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

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I have had the following CC in the past 6 months,
Westpac Black 50,000 Bonus Points
ANZ Platinum 50,000
And just received the 75,000 points from NAB platinum

Was now thinking which card to go to next, Would like to have one without an annual fee, or at least a relatively low one
I am about the put the opposition leader onto the ANZ black with 75K points,

Anyone have any advice.
 
Craig O'Brien said:
I have had the following CC in the past 6 months,
Westpac Black 50,000 Bonus Points
ANZ Platinum 50,000
And just received the 75,000 points from NAB platinum

Was now thinking which card to go to next, Would like to have one without an annual fee, or at least a relatively low one
I am about the put the opposition leader onto the ANZ black with 75K points,

Anyone have any advice.
Click to expand...

St George has 30,000 points for no fee.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....omotions/st-george-30kpt-no-annual-78622.html

Whilst not free, the following AMEX cards represent great value. The Explorer comes with a $400 travel credit with AMEX which will offset the $395 annual fee. These offers expire in a couple of weeks. Make sure you use a referral link to gain extra points for you and the person who refers you:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....can-express-explorer-referrals-now-79058.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....tas-ultimate-american-express-card-79436.html
 
Last edited:
Craig O'Brien said:
I have had the following CC in the past 6 months,
Westpac Black 50,000 Bonus Points
ANZ Platinum 50,000
And just received the 75,000 points from NAB platinum

Was now thinking which card to go to next, Would like to have one without an annual fee, or at least a relatively low one
I am about the put the opposition leader onto the ANZ black with 75K points,

Anyone have any advice.
Click to expand...

My advice would be to get in quickly on one of the AMEX cards which have an extremely generous sign on bonus ending on January 30th.

The Explorer gets you 110,000 AMEX membership reward points with a referral link (equivalent of 87,500 airline miles - enough to go one way to Europe with Singapore Airlines), and the Qantas Ultimate card currently offers up to 112,500 points when you sign up with a referral link. Both cards have mid range annual fees ($395 Explorer / $450 Ultimate), but the annual fees are more than offset by the bonus points, plus a $400 travel credit for explorer or return domestic flight for the Qantas Ultimate card. Conversely, if you really can't stomach the annual fee, cancel your AMEX card within the first 3 months (after you've met the minimum spend and gained the bonus points), and they will give you a generous pro rata refund.

You'll find referral links for both these cards in the following threads:
Explorer: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....can-express-explorer-referrals-now-79058.html
Qantas Ultimate: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....tas-ultimate-american-express-card-79436.html
 
Late 2016, i've cut up Amex Platinum Edge and Bankwest Qantas World Mastercard to make way for new cards in 2017.

I have applied Amex Explorer card beginning of 2017 and looking at Coles Rewards Mastercard for flybuys points earn sometime this year (waiting on sign up bonus flybuys points).

In my wallet now:
1. Amex Velocity Platinum
2. Citibank Visa Signature (fee free for life)
3. 28 Degrees Mastercard
4. Amex Explorer (just got one!)

Feel almost complete now!
 
News Year's resolution - must do better!

Quick scan of records shows I haven't applied for a card since mid 2015, and the wife since mid 2014. There is much scope to do better.
 
Does anyone have any experience with getting amex bonus points within 12 months of previous card? I think I've seen a couple of posts where people have received card bonuses inside the "bonus exclusion period" but can't remember for which cards.

I cancelled my amex velocity platinum approx. 3 months ago and would love to take out the explorer, but no point if the 12 month exclusion period for the bonus is enforced.
 
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Lemon_Party said:
Does anyone have any experience with getting amex bonus points within 12 months of previous card? I think I've seen a couple of posts where people have received card bonuses inside the "bonus exclusion period" but can't remember for which cards.

I cancelled my amex velocity platinum approx. 3 months ago and would love to take out the explorer, but no point if the 12 month exclusion period for the bonus is enforced.
Click to expand...

You'll be fine. Myself and many others have reported success in identical circumstances. Check out the explorer thread for plenty of examples of success:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ions/explorer-credit-card-new-amex-77925.html

And don't forget to use a referral link to increase the points you receive:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....can-express-explorer-referrals-now-79058.html
 
Dr Ralph said:
You'll be fine. Myself and many others have reported success in identical circumstances. Check out the explorer thread for plenty of examples of success:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ions/explorer-credit-card-new-amex-77925.html

And don't forget to use a referral link to increase the points you receive:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....can-express-explorer-referrals-now-79058.html
Click to expand...

