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Up to 200,000 Altitude Points, reduced first-year card fee plus 2 Priority Pass passes with the Westpac Altitude Rewards Black Credit Card
Card Overview
The Westpac Altitude Rewards Black has up to 200,000 Altitude Points plus a reduced first year annual card fee on offer for new cardholders, the points can be redeemed for up to $950 in e-gift cards or transferred to Velocity Frequent Flyer, KrisFlyer or Cathay miles at a 3:1 ratio. The card offers high points earn rates plus ongoing benefits, including Priority Pass lounge invites.
Key Attributes
Up to 200,000 bonus Altitude points, receive 100,000 bonus Altitude Points when you spend $12,000 or more on eligible purchases within 12 months of approval and an additional 100,000 bonus Altitude Points if you keep your account open for more than 12 months and spend another $12,000 on eligible purchases in year two.
2 x Priority Pass invitations per cardholder year
Overseas Travel Insurance, Purchase Protection and other insurances
Apple Pay, Google Pay & Samsung Pay Support
3 Altitude Points per $1 on international transactions, 2 Altitude Points per $1 on everyday spend, and 1 Altitude Points per $1 on all other eligible spend up to $10,000 per statement period. Then 0.5 Points per $1 thereafter, uncapped
Annual Fee: $200 card fee for the first year, $295 p.a. ongoing
Offer not available if you’ve held an Altitude Platinum or Altitude Black card with Altitude Rewards, Qantas or Velocity in the last 24 months. T&Cs apply.
The Westpac Altitude Rewards Black Credit Card has up to 200,000 Altitude Points plus a reduced first-year card fee of $200 (reverts to $295) on offer for new cardholders. The card is aimed at those who want a decent earning rate on spend, are happy to pay the larger card fee and will get value from some of the additional benefits.
Disclaimer:Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
The bonus is split into two parts, with the first 100,000 bonus Altitude Rewards Points to be received after spending a minimum of $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first 12 months of approval and an additional 100,000 bonus Altitude Rewards Points after spending another $12,000 on eligible purchase in year 2.
The total bonus of 200,000 bonus Altitude Points can get you up to $950 in e-Gift cards when redeemed *. You can also opt to transfer your points to programs such as Velocity, KrisFlyer or Asia Miles at a rate of 3 Altitude Rewards points to 1 frequent flyer program point/mile and get about 66,000 Velocity Points, KrisFlyer miles or Asia Miles.
Points earn rates from the Westpac Altitude Rewards Black Card
Note: if you opt for Altitude Qantas, the card will incur an additional $50 annual Rewards fee.
Card Details
Card
Westpac Altitude Rewards Black
Loyalty program
Westpac Altitude Rewards
Points earned from spend
3 Altitude Points per $1 on international spend*
2 Altitude Points per $1 at supermarkets, department stores, petrol stations, dining and utilities*
1 Altitude Point per $1 on other purchases*
* Capped at $10,000 total per statement period, after which, the earn rate reduces to 0.5 points per dollar across all categories
Travel benefits
2 Priority Pass invitations per year
Included insurances
Extended Warranty & International Travel Insurance (PDS)
Overseas transaction fee
3.0% of the converted amount
Mobile wallet
Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay
Minimum income requirement
$75,000 p.a.
Card fee
$295 p.a. ongoing
Effective Frequent Flyer Program Point Earn Rates
Frequent Flyer Program
International Spend
Everyday Spend
Other Eligible Spend
Velocity Points
(transferred from Altitude Rewards)
1 points / $
0.66 point / $
0.33 points / $
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles
1 miles / $
0.66 mile / $
0.33 miles / $
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
1 miles / $
0.66 mile / $
0.33 miles / $
Airport lounge Access Benefits
If you opt for the Altitude Rewards Black, you’ll receive airport lounge access with Priority Pass membership and two included lounge visits per year, which are now valid at an increasing number of airports in Australia. Additional visits will be charged with a fee.
It is a useful lounge access benefit for those who don’t travel in Business Class often.
Included insurance and other benefits
The Westpac Altitude Rewards Black Credit Card comes with travel and extended warranty insurance coverage. As I say with every credit card guide, the value of each card’s insurance can only really be assessed by you looking at the PDS and deciding whether it is a fit for your needs. Read the full PDS here for the Westpac Altitude Black here.
This guide references some of the benefits of insurance policies provided with this card.
