Are the days of Points collecting over?

[Brissy1]

next 17 long haul J flights I have booked only one is paid

17!
Very impressive planning irrespective of redemption or paid. And I suppose that's the point, you can get value but it requires a lot lot more planning.

 

[Human]

Ascent premium / linked to ur platinum charge?

Yes, my Platinum Edge card earns Ascent Premium points.

 

[burmans]

The situation is always changing and has done so for at least 20 years. Sure the days of getting J on SQ for $800 ex Asia to Aus are gone. So are the VA $80 J flights BNE Syd flights velocity awards, and don’t get me started on the woolies pet food runs donated to your local RSPCA for a monster QFF point haul. JASA’s, dreamy days.

Since I joined there has been regular posts claiming the sky is falling, but as one door closes another opens. With todays modern media environment seeking to make $$$ of so called hacks, the good deals are harder to find, but they are out there and most of the so called influencers/bloggers lack the smarts to do the work to find them. Put the effort in and you will get the rewards.

Agree but am not so sad if a few people decide it’s a bit too hard.

One of the factors that has led us to where we are now is the fact that 10 + years ago this was a bit of a specialised hobby, with social media it became a lot more popular. More demand meant inevitably the value would decline.

Now people are saying it’s all too hard, for me that’s probably a positive!

 

[CMA222]

So Westpac (and their subsidiary St George) have decided to kill off any real advantage to collect points on their cards.

Their email:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

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We're writing to let you know that we're making pricing and Points earn rate changes to your St.George xx_xx_X Platinum card ending in xx_x.

Points earn rate changes​

From 22 August 2025, we're making changes to how you can earn Points on eligible purchases1 with your card. In particular, we're changing the earn rates and expanding the spend categories.

Please refer to the table below to learn about all category and earn rate changes2. If you'd like to check out the current Points earn rates prior to these changes, please visit stgeorge.com.au/earning-points These changes will not impact your current Points balance.

How to earn Qantas Points New Qantas Points earn rate International spend For international purchases made in store and online $1 = 0.75 Points Once you spend $5,000 in a statement cycle, you will earn 0.2 Points per $1 on further eligible purchases1 Everyday spend Most major Australian supermarkets, department stores, petrol stations, dining and utilities $1 = 0.5 Points All other purchases3 $1 = 0.35 Points

What kind of businesses are included in the new 'everyday spend' category?​

Below is a list of examples of what is included in the new everyday spend category.

• Supermarkets include stores such as Woolworths, Coles, IGA, Harris Farm and ALDI. • Department stores include stores such as David Jones and Myer. • Petrol stations include stores such as Shell, Ampol, Caltex and BP. • Dining includes restaurants, cafes, fast food, bars, hotels and entertainment venues. • Utilities include payments for water, gas, electricity, internet, mobile and streaming services (excluding BPAY® payments).

Credit card pricing changes​

We regularly review our products and pricing. As part of this process, we've identified that your card has been on discounted pricing. To maintain the value and benefits your card offers, we'll be adjusting your rates and/or fees to reflect our standard advertised rates which aligns with the market. (my emphasis)

From August 2025, your interest rates and/or fees will be updated as shown in the table below.

Your pricing changes​

Your current pricing Your new pricing* from 22 August 2025 Annual card fee $99.00 $175.00 Annual Qantas Rewards Program fee $0.00 $75.00

More information on pricing changes​

The change to your annual card and/or rewards program fee will be applied on your next Card Fee date after 22 August 2025.

If you have an agreed arrangement schedule to repay any amounts outstanding at the time of the pricing changes, your repayment frequency and amount will not alter. However, as a result of these changes, the duration of your arrangement may be extended.

We understand that changes like these can be challenging. If you no longer feel your current credit card suits your needs, you may be able to switch to a different credit card. Please visit stgeorge.com.au/creditcardswitch

Please reach out to the St.George Customer Assist team for assistance if you experience financial difficulties.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

So the offer that I signed up for is now "identified as being discount pricing" and to "maintain the value and benefits" they are increasing the card fees 152% and reducing the earn rates. How does that maintain the value and benefits, when they are reducing them. They sound like they are doing me a favour ?? I will cancel my cards before the next annual fee is applied and just use a no fee c/c or a debit card.

​

 

[Human]

Yep, time to vote with your feet!

I've only ever taken out Westpac and Bank of Melbourne cards for their sign-up bonuses, which can still be OK.

 

[burmans]

To be honest the value of CC point collection has always been in signup bonuses rather than ongoing points collection, this just makes this even more obvious!

 

[daft009]

To be honest the value of CC point collection has always been in signup bonuses rather than ongoing points collection, this just makes this even more obvious!

.....Unless you have a high spend every month.
I had a huge month on my Amex last month being EOFY, $600k

 

[Human]

.....Unless you have a high spend every month.
I had a huge month on my Amex last month being EOFY, $600k

I assume you're a business owner and you're able to put business spending on your AmEx and pocket the points yourself?

If that's the case, yes, you can accumulate bucketloads of points using that method.

Unfortunately, though, that's not a strategy that's open to most of us....!

 

[daft009]

I assume you're a business owner and you're able to put business spending on your AmEx and pocket the points yourself?

If that's the case, yes, you can accumulate bucketloads of points using that method.

Unfortunately, though, that's not a strategy that's open to most of us....!

Yeah lucky few

 

[burmans]

.....Unless you have a high spend every month.
I had a huge month on my Amex last month being EOFY, $600k

Assuming you can make that spend without a surcharge, definitely. But with many surcharges rising and ppd declining in many cases the value is marginal at best.

 

[daft009]

Assuming you can make that spend without a surcharge, definitely. But with many surcharges rising and ppd declining in many cases the value is marginal at best.

And claim the surcharge as a deduction.. it's still descent value

 

[lovetravellingoz]

To be honest the value of CC point collection has always been in signup bonuses rather than ongoing points collection, this just makes this even more obvious!

As an active CC Churner I would say in recent times yes, but back when Amex was running Bonus Point Promotions, rather than Cashbacks, the bonus point promotions were more lucrative than Signup Bonuses. In addition to to the Bonus Point Promotions there have been various other ways to mine points. Very lucrative for many of us. Those were the "Good Ole Days" for myself!


The Pudding Guy was my inspiration. And I certainly took advantage of many lucrative Point Runs

 

[kamchatsky]

To be honest the value of CC point collection has always been in signup bonuses rather than ongoing points collection, this just makes this even more obvious!

Even signup bonus on CC is reducing, not to mention that banks + Amex have more stricter criteria before approving credit cards. They are now stopping churners.

I am a high-income earner and have excellent credit rating, and I have been rejected 3 times this year on CC applications. So I will need to wait for a few months more before applying for CC again.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

Agree but am not so sad if a few people decide it’s a bit too hard.

One of the factors that has led us to where we are now is the fact that 10 + years ago this was a bit of a specialised hobby, with social media it became a lot more popular. More demand meant inevitably the value would decline.

Now people are saying it’s all too hard, for me that’s probably a positive!

I think the vast majority of those that have jumped on the social media bandwagon will quickly disappear because even with all the knowledge it is still hard and always has been. I'm pretty sure that working things out for yourself and putting effort in is NOT a characteristic of social media followers.

The biggest issue in my opinion at the moment is the sheer amount of people travelling. They have built up points due to Covid and effective advertising. Qantas does imply very much to how earning points translates into "free" flights. It remains to be seen if the number of people travelling at the moment continues at current levels.