Anybody get waiver of annual fee for second year on Qantas AMEX?

[Alanslegal]

Very positive results getting Ultimate & Premium card annual fees waived.

I too have a Premium card but still have another 6months before the 1st year freeby is up. I'm eagerly waiting for a substantial free (>20K) points promotion so I can switch over otherwise I will be quickly moving back to a MR or card linked to the Ascent program, given given the new transfer rates of MR to other programs eg. SPG have become very favourable.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I am faced with a dilemma but I guess it is worth a try next time around. I have an Qantas Amex premium card and was recently charged the $195 yearly fee. Did not ring up to complain but I am in no position to threaten cancellation of the card as there is an outstanding balance I cannot pay off immediately and I do not spend anywhere near $8,000/pa on the card. Although I must say that the interest I saved on the balance transfer for 6 months would have been around $400.

I am one of the reasons credit card companies make the sort of profits they do these days.

Perhaps you could apply for another CC that offers 0% for 6 months.

1/use that only for that....that wat FF pints are not an issue
2/As the $195 is fee in advance then ring up and ask for it to be waived. If no joy cancel.
3/Apply for the Maximiser...not it may be best to do this before you ask for the $195 waived on the Premium.

 

[Febs]

Has anyone had any luck in upgrading their free Premium to a free Ultimate?

I'm on my second free year with my Premium, and have put about $20k through it in ~9months. Probably end up with about $25-$30k on it by the time my second free year is up. Always paid off in full at the end of each month.

Would love to jump onto one of these free Ultimate deals if they're going around.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[JohnK]

Perhaps you could apply for another CC that offers 0% for 6 months.

That is a good suggestion and one I need to consider.

The main reason for the Qantas Amex premium card was the 30,000 QFF points on offer plus the 2 Qantas club passes and to get the 6.99% interest on balance transfers for 6 months. I saved around $400 in interest and have now paid the $195 yearly fee but did offset some of that with the Qantas club passes. Overall I feel the Qantas Amex premium card has been a winner for me but the balance is not that easy to pay off.

 

[Sn00py]

What kind of deals are available for charge cards?

Some people had to pay for the normal annual $130 but were given free rewards program.

What kind of deal were you guys managing to get for the charge cards?

Care to share

 

[beardoc]

For those that have have got the Ultimate Card or the Platinum Credit Card fee waived, what was your annual spend? Would be very keen to find out what the minimum annual spend to achieve this would be.

 

[Sheriff]

For those that have have got the Ultimate Card or the Platinum Credit Card fee waived, what was your annual spend? Would be very keen to find out what the minimum annual spend to achieve this would be.

I negotiated (prior to activation) a full fee waiver on my Qantas Ultimate Card with no minimum annual spend requirement attached and still pocketed 40K MR points and a free flight.

The deal was 50%($197.50) of the annual fee waived on card activation and 50% three months later. I spent approximately $7K during that period before reverting to my Rewards Maximiser.

The minimum annual spend required for a full fee waiver on the Ultimate Card is $30K.

Sheriff

 

[beardoc]

I negotiated (prior to activation) a full fee waiver on my Qantas Ultimate Card with no minimum annual spend requirement attached and still pocketed 40K MR points and a free flight.

The deal was 50%($197.50) of the annual fee waived on card activation and 50% three months later. I spent approximately $7K during that period before reverting to my Rewards Maximiser.

The minimum annual spend required for a full fee waiver on the Ultimate Card is $30K.

Sheriff

So who else has had success in getting a fee waiver (especially the Platinum Credit Card - or even the Platinum Charge Card!)? Can you post your experience and your spend)?

 

[Maca44]

My Amex Plat credit card is due for renewal in May 2008, so I contacted Amex to see what they offered insofar as a fee waiver. I was told the cancellation unit was the only section that could make those decisions and was put through to them. Even though I have had an Amex card continuously since 1978, and have an average spend of btw $45K and $50K per annum I was advised that, because they offer the free QF flight and insurance with the Plat credit card, they are unable to offer a waiver.

I was told the only thing they could offer me was a $100 voucher with Myers or one of the other major outlets. However, they could offer an annual fee waiver for the Rewards Maximiser as this card does not have the free QF flight attached to it. Considering that if you hunt around you can pick up a flight between the capital cities Amex have on offer for under $200, and I have annual travel insurance through AFF, it make the Rewards Maximiser quite inviting.

 

[Sheriff]

So who else has had success in getting a fee waiver (especially the Platinum Credit Card - or even the Platinum Charge Card!)? Can you post your experience and your spend)?

I have been an American Express Credit cardholder since 2002 and I have NEVER been charged annual fees.

I currently hold the Amex Rewards Maximiser, the Qantas Premium and Ultimate Card fee FREE.

In August I intend to cancel the Ultimate card and replace it with a fee free Platinum Credit card.

