Best credit cards to earn velocity points?

[birder]

Hi everyone, I just moved to Oz and need a credit card or two. We normally pay balances off in full, although sometimes balances can linger when I'm waiting for reimbursement. I want to have a credit card in particular for ordering online. I was trying to see what the options were in terms of cards that offer velocity points, and on the velocity website, all I saw were the Am Ex cards - which I would prefer to avoid.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[DSFlyer]

Hi everyone, I just moved to Oz and need a credit card or two. We normally pay balances off in full, although sometimes balances can linger when I'm waiting for reimbursement. I want to have a credit card in particular for ordering online. I was trying to see what the options were in terms of cards that offer velocity points, and on the velocity website, all I saw were the Am Ex cards - which I would prefer to avoid.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Virgin Money have a range of Visa credit cards that offer velocity points and other extras if you don't like Amex.

 

[elemist]

I currently have a Virgin Money High Flyer card.. Not too bad a deal, although you really need to use it to counter the costs. The yearly fee is $249, however you earn 1.25 points per $1 spend anywhere which is pretty decent. It's also a Visa Platinum - so A you can use it where Amex isn't accepted (in my case pretty much everywhere i need to use it) and B you get the Visa Platinum benefits - which aren't of much use!

They do offer a standard flyer card which which is $99 per year, however its only 1 point per dollar up to $1500 per month then it drops to .5 of a point per dollar.

NAB also offer Velocity cards both a standard card @ $65 per year which gets you .75 points per dollar for AMEX and .5 points per dollar for Visa (dual card account), and a Gold card @ $150 per year which gets you 1 point per dollar for AMEX and .5 points per dollar for Visa (dual card account).

In addition a number of other rewards cards allow you to book flights direct with Virgin, and/or transfer points across to Velocity. For instance Westpac Alititude points can be converted to Velocity points at a rate of .5 points per altitude point. They do occasionally have transfer bonus's which make it semi worth while, plus you can also transfer altitude points to other FF programs such as SIA, MH, ANZ and a few others. That said the earn rates are very minimal so probably not worth it, by the time you get .5 of a point per dollar spend to get 1 altitude point - then loose half again on the transfer to velocity, your effectively getting .25 points per dollar spend. Especially when you take into account the $100 annual fee for the basic rewards card.

As far as i know that's basically your options. But if anyone else has any others please chime in as i really need a second Velocity rewards card! (i'm assuming its not possible to get TWO virgin money flyer cards??)

 

[scwappy]

Check Virgin Money. They offer two cards, one with a $99 fee and one with a $249 fee.

Both offer four 2 for 1 flights each year.

 

[antycbr]

Shame you have ruled out Amex, the Platinum Edge card is pretty good value at $149 including a free round trip between most east coast destinations on VA/DJ, 3 points/$ at supermarkets, 2 points/$ at petrol stations and 1 point everywhere else, as well as 1:1 conversion to Velocity. And eligibility for all of the Amex offers which the direct sweep cards arent eligible for... it's a very good card for the annual fee. I have the Virgin Money Flyer card as the backup card where Amex isn't accepted and it's also a decent card but have to watch the $1500 per month cap.

 

[Rotation]

I've had the NAB Velocity cards (Amex & Visa) and also tried the Virgin Flyer credit card as well (standard, not the High Flyer).

I'm pretty sure at the time I worked out that the Virgin Flyer gets you more points (if you base it on say, a $2000 spend in a month) - but the downsides of that are that Virgin Flyer has a higher annual fee and a fee to get an additional cardholder ($39 for Flyer card, $89 for High Flyer card).

The other thing I didn't like about the Virgin Flyer card, comparing back to the NAB card, was the internet banking interface. This may be a relatively small irritant for some, but for me it was pretty severe when it came to our month-long holiday in the USA. On NAB - when you purchase something, it immediately shows on Internet Banking as "Purchase Authorisation", the card number used and the value of the transaction. It later shows up the details like which company is responsible for charging you and other references once the transaction has been processed by the merchant.

The Virgin Flyer credit card doesn't do this - nothing shows up until it is actually processed - so your Available Balance changes instantaneously (I think that was the one) and the Credit Card Balance was always wrong - the two never matched up unless you had a period of inactivity where you allowed everything to balance. This made it harder to see which hotels were charging you that temporary security charge, how much it was for, if/when it gets automatically cancelled off. BPAY was more difficult too, as it's not set up using the same terminology the major Australian banks use, given that it's a version of the Citibank system - so that just takes a little time to figure out what it's saying.

