Just want to update this thread, as I now have booked a RTW (SYD-HND/NRT-MEX-PTY-CNF/GRU-IST-xJED-BKK-MEL) using my 280k KF miles and have 1 point left in my account
I actually didn't have enough KF miles until I transferred a chunk of spare Velocity miles @ 1.55:1 so for something like AMEX Explorer instead of 70,000 MR points (=35,000 KF), you can get AMEX Velocity Platinum which will give you 45,000 KF.
Lenders are tightening sign-up offers with reduced bonuses and bait and switch headlines which actually split the bonus over two years.
Lenders are also rejecting applications more, for no reason that can be determined (good income, good credit score).
I was rejected twice, six months ago, by Citi for the Prestige card and by Westpac for a card I had in the past (Altitude Black). I'm now going to start applying again (fingers crossed). My first rule is avoid NAB/Citi cards unless I have already hit three other card promos and want to test my luck.
Co-branded and white label products from NAB/Citibank include Coles, BOQ, Virgin Money, Suncorp, Kogan, Qantas, Paypal.
AMEX, HSBC and St George are the only ones that have 2:1 conversion rate to KF.
Please note HSBC is a targeted link, you need an account. I've had the email before with the offer but link has expired. There is an active link from Ozbargain but can't confirm it works:
HSBC Platinum Credit Card: $0 Fees for First Year, 120,000 Rewards Plus Pts After $3000 Spent in 90 Days, 0% Balance Transfer
This is not an exhaustive list (I don't have ABN) but it's pretty good:
Institution | Product | Annual Fee | Bonus | Minimum Credit Limit | Conversion to Velocity | Conversion to Krisflyer | Bonus | Bank Group | White-Labelled |
AMEX | Platinum | $1,450 | 225,000 MR | $15,000 | 112,500 | 112,500 | See Below table for perks | | |
AMEX | Explorer | $395 | 70,000 MR | $6,000 | 35,000 | 35,000 | $400 travel credit
Centurion lounge x2 Melb/Syd | | |
AMEX | Velocity Platinum | $375 | 70,000 Velocity | $6,000 | N/A | 45,161 | Return domestic flight
2x Virgin Lounge passes | | |
HSBC | | $0 (targeted link) | 120,000 Rewards Plus | $6,000 | 60,000 | 60,000 | | | |
| Amplify Platinum | $49 | 90,000 Amplify | $6,000 | 45,000 | 45,000 | | Westpac, BOM | |
St George | Amplify Signature | $199 | 150,000 amplify | $15,000 | 75,000 | 75,000 | | Westpac, BOM | |
ANZ | Platinum | $45 (+$50 rebate) | 80,000 ANZ Points | $6,000 | 40,000 | 26,500 | | | |
ANZ | Black | $225 (+$150 rebate) | 180,000 ANZ Points | $15,000 | 90,000 | 60,000 | | | |
NAB | Platinum | $95 | 60,000 Rewards Points | $6,000 | 30,000 | 20,000 | | | |
NAB | Signature | $195 | 100,000 (first year) | $15,000 | 50,000 | 33,000 | | | |
Westpac | Altitude Platinum | $0 | 100,000 Altitude Points | $6,000 | 50,000 | 33,000 | | St George, BOM | |
Westpac | Altitude Velocity Platinum | $49 +$75 Velocity Program Fee | 70,000 Velocity | $6,000 | 70,000 | 45,000 | | St George, BOM | |
Westpac | Altitude Velocity Black | $150 +$75 Velocity Program Fee | 90,000 Velocity
(1st Year) | $15,000 | 90,000 | 58,000 | Some economy upgrades and domestic lounge passes |
St George, BOM | |
| Rewards Mastercard | $99 + $99 (2nd year) | 100,000 Flybuys | | 50,000 | 32,500 | No conversion fees for overseas purchases | | |
AMEX Platinum Perks (thanks to Ozbargainer, I stole this list)
Fine hotels and resorts, not applicable to me as only 5* hotels: An introduction to American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts
$200 Local Dining credit (worth $200)
* $200 Global Dining credit (worth $200)
* Accor plus membership with 1 free hotel night (worth $399)
* $450 travel credit (worth $450)
* Up to $84 amazon prime membership cashback (worth $79 for annual membership)
* 2 x Unlimited Priority Pass card (exclude restaurants credit) (worth $400)
* Unlimited access to AMEX centurion lounges
* Unlimited access to Virgin Domestic lounges
* Unlimited access to Plaza Premium lounges
Plus the below nice to have offer (which I don't use much):
* The Australian Premium subscription ($7/week = $364)
* $75 x 2 NET-A-PORTER and MR PORTER credit (worth $150)
* Hotel Elite Status: Hilton Honors Gold status, Marriott BonvoyTM Gold status, Radisson Rewards Premium status
All of these are on top of the new card holder bonus
So if you travel quite often, just the lounges access, hotel statuses and dining credit already well worth the $1450
So which is best?
1) AMEX Platinum for sure with the perks
2) St George Signature however 12k spend is a killer for some
3) HSBC Platinum slots in here for $0 fee and higher conversion rate, it's a no brainer. Followed closely by St George Platinum.
4) ANZ Black and Westpac Altitude Velocity Black are on par, Westpac is slightly ahead if you want Velocity not KF, plus some economy upgrades.
5) Citi, Virgin, Suncorp cards not listed in table fit in here. Of course they would be higher for some people, I've had Virgin, Suncorp card before the crunch but you've been warned.
So with zero cards in my wallet, I can hit the AMEX, HSBC + St George Platinums for $1528 in fees, and when I hit the bonuses, I will have about 230k in Krisflyer miles, nearly enough for my next RTW
Final notes, I'm going through my old Onenote pages and found that there is a hack where you can apply for AMEX platinum edge card and get the operator to merge your accounts because "it's too difficult to manage both sets of points and rather have them all in one spot". Apparently Edge card allowed 1:1 transfers to KF, but I'm not 100% if this is still true or how it works.