What is the best way to convert Westpac Altitude points to international air travel

[Michael Ryan]

I have 300k of Altitude points and want to convert to a frequent flyer program to use. Does anyone have the latest information on which one I should use and how I go about doing it. I have never used any points.

 

[albatross710]

Re: What is the best way to convert Westpac Altitude points to international air trav

Where do you want to go? Your thoughts and aspirational travel ideas create the best value for your points.

This will probably determine the starting point for the most cost effective place to convert your points. Westpac has their own low value travel redemptions. Points can best be used by transferring them to one of the supported airlines ie Air New Zealand, Malaysian Airlines, Singapore Airlines or Virgin Blue Velocity.

For instance, converting 300k Altitude points will go to Singapore Airlines as 150,000 Krisflyer miles. That's enough for return Brisbane - Amsterdam in Business Class. The same points could get you three return economy flights Brisbane to Singapore. Or even 5 return flights BNE - Cook Islands.

So you have enough points to go anywhere in the world. Let us have a clue on your favourite place to visit.

PS: Of course, the points can be converted to Virgin Blue and you could do lots of intra-Australia travel but not as much fun.

 

[Michael Ryan]

Re: What is the best way to convert Westpac Altitude points to international air trav

Thanks for the reply albatrss710. I was hoping to take my daughters from Brisbane to LA and return. At moment I just want to transfer the points out of my Altitude Card. If I join Krisflyer can I then move them somewhere later or once they are there that is it. Cheers

Where do you want to go? Your thoughts and aspirational travel ideas create the best value for your points.

This will probably determine the starting point for the most cost effective place to convert your points. Westpac has their own low value travel redemptions. Points can best be used by transferring them to one of the supported airlines ie Air New Zealand, Malaysian Airlines, Singapore Airlines or Virgin Blue Velocity.

For instance, converting 300k Altitude points will go to Singapore Airlines as 150,000 Krisflyer miles. That's enough for return Brisbane - Amsterdam in Business Class. The same points could get you three return economy flights Brisbane to Singapore. Or even 5 return flights BNE - Cook Islands.

So you have enough points to go anywhere in the world. Let us have a clue on your favourite place to visit.

PS: Of course, the points can be converted to Virgin Blue and you could do lots of intra-Australia travel but not as much fun.

 

[albatross710]

Re: What is the best way to convert Westpac Altitude points to international air trav

Thanks for the reply albatrss710. I was hoping to take my daughters from Brisbane to LA and return. At moment I just want to transfer the points out of my Altitude Card. If I join Krisflyer can I then move them somewhere later or once they are there that is it. Cheers

Once you go to Krisflyer the points are to be used there and the 3 year expiry clock also starts ticking.

If BNE-LAX is your priority then I suggest identifying which scheme is going to be best to redeem for that route. SQ isn't best for this as they go via Singapore.

Perhaps NZ is the way to go as you can go BNE-AKL-LAX.

Others may have more experience on this one.

Alby