Planning a trip to the other side of the planet, and dreading that long, long voyage in Economy? We’ll let you in on a little trick. Even if your cash budget only stretches to Economy, you don’t have to sit there. Thanks to the power of frequent flyer points – which you could earn in bulk via credit cards, such as through Westpac’s latest credit card – it may be possible to snag yourself a seat in Premium Economy.
Speaking of that Westpac offer, eligible new customers could apply for the Westpac Altitude Qantas Black Credit Card. Be approved, meet the minimum spending criteria, pay an annual fee, and pocket most of the bonus offering in the first year. Keep that card open for a year and make another eligible purchase at that time to unlock the full stash of bonus points.
You could also earn Qantas Points for every dollar spent on eligible transactions. Put everything together, and voila – from one credit card, you could escape the confines of Economy on the longest of long-haul journeys. Let’s show you how.
Westpac Altitude Qantas Black
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The Westpac deal that could get you into Premium Economy
Eligible new customers who apply for the Westpac Altitude Qantas Black Credit Card could receive up to 120,000 bonus Qantas Points in total. That’s awarded in two chunks. First, as 90,000 Qantas Points in the first year if you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within 120 days of new card approval. Then, as a second deposit of 30,000 Qantas Points after your first eligible purchases in the second year.
That’s up to 120,000 bonus Qantas Points on the table. And that Qantas Premium Economy seat to the other side of the world, that you’re angling to book with points earned from Westpac? From Sydney or Melbourne, it’s 124,700 Qantas Points, one-way. But also consider how many Qantas Points you could earn just from meeting that minimum spending requirement.
Westpac Altitude Qantas Black now awards Qantas Points at the following rates, on the first $10,000 of spend in each monthly statement cycle:
- 1.2 Qantas Points per $1 (in AUD equivalent) on international spend.
- 0.8 Qantas Points per $1 on ‘everyday’ spend. Westpac includes supermarkets, department stores, petrol stations, dining and utilities within this ‘everyday’ category.
- 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
(Beyond $10,000 during a single statement period, you’ll earn 0.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on further eligible purchases).
Let’s presume that your initial $6,000 spend is spread across international transactions ($1,000), ‘everyday’ spend ($3,500), and other purchases in Australia ($1,500). You’d get 1,200 Qantas Points from those overseas purchases, 2,800 Qantas Points from the ‘everyday’ purchases, and 750 Qantas Points from the rest. Combined, that’s 4,