Bad news from Amex [QF Ultimate Card - reduced point earnings]

[FrustratedQP]

I've just received a letter from Amex outlining a new points earning structure.
3 points per dollar for tens of thousands of restaurants and selected Qantas products and services.
2 points per dollar for accommodation, airlines, major cruise and tour operators paid directly or through travel agencies and spend in foreign currency when o/s and online
1 for 1 all other providers and insurances offered by Amex
.5 per dollar for utilities, which are gas, water and electricity providers, other insurance, telcos, government bodies including ATO, Australian Post and federal /state/ local government bodies.
effective 22/7/13

 

[Limewood]

Would that last piece ATO etc, apply to ANZ Amex?.

 

[FrustratedQP]

Would that last piece ATO etc, apply to ANZ Amex?.

I don't know, I've just got the Platinum Amex, through Amex themselves.

 

[nlagalle]

Which platinum card are you referring to?

 

[oz_mark]

Would that last piece ATO etc, apply to ANZ Amex?.

An ANZ card earns in accordance with the ANZ program, so shouldn't be affected by this.

 

[FrustratedQP]

Which platinum card are you referring to?

Actually, just having a look at the paperwork, it's a Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. I will cancel it and get a different one if I can retain my blanket 2 points per dollar.

 

[nlagalle]

Actually, just having a look at the paperwork, it's a Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. I will cancel it and get a different one if I can retain my blanket 2 points per dollar.

I don't think there are any Amex cards left that have a blanket x points that are above 1:1. Even the centurion is the same

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Just having a look on the Amex site, and the QF Amex Premium Card has also been 'enhanced' from 1.25pts/$1 to:

2pts/$1 at supermarkets, petrol stations and with Qantas
1pt/$1 everywhere else
0.5pt/$1 at utilities, insurance, telcos, and gov't (incl. ATO & Australia Post)

This would also meen a reduction in points earn for Qantas services - previously it was 2.25pts/$1.

For an annual fee of $249 (lol......), this card is now no better than the free Discovery Card (except for the supermarket/petrol bonus). Discovery also earns 2pts/$1 on QF flights, and earns a blanket 1pt/$1 across the board (and 6pts/$1 with AAMI last year). I know that you received the letter about the Ultimate card, but it does make me wonder why anyone would want the Premium one now!

 

[opusman]

Wow, happy I closed my Amex Ultimate rather than renewing this month!

 

[Danger]

Just having a look on the Amex site, and the QF Amex Premium Card has also been 'enhanced' from 1.25pts/$1 to:

2pts/$1 at supermarkets, petrol stations and with Qantas
1pt/$1 everywhere else
0.5pt/$1 at utilities, insurance, telcos, and gov't (incl. ATO & Australia Post)

This would also meen a reduction in points earn for Qantas services - previously it was 2.25pts/$1.

For an annual fee of $249 (lol......), this card is now no better than the free Discovery Card (except for the supermarket/petrol bonus). Discovery also earns 2pts/$1 on QF flights, and earns a blanket 1pt/$1 across the board (and 6pts/$1 with AAMI last year). I know that you received the letter about the Ultimate card, but it does make me wonder why anyone would want the Premium one now!

This gives me some good ammunition when my annual fee comes due later this month.

 

[gpr49697]

yep i ditched my utlimate card forthe discovery card last year. this just confirms it further.

 

[JohnK]

For an annual fee of $249 (lol......), this card is now no better than the free Discovery Card (except for the supermarket/petrol bonus). Discovery also earns 2pts/$1 on QF flights, and earns a blanket 1pt/$1 across the board (and 6pts/$1 with AAMI last year). I know that you received the letter about the Ultimate card, but it does make me wonder why anyone would want the Premium one now!

I had an Amex Qantas Premium card and Amex has waived the fee for ~3 years. Earlier this year they would not budge on the annual fee even though I was only paying $195/pa so I cancelled the card.

Still trying to get the Qantas complimentary lounge passes for last year.

 

[kw1]

Very disappointing to hear, surprisingly i haven't received a letter advising me of this so i just looked it up.

Straight from the Amex website:

With the Qantas American Express Premium Card, you'll enjoy no cap on the amount of Qantas Frequent Flyer points you can earn[SUP]6[/SUP], while having them automatically transferred to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account each month.

• You will earn 1.25 Qantas Frequent Flyer points per $1 spent until 22 July 2013 after which you will earn:

• 2 Qantas Frequent Flyer points per dollar spent[SUP]2[/SUP] on eligible Card purchases at:
- Major supermarket and petrol stations in Australia[SUP]2[/SUP]

- Selected Qantas products and services in Australia[SUP]4[/SUP]
• 1 point per dollar spent[SUP]2[/SUP] on eligible Card purchases at:
- All other providers, excluding those below

- Insurances offered by American Express
• 0.5 point per dollar spent[SUP]2[/SUP] on eligible Card purchases at:
- Utilities which are gas, water and electricity providers

- Insurance offered by companies other than American Express

- Telecommunication providers which includes goods and services purchased from phone, mobile and internet service providers

- Government bodies including the Australian Taxation Office, Australia Post, federal/state and local government bodies
​

Not really sure my $249 py is worth it unless im planning on buying a heap of groceries.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Isn't this more of a reflection of QFF charging too much for points, rather than the financial institution trying to screw customers? No other FF programs get this treatment.....

 

[JohnK]

Didn't most Amex credit cards go to 0.5 points for ATO and utility payments a while ago? Or were the partner branded credit cards left alone at the time?

 

[Beta4Me]

The Membership Rewards Amex cards all copped a downgrade but the Qantas, Virgin & BMW cards all stayed the same. BMW and (now) Qantas followed suit. Virgin remains...

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Amex Velocity Platinum & Gold also have similar changes taking place from July 22 (listed on their site). The 'Escape' card (the VA version of QF Discovery) remains unchanged.

 

[Beta4Me]

Amex Velocity Platinum & Gold also have similar changes taking place from July 22 (listed on their site). The 'Escape' card (the VA version of QF Discovery) remains unchanged.

Hadn't picked that up. Damn

 

[Beta4Me]

It appears that the Qantas Ultimate and Velocity Plat will end up with an identical earn structure to the Plat Reserve excepting that they get 1ppd extra (on top of the 2ppd) for spend at their respective airlines. There doesn't appear to be any incentive whatsoever to get the Velocity Plat over the Plat Reserve unless you spend an extraordinary amount on Virgin.

 

[cove]

Dang!
If this is our last Hurrah with this as an ATO card then time is running out (21st July)
With the rule where you cannot put Ultimate into credit the maximum points you can earn between now and the end is about 20 times your credit limit at your 1.5 point rate per card.
Well that is about 3 million each so that is a bummer.
I will re-load using their auto pay option to avoid the card stopping.