I do not anticipate any problems as the annual fee for the Ultimate and Platinum Credit card is the same($395).

Cheers
Sheriff

 

[oz_mark]

I have been an American Express Credit cardholder since 2002 and I have NEVER been charged annual fees.

I currently hold the Amex Rewards Maximiser, the Qantas Premium and Ultimate Card fee FREE.

In August I intend to cancel the Ultimate card and replace it with a fee free Platinum Credit card.

I do not anticipate any problems as the annual fee for the Ultimate and Platinum Credit card is the same($395).

I have a suspicion that Amex are more likely to talk waivers on the Ultimate than on the Platinum, as it is said that they have some targets with the Qantas card that they were falling short of. Certainly, as they have offered to move me from Platinum to Ultimate in the past, suggests that they would prefer cardholders on Ultimate than Platinum.

Not saying that you won't be successful in your aims, but more lies behind their decision making than might meet the eye.

 

[Sheriff]

Not saying that you won't be successful in your aims, but more lies behind their decision making than might meet the eye.

I couldn't agree more.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

Cheers

 

[Maca44]

I have been an American Express Credit cardholder since 2002 and I have NEVER been charged annual fees.

I currently hold the Amex Rewards Maximiser, the Qantas Premium and Ultimate Card fee FREE.

In August I intend to cancel the Ultimate card and replace it with a fee free Platinum Credit card.

I do not anticipate any problems as the annual fee for the Ultimate and Platinum Credit card is the same($395).

Cheers
Sheriff

If you get the QF Premium and Ultimate card for free, then the gods are with you. The Ultimate card give you a free flight but the amex site states: One domestic Economy return flight between selected Australian capital cities² after your first Card spend every year in Australia on selected Qantas services³. (It would appear there is no free flight with the Premium card) It continues with, "Selected Qantas products and services are: (a) Qantas passenger flights with a QF flight number purchased on the Qantas merchant account i.e. directly with Qantas or some travel agents, (b) purchases from Qantas Travel shops or (c) purchases from Qantas Holidays. Excludes: Qantas Freight, Jetstar, Qantas branded non-airfare products operated by third parties e.g. Qantas Box Office"

As mentioned in another thread, Amex would not waive my annual fee for the Plat credit card because there was a free QF flight attached to it, so it will be interesting to see how you go.

 

[beardoc]

I have a suspicion that Amex are more likely to talk waivers on the Ultimate than on the Platinum, as it is said that they have some targets with the Qantas card that they were falling short of. Certainly, as they have offered to move me from Platinum to Ultimate in the past, suggests that they would prefer cardholders on Ultimate than Platinum.

Not saying that you won't be successful in your aims, but more lies behind their decision making than might meet the eye.

I suspect you might be right here - and hence why they've been very keen to push everyone to the QANTAS branded cards!

I just find the QANTAS program to be more and more difficult, and I'm pretty much done with crediting points there. Now that Krisflyer has a good Amex option, as well as reasonable Visa options, it seems to be where I'll go in future.

I just wish someone would offer an AA redemption option in Australia!

 

[jasonja3]

So who else has had success in getting a fee waiver (especially the Platinum Credit Card - or even the Platinum Charge Card!)? Can you post your experience and your spend)?

I have the Plat charge card, and one month before renewal, I contacted them letting them know of my intentions to cancel. "Oh.. no no sir, the card is such great value you get this this and this". I was polite yet stern, and said I will get the Plat CC at less than half the price with basically the same things that matter to me (+ a flight). In the end they gave me $695 in credits to my plat card, and reversed every single annual fee and supp fee paid on my gold business card (about 3yrs) so I ended up with about $1100 of credits accross both cards plus no fees again on the business card, although the $400 odd dollars helps the company not me....

I have a spend of approx. $150-$200k on the plat card and $50k on the business card, which is why I wanted to stick with the plat Charge card, as the points capping is higher than the C Card.

Good luck.

 

[Sheriff]

In August I intend to cancel the Ultimate card and replace it with a fee free Platinum Credit card.

No. Got a better idea.

I'll be keeping my fee free Ultimate Qantas card and I'll still press for a free Platinum credit card.

I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[beardoc]

No. Got a better idea.

I'll be keeping my fee free Ultimate Qantas card and I'll still press for a free Platinum credit card.

I'll keep you guys posted.

I have to admit I am intrigued by your ability to get fee-free waivers, Sheriff - I'll be looking forward to the next installment of the saga!

 

[pauly7]

Is there a quick way to check your Amex cards anniversary online?

 

[one9]

I rang up the other day as my Platinum credit card was coming close to expiry. They wouldn't waive the fee but they gave me a $200 credit.

 

[beardoc]

I rang up the other day as my Platinum credit card was coming close to expiry. They wouldn't waive the fee but they gave me a $200 credit.

A straight $200 credit on your account? This is far better than the $200 vouchers from Harvey Norman.