Moving to the US - which credit card and airline should I use now?

[phild73]

Hi all

I'm a Platinum Qantas FF member for a long time and accumulated and used hundreds of thousands of points over the years. I have also used Mileage Plus a lot in past years but not recently as I try to maintain Platinum status.

My wife and I are relocating to Philadelphia in January (no, I am not looking forward to the winter ) and we will likely be living in the US for at least five years. We expect to travel mostly to Latin America and Europe whilst living in the US with an annual trip home to Sydney. I am trying to determine:

1. Should I continue to align myself with OneWorld and try to fly American Airlines as much as possible? I don't think I can transfer points from Aadvantage to Qantas so is there really any advantage in staying with AA? Will Qantas Platinum membership really do much for me in and around the US and should I pour the same energy into maintaining it now?

2. Which credit card I should obtain? I have Qantas platinum cards with NAB, ANZ and Earth (Westpac) and have used Amex extensively in the past also to help grow my miles. A little research would suggest I could go for the Visa Aadvantage card with Citi, Starwood Preferred Guest with Amex or Visa Mileage Plus card with Chase - can anyone comment on the merits of any of these? Also - any hints on obtaining a card given I have no credit history in the US at all would be appreciated.

Would welcome ANY and all suggestions - I am not sure which way to turn and would greatly appreciate your wisdom!

Phil

 

[Cyclogenesis]

AA do a fast track system to Platinum (OWS Equiv to QFF Gold)
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...-platinum-challenge-mileage-earning-8595.html
Essentially one Transpac return and $200 and you are there...

Plus AA Plat gives you 100% bonus on earnings... but biggest disadvantage is no lounge access when flying domestically (but discounts on Admirals club membership and can pay with points)

 

[NM]

Depending on how much travel and credit card spend you will have, one benefit with sticking with OneWorld and using AA while in the USA is that you may be reaching Lifetime Platinum status and hence OneWorld Sapphire status which gets you into Qantas lounges when you come back to Australia.

What Qantas status do you have now and how close to Lifetime Gold status are you? If close, the sticking with Qantas at least until reaching Lifetime Gold may be worthwhile.

You may not qualify for a US credit card until you can establish a credit profile in that country.

 

[Cocitus23]

I'm afraid that I cannot give you any advice on the best way to earn points, but I would like to pick up on the last sentence offered by NM:

"You may not qualify for a US credit card until you can establish a credit profile in that country.[/quote]"

This is an excellent and timely warning, surprising as that may seem.

In 2000 I transferred to Vancouver for several years. I had an impeccable credit history here in Australia, I was a General Manager with a major global company, and I had a very good income. I introduced myself at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) as a new customer and requested a new cheque account and Visa credit account. I was amazed when they hesitated over the credit account, so I presented documentation of my terms of employment. As a great concession they condescended to give me a card with a $500 limit! I protested, to no avail, that it would be quite inadequate. Within days I had a business trip to Germany, where my expenses ran to thousands of dollars, which I had to pay with an Australian credit card and then pay off by a transfer of funds from Canada. Clearly this was not going to be sustainable way to conduct business.

I approached the RBC again and begged them to provide me with something better. They would only consider it if I provided them with a reference from my Australian bank, which was the CBA. So I phoned my CBA branch manager in Melbourne, whom I knew quite well, explained the situation and asked him to send a reference asap. I was stunned the next day when the RBC phoned the next day and told me that following receipt of the reference they had decided NOT to increase my credit limit above $500. The CBA reference simply read "Mr Cocitus has been a customer of this bank for 28 years". End of story. Talk about damning with faint praise.
The upshot was that both the RBC and the CBA instantly lost a AAA customer.

By coincidence, my son, who is a medical specialist (anaesthetist), moved to Bristol UK at the same time. When I phoned him one of the first things he said to me was "Gee, Dad, you wouldn't believe the difficulty I'm getting from these fools at Barclays Bank in getting a credit card."

Banks!!! Don't get me going. But to anyone about to move overseas don't be naive, as we were, and think that you will just be able to continue what you are accustomed to here. You have to go back to Square One. It would probably help to get a reference from your bank before you departed, but make sure that it does not undersell you.

 

[Nutcase]

Guys, this is not the case. Moving overseas and finding a bank and a credit card is very simple.

1) If you are an AMEX customer go here.(no its not a UK web address)

Answer

our Question

moving

Our Answer

I'm moving overseas, can I transfer my American Express Card overseas?