You should read the PDS and obtain independent professional advice before obtaining this product.
You’ll also gain access to Westpac Concierge which are on-call 24/7 to fulfil your requests and give some useful restaurant or ticket reservation shortcuts, amongst other potential uses.
Altitude Rewards vs Altitude Qantas
The Altitude Card range offers a choice of which points program you want to direct your points into: either directly into Qantas Frequent Flyer or Westpac’s own loyalty program Altitude Rewards.
Note that there is an annual $50 Rewards fee if you have selected to earn Qantas Points directly (rather than Altitude Rewards).
When choosing Altitude Qantas over Altitude Rewards Black, you’ll also need to factor in the different earning rates of each currency and transfer rates to partner programs. Our full guide to Altitude Rewards offers more detail about the program’s benefits.
In short, points can be transferred into Velocity Frequent Flyer, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles at a rate of 3 Altitude Rewards points to 1 frequent flyer program point/mile.
The choice between Altitude Qantas or Altitude Rewards is dependent on your personal points-earning preference.
You might find the sign-up bonus from the card to be more valuable to take as Qantas Points but then using the card ongoing, there may be more value for you in taking advantage of Altitude Rewards’ flexibility from having a wide range of transfer options.
Westpac Apple Pay, Google Pay & Samsung Pay support
Westpac cards support Apple Pay,Google Pay & Samsung Pay, meaning you can use this card on your smartphone for easier payments. Find out more in our guides for each of the compatible services.
Summing up: the Altitude Rewards Black Credit Card
This is the kind of card that you need to take a critical look over the ongoing benefits and sign-up bonus to assess whether the card fee is worth it for you.
That said, the points earn rates from spend are fairly competitive, and the lounge benefits are also fairly good with both cards.
Most infrequent travellers may be able to get some use out of the lounge access and other Mastercard benefits, particularly if you educate yourself on how to make the most of them.
DISCLAIMER
* Converting Altitude Points:
You can redeem the points earned on your Altitude Black Altitude Rewards credit card for cash back or gift cards via the Altitude Rewards website. The estimated cashback and gift card value in above examples are based on current redemption rates as at 2nd November 2023 and is subject to change without notification. All redemption of Altitude Rewards points are subject to availability and the Altitude Terms and Conditions (PDF 141KB).
Up to 200,000 Altitude Points, reduced first-year card fee plus 2 Priority Pass passes with the Westpac Altitude Rewards Black Credit Card was last modified: December 18th, 2025 by
Community Comments
Some credit cards charge a fee per overseas transaction. I know of some companies that do not charge this. This is an important thing for people to know if they are going to use their card overseas.
I currently carry both the Westpac Altitude Black Mastercard as well as the AMEX Westpac Altitude Black card; if I close my Mastercard account, can I still maintain the AMEX account?
Does anyone know if this is similar to Citi – where you can opt in for Qantas or you can change back to the Citi Rewards program (I think like once a year). Or do you have to select at time of application and no option to change?
This deal wasted my time. A few days after immediate Westpac approval, some confused overseas Amex operator rang up trying to asses me. They clearly weren’t provided with all the financial information from my application, and were only able to read from the script in front of them. They advised I was declined and couldn’t provide a reason. Suffice to say my financial situation should have looked rosy to Amex, so I wonder what’s really going on here.
Are Amex grumpy I keep parting on good terms before allowing my card to renew for the 2nd year? or have they outsourced assessment to some contact centre who aren’t paid enough to use their brains?
Note to Amex: What a poor experience for a repeat customer. After all your efforts to attract and retain my business, I doubt I’ll be back for a card that is accepted at less than half the places I shop.
Does anyone know if you have a Westpac altitude black AMEX card first then apply for a Qantas Ultimate AMEX will you still get the bonus points for the Qantas card?
I understand from the article it works the other way around with having a Amex issued card first you can still get the Amex Westpac bonus points just wonder if it works in reverse.
We have received confirmation from American Express that if you hold a Westpac Altitude black Amex, and then apply for a Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, you will receive the bonus promotion for the Qantas Amex Ultimate.
If you apply a week out before the end date & processing the application is approved by Westpac / Amex after the promotional end date, are you still eligible to receive the Promotional Offer originally applied for? The T&C’s interpret apply & APPROVED before end date.
That’s a really good question. The terms and conditions do indeed give that impression, but the general rule is as long as you apply before the offer end date, it doesn’t matter when you are approved. Having said that, if you want to play it really safe, I’d recommend applying at least a week or so early.