So after coming back from the US, we switched back to the NAB cards - mostly because it was more transparent, had a lower annual fee, and a generally easier-to-use internet banking and the ability of having extra funds stored in your NAB access account to instantly top your card up after a big purchase.

Of course - Virgin Flyer has the added bonus of having the 2 for 1 flights which can be useful, and you get 50% of points in Velocity for the flight, I believe. But booking them is quite difficult, as it can only be used on a certain fare grading, which, if you don't have access to available fares while planning, can be quite frustrating to find the cheapest flight of the day (the one you want) isn't actually available for the deal.

 

[scwappy]

Of course - Virgin Flyer has the added bonus of having the 2 for 1 flights which can be useful, and you get 50% of points in Velocity for the flight, I believe. But booking them is quite difficult, as it can only be used on a certain fare grading, which, if you don't have access to available fares while planning, can be quite frustrating to find the cheapest flight of the day (the one you want) isn't actually available for the deal.

I have only had my card for a week and the first time I tried to book a flight from SYD-MEL at 1700 on a Friday it was available. It was important I left around a specific time so this saved $200.

 

[Rotation]

I have only had my card for a week and the first time I tried to book a flight from SYD-MEL at 1700 on a Friday it was available. It was important I left around a specific time so this saved $200.

Seems hit or miss - because when I tried to book MEL-BNE the only available flight was the very last one in the evening, and the return flight the only available was the 6am departure. Wasn't in the holidays or anything, and was a month or two out from date of travel.

 

[birder]

Extremely helpful everyone - thanks! I didn't realize the AMEX platinum was only $149/year - I will definitely apply for that and then get another no-fee credit card for backups when AMEX is not accepted.

 

[cove]

I have just been using the Platinum Velocity Amex as I wanted to have enough points to get out of trouble if my plan A or B points ever let me down. It is uncapped,comes with a 30,000 starting sign on and it costs $349.
I know you didn't want Amex but this one could get you hundreds /thousands or even millions of points a year if your circumstances allow it.

 

[airtraveladdict]

Extremely helpful everyone - thanks! I didn't realize the AMEX platinum was only $149/year - I will definitely apply for that and then get another no-fee credit card for backups when AMEX is not accepted.

Ahh yes I finally found a post i made a couple of months ago, which answered this question.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....city/should-i-transfer-my-reward-33937-2.html

My advice is to try for AMEX Platinum (there are 3 varieties, $149, $395 and $900 annual fee) and make sure you join Ascent Premium or Membership Rewards Ascent program. Ascent Premium will transfer points at $1:1 Velocity FFP, whereas the lower tier AMEX memberships will transfers at $1.25:1 or worst $1.5:1 (i think correct me if im wrong)

The $900 card has great benefits, if you use it all, otherwise its not worth getting it. And you can also take a look at Velocity AMEX branded platinum card also, which ties you to Velocity. One of the differences between that and the AMEX non-airline branded Platinum cards is that, the other three aren't tied to Velocity, so you can transfer the points to other frequent flyer programs.

All the AMEX Platinum cards give you travelling with you, a global domestic and international travel insurance which saves anywhere from $300-$500 a year per person, so if you travel alot, you already recoup your annual fee back with that complimentary travel insurance (except the $900 card obviously).

Also if your partner or family member travels with you, they get the same complimentary travel insurance for each trip, which saves your family anywhere from $90-170 depending on destination and duration of time away.

And then get a secondary card Virgin Money velocity branded card, just the $99 VISA will do, because you want to direct all your spending to AMEX Platinum. And only use the VISA card when AMEX is not accepted. The Virgin Money Visa card you earn 1=$1 but it is capped at $1,500 per month, I think. So its more of a backup card.

or if you want an uncapped Visa 1:$1 earn rate, try the NAB Velocity branded card for $150 a year.