Yes, if you hold an American Express Charge Card (Personal, Gold, Platinum or Centurion) you can transfer your card to another country or transfer an overseas card to an Australian card. Credit Cards are not eligible for International transfers. To organise an International transfer please contact customer services.


2) Depending on where you are going and who you bank with - there will be different arrangements. EG - If you bank NAB and want to open an account in the UK - NAB organise it through HSBC Picadilly circus branch in London - other countries and banks are available, just ask for their international or global banking section. HSBC are also good at this through their ex-pat section.

International - Moving Overseas | HSBC Australia

The USA is notoriously hard to get a credit card, but not impossible if you are introduced correctly and have a relationship with a good bank. By a good bank I mean a global one like Citibank, HSBC and to a lesser degree NAB. Keep in mind that all local banks have relationships with off-shore banks and can help if you are a valued client.

As far as the CBA's response about being a customer for 28 years...dreadful!

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Wow! interesting post!

Keen to hear other's opinions as this as I am in the same boat as the OP (moving to Chicago to work with a major US Lab (www.anl.gov) Having a $6000 + limit really is a MUST.. was considering a citibank/AA card....

Any hints and tips most welcomed by me (and I imagine the OP)

 

[NM]

The suggestions from Netcase are about as complete as I am aware. Its even more difficult with the credit crunch in the USA.

Plan on needing to build your own US-based credit history and you may have to start with a low-limit or even Visa Debit type card using your own funds as a float for some time (perhaps even a few years).

A colleague of mine moved from the UK to USA with our company. His UK-based corporate diners club card was handed back when he left UK and he completed the US form for a US-based corporate diners club card. He was first refused and eventually give a $500 limit on a US Diners card! Over the last 4 years his "limit" has slowly been increased. As with charge cards such as Diners its hard to find out the actual limit, but as has been discussed before they do impose limits based on previous spend history (just not a set limit) and it took several years before he could use his corp card for more than a basic business trip, which in turn meant it was hard to build up the spend profile with Diners!

Personally I would follow Nutcase's links to Amex. If you don't have an Aussie Amex now, get one ASAP before moving.

 

[Mal]

I'm moving overseas, can I transfer my American Express Card overseas?

Yes, if you hold an American Express Charge Card (Personal, Gold, Platinum or Centurion) you can transfer your card to another country or transfer an overseas card to an Australian card. Credit Cards are not eligible for International transfers. To organise an International transfer please contact customer services.[/I]

They may have changed this recently to also include some credit cards:

American Express - Moving Abroad - Global Card Transfer - United States

however it's not really clear.

 

[jamesatfish]

In relation to the airline FF program, if your annual trip back to Sydney will give you the 4 flights on QF metal then I'd consider keeping QF as your FF program.

Admiral's Club access differs from the Qantas Club in that high-status AA frequent flyers can't access the lounge for free unless travelling on international (non-North America) flights. If you are travelling with OneWorld status however (ie WP) then the OneWorld lounge access policies apply and you will be able to access the Admiral's Clubs (and Flagship Lounges where available) when flying on domestic sectors.

So as long as you can maintain at least Gold QF status (or have Lifetime Gold) when you'll do better to use your Qantas FF card to gain access to the AA lounges when flying domestic within the US.

 

[phild73]

Thanks all for your responses thus far - much appreciated!

I've already got a couple of Amex credit cards (not charge cards) and I contacted Amex in the US to get the scoop. Providing:

1. You have used the Amex card in the last six months
2. You have had the Amex card for over 12 months
3. You are in good credit standing with Amex
4. You have an address, social security number and importantly - a US bank account

You are eligble to apply for a US Amex credit card using the transfer scheme.

IMPORTANTLY AND FORTUNATELY - the restrictions around charge cards vs. credit cards no longer apply.

On the topic of which airline FF program to stick with... based on the feedback received, the notion of staying with Qantas seems to make sense to me for now, so ideally I need to find a US Amex that will allow me to transfer points back to my Qantas account. I think one of their platinum cards permits this, just not sure if I will be able to be given one of these or not at first application attempt.

This does raise two more (clearly newbie ) questions for me....

1. If to retain Gold/Platinum membership I need to make 4 flights each year on Qantas "metal", does this include Jetstar flights? If I fly to/from JFK to SYD on Qantas and then to Ballina/Byron (family) and back on Jetstar, will this count? The JFK-SYD flights (eg. QF107) only seem to count as a single flight even though it's two sectors?

