Which cards have you applied for this year (2016)?

[adelee]

I for one havent got on the Amex bandwagon yet. For me its the annual fee as well as amex still not as widely accepted.

After reading the forums I am tempted to apply for some but just havent taken the plunge yet.

For me the easiest one so far has been HSBC, applied online and cards arrived a few days later. No payslips or anything needed.

Citi was the second easiest, they asked for payslips, proof of identitiy etc... but didnt need to leave my PC to get the cards.

Depending on where you spend, I suspect you'll find that AMEX is really very widely accepted. While you might not be able to pay at the small shop on the corner, all major supermarkets and petrol stations accept it, as does paypal (which covers off most online shopping, plus you can link Aus Post Billpay to it). Annual fee wise, there are 3 - 4 $0 annual fee cards available, and cards like the platinum edge ($199) and Explorer card ($399) literally pay for themselves, as along with generous points sign on bonus, they include a free return flight (plat edge) or $400 travel credit and lounge access (Explorer).

 

[Dr Ralph]

I for one havent got on the Amex bandwagon yet. For me its the annual fee as well as amex still not as widely accepted.

AMEX has cards which have no fees and is widely accepted (although sometimes with a surcharge).

 

[adelee]

AMEX has cards which have no fees and is widely accepted (although sometimes with a surcharge).

Even Wendouree accepts it

 

[Lawrage]

Depending on where you spend, I suspect you'll find that AMEX is really very widely accepted. While you might not be able to pay at the small shop on the corner, all major supermarkets and petrol stations accept it, as does paypal (which covers off most online shopping, plus you can link Aus Post Billpay to it). Annual fee wise, there are 3 - 4 $0 annual fee cards available, and cards like the platinum edge ($199) and Explorer card ($399) literally pay for themselves, as along with generous points sign on bonus, they include a free return flight (plat edge) or $400 travel credit and lounge access (Explorer).

Thanks adelee, I should just clarify that I dont mind paying the annual fee if I am getting some sort of perceived value from it.

The explorer card I was actually not aware of, the 100k bonus points is very tempting.

Am I correct in saying that the only current amex card I can use for Qantas points is the charge card?

 

[adelee]

Thanks adelee, I should just clarify that I dont mind paying the annual fee if I am getting some sort of perceived value from it.

The explorer card I was actually not aware of, the 100k bonus points is very tempting.

Am I correct in saying that the only current amex card I can use for Qantas points is the charge card?

There are actually a number of AMEX cards in addition to the Charge that earn Qantas (though personally I find AsiaMiles and Krisflyer points are better value to collect). Just go to the personal cards page on AMEX and tick 'qantas points' to filter: https://www.americanexpress.com/au/...w_pr&s_tntref=https://www.americanexpress.com

 

[Lawrage]

There are actually a number of AMEX cards in addition to the Charge that earn Qantas (though personally I find AsiaMiles and Krisflyer points are better value to collect). Just go to the personal cards page on AMEX and tick 'qantas points' to filter: https://www.americanexpress.com/au/...w_pr&s_tntref=https://www.americanexpress.com

Thanks for the info

 

[blueythecat]

Curious that there seem to be a lot of people on this forum focusing almost exclusively on non AMEX providers for card sign on bonuses.

As a rule, I find the AMEX application and approval process so much easier than other providers....

I agree totally! I also find AMEX issued cards to be the best value cards on the market, especially for sign-on bonuses. And as you say the application process is a breeze, compared to the banks; not to mention the bonus points always post really quickly!

May the good AMEX times roll on!!

 

[Robbo3]

Applied and Cancelled
ANZ Qantas Black

Applied and Holding
Macquarie Hilton
AMEX Corporate Green
NAB Velocity Platinum
AMEX Velocity (referred Mrs Robbo3 when referral promotion was on)
HSBC (just then)

Next Moves
Cancel NAB
Cancel AMEX Velocity (pro-rata refund potential)
Threaten cancel AMEX Platinum Edge (hope for points offer to keep - will keep regardless)
Apply AMEX Explorer (hope points land)

That may be it for 2016.

 

[PDog]

Love the insight in this thread!

Applied this year:
NAB velocity (twice!!)
ANZ black
Citi visa (prestige maybe? 75000 points which equated to 37500 velocity / KrisFlyer points)

Cancelled
NAB velocity
Virgin money (well, kept it cause they waived the fee & let me keep the flight voucher)
AMEX velocity

Next
cancel NAB when bonus points arrive
Apply AMEX Explorer (fingers crossed)
Cancel ANZ before 12 months are up

I need need to think about widening my net beyond velocity points to Qantas as Velocity opportunities are fewer, but am hoping for a Singapore Suites trip in 2018! Decisions.....

 

[Steady]

Applied this year: 6
NAB velocity platinum (twice)
ANZ QF black
Westpac QF Altitude
Jetstar MC
Explorer

Cancelled: 5
NAB velocity platinum (once)
Citi QF Signature
Westpac QF Altitude
AMEX velocity platinum
ANZ QF black

Holding: 3
J* MC
Explorer
NAB velocity platinum

Next
Find a replacement for the Jetstar MC and apply
Cancel Jetstar MC
Apply for a second AMEX offering - was thinking either QF Ultimate or Edge but the free flights are not as convenient to where I live.

