Westpac Singapore KrisFlyer Credit Card

[crowman28]

Received a letter in the mail today...

The Visa card is changing from
$1 = 1 KrisFlyer Mile TO
$1 = 0.5 KrisFlyer mile

This is in line with other banks offerings I guess. Honestly I didn't know that it was 1 for 1 on the Visa and already assumed it was 1=0.5

:evil::evil::evil::evil:

For use outside of Aussie the Visa is still $1 = 1.5 which is good

When is this going to happen? From next year?

The VISA is no longer rewarding then.

 

[lovestotravel]

When is this going to happen? From next year?

The VISA is no longer rewarding then.

Whoops - From the 15th March!

I am still :evil: at myself for not knowing the Visa was 1:1....

1.5:1 for overseas Visa usage is good though!!!!!

 

[MAX_1]

I ran with Westpac instead of NAB Qantas Plat Card based on Visa 1 pt for $1 earn vs the NAB 2 pts for $3.
One may say it is only 0.333 points per dollar difference but this year it has translated into about 200,000 points extra ( based on $50,000 a month VISA spend).

How long before NAB drops down?

Its time to review all the deals out there for the next 12 months.

My current cards are 2 Emirates cards, 1 Wpac Plat Visa and Amex plus CBA Plat Amex and M/Card.

 

[Sethor]

When is this going to happen? From next year?

The VISA is no longer rewarding then.

Might as well go back to the Altitude Platinum card, same earn rate with the choice to use with other frequent flyer programs, no points expiry & ability to control how many points you want to transfer.
Was just having a look at credit card ratings on Cannex, The Krisflyer Platinum only scores one star with a 2K+ spend a month balance payed in full.
Credit Card Star Ratings - Big Spender

 

[crowman28]

Might as well go back to the Altitude Platinum card, same earn rate with the choice to use with other frequent flyer programs, no points expiry & ability to control how many points you want to transfer.
Was just having a look at credit card ratings on Cannex, The Krisflyer Platinum only scores one star with a 2K+ spend a month balance payed in full.
Credit Card Star Ratings - Big Spender

Even the ANZ Platinum Rewards card is better now, a low annual fee of $149, and you can choose between Kris Flyer or Asia Miles frequent flyer programme. The same earn rate on its VISA now.

What a shame Westpac, you let us all down severely!

 

[WA flyer]

This card will no longer have any value for me, even though I get it free

 

[kamchatsky]

Also got the letter today. Definitely a killer here.

Even my old Citibank Gold Fee Free for life Visa has ratio of 3:2 (actually 15000:10000), which is better than 2:1. So I may end up switching back to Citibank.

This card may end up collecting dust given I may end up switching to use my Platinum Edge, as I can allocate my points to whatever program I like.

 

[cove]

Had a wonderful use of points going 747 First Singapore-Narita-Los Angeles.
2sets of pjs ,KRUG champagne and lobster thermidor.
Coming home A345 worked well. 17 hour flight,used my sleep machine for 7 hours and the both planes had very easy to use power supplies.

 

[Chimpy]

Even the ANZ Platinum Rewards card is better now, a low annual fee of $149, and you can choose between Kris Flyer or Asia Miles frequent flyer programme. The same earn rate on its VISA now.

To transfer to Kris Flyer is still not the best.

"Account Holders must redeem an initial minimum of 6,000 Reward Points for KrisFlyer Miles, with redemption of additional Reward Points in multiples of 3,000 Reward Points. Account Holders will receive 2,000 KrisFlyer Miles for 6,000 Reward Points and 1,000 KrisFlyer Miles for 3,000 Reward Points."

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I just called Westpac Cards department and got the rep who answered my call to officially log a complaint about the change in the 'earn' rate for Visa and to also include that I will be cancelling the cards on 14/03/2011.

The rep I spoke to admitted she had not seen the letter but went on to say they were aware in the card centre of upcoming changes and also expressed her personal surprise and disappointment in Westpac making this decision.

Please ALL who have these cards at least go to the effort of calling or writing to Westpac and officially logging your disapproval.

I explained to the rep that attractiveness of these dual cards virtually disappeared with halving of Visa rewards - much better to use AMEX card where you can transfer to a number of airlines and something like EDR card wih 1:1.

