Westpac Singapore KrisFlyer Credit Card

[kamchatsky]

This thread have been here before but because of yesterday's website crash I think the whole thread disappeared. So let's resurrect the thread again.
___________________________________________________________
The links to Westpac Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Credit Card are here:

Westpac Krisflyer Gold Credit Card:
Features: KrisFlyer
Gold Partner Offers: http://info.westpac.com.au/singaporeairlines/PartnerOffersGold.aspx

Westpac Krisflyer Platinum Credit Card:
Features: KrisFlyer
Platinum Partner Offers: http://info.westpac.com.au/singaporeairlines/PartnerOffers.aspx

Additonal Benefits: http://info.westpac.com.au/singaporeairlines/MemberOffers.aspx
About Singapore Airlines and Krisflyer: http://info.westpac.com.au/singaporeairlines/SingaporeExperience.aspx
FAQ: http://info.westpac.com.au/singaporeairlines/FAQ.aspx
Contact us: http://info.westpac.com.au/singaporeairlines/ContactUs.aspx

Promotional benefits include:

- Half annual fee for first year
- 5K/10K signup bonus for Gold/Platinum card
- No points capping (!)
- Each account contains Amex and Visa Card in 1 account
- 3 KF points per 1AU spent on Amex card until 31 October 2009 for Platinum card holders.
- 1.5KF points for overseas spend on Visa Card
- Automatic Accor A|Club Gold/Platinum for Gold/Platinum card holders
- 50% off redemption voucher after year 1 renewal (up to 25K)
- double KF points on bookings on singaporeair.com
- Generous overseas travel insurance, transit insurance, extended warranty insurance etc.


In regard to its attractiveness, is that Krisflyer redemption rate is excellent:
Eg. for Australia-Oceania Economy/Business return Star Alliance Award is 25K/35K points. Oceania covers Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tahiti etc with free stopover in New Zealand. Therefore if you sign up Platinum card with 10K bonus, then you only need to spend $5000AU/$8334AU in Amex card before 31 Oct 2009 to get Economy/Business Award ticket.

Of course other benefits include 15% off online booking of Awards (additional promotion: 25% off for booking to September 2009, and 50% off certain routes)

For more Krisflyer redemption info please see the following:

Singapore Airlines&

Caveats:
- Points automatically expires after 3 years after being posted, and can only extend for another 6 months with a fee. So you need to monitor and redeem the points wisely.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Great Card...

There is also a loyalty bonus if you renew at the end of 12 months..
KrisFlyer

Upto 25K.....

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Also double points on SQ flights booked.

 

[kamchatsky]

Updated first post to reflect lovetravellingoz's comments.

Anyway, I am trying to get my better half's OK to get the card. I actually think it is a pretty good deal. Unfortunately we already have free CPA Amex card with 1:1 KF earn, and still have my Citibank No Annual Fee Gold Visa. Not sure how to convince her to spend 125/250 per year on it.

Just wondering whether home loan holders with Westpac can get it for free?! Anyone tried?

 

[JohnK]

Of course other benefits include 15% off online booking of Awards (additional promotion: 25% off for booking to September 2009, and 50% off certain routes)

Do note that Oceania awards, or partner awards, cannot be booked online so the 15% online bonus does not apply.

 

[Foreigner]

Just as a matter of interest, Westpac offered me a platinum visa card with zero fee for first year; that card has arrived but it doesnt seem to be linked to any ff plan. Curious why do they have such card, if i can return (or not activate) it, if instead i can apply for this SQ card. Any thoughts, suggestions, tips?

 

[albatross710]

Just wondering whether home loan holders with Westpac can get it for free?! Anyone tried?

Previously I have tried that with Westpac to go from Altitude standard >> Altitude Gold. I am both a Westpac home loanee and a Extras Package member. They say that the contract entitles only Altitude standard, full fee payable for higher card. I assume it would be the same in this case.

Consider it as $125 for 10,000 pts plus the bonus earning rate and then cancel at the end of the promo period.

 

[Mis5P]

Reading the T&Cs you don't get points when paying via bpay!!

 

[oz_mark]

Reading the T&Cs you don't get points when paying via bpay!!

This is true of most (maybe all) Westpac cards

 

[lovetravellingoz]

This is true of most (maybe all) Westpac cards

indeed....

But is easy to get around...just pay on the companies on website....or through Aussie Posts Billpay.

And remember that this new card combo has the HUGE advantage that for those organistions that do not accept Amex that you get the best VISA eran rate around.

Also rememember that compared to Citibank that the transfer rate is 1:1 rater than less than 1.

 

[albatross710]

And remember that this new card combo has the HUGE advantage that for those organistions that do not accept Amex that you get the best VISA eran rate around.

Also, the Visa earn rate is better than Westpac's own Earth & Altitude cards. On the platinum it is stay at 1:1 after the intro period.

Looking at the comparison after the intro period will make me more inclined to use the Visa then when any level of Amex surcharge is levied. During the intro special period with the Amex rate being 3 x Visa - good value. After the intro period Amex is 1.5 x Visa earn rate. (Altitude Amex is 2 x Altitude Visa)

Based on a $1,000 spend the earn rates are

During intro period up to 31/10

KF Plat Amex = 3,000 KF points
KF Plat Visa = 1,000 KF
Altitude Amex = 2,000 Altitude = 1,000 KF
Altitude Visa = 1,000 Altitude = 500 KF

After 31/10
KF Plat Amex = 1,500 KF points
KF Plat Visa = 1,000 KF
Altitude Amex = 2,000 Altitude = 1,000 KF
Altitude Visa = 1,000 Altitude = 500 KF


Alby

 

[WA flyer]

This is going to annoy my already very confused accounts manager!

 

[brett-au]

Out of curiosity, when was this launched?

I don't recall seeing it before

 

[albatross710]

This is going to annoy my already very confused accounts manager!

I agree totally. I have to either use one set of cards or the other.

The significance seems to be the better earning rate for Visa cards in the longer term.

 

[oz_mark]

Out of curiosity, when was this launched?

I don't recall seeing it before

As far as I know, last week.

 

[kamchatsky]

Just called the Westpac homeloan centre. They said that currently it is not in the fee free list for Premier Advantage package benefit. However if there is enough feedback from customers, they may consider to add it in the benefit. So if you want it fee free and have Westpac Premier Advantage package I suggest you call Westpac and provide more feedback.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Out of curiosity, when was this launched?

I don't recall seeing it before

Last Thursday.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Previously I have tried that with Westpac to go from Altitude standard >> Altitude Gold. I am both a Westpac home loanee and a Extras Package member. They say that the contract entitles only Altitude standard, full fee payable for higher card. I assume it would be the same in this case.

Consider it as $125 for 10,000 pts plus the bonus earning rate and then cancel at the end of the promo period.

I get Altitude Golds fee free for my wife and I.

I have tried since last Thursday to have this either swapped to the new Plat card..or to get it fee frre.

No deal...and that is despite talking to a half dozen different departments..Card services, Mortgage, Customer Relations etc..

Answer is no...at least at present.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Pays to be persistent.

I now have a better deal

 

[one9]

Pays to be persistent.

I now have a better deal

But was all your time worth it for only $125?