2. Can I book flights entirely outside of Australia eg. within US/Europe/Latin America - using my Qantas points? Or are my points only good for trips to/from/within Australia?

Thanks all

Phil

 

[drron]

JQ flights do not count in the 4 flights needed for status.Mrsdrron this year switched from AA to QFF.She went past the gold SCs needed on our first RTW.She had 6 JQ sectors for the year but had to wait until the 4th QF sector before her gold card arrived.
If you are already LTG on QF(which gives you QP membership)it would certainly pay to consider Aadvantage.There are so many ways to earn AA miles if living in the states-AA dining,AA shopping etc as well as CC earnings.There is also better value redeeming miles in most cases.But it does depend on what you want from your points.If you want premium cabin awards AA wins.If you want to upgrade your QF flights back to Australia you have to stick with QF.If you want your domestic US flights upgraded it has to be AA.

 

[drron]

Sorry forgot your other questions.
Yes you can book awards completely outside Australia on QF but you generally have to ring QF.Or awards not using AA at all if with Aadvantage.
For the QF sectors why not QF JFK-LAX-BNE and then on to Ballina.4 QF sectors with 1 return flight home.

 

[jamesatfish]

Yes you can book awards completely outside Australia on QF but you generally have to ring QF.Or awards not using AA at all if with Aadvantage.

You should have success booking awards points for non-Australian based travel using the online booking system also.

I've booked QF awards flights with BA LHR-JFK and LHR-YYZ and on AA from BOS-LAX without any problems.

 

[drron]

You should have success booking awards points for non-Australian based travel using the online booking system also.

I've booked QF awards flights with BA LHR-JFK and LHR-YYZ and on AA from BOS-LAX without any problems.

Different to my experience.Trying to book online my last trip-BNE-NRT-BKK-SYD-BNE was impossible.For BNE-NRT all I was offered online was JQ via CNS.Booking through AA I got on the JL flight from BNE-NRT.Also AA got me on QF2 BKK-SYD whereas QF couldnt even on ringing.
Also booking mrsdrron BNE-NRT-JFK QF online brings up the message-"No service NRT-JFK"

 

[NM]

... so ideally I need to find a US Amex that will allow me to transfer points back to my Qantas account. I think one of their platinum cards permits this, just not sure if I will be able to be given one of these or not at first application attempt.

I didn't think were any options now for non-Australian cards to transfer to Qantas FF program. When they went to direct sweep only, the ability to transfer via programs like SPG or even from credit card programs themselves were removed, with the exception of some high-value Australian Amex options (Gold/Plat Charge cards perhaps??, but no credit cards was my understanding). So do your research on this topic before assuming you can do this with a US-based card.

 

[serfty]

JQ flights do not count in the 4 flights needed for status. ...

Actually, they can! If your JQ flight is eligible to earn points/SC's then it counts as contributing to the minimum four segments. (Of course this eliminates all "Saver" fares - unless you live in NZ.)

 

[docjames]

Can I add one more thing - if you're doing much of your flying to Sth America and Europe, try and take into account which airline(s) best serve both Philadelphia AND the destinations you are likely to travel to.

My reasoning for this - you want maximum flexibility in your travel, not stuck choosing AA just because you have QFF or AAAdv. You might find DL would actually be good in your sepcific case, or even staying with UA (and thus also using CO) as they have reasonable options for Sth American trips. You can always use MX for some South American routes (to stay on OW), but their network will entail a trip via MEX or CUN in most instances. MEX is not convenient to PHL!

Interesting question.

 

[drron]

Actually, they can! If your JQ flight is eligible to earn points/SC's then it counts as contributing to the minimum four segments. (Of course this eliminates all "Saver" fares - unless you live in NZ.)

Almost certainly cheaper to use QF though.
"Can I add one more thing - if you're doing much of your flying to Sth America and Europe, try and take into account which airline(s) best serve both Philadelphia AND the destinations you are likely to travel to.

My reasoning for this - you want maximum flexibility in your travel, not stuck choosing AA just because you have QFF or AAAdv. You might find DL would actually be good in your sepcific case, or even staying with UA (and thus also using CO) as they have reasonable options for Sth American trips. You can always use MX for some South American routes (to stay on OW), but their network will entail a trip via MEX or CUN in most instances. MEX is not convenient to PHL!"
Docjames makes a good point.From PHL it is an American Eagle flight basically.US airways was always the major carrier out of PHL.When we visited(our son lived there for 2 years) we would just hire a car and drop off at JFK.So not the most convenient city for OW.