Are you aware if I able to do the following:
– Sign up with qantas and obtain 120k bonus points?
– keep earning 0.75 qantas points/$ via MasterCard
– change Amex to altitude and earn 3 altitude points = 1.5 velocity points/$
Or do I have to choose either qantas or altitude to cover both cards?
I just clicked on this page today (having forgotten to apply last night) and was surprised to see the offer still here, despite it having had a deadline of yesterday (Nov. 28th).
It’s now been extended until April 2019, which is wonderful, but has it changed at all now that the deadline has passed?
I have a memory of something about not having to pay the annual fee on the Amex…
This is a good question. The T&Cs state the following:
“Existing Westpac customers who currently hold an Altitude Platinum Visa Card or Altitude Black Mastercard, or who have held one in the last 12 months, are not eligible for this offer.”
What is unclear is that given that St George is owned by Westpac, if that technically makes you a Westpac customer. Unfortunately I don’t have nay personal experience regarding this one. I would advise to get in contact with Westpac and confirm your eligibility with them.
Just wondering about the bonus points if you don’t reach the spend for amex but I do for the linked card do you get the 80000 points just not the 40000?
Correct. To put in other words, if I spend $3,000 on the Mastercard, I will receive 80,000 bonus points. Separately, if I spend $3,000 on the Amex, I will receive another 40,000 bonus points.
Hi I have a few questions about the westpac altitude black, i’ve got both cards (amex too) i signed up to get a free qantas frequent flyer account. Linked the account to my westpac card does that mean it’s all sweet to go? There’s no indication that i’m elegible for my bonus points and if my points will go to QFF or altitude even though I clicked QFF. There’s also an annual fee that I don’t know why they haven’t asked for it.
It’s my first time doing this so I apologise for the excessive questions!
Ken, unless you applied via the Qantas site (by 5/9/18) it is my understanding that the black MasterCard has an annual fee of $250. The wording of the deal is misleading in my opinion as only the Amex fee is waived in the first year.
I would still argue your case with Westpac.
This is a bit of an odd one, but I’ll ask anyway – I applied for the Platinum Visa with the Black Amex back at the end of July. The Platinum Visa was $0 then too, and I didn’t think the extra $250 annual fee was worth it for 20k QF (120k vs the 100k I’ll get from the above combo).
Anyway, Westpac have taken aaaages to process this, all approved finally today from their end, at which point the application was submitted to Amex, and approved pretty much straight away.
My question – because the application to Amex was technically submitted today, which offer applies? I feel I should benefit from the $0 annual fee on the Black Amex, given it’s taken so long for the application to filter through to them (although agree I’d have to suck it up on the Visa, I applied when I applied there, although would have applied for the MC if it’d been fee free, like it is now. Any thoughts?
That’s interesting. I recently paid my montly medibank private premiums using PayPal/AP Post BillPay and only received 0.5 point per $1. I am on the Westpac Alitutue Platnium AMEX.
Hi I am new to using a credit card to earn bonus points. I am wanting to know if I want to fly Emirates if getting this card using the qantas points option will allow me to use qantas points along with my current Emirates miles to book a flight? Also once you get your points bonus by spending the $3000 on MasterCard and $3000 on Amex in the first 90 days how much longer do you have to use those cards for and the amount of monthly spend you need to make?
Hey Adam, you cannot combine your Qantas Points and Emirates Skywards miles balances—you have to use them separately. However, you could book a one-way ticket using your Qantas Points and then the way back using your Skywards miles. As for the credit card question, we always recommend waiting out the full year at minimum but you do not need to meet a minimum monthly spend once you’ve already received your bonus points.
Great news it is confirmed with amex that it has no impact on obaining bonus points directly with snex on future applications.
However, Given there is a second credit check for the Westpac Amex, is it likely the impact on your credit rating would be the same if you signed up for the Mastercard/Amex combination as if you signed up for any 2 credit cards? If that’s the case, a separate application concurrent with the Westpac Mastercd May be more beneficial than the Westpac Amex?
Yes, there are two separate credit checks for this bundle. Totally up to you how you value which credit cards you want credit checks to be performed for.
Hi guys,
In regards to the Altitude platinum visa card, I understand government charges do not earn any qantas points. But do government charges count towards the minimum spend required for the sign up bonus points? As i can see they are not included in the list of ineligible transactions for the bonus points when you read the fine print. Can anyone confirm this?