It is surprising how lucrative the signup bonuses are for those who can

I had planned on keeping the J* MC, before the recent enhancements it suited me perfectly. The Explorer seems like a keeper for me - the $400 travel credit is far easier and more flexible for me to use due to my location (and I will get SC for the flight/s)

 

[psi999]

Applied this year: 4
NAB velocity platinum
Westpac QF Altitude
ANZ Rewards black
St George QF Platinum

Cancelled: 3
NAB velocity platinum
Westpac QF Altitude
AMEX velocity platinum

Holding: 4
ANZ black (free via home loan) – Visa still paying 1VFF $1 so I’ll hang onto this for a while longer. As much as 1.5PPD VFF via AMEX is decent it'll go once Visa devalued.
Citi Signature (free for life) – will revert visa spend here (0.75VFF) once ANZ black is devalued (0.625 VFF)
AMEX platinum edge – Main spend for all supermarket, fuel and everything else above 1.5 PPD that ANZ black gives.
AMEX velocity escape – Converted AMEX Velocity platinum into this with min credit limit - I’ll keep for the next year or so while the dust settles with interchange rates. Could end up being a handy thing.

Next
Cancel St George QF Platinum
Possibly AMEX explorer (if ANZ black goes)

My main spend is directed towards VFF but QF offers this year have been to good to knock back

 

[Jamesaurus]

Applied this year:
Commonwealth ($0 fee, 40k pts + gave me extra 5k to keep it for an extra month)
WESTPAC ALTITUDE QANTAS ($0 fee, 40k pts)
QANTAS AMEX DISCOVERY ($0 fee, 15k pts)
ANZ FF platinum ($0 fee, 50k pts + since upgraded to black even though lower income)
JETSTAR PLATINUM MASTERCARD ($69 fee, 40k pts)
St George Signature platinum ($0 fee, 30k pts)
= 215k qff for $69

Cancelled:
Commonwealth
WESTPAC ALTITUDE QANTAS
QANTAS AMEX DISCOVERY
JETSTAR PLATINUM MASTERCARD

Next (2017):
AMEX Explorer

 

[Lawrage]

Applied this year:
Commonwealth ($0 fee, 40k pts + gave me extra 5k to keep it for an extra month)
WESTPAC ALTITUDE QANTAS ($0 fee, 40k pts)
QANTAS AMEX DISCOVERY ($0 fee, 15k pts)
ANZ FF platinum ($0 fee, 50k pts + since upgraded to black even though lower income)
JETSTAR PLATINUM MASTERCARD ($69 fee, 40k pts)
St George Signature platinum ($0 fee, 30k pts)
= 215k qff for $69

Cancelled:
Commonwealth
WESTPAC ALTITUDE QANTAS
QANTAS AMEX DISCOVERY
JETSTAR PLATINUM MASTERCARD

Next (2017):
AMEX Explorer

Pretty damn good for $69

 

[AnnaB]

I am just discovering the world of CC sign up bonuses so I have merely applied for two so far.

1. Amex Velocity Platinum (80,000 sign up bonus points, $349 annual fee)
2. ANZ Rewards Black (75,000 bonus ANZ points, $0 fee first year)

Not bad for my first year, I got some friends to sign up as well so I got some well needed bonus points.

I was going to apply for the NAB card with 75,000 bonus Velocity points, but missed out I am such an airhead sometimes....

 

[slikstick]

Bit like RoseAnna, just came across the CC sign up bonus'..

Been keen on Rewards CC for a while, but they didn't really cut it.

So this year:

Signed up:

1. AMEX Platinum Edge for the free DRW-PER return, used it to save on a flight going for $700. Also signed Mrs and Mum while it was $0 sign up, $10,000 bonus.

2. NAB Velocity Platinum 75,000

3. ANZ QFF Black 75,000 $0. Usually go for VA due to cheap lounge access and Family pooling, but this was too good to refuse.

CANX:

Bankwest Platinum rewards. Got a couple of flights through WebJet and a voucher or two, but just better options.


Wondering how long I should wait until signing up to another....

 

[rbjhan]

Also new to the bonus world!
Applied
Westpac Altitute QF Plat, 50K pts, $0 fee 1st year.
Bankwest QF Plat, 50K pts, $160 fee, probably change to Zero and keep.
NAB QF Plat, 75K pts, $250 fee

Cancelled
AMEX Plat Edge
Citibank Plat
28 Degrees

Probably should wait a bit before applying for anything again...

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Also signed Mrs and Mum while it was $0 sign up, $10,000 bonus.

...

Now that would be a deal Points perhaps........

 

[LittleFokker]

Busy year for us:

New in 2016:

AMEX Business Accelerator - $160. No bonus points as such but collected 100K Krisflyer points through spending on tax/super at an average of 1.25c point.

1 x Amex Velocity - 80K for $349 or 0.44c p/p (or less if $200 free flight taken into account, which we actually used this weekend)

2 x HSBC Qantas - 120K for $398
2 x Westpac Qantas - 100K for $300
2 x Woolworth Qantas - 80K for $198
1 x Citibank QFF Visa - 70K for $99

370K QFF for $995 = 0.27c p/p

Strangely my credit score went up by about 10%, albeit off a low base.

To be cancelled:

ANZ Black
Jetstar Qantas
Amex Gold Charge

 

[cove]

Have a Bankwest World CC in progress. No sign on kicker...just great terms of use that suit our circumstances.
Might go for a Chase (US) card when I am in the US in 10 days time.

 

[Blockers]

After reading this I need to up my game!

Applied this year - 0
But going to apply for NAB 75k Qantas and AMEX Qantas Ultimate

Applied and Cancelled - 1
Amex Platinum

Holding - 3
NAB Velocity Plat
AMEX Velocity Plat
NAB Premium Card (only used for car expenses to make life easy at tax time)

Next Steps:
Cancel NAB and AMEX Velocity cards and replace

Any other tips/advice welcome. I'm chasing Qantas points