No more Qantas points?

[StevePER]

A guy at work told me that he got a letter from Citibank yesterday saying that from sometime next year there will be no more points transfers to Qantas. I haven't got the letter and I don't know the details, but it sounds ominous. He has a paid Gold card.

Anyone else heard the same thing?

Steve

 

[simongr]

Sounds like the result of QF's push to "direct sweep".

In the promo information and articles around the launch of the new QF award process it was made clear by QF that they only wanted points to come from credi cards when they were tied to QF and came across automatically.

What this does is accelerate the cash flow to QF as it gets cash when the points are earned rather than someone sitting on a slow build up of points for a year at Amex and then pushing points to QF and immediately redeeming them.

If you have a direct sweep style card (auto transfer of points to QF) - it might be that nothing will change for you.

The same has happened to Amex recently.

 

[oz_mark]

If you have a direct sweep style card (auto transfer of points to QF) - it might be that nothing will change for you.

To my knowledge, Citibank do not currently offer a credit card with this facility.

 

[Platy]

I have a common or garden variety Gold AMEX card. I was just informed that come new year (I forget, but I think March 09) it will no longer be possible to transfer AMEX points into your QF account. :shock:

To do this you will need the QF specifically branded AMEX card (currently being promoted on the QF web site). This costs $249 odd per year but returns 1.25 pts per $ (more for QF something like 2.5 pts/$). There is a promo until Sept 30. :-|

I was also just informed that the current reward scheme for my BankWest Gold VISA card is being terminated at year's end and details of replacement scheme are to follow. In this case points must be redeemed by year's end!!! :shock:

Looks like a few changes across the board...it seems that QF want to have their scheme only locked into QF branded cards...I'm kinda irritated at having to change over cards.

 

[gibspmuh]

Looks like a few changes across the board...it seems that QF want to have their scheme only locked into QF branded cards...I'm kinda irritated at having to change over cards.

Just keep in mind that if it's that irritating you can always change airlines instead . Most of the non-sweep card providers seem to be signing up with Virgin Blue and Singapore Airlines amongst others. Certainly worth doing the sums at this point anyway.

 

[Platy]

Just keep in mind that if it's that irritating you can always change airlines instead . Most of the non-sweep card providers seem to be signing up with Virgin Blue and Singapore Airlines amongst others. Certainly worth doing the sums at this point anyway.

Absolutely, gibspmuh, and the thought is always in my mind!

In my own case, I am getting close to Life Time Gold (LTG) status with QF and am considering continuing with QF until that point thereafter possibly testing the waters with other carriers/alliances. That's assuming there still is a LTG in a year or so when I finaly make the magic 14,000 SCs!!!

I guess you have hit the nail on the head as well in that QF don't want you to have the option of putting your CC points to another carrier.

 

[beardoc]

I suspected this was coming for Citibank.

I'm hoping though, than instead of launching a "sweep" based card, they instead focus on Singapore Airlines. I would love them to negotiate a better deal with Singapore and become 4 CB points:3 Krisflyers, or, dare I wish too hard, 1:1!

That would cement Citibank as my card of choice (other than Amex, of course).

 

[vet]

Is it legal to force customers off a card onto the airline's card??? I thought ousting usa companies like amex and citibank would violate the Sherman and other anti-trust laws. Qantas should get a clearance from O'Conner at the justice dept anti trust division.

 

[oz_mark]

Is it legal to force customers off a card onto the airline's card??? I thought ousting usa companies like amex and citibank would violate the Sherman and other anti-trust laws. Qantas should get a clearance from O'Conner at the justice dept anti trust division.

I don't think anyone is forcing anyone to do such a thing.

 

[StevePER]

It seems I must apologise - the guy who got the letter has called up Citibank and they have said that they have no plans to remove Qantas earning. He actually has a "MyCard" which is issued by Citibank, rather than the normal Citibank card.

So at this stage the ability to transfer to Qantas from the regular Citibank cards remains intact.

 

[jingles]

I have a common or garden variety Gold AMEX card. I was just informed that come new year (I forget, but I think March 09) it will no longer be possible to transfer AMEX points into your QF account. :shock:

To do this you will need the QF specifically branded AMEX card (currently being promoted on the QF web site)..

Thats wrong, see here
American Express

 

[jingles]

So at this stage the ability to transfer to Qantas from the regular Citibank cards remains intact.

As it says on the qantas website.
http://www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/partners/card/citibank-rewards

The transfer ability from citi points to QFF will remain

 

[oz_mark]

As it says on the qantas website.
Frequent Flyer - Earning Points - Cards - Notice - Citibank Rewards

The transfer ability from citi points to QFF will remain

There will be an option to do so, but you will need to opt-in, thus losing your ability to use the other reward options.

 

[Kazda]

Just discovered this......
As per the Qantas Direct - Terms and Conditions (taken from the Amex website)
The Qantas Direct Program through Amex has an annual fee of $80.00.

So along with the actual Amex card annual fee (if it's not waived) if you want to joint the Qantas Direct program through Amex it also has an annual fee.

See the last point in the T&C for the fees imposed by being in the Qantas Direct program.
http://www.americanexpress.com/australia/pdfs/qftc.pdf

I guess as I still want to accrue QFF points I will have to look into a card that earns the points directly into the QFF program, that way I won't be charged an additional annual program fee eg: Westpac/Amex Earth card from what I have read only has the annual card fee and not an additional annual program fee as the points go directly to QFF without any choice.

Am I reading the T&C of the Amex Direct Program correctly ????

 

[oz_mark]

Am I reading the T&C of the Amex Direct Program correctly ????

Yes, but Membership rewards also has an annual fee of $80, so it is basically that fee but the points being directed to Qantas rather than into an MR account.

 

[hedge]

Yes, but Membership rewards also has an annual fee of $80, so it is basically that fee but the points being directed to Qantas rather than into an MR account.

Depends what kind of deal you signed on. I know RACS give free gold card + free membership to MR.

 

[oz_mark]

Depends what kind of deal you signed on. I know RACS give free gold card + free membership to MR.

The schedule of fees for MR simply states it as $80. If there is an affinity card that offers a waiver, then perhaps the waiver would extend to the Direct option. But the answer to that is not likely to be found in the publshed T&C's.

 

[Kazda]

The schedule of fees for MR simply states it as $80. If there is an affinity card that offers a waiver, then perhaps the waiver would extend to the Direct option. But the answer to that is not likely to be found in the publshed T&C's.

I've got the Amex Rewards Maximiser card which has no Membership Rewards fee to the Ascent program, however I'm guessing if I'm wanting to join the Qantas Direct Program the $80.00 annual fee will be applied.
Might ring Amex next week to try to find out the answer.

 

[jingles]

Just discovered this......
As per the Qantas Direct - Terms and Conditions (taken from the Amex website)
The Qantas Direct Program through Amex has an annual fee of $80.00.

Seems pointless paying the fee when amex has a card with direct sweep for $0 per year

-

You know,
I just checked their website and noticed the card is now $150 a year!

I should have signed up for it back when it was free.

 

[oz_mark]

I've got the Amex Rewards Maximiser card which has no Membership Rewards fee to the Ascent program, however I'm guessing if I'm wanting to join the Qantas Direct Program the $80.00 annual fee will be applied.
Might ring Amex next week to try to find out the answer.

Interesting. From my reading, I didn't think that the Maximiser was eligible for the QFdirect option. Will be interesting to hear what the results of your call to Amex are.