Westpac Velocity Auto-Redemption to close

[CPMaverick]

FYI I was able to successfully initiate auto-redemption last month on my business card. It gave me an error but worked anyway. There was a message previously saying business cards would be unaffected but just confirming that it is indeed the case... for now.

 

[Zanzara]

Sorry to go about this, but I got a letter that said that Westpac auto redemptions for Altitude Black Mastercard are going to be automatically converted to Velocity and the $50 fee waived for the first year (but the passes swapped for VA lounge instead of Priority Passes). That's if you have already enabled auto redemption to Velocity (which is being discontinued from 2/8).



Whereas for the Westpac Altitude Black Amex the opposite is true. If you don't advise them you will not be automatically enrolled in Velocity but ....



TBH, it's a bit of a confusing non-coordinated mess really.

So presumably if I do nothing, I can get auto redemption with my Velocity points on my Altitude Mastercard and Altitude points to transfer to who I like (within their partner airlines) with my Amex card?

I get VA lounge access anyway, so for me the Priority Pass (not that they're generally anything special and it's for YOU only - no guests are allowed in free) is more valuable that 2 entries into a lounge I already have access to. The earn rate sucks and I rarely use the Mastercard anyway.

BTW, the number to call for the Mastercard is different to the Amex card.

It was a bit more streamlined when Westpac issued both cards themselves. The insurance cover is the same for both which is bonus.

 

[lonewolf]

I cant decide but i dont really fly virgin much at all and dont fly domestic much, so i think priority pass is more useful to me than the virgin lounge passes. If I want Krisflyer points, is it better to go to Altitude rewards or to stick with velocity and then convert from velocity to KF whenever there is a special rate on?

If I want Altitude rewards on my Westpac Black Mastercard, what do i need to do?

 

[lonewolf]

I dont really fly much domestic, and i mainly fly to Asia, so i presume its better for me to cancel the auto redemption and stick with Altitude Rewards and Priority Pass. I presume as long as i cancel the auto redemption then they wont automatically transfer me over?

 

[Mattg]

I dont really fly much domestic, and i mainly fly to Asia, so i presume its better for me to cancel the auto redemption and stick with Altitude Rewards and Priority Pass. I presume as long as i cancel the auto redemption then they wont automatically transfer me over?

I would stick with Altitude Rewards and cancel the auto-redemption, if I were in your position.