importantly why?

 

[cove]

SQ flights on Kris points in J and First are just so good I am still using the WESTPAC AMEX KRIS at 1.5 points per dollar. Westpac Visa version is history even on overseas payments and definitely for Australian use.I really hope Westpac choke on their bad call of changing Visa mid year.
As a finale we used our Westpac Kris Visa cards before the cut off so we are still feeling warm inside from doing the last hurrah.
Running both QF and Kris points has worked better than I ever imagined. You dont get stuck in an overseas location that is for sure.

I think Westpac are making about double pushing us into AMEX version of the card as the typical merchant charge is at least 2 times Visa.

 

[burmans]

Not disagreeing the value of getting SQ points vs QF (assuming both are the same transfer ratio) and agree at J/F this becomes more pronounced.

But the Amex Plat reserve also has 1.5:1 earn rate and 1:1 transfer to SQ as the Westpac SQ Amex and some great bonuses. At least for year 1 appears to me the Amex Reserve plat is a better card now. At a minimum should be a good bargaining ploy to get annual fee removed (or probably more likely reduced).

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Not disagreeing the value of getting SQ points vs QF (assuming both are the same transfer ratio) and agree at J/F this becomes more pronounced.

But the Amex Plat reserve also has 1.5:1 earn rate and 1:1 transfer to SQ as the Westpac SQ Amex and some great bonuses. At least for year 1 appears to me the Amex Reserve plat is a better card now. At a minimum should be a good bargaining ploy to get annual fee removed (or probably more likely reduced).

Earn ratio is one matter - points required to make redemption booking totally different matter.

For me SQ slaughters QF - MEL-CAN for J Saver on SQ 76,500pts / MEL-PVG 106,250 I think - QF MEL-PVG requires 140,000pts - and as for availability oh my god it's chalk and cheese - SQ so readily available.

And I agree AMEX product better than WSQ Amex product as points can be transferred to a number of carriers with transfer bonus from time to time.

The big beef woth the WSQ Cards is the halving of the earn rate on the Visa card.

 

[burmans]

The big beef woth the WSQ Cards is the halving of the earn rate on the Visa card.

Of course, must admit it was the halving of the earn rate on Visa that got me looking elsewhere, what was before nice about this card was that both cards had good rates to SQ (and only one annual fee). And once you start looking for one you look at both part of the card.

 

[WA flyer]

I far prefer to use the Amex as I can transfer to Kris as and when I need to and avoid have any hard earned (or not) points expire after 3 years.
The advantage of the Kris Amex is that it is not capped!

 

[georgie23]

Is it not better now just to use a Altitude Platinum - same earn rate (only difference is international Visa but exchange fee is bad, and double points on Singapore website)

That way points don't expire and can transfer them as you please

 

[burmans]

SQ flights on Kris points in J and First are just so good I am still using the WESTPAC AMEX KRIS at 1.5 points per dollar. Westpac Visa version is history even on overseas payments and definitely for Australian use.I really hope Westpac choke on their bad call of changing Visa mid year.
As a finale we used our Westpac Kris Visa cards before the cut off so we are still feeling warm inside from doing the last hurrah.
Running both QF and Kris points has worked better than I ever imagined. You dont get stuck in an overseas location that is for sure.

I think Westpac are making about double pushing us into AMEX version of the card as the typical merchant charge is at least 2 times Visa.

Rang up to have a chat to retentions unit, explained that I was probably going to cancel as Visa earn had been halved and had better Visa earn cards in my wallet, liked the Amex and Krisflyer but this did not justify a $250 annual fee and wanted to see if they caould offer me fee waiver before I cancel. They offered fee free this year and 1/2 price next so will be keeping the Amex at least in my wallet. For Visa/Amex now have Citi Plat (to get the 60K bonus) and Citibusiness Gold, will use the latter mainly, plus also have the Quantas EDR card.

So if you do (like me) still like the WBS SG Amex card worth negotiating! Will now try the same for my wife.