Thanks!
Given that this card does accrue points on government charges, they should count towards minimum spend requirements. You may want to confirm this with Westpac directly to be 100% sure.
What’s the source for the claim that “for bonus points eligibility, this card is considered to be a bank-issued card, so won’t affect your eligibility for bonus points on American Express-issued cards”? I like what you’re saying (I’d held off applying for this precisely for that reason), but would like to be 100% confident before going ahead and applying!
Cards linked to the Westpac Altitude Rewards program do not earn points on ATO transactions, however, American Express-issued cards like the Explorer and Platinum Edge do. More here.
If you didn’t apply for the American Express at the time you applied for the Mastercard, then you’ll need to apply for that separately. I would recommend contacting Westpac.
Hi Keith, I think you need to update the points earn for this card. I just logged into my account and it says 0.4 conversion to KrisFlyer or Asia Miles from my altitude rewards points. Conflicting information on your website is confusing people.
The figures are correct. Yes, the transfer rate is 1 Altitude Rewards point to 0.4 KrisFlyer/Asia Miles. However, as the Mastercard earn rate is 1.25 Altitude Rewards points per $ spent, then for every dollar, you are earning 0.4 miles x 1.25 = 0.5 KrisFlyer/Asia Miles. Hope that clears it up for you.
Can anyone advise whether holding/having the Westpac-Amex card makes you ineligible for bonus points offered through Amex-issued cards?
Reason being, my current Velocity Amex is about to expire. So could I:
1. Apply for Westpac-Amex and get bonus points (subject to meeting spend)
2. Cancel existing Velocity Amex and wait 18 months
3. Apply for Velocity Amex (or say Amex Explorer) and get bonus points (subject to meeting spend)
Hi Keith
not sure if this has been answered already.
1. If you select the Qantas Points to start with. Once you have received your Qantas points, you change to Altitude points
2. You have not spent on Qantas products in that time so not eligible for the Qantas passes
3. Does that make you eligible for the Priority Pass in the first year or would you then have to wait for your anniversary for that to change over?
Hi Keith
I received the Amex Altitude Black card with 40000 bonus points and no annual fee through a promo in March. My Westpac Black Mastercard will expire in April and I no longer want to keep that card, do you know if I can retain the Amex card without the Westpac affiliation. I have noticed my Amex points automatically transfer to my Altitude rewards account each month.I am getting conflicting reports from Westpac.
New to the lounge thing.. Would a spend in the Qantas store i.e. paying via points&cash qualifes as an eligible spend in order to get the two free Qantas lounge invites?
I would check that with Westpac and/or Qantas. In the card’s PDS, it states:
Selected Qantas products and services are the following items purchased directly from Qantas: Qantas passenger flights (with a QF flight number), Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Club membership joining and annual fees. Excludes Jetstar, Qantas Holidays, Qantas branded non-airfare products and any Qantas products and services not purchased directly from Qantas.
Not sure if the flights have to be with cash only or points and cash.
The T&Cs state that you have to register your card, then spend on Qantas flights or Club before you can claim the lounge passes. Does that mean that I have to register “Every Year” prior booking Qantas flights in order to get the lounge passes?
I’m pretty sure you don’t have to register again as your preference for Qantas Points over Altitude Rewards will carry over from the previous year, meaning you just have to make the eligible purchase of Qantas products to trigger the lounge invitations each year. You may want to give Westpac a quick call to confirm this though.
Mark. Any idea if the purchase of flights/Qantas products can include the taxes/fees/duties if I wanted to use FF points to purchase the initial flight itself, and use the altitude black for the remainder of the purchase?
As far as I understand, taxes and fees on redemption flights do not qualify.
Yes! I didn’t get my full bonus, I was just given 50,000 which is Westpac’s standard bonus when you sign up via their site. I argued that I’d most certainly signed up via Point Hacks for the larger bonus and that I’d never been to the Westpac site unless it was a re-direct from Point Hacks, yet I was declined. Not a happy bunny, but short of having someone video record you making the application what can be done?
Being a supplementary cardholder does not preclude you from being able to get bonus points because, technically, you are a new customer (the primary cardholder is the one who is responsible for the original card’s expenses).
Some credit cards charge a fee per overseas transaction. I know of some companies that do not charge this. This is an important thing for people to know if they are going to use their card overseas.
