1 Oct 2025 Changes to CBA Award Partners

[henrus]

Just noticed quietly hidden away in the awards section of the CBA app a significant reduction to transfer partners.

"From 1 October 2025 members will only be able to transfer with Velocity in the Frequent Traveller Conversion list".

This means a loss of Air Canada (Aeroplan), Air Asia, Accor, Cathay (Asia Miles), Emirates (Skywards), Etihad, EVA, Air France (Flying Blue), IHG, Marriott, Qatar (Avios), Singapore Airlines (Krisflyer), United and Wyndham as transfer partners.

Additionally cards are losing the ability to transfer to flight centre credits, Award eShop and donate points to Charities.

Personally the biggest loss is Air France and Accor. The fixed nature of Accor meant 3.5c worth of value per CBA point and Air France has QF rewards under 600 miles for 5000 Flying Blue points (with a low 2.5/1 transfer rate). I'll be doing a bulk transfer before the cut off!

 

[lovestotravel]

Enhanced

 

[Scr77]

How’s this going to work? Card being renamed to velocity rewards?

 

[henrus]

How’s this work? Card being renamed to velocity rewards?

On some cards you'll still be able to opt in for $90 per year to earn Qantas points then other options like points for hopper flights/hotels (giving a terrible 0.47c per point value), Myer (also 0.47c per point), Cashback to card (even worse 0.35c per point) still exist.

This made Accor redemptions at 3.5c per per point 10x better in value and even better when on premium award seats transferring points to other airlines.

Despite all this I'm still going to hold onto my smart awards card for now. I spend over $2k per month on it so it's basically free ($19 per month otherwise), earns 1.5 points per $1 at "major stores" and 1 point per $1 elsewhere which after the change is still 0.75 velocity points or 0.5 velocity points with no international fees and travel insurance if spending $500 on a trip.

 

[Comoman]

Thanks for posting this - I had missed it. I've just transferred my balance to Singapore Airlines.

 

[jbman]

Other than AMEX who is offering a decent list of options to be able to transfer to these days?

 

[Billybob]

How do you transfer, can it be done through Netbank or the app? I can't find a link anywhere. Does it require a phone call?

 

[henrus]

How do you transfer, can it be done through Netbank or the app? I can't find a link anywhere. Does it require a phone call?

Can do it on the app or online.

If on Netbank you’ll see view awards below award eligible cards. If on the app go to cards and find the eligible card then below it will have view awards.

Once in the awards portal go to redeem, then scroll to travel and finally at the bottom is the Global Frequent traveller programs:

 

[Human]

The fixed nature of Accor meant 3.5c worth of value per CBA point

I’m not sure I’m understanding your arithmetic here.

I have a Smart Awards Mastercard and it’s showing a transfer rate of 5 Commbank points = 1 Accor ALL point.

1 ALL point is worth approximately 3.5 cents. Therefore if you’re transferring to Accor, you’re getting 0.7c in value per CBA point.

I’m not good at maths so I may be missing something — am I missing something?

 

[mikedesign]

That’s frustrating — thanks for the heads up. It was so handy for Accor points. May have to switch to NAB rewards, assuming they keep transfers to Accor.

 

[henrus]

Therefore if you’re transferring to Accor, you’re getting 0.7c in value per CBA point.

Ah yep, my bad. I was thinking of the 3.5c per accor point not CBA point.

 

[Human]

This is really annoying. Just a week or so ago I transferred points to Flying Blue for a redemption that was only available on Flying Blue. Are there any other ways that Australians can easily accumulate Flying Blue points, other than buying them?

The question for me now is, which programme to I transfer to before October 1 while I have the chance? For me it's probably between Accor and Qatar but Krisflyer and Cathay are also in the mix. Or should I just accept the changes, keep my points and wait for the inevitable transfer bonus to Velocity?

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Yikes, what the hell. The main value proposition of the Ultimate Awards card was being able to earn 3 CBA points per $1 overseas with no international transaction fees, which could then be used with great flexibility. Sure, that'd still be worth 1.5 Velocity points per $1, but I don't think I'm overly interested in earning with Velocity. Flying Blue in particular was of great value, and at a great rate of 2.5:1 (to me, 1.2 Flying Blue miles per $1 is worth much more than 1.5 Velocity Points, because Flying Blue's rates are so low, and everything is easy to book online). Hmm, what to do... guess I have a couple of months to decide on where to send existing points, and then consider if a different bank has a better offering for international spend (with no forex fees).

 

[BudgetFly]

"From 1 October 2025 members will only be able to transfer with Velocity in the Frequent Traveller Conversion list".

I think the bank says Qantas too...

 

[Nat]

I think the bank says Qantas too...

Yes but not as flexible transfer partner, only by paying an additional $90 yearly fee and having all points swept across each month.

 

[BudgetFly]

Yes but not as flexible transfer partner, only by paying an additional $90 yearly fee and having all points swept across each month.

Ah, I see... I have a Smart Awards Qantas Mastercard that does that but never had the access to other partner transfers.

 

[alect]

I signed up for the Ultimate MC just to be able to earn and transfer to AC. And signing up was a PITA. Looks like we will be cancelling the CBA card - unlikely to ever come back to CBA given how hard they have been to deal with. Can transfers of any remaining balances be done up to Sep 30?

 

[guerre64]

I've recently dumped my Amex and gone for the HSBC Star Alliance Visa. I prefer flying with SQ so it's a no-brainer for me. No point bonus on sign up but instant Gold status once you spend the qualifying amount. The trick is trying to maintain it, not that it's a huge problem, as I normally fly business using either upgrades or reward flights, so score lounge access anyway.

Points available to transfer to any Star Alliance partner via the SA website.

 

[NVRENUF]

wow so that means Qantas is going to be removed as of october ? I have the black Commabnk awards card. if thats the case i will close the card and get a new card with ANZ or someone who is offering big sign up bonus at the moment.

 

[Nat]

wow so that means Qantas is going to be removed as of october ?

No Qantas is not a flexible transfer partner. Qantas direct will remain, there is no change to any direct Qantas earning cards.