OK thanks. Decided to take the plunge and I've picked someone at random for a referral. As a data point, I hold the westpac altitude ($15k limit was the minimum, which is a real burden) and the NAB velocity plat ($7k) - I intended to cancel the NAB prior to a new application but couldn't be bothered with the phone call today, so applied anyway. Approved in 60 secs and card to arrive this week. My last application was October for the westpac card.
 
I have been planning out my Q1 2017 cards and was surprised how many it is when written out. In 2016 I:

Cancelled

  • Got and cancelled 2 x ANZ Black 75k Qantas for myself and my wife
  • Cancelled an old pair of Citi cards which we had

Got and still have

  • 2 x NAB 75k Velocity for myself and my wife
  • Amex PE for me
  • Amex Velocity for my mum
  • Amex Velocity for my my father in law, (Mum and FIL agreed to sign up for a card which I paid for when 160k points were available, including referral)
  • Also had another 60k referral and 4 x 5k Supplementary card bonuses given for a total of 575k Virgin points and 150k Qantas points in bonuses in 2016 (And just over $4k in Amex statement credits in Nov/Dec)

All of these except my PE are going in the next week

Kept from 2015 or earlier

  • Amex Velocity - mine
  • Westpac Black - mine
  • BoM card we have through home loan package
  • 28 Degrees we use on holidays only
All of these except 28 Degrees are going in the next two weeks - I will be sad to give up Westpac Black as I only pay $150 pa for it on a grandfathered offer, but I won't need it combination of Amex and Virgin High Flyer (see below) cards

Replacing these with:

  • 2 x Amex Explorer 110k for myself and my wife + 1 referral bonus (and will use another for the initial card from an AFF member go has given me some advice)
  • Platinum Edge 15k for my wife + 1 referral bonus
  • Virgin High Flyer 50k points for Non Amex spending
  • NAB 75k Qantas for us both, as late as possible in March
  • Supp cards for each Amex
Expecting 315k Virgin and 150k Qantas from these

I will be getting my Explorer whilst already holding a PE, (have read through the Explorer thread and know what I need to do) my wife will get her PE after the Explorer bonus points post, I will be interested to see if I have to manually ask for hers to be linked and points xferred.

Sad to miss out on free flights from PE cards this year but we have booked a Europe trip so at least all Amex card fees can go towards accomodation on that. The changes will no doubt cause some grumbling at home, particularly if my wife has to call to link Ascent and Gateway a few time at some horrible hour, but we are flying SQ Suites on our trip courtesy of the 2016 points haul, which should well and truly soften the blow.

If if all of this goes well I should have all min spends met and points posted in time for the June - August period where sign on and referral bonuses have been at their highest in the last couple of years!

I swear more effort goes into this than my paid job, a sentiment my wife shares.
 
Haven't churn'd much but here is what i have at the moment:

My current cards
AMEX Explorer (Applied on Xmas)
- Using for work expenses, got the offer + 20k ref bonus.
ANZ Rewards Black
- Using mainly for Visa spend, redeeming on gift-cards and Airnz/velocity
ANZ QFF Plat (free upgrade to black) + Sup.
- Got the points bonus as a Black customer, ANZ sees as separate cards and gave me upgrade to Black QFF
- Linked to bills, utilities, supermarkets and rent

Partners Cards
ANZ QFF Black Sup
ANZ QFF Standard

Other Cards
UK - Lloyds Bank Avios Platinum
TR - Garanti Bonus Visa Gold
AU - Coles Reloadable Mastercard
AU - Load& Go

Planned for 2017
Amex PE for Partner via Ref for Supermarket Spend
Amex PE for self for linking, and churn
High Earning Visa/MC for day to day with decent bonus
No-Fee ATM card (QCash or ING?)

Also planning to move some of the visa spend through Qantas cash, some overseas spends done on Aliexpress etc is killing me on O/C charges at the moment. Tempted with Bankwest or ING account for pure cash withdraws as well when needed. Canceled the Coles MC after 6months of using as the flybuys were useless, hope to get the Amex PE to do the job, or churn through another $100 bonus offer via partner as I'm still in 12 months but better used for Amex application methinks.

Currently pooling most MR and Amex points in platform once im ready to book, most of my ANZ rewards ive used on Velocity. Will look to keep pooling on Qantas as i have a few trips planned to Europe and later switch to Velocity if the AirNZ partnership holds.
 
Sometimes you can churn cards to your detriment. In our group we have 6 Westpac Amex Kris Flyer CCs which are now no longer issued. For those who churned it is tough luck. Doesn't happen often but I won't be churning this one nor Bankwest World unless they change the points/miles earn rates further.
 
flapper said:
I aim to turnover 3 cards a year and have for a few years but reading this thread makes me feel like an underachiever. :shock:
For those of you who turnover a lot of cards don't the banks start refusing you cards when they see your history?
Click to expand...