I currently carry both the Westpac Altitude Black Mastercard as well as the AMEX Westpac Altitude Black card; if I close my Mastercard account, can I still maintain the AMEX account?
Does anyone know if this is similar to Citi – where you can opt in for Qantas or you can change back to the Citi Rewards program (I think like once a year). Or do you have to select at time of application and no option to change?
Hi Hayne
We are confirming this with Westpac and will get back to you when we hear back. Thanks.
This deal wasted my time. A few days after immediate Westpac approval, some confused overseas Amex operator rang up trying to asses me. They clearly weren’t provided with all the financial information from my application, and were only able to read from the script in front of them. They advised I was declined and couldn’t provide a reason. Suffice to say my financial situation should have looked rosy to Amex, so I wonder what’s really going on here.
Are Amex grumpy I keep parting on good terms before allowing my card to renew for the 2nd year? or have they outsourced assessment to some contact centre who aren’t paid enough to use their brains?
Note to Amex: What a poor experience for a repeat customer. After all your efforts to attract and retain my business, I doubt I’ll be back for a card that is accepted at less than half the places I shop.
Does anyone know if you have a Westpac altitude black AMEX card first then apply for a Qantas Ultimate AMEX will you still get the bonus points for the Qantas card?
I understand from the article it works the other way around with having a Amex issued card first you can still get the Amex Westpac bonus points just wonder if it works in reverse.
Hi Andy
We have received confirmation from American Express that if you hold a Westpac Altitude black Amex, and then apply for a Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, you will receive the bonus promotion for the Qantas Amex Ultimate.
I’d like to know if council rates are an eligible spend to qualify for the bonus points
Hi, can anyone advise if the complimentary Virgin lounge pass is transferable to my wife if I, the cardholder, am not accompanying her? Cheers
Hi,
the application link doesnt seem to work in any of the three browsers that I use.
Has it expired?
Thanks
Jeff
The offer hasn’t expired, but we’re having some technical difficulties on this. Please check back in the next few days.
If you apply a week out before the end date & processing the application is approved by Westpac / Amex after the promotional end date, are you still eligible to receive the Promotional Offer originally applied for? The T&C’s interpret apply & APPROVED before end date.
That’s a really good question. The terms and conditions do indeed give that impression, but the general rule is as long as you apply before the offer end date, it doesn’t matter when you are approved. Having said that, if you want to play it really safe, I’d recommend applying at least a week or so early.
Are you aware if I able to do the following:
– Sign up with qantas and obtain 120k bonus points?
– keep earning 0.75 qantas points/$ via MasterCard
– change Amex to altitude and earn 3 altitude points = 1.5 velocity points/$
Or do I have to choose either qantas or altitude to cover both cards?
Hi Glen
You must choose either Qantas or Altitude for both cards. You can’t mix and match.
I really like the idea of Redemption thing Flight. Thanks for Article.
Not sure if this has been asked somewhere before. Can I only apply for the Westpac Black MasterCard and NOT the AMEX companion card?
Correct, you can apply just for the Mastercard if you like! Or you can apply for both. You just can’t apply for the Amex by itself.
I just clicked on this page today (having forgotten to apply last night) and was surprised to see the offer still here, despite it having had a deadline of yesterday (Nov. 28th).
It’s now been extended until April 2019, which is wonderful, but has it changed at all now that the deadline has passed?
I have a memory of something about not having to pay the annual fee on the Amex…
Can you get this bonus if you have a St George altitude card ? (I believe Westpac own St George)
Hi Michael
This is a good question. The T&Cs state the following:
“Existing Westpac customers who currently hold an Altitude Platinum Visa Card or Altitude Black Mastercard, or who have held one in the last 12 months, are not eligible for this offer.”
What is unclear is that given that St George is owned by Westpac, if that technically makes you a Westpac customer. Unfortunately I don’t have nay personal experience regarding this one. I would advise to get in contact with Westpac and confirm your eligibility with them.
I have the same question. I have a Bank of Melbourne card and wonder if the bonus is available.
Is the amex-issued Westpac amex card subject to the limit of 3 amex cards?
For eligibility purposes, this card is considered a bank-issued card.
If I am already a Qantas FF member does the $50 Qantas rewards fee still apply?
Thanks
Yes, the fee still applies.
Just wondering about the bonus points if you don’t reach the spend for amex but I do for the linked card do you get the 80000 points just not the 40000?
