Westpac Earth/Altitude Platinum cards to become 'Platinum Plus'

[brha01]

Just came across this on the westpac website Your new Altitude, Altitude Qantas and Earth Platinum cards - Westpac

The gold cards will become platinum and the platinum cards will become 'platinum plus'. There doesnt appear to be any changes to either card from the current gold/plat (unless of course there are 'enhancements' which have been well hidden').

We all know that the trend in credit card categories is moving upwards to the point where platinum is becoming the norm, but seriously...is this going too far? I mean, the Earth Plat card is a pretty good card (particularly for the amex side of it), but when compared to some of the other platinum cards out there, it is nothing special. Yet, it shall henceforth be known as 'platinum plus'.

What's next? Platinum Plus Plus? Mega Platinum?

One can only hope they will be launching this "new" card with a nice bonus points offer for us to take advantage of...

 

[Saji]

Maybe call it Palladium...

 

[oz_mark]

The gold cards will become platinum and the platinum cards will become 'platinum plus'. There doesnt appear to be any changes to either card from the current gold/plat (unless of course there are 'enhancements' which have been well hidden').

From a general day to day usage of the card, there is nothing changed. The earn rates look the same. But for gold moving to platinum, they are picking up access to entre, and whatever platinum services visa provide. Not sure what benefit all that is though!

We all know that the trend in credit card categories is moving upwards to the point where platinum is becoming the norm, but seriously...is this going too far? I mean, the Earth Plat card is a pretty good card (particularly for the amex side of it), but when compared to some of the other platinum cards out there, it is nothing special. Yet, it shall henceforth be known as 'platinum plus'.

They seem a little behind the other banks that have already had a around of 'free' upgrades, although maybe Westpac are implementing it a bit differently.

I wonder if they are looking at introducing the more super premium cards (e.g. Visa Signature)

 

[Princess Fiona]

Continuing the theme of underwhelming customers perhaps they should have renamed it "Platinum One"
:mrgreen:

 

[zzyss]

There only seems to be information for Gold to Platinum. Is there a similar page for Platinum to Platinum Plus? What are existing members getting out of the change (if anything?)

 

[PLANT]

Gold to Plat are getting a CLAYTON PLAT card because the points earn rate is NOT 3-1 like the Current Westpac American Express Plat card! but 2-1 same as GOLD....I think(?)

 

[Hvr]

Gold to Plat are getting a CLAYTON PLAT card because the points earn rate is NOT 3-1 like the Current Westpac American Express Plat card! but 2-1 same as GOLD....I think(?)

I got my Earth Platinum cards this week which was a real nuisance because the week before I got a new Gold Amex due to it expiring. So that meant two lots of calls to merchants to update regular payments. Apart from that no difference to points earning, i.e. Amex 1 point per $ (plus extra point per $ for QF products) and MasterCard 0.5 point per $.

I've never used the other services and frankly this card is on its last legs because of the decreasing number of merchants who accept Amex. But even more annoying is the repeated calls from Westpac life insurance sales people flogging their otiose product.

On the last call I told them that if I ever heard from them again I will cancel the card and make sure the bank knows it is because of their harassment. They went very quiet and I hope the message has gotten through.

Still a really good QFF points offer for a MasterCard/Visa product with the extra points for QF spend will be looked at very favourably.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I've never used the other services and frankly this card is on its last legs because of the decreasing number of merchants who accept Amex. But even more annoying is the repeated calls from Westpac life insurance sales people flogging their otiose product.

Thats when l pull out the WOW EDRCC. Having said that, 99% of the places where l shop allow AMEX, maybe l'm just lucky?

On the last call I told them that if I ever heard from them again I will cancel the card and make sure the bank knows it is because of their harassment. They went very quiet and I hope the message has gotten through.

I've never had Westpac call me trying to flog their products.

 

[pshepvic]

We all know that the trend in credit card categories is moving upwards to the point where platinum is becoming the norm, but seriously...is this going too far? I mean, the Earth Plat card is a pretty good card (particularly for the amex side of it), but when compared to some of the other platinum cards out there, it is nothing special. Yet, it shall henceforth be known as 'platinum plus'.

What's next? Platinum Plus Plus? Mega Platinum?

Well CBA decided Platinum wasn't high enough and brought in Diamond ... and then made the Diamond a "black" Amex card ...

I also have a Telstra Credit Union "Titanium" debit Visa from back when I worked at the big T. Nothing titanium about it to be honest.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[k_sheep]

Westpac called me dozens of times about life insurance, each time I told them I was not interested and never would be. One day they called me when I was having some kind of life crisis (someone died or something) and I screamed at them while crying incessantly. That seemed to work, but I don't recommend it!

 

[cove]

I recently started warehousing Altitude Platinum Westpac points that are accumulating at 3 per dollar but convert at half of that rate on transfer. I may use them on the new Malaysian A380 but that is a thought bubble only at the moment.

 

[kpc]

I recently started warehousing Altitude Platinum Westpac points that are accumulating at 3 per dollar but convert at half of that rate on transfer. I may use them on the new Malaysian A380 but that is a thought bubble only at the moment.

Same here; I like the fact you can warehouse the pts, and only TF when you need them...can go to SQ, MH, DJ, CX, NZ...so you have a few options. Mine will probably go to SQ and poss. MH:idea:

 

[cove]

Yes I thought the choices were good enough to run up points without having a finalized plan.

 

[k3nnis]

Why not go to CX?

 

[WA flyer]

This seems to be the best replacement for the Amex Plat for me.
i had the original Altitude card about 8 or 9 years ago and later the Krisflyer card but they were both subsequently cancelled when the Visa earn rate was halved each time. Hopefully with a number of Mortgages with Westpac I will be able to get it free or discounted.

 

[KLN]

i'm with Cove. i love this set of Cards. and i have 2 sets of them also, as i needed to have 2 supplementaries for my husband and daughter for our business. we have warehoused a stack of points with these ones primarily due to our business spending and ato payments too.
fly SQ and MH J at least once or twice a year, and the whole family too. have never had any probs getting seats with both of these either

 

[deluxeflyer]

...... as i needed to have 2 supplementaries for my husband and daughter for our business. we have warehoused a stack of points with these ones primarily due to our business spending and ato payments too.

Anyone know the additional cost of the 2nd and subsequent supp cards for Plat Plus?
The Westpac site says only the first supplementary is free.
(Exploring Amex Plat alternatives)

cheers

 

[oz_mark]

Anyone know the additional cost of the 2nd and subsequent supp cards for Plat Plus?
The Westpac site says only the first supplementary is free.
(Exploring Amex Plat alternatives)

The wording i have seen, seems to imply that only one additional cardholder could be added.

 

[kpc]

Anyone know the additional cost of the 2nd and subsequent supp cards for Plat Plus?
The Westpac site says only the first supplementary is free.
(Exploring Amex Plat alternatives)

cheers

The wording i have seen, seems to imply that only one additional cardholder could be added.

You can only get 1 supplementary card. I asked for a second one and was told it was not possible.

 

[KLN]

You can only get 1 supplementary card. I asked for a second one and was told it was not possible.

correct. that is why i got another complete whole CC account. that way i have Mr KLN as a supplementary on one account, and Ms KLN as a supplementary on another. i pay 295.00 for each of the 2 accounts per year. This is the Altitude Platinum Plus