 

[Moopere]

My advice is to try for AMEX Platinum (there are 3 varieties, $149, $395 and $900 annual fee) and make sure you join Ascent Premium or Membership Rewards Ascent program. Ascent Premium will transfer points at $1:1 Velocity FFP, whereas the lower tier AMEX memberships will transfers at $1.25:1 or worst $1.5:1 (i think correct me if im wrong)

I believe that both Ascent and Ascent Premium transfer to Velocity at 1:1. However, Ascent Premium also allows you to transfer to QFF, so its the better product insofar as flexibility goes. I think you can only join Ascent Premium with the Plat Charge card though ($900/1200 ..)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

All the AMEX Platinum cards give you travelling with you, a global domestic and international travel insurance which saves anywhere from $300-$500 a year per person, so if you travel alot, you already recoup your annual fee back with that complimentary travel insurance (except the $900 card obviously).

Also if your partner or family member travels with you, they get the same complimentary travel insurance for each trip, which saves your family anywhere from $90-170 depending on destination and duration of time away.

Without going searching, can you confirm if the insurance covers rental car excess payments? Also if all the family travel, does the travel insurance cover everyone? Has anyone checked the insurance benefits against say a TID policy?

 

[Moopere]

Without going searching, can you confirm if the insurance covers rental car excess payments? Also if all the family travel, does the travel insurance cover everyone? Has anyone checked the insurance benefits against say a TID policy?

I had a quick scan recently. Its my opinion that the "ACE" insurance offered with a few of the Amex cards is pretty thin. I don't believe it covers much outside actual air travel and associated loss (ie; bags). Its probably enough for a quick domestic business trip where you'll take taxi's at the other end.

I'm quite sure I won't rely upon it alone for o/s work/play.

Some of the Amex cards still come with a more comprehensive "Zurich" insurance which is still a bit thin around the edges but far better than the ACE version.

 

[serfty]

Insurance aside

Strange as it may seem; the Earth amex (although Qantas) and the Maq Hilton M/C have quite good insurance attached - you still need to pay for your travel ex Oz to activate them.

The Amex Plat Charge card insurance is quite reasonable -all you need to to is have the card and 'be in good standing' - then all travel is covered.

As for everything like this you really need to read and understand the PDS's.

 

[Shy180]

The Virgin 'High Flyer' at $1 spend = 1.25 Velocity points is working well for me (also bonus 50K points + 100 status credits for Velocity Gold after $7.5K spend) ....$249pa annual fee and the sign up process was really painless.

Search on AFF for the thread (sorry cant post links yet)

Cheers

shy180

 

[dragoman]

Re: Insurance aside

Strange as it may seem; the Earth amex (although Qantas) and the Maq Hilton M/C have quite good insurance attached - you still need to pay for your travel ex Oz to activate them.

The Amex Plat Charge card insurance is quite reasonable -all you need to to is have the card and 'be in good standing' - then all travel is covered.

As for everything like this you really need to read and understand the PDS's.

I've just read in 'Business Travel' magazine (which turned up on searching re Amex travel insurance) that their complimentary cover may soon be further diluted - one hundred percent of the cost of a ticket to be paid for (even if you have the original Plat charge card), reduced length of permissible trip, no insurance if you're over 70 (down from 80) etc. And I imagine that the ACE policy will still feature the weasel words in the medical expenses section – unless you obtain prior authorisation they will not cover more than fifteen hundred dollars (yes $1,500) of your medical expenses.

I don't think that I'll be relying on it for skiing trips anymore........

 

[birder]

Shame you have ruled out Amex, the Platinum Edge card is pretty good value at $149 including a free round trip between most east coast destinations on VA/DJ, 3 points/$ at supermarkets, 2 points/$ at petrol stations and 1 point everywhere else, as well as 1:1 conversion to Velocity. And eligibility for all of the Amex offers which the direct sweep cards arent eligible for... it's a very good card for the annual fee. I have the Virgin Money Flyer card as the backup card where Amex isn't accepted and it's also a decent card but have to watch the $1500 per month cap.

How do I get the Amex Platinum for $149/year? The ones I'm looking at are $349/year. Thanks!

 

[awilcockson]

Re: Insurance aside

I've just read in 'Business Travel' magazine (which turned up on searching re Amex travel insurance) that their complimentary cover may soon be further diluted - one hundred percent of the cost of a ticket to be paid for (even if you have the original Plat charge card),

I'd like to see the source for this "rumour". Because that would be a substantial reduction in benefit and I'd be arguing for a refund of my $900 fee if that change were to be implemented.

 

[antycbr]

How do I get the Amex Platinum for $149/year? The ones I'm looking at are $349/year. Thanks!

Its the Platinum Edge, not the Platinum which is $149.