This is just one consideration and for some, if not many, it may actually be the minor one or at least it should be.

If you are knocked back for a FF points earning card it is really just an inconvenience.

If however you are knocked back for a property loan, whether for private residential or investment purposes, it may have more devastating result. So before being a mega-churner I would recommend that you first consider all aspects of your financial life both currently and the next several years. ie buying property, setting up a new business etc.

I am comfortable in having been a very large churner of cards for over a decade. But I was comfortably set up with a good income, property and investments etc. So for over a decade I have been a very active churner. I cannot even recall how many ANZ and Westpac offers I have taken had for example as both of these banks have in particular been prolific with very generous offers, often fee free. I only slowed for a year as about two years I was starting a new company from scratch and so did not want any impediments to jumping through various financial hoops in that process and so for year leading up to that I kept my application rate low. Now that the company is up and running I am back to my previously high churning level.

However one of my daughters is 25 and will in the next year or so buy her first property. So yes she churns cards, but only takes the best deals. She does not want to put at risk either getting a loan, or the size of a potential loan.

VEDA etc are not really that important for cc applications, but for other aspects of your financial life it may be. So yes churn, but please consider your overall financial situation as well and not just the FF points if you are going to be a major churner. Just churning several cards per year I personally would see as no issue, and indeed would help to create a good credit history as long as you always pay your cards off in time.
 
cove said:
Sometimes you can churn cards to your detriment. In our group we have 6 Westpac Amex Kris Flyer CCs which are now no longer issued. For those who churned it is tough luck. Doesn't happen often but I won't be churning this one nor Bankwest World unless they change the points/miles earn rates further.
Click to expand...


Yes, I wish I still had this card due to the ATO after having churned through it twice each for my wife and I.


However overall, churning has been very fruitful and I am still well in front ;) A bit like shares, you cannot get every call right, but if you are in the game after a while you end up way, way in front!

But yes with one's cards there are "keepers" and "churners". I keep some for:
- their earn rate on various types of spend (using different cards allows you to maximise points)
- the need to warehouse points for programs like Krislfyer which have a limited shelf-life
- the ability to transfer to various programs when either/ or both of points transfer bonii and redemption discounts are on (ie maximises your burn rate and also widens your choice of metal routes).
 
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maccaisking said:
I have been planning out my Q1 2017 cards and was surprised how many it is when written out. In 2016 I:

Cancelled

  • Got and cancelled 2 x ANZ Black 75k Qantas for myself and my wife
  • Cancelled an old pair of Citi cards which we had

Got and still have

  • 2 x NAB 75k Velocity for myself and my wife
  • Amex PE for me
  • Amex Velocity for my mum
  • Amex Velocity for my my father in law, (Mum and FIL agreed to sign up for a card which I paid for when 160k points were available, including referral)
  • Also had another 60k referral and 4 x 5k Supplementary card bonuses given for a total of 575k Virgin points and 150k Qantas points in bonuses in 2016 (And just over $4k in Amex statement credits in Nov/Dec)

All of these except my PE are going in the next week

Kept from 2015 or earlier

  • Amex Velocity - mine
  • Westpac Black - mine
  • BoM card we have through home loan package
  • 28 Degrees we use on holidays only
All of these except 28 Degrees are going in the next two weeks - I will be sad to give up Westpac Black as I only pay $150 pa for it on a grandfathered offer, but I won't need it combination of Amex and Virgin High Flyer (see below) cards

Replacing these with:

  • 2 x Amex Explorer 110k for myself and my wife + 1 referral bonus (and will use another for the initial card from an AFF member go has given me some advice)
  • Platinum Edge 15k for my wife + 1 referral bonus
  • Virgin High Flyer 50k points for Non Amex spending
  • NAB 75k Qantas for us both, as late as possible in March
  • Supp cards for each Amex
Expecting 315k Virgin and 150k Qantas from these

I will be getting my Explorer whilst already holding a PE, (have read through the Explorer thread and know what I need to do) my wife will get her PE after the Explorer bonus points post, I will be interested to see if I have to manually ask for hers to be linked and points xferred.

Sad to miss out on free flights from PE cards this year but we have booked a Europe trip so at least all Amex card fees can go towards accomodation on that. The changes will no doubt cause some grumbling at home, particularly if my wife has to call to link Ascent and Gateway a few time at some horrible hour, but we are flying SQ Suites on our trip courtesy of the 2016 points haul, which should well and truly soften the blow.

If if all of this goes well I should have all min spends met and points posted in time for the June - August period where sign on and referral bonuses have been at their highest in the last couple of years!

I swear more effort goes into this than my paid job, a sentiment my wife shares.
Click to expand...

How did you do 4k in statement credits
 
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