QANTAS to launch their own credit card in tie-up with Citibank

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My money is on another boring, cookie-cutter card.

There are 3 logical avenues to go with a cobrand, but QF has to be careful not to play on the same turf of existing co-brands and transfer partners.

Option 1: Aimed at actual frequent flyers. eg: if you are silv/gold/plat, hold this card and do XX, then you'll receive YY
Option 2: Tie status credits to spend, eg: $10K spend for 10SC
Option 3: Focus on Bronze members/wannabe frequent flyers, and fast track them into higher spend/engagement.

The rest I expect to be reasonably boring like X Qantas Lounge visits, X parking coupons, x% bonus points on qantas flights etc.
The card will need 1:1 earn to be competitive so I'd expect this rate.

Remember this is a co-brand, so QF also derives revenue from annual fees, interest charges, XE etc. I highly doubt any of these factors will be interesting because it would mean QF funding the banks' portion.
 
1. Telling you first: Qantas credit card Today we’ll officially launch our own credit card. We’ll be sharing the news with media and revealing our employee offer this afternoon, so check out tomorrow’s ITN for more details. Media are reporting it will become tougher to earn reward points on credit cards following new regulations which take effect on 1 July. While we’re confident about the appeal of Qantas Points despite these changes, having our own card means we get to decide the points earn rate and other card features we offer our Frequent Flyer members.

 
So this Media release in this afternoon at 1pm or 5pm...in line with news?
 
If it's a "Premium" card aimed at Frequent Flyers they will bundle in the usual travel insurance IMHO - easy enough given their tie in with QBE I would imagine.
 
If it's a "Premium" card aimed at Frequent Flyers they will bundle in the usual travel insurance IMHO - easy enough given their tie in with QBE I would imagine.
One wonders what that travel insurance would cover. For some destinations one would want a higher level of cover than for some others.
 
One wonders what that travel insurance would cover. For some destinations one would want a higher level of cover than for some others.

oh sure. Absolutely.

I would say though over the past decade or so using the bundled insurances with various card through Zurich or whoever I've had every claim (only had to make about 3 to be fair) has been paid out without undue issues. Things like a cancelled flight on a podunk airline resulting in a full Y ticket purchase got a refund, some bag damage, and a medical thing had US medical costs reimbursed.

Now if I were going to the 3rd world or a zone where there could be more than the average problems (as opposed to say Western Europe, USA/Canada, NZ etc) then I'd prob want more specialised cover, specially if I were doing activities that may warrant it (eg: skiing or adventure tourism or something)

but for average needs I say it tends to work pretty well - at least in my experience - and is a useful piece of mind value add for most trips
 
Two problems i see with credit card insurance generically is
skiing and many pre existing medical conditions are not covered.
the same exclusions apply to retail travel insurance too. If you want these things covered, you have to pay more. You do have the option of paying extra on top of the free credit card insurance with some of the companies. call them.
 
Something picked up from the launch lunch which isn't in the press release: the Qantas Premier credit card will support Android Pay and Samsung Pay in a future update, Citi says, but there are currently no plans to add Apple Pay to that mobile wallet set.
 
Strangely, the details in the just published ausbt article don't match the Qantas media release:

ausbt:
  • 1 point per dollar on domestic spending up to and including $10,000 each statement period
  • 0.5 points per dollar spent above $10,000 each statement period (30 days)
  • 1.5 points per A$1 on international spending (international transaction fees will apply)
  • 1 additional point per $1 spent with Qantas (however, credit card fees won’t be waived when using the card to book Qantas flights)

vs

Qantas:
  • 2 Qantas Points per $1 spent on Qantas, such as flights, Qantas Club membership, and purchases through the Qantas Store
  • 5 Qantas Points per $1 spent on eligible purchases overseas
  • 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent on eligible purchases in Australia
  • uncapped points earning potential.

Hopefully the Qantas details are the correct ones.

Edit: Ok that's weird - reloaded the Qantas page and it went from 5 per $ on overseas to 1.5 as in the ausbt article.
 
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