Correct. To put in other words, if I spend $3,000 on the Mastercard, I will receive 80,000 bonus points. Separately, if I spend $3,000 on the Amex, I will receive another 40,000 bonus points.
Hi I have a few questions about the westpac altitude black, i’ve got both cards (amex too) i signed up to get a free qantas frequent flyer account. Linked the account to my westpac card does that mean it’s all sweet to go? There’s no indication that i’m elegible for my bonus points and if my points will go to QFF or altitude even though I clicked QFF. There’s also an annual fee that I don’t know why they haven’t asked for it.
It’s my first time doing this so I apologise for the excessive questions!
I would suggest contacting Westpac directly to clarify this.
Ken, unless you applied via the Qantas site (by 5/9/18) it is my understanding that the black MasterCard has an annual fee of $250. The wording of the deal is misleading in my opinion as only the Amex fee is waived in the first year.
I would still argue your case with Westpac.
Hi, just wanted to confirm for sure that holding the Westpac Amex will not impact my ability to earn a sign up bonus directly with Amex in the future?
Correct!
This site was… how do you say it? Relevant!! Finally
I’ve found something which helped me. Thanks!
This is a bit of an odd one, but I’ll ask anyway – I applied for the Platinum Visa with the Black Amex back at the end of July. The Platinum Visa was $0 then too, and I didn’t think the extra $250 annual fee was worth it for 20k QF (120k vs the 100k I’ll get from the above combo).
Anyway, Westpac have taken aaaages to process this, all approved finally today from their end, at which point the application was submitted to Amex, and approved pretty much straight away.
My question – because the application to Amex was technically submitted today, which offer applies? I feel I should benefit from the $0 annual fee on the Black Amex, given it’s taken so long for the application to filter through to them (although agree I’d have to suck it up on the Visa, I applied when I applied there, although would have applied for the MC if it’d been fee free, like it is now. Any thoughts?
I don’t have the answer to this. I would recommend calling Westpac.
Does anyone know if using PayPal to pay bills via Post BillPay count as “governement transactions”?
Nope it doesn’t, normal transaction (for me on the Amex Explorer anyway – I earned the 2 MR/$1, rather the 0.5MR/$1 which applies for govt txns).
That’s interesting. I recently paid my montly medibank private premiums using PayPal/AP Post BillPay and only received 0.5 point per $1. I am on the Westpac Alitutue Platnium AMEX.
Hi I am new to using a credit card to earn bonus points. I am wanting to know if I want to fly Emirates if getting this card using the qantas points option will allow me to use qantas points along with my current Emirates miles to book a flight? Also once you get your points bonus by spending the $3000 on MasterCard and $3000 on Amex in the first 90 days how much longer do you have to use those cards for and the amount of monthly spend you need to make?
Hey Adam, you cannot combine your Qantas Points and Emirates Skywards miles balances—you have to use them separately. However, you could book a one-way ticket using your Qantas Points and then the way back using your Skywards miles. As for the credit card question, we always recommend waiting out the full year at minimum but you do not need to meet a minimum monthly spend once you’ve already received your bonus points.
Great news it is confirmed with amex that it has no impact on obaining bonus points directly with snex on future applications.
However, Given there is a second credit check for the Westpac Amex, is it likely the impact on your credit rating would be the same if you signed up for the Mastercard/Amex combination as if you signed up for any 2 credit cards? If that’s the case, a separate application concurrent with the Westpac Mastercd May be more beneficial than the Westpac Amex?
Yes, there are two separate credit checks for this bundle. Totally up to you how you value which credit cards you want credit checks to be performed for.
Hi guys,
In regards to the Altitude platinum visa card, I understand government charges do not earn any qantas points. But do government charges count towards the minimum spend required for the sign up bonus points? As i can see they are not included in the list of ineligible transactions for the bonus points when you read the fine print. Can anyone confirm this?
Thanks!
Given that this card does accrue points on government charges, they should count towards minimum spend requirements. You may want to confirm this with Westpac directly to be 100% sure.
Can you bundle the Altitude Platinum Visa with the Altitude Black American Express?
Nope, has to be both Platinum cards or both Black cards.
What’s the source for the claim that “for bonus points eligibility, this card is considered to be a bank-issued card, so won’t affect your eligibility for bonus points on American Express-issued cards”? I like what you’re saying (I’d held off applying for this precisely for that reason), but would like to be 100% confident before going ahead and applying!