People power may have an affect - who knows.

 

[joeymelb]

Westpac not only watered down the KF VISA earn rate down to $1:0.5KF, Westpac also removed the incentive to for renewal by removing 50% (or 25K KF points) discount voucher upon renewal.

Time to consider moving to another card!!

 

[albatross710]

Had a wonderful use of points going 747 First Singapore-Narita-Los Angeles.
2sets of pjs ,KRUG champagne and lobster thermidor.
Coming home A345 worked well. 17 hour flight,used my sleep machine for 7 hours and the both planes had very easy to use power supplies.

Sadly for First Saver & Full redemptions I notice that the SQ12/11 service is being replaced with an A380 service early next year.

 

[albatross710]

Please ALL who have these cards at least go to the effort of calling or writing to Westpac and officially logging your disapproval.

I took the time to ring them. My agent read from an information sheet which said

• it is a business decision after reviews by Westpac and SIA
• no feedback will come back to me as it is a business decision that isn't going to be changed
• nothing can be done
• Accor and Avis, might be available through Amex Selects.
• the world is changing and sometimes we have to look for alternatives.

Pretty obvious they aren't changing it. One or both of them got burned along the way.

Anyway, the search for a new bank commences.


Alby

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Anyway, the search for a new bank commences.

Yes I agree 100% - but where oh where can i get $1:1pt for KF on Visa or MC?

 

[hummel]

Yes I agree 100% - but where oh where can i get $1:1pt for KF on Visa or MC?

I'm sure the collective minds at AFF will find a solution

I'm only on gold not platinum so isn't so bad for me.. plus I go my renewal voucher 6 months earlier which has made me start looking on how to redeem around feb/march next year.

I will still be looking elsewhere, however just got new amex platinum cc so maybe just a low interest visa/mc with no annual fee, decisions decisions...

 

[KLN]

Yes I agree 100% - but where oh where can i get $1:1pt for KF on Visa or MC?

i have Westpac Altitude which has a visa and amex on the same account.
i get 2 points per $1.00 on the AMEX and
1 point per $1.00 on the Visa.
needless to say that I use the AMEX for most things, only when AMEX not accepted do i use the visa, especially at BAS times, it's worth paying the extra surcharge. i get a business class upgrade on MH every quarter.
and at least this way i can transfer to 5 other airlines from Altitude, including KF.
i just transfer points when i need to, then they don't expire with the airlines.

 

[Sethor]

It's still a lower earn rate, you need 2 Altitude points per 1 KF mile.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I took the time to ring them. My agent read from an information sheet which said

• it is a business decision after reviews by Westpac and SIA
• no feedback will come back to me as it is a business decision that isn't going to be changed
• nothing can be done
• Accor and Avis, might be available through Amex Selects.
• the world is changing and sometimes we have to look for alternatives.

Pretty obvious they aren't changing it. One or both of them got burned along the way.

Anyway, the search for a new bank commences.


Alby

Thanks for that update..even if it is sad news.

If I had actually paid any card fees....I would be asking for a part-year refund.

Will still protest at the time..in case any sweeteners are on offer. Otherwise will be cancelled the day after the last lot of my points post on SQ.

 

[joeymelb]

The closest comparable product to current KF Plat Visa is Citibank Plat Reward Visa with $1:KF1. The downside with Citibank Plat Rewards are:

1. No AMEX for the $1:KF1.5 Bonus earn rate;
2. No x2 Bonus Rate for purchasing flight from SIA (unless booked via Citi Take Flight, not sure how the price compare to book direct with SIA);
3. No sign-up bonus or Fee Free (or even half) for the 1st year;

I spent between $20K to $30K per year with SIA on airfares alone, the Double points bonus via AMEX meant that I get between 60K to 90K points just from buying tickets. If Citibank CC Marketing Manager is reading this, please put on some "WP KF Plat Customer Poaching Promotion". It is a good thing that Citibank is opening a branch in Camberwell VIC. If the deal is right, I will just march into Westpac and demand to close off my accounts and withdraw every cents in $10s and $20s. (Just sold a couple of houses in the area... now that would be FUN!!)

 

[Sarge1]

Pretty sure $15000 = 10000 KF points with Asian call centers and poor customer support. I think I will keep away from Citi.