The source is us communicating directly with Westpac.
Thanks Matt, that’s great news, it must have been something that they sorted out with Amex themselves.
Would you know whether you could get points from ATO payments for the Amex card? Couldn’t find anything on the T&Cs. Thanks
Cards linked to the Westpac Altitude Rewards program do not earn points on ATO transactions, however, American Express-issued cards like the Explorer and Platinum Edge do. More here.
I just received my altitude black master card. Can I expect the AMEX will come in a mail or would I have a apply for it separately?? Thanks!
If you didn’t apply for the American Express at the time you applied for the Mastercard, then you’ll need to apply for that separately. I would recommend contacting Westpac.
Hi Keith, I think you need to update the points earn for this card. I just logged into my account and it says 0.4 conversion to KrisFlyer or Asia Miles from my altitude rewards points. Conflicting information on your website is confusing people.
The figures are correct. Yes, the transfer rate is 1 Altitude Rewards point to 0.4 KrisFlyer/Asia Miles. However, as the Mastercard earn rate is 1.25 Altitude Rewards points per $ spent, then for every dollar, you are earning 0.4 miles x 1.25 = 0.5 KrisFlyer/Asia Miles. Hope that clears it up for you.
Hi,
Can anyone advise whether holding/having the Westpac-Amex card makes you ineligible for bonus points offered through Amex-issued cards?
Reason being, my current Velocity Amex is about to expire. So could I:
1. Apply for Westpac-Amex and get bonus points (subject to meeting spend)
2. Cancel existing Velocity Amex and wait 18 months
3. Apply for Velocity Amex (or say Amex Explorer) and get bonus points (subject to meeting spend)
Yes, your scenario works. Thank you for that great question. I’ve updated this guide with eligibility info at the start, so check that to clarify.
Hi Keith
not sure if this has been answered already.
1. If you select the Qantas Points to start with. Once you have received your Qantas points, you change to Altitude points
2. You have not spent on Qantas products in that time so not eligible for the Qantas passes
3. Does that make you eligible for the Priority Pass in the first year or would you then have to wait for your anniversary for that to change over?
Oh, that is a very nifty idea but, unfortunately, I don’t know how that would work with the bank’s rules. Best to check with them.
Hi Keith
I received the Amex Altitude Black card with 40000 bonus points and no annual fee through a promo in March. My Westpac Black Mastercard will expire in April and I no longer want to keep that card, do you know if I can retain the Amex card without the Westpac affiliation. I have noticed my Amex points automatically transfer to my Altitude rewards account each month.I am getting conflicting reports from Westpac.
The Amex card is a companion card, so you need to have the Mastercard to keep that one as well.
Hi Keith,
New to the lounge thing.. Would a spend in the Qantas store i.e. paying via points&cash qualifes as an eligible spend in order to get the two free Qantas lounge invites?
Cheers,
I would check that with Westpac and/or Qantas. In the card’s PDS, it states:
Not sure if the flights have to be with cash only or points and cash.
As long as you apply by the offer end date, then the date you are approved does not matter, meaning you would be eligible.
The T&Cs state that you have to register your card, then spend on Qantas flights or Club before you can claim the lounge passes. Does that mean that I have to register “Every Year” prior booking Qantas flights in order to get the lounge passes?
I’m pretty sure you don’t have to register again as your preference for Qantas Points over Altitude Rewards will carry over from the previous year, meaning you just have to make the eligible purchase of Qantas products to trigger the lounge invitations each year. You may want to give Westpac a quick call to confirm this though.
Mark. Any idea if the purchase of flights/Qantas products can include the taxes/fees/duties if I wanted to use FF points to purchase the initial flight itself, and use the altitude black for the remainder of the purchase?
As far as I understand, taxes and fees on redemption flights do not qualify.
Yes! I didn’t get my full bonus, I was just given 50,000 which is Westpac’s standard bonus when you sign up via their site. I argued that I’d most certainly signed up via Point Hacks for the larger bonus and that I’d never been to the Westpac site unless it was a re-direct from Point Hacks, yet I was declined. Not a happy bunny, but short of having someone video record you making the application what can be done?
Will it be considered a new account if I am currently a supplementary card holder of my partners?
Being a supplementary cardholder does not preclude you from being able to get bonus points because, technically, you are a new customer (the primary cardholder is the one who is responsible for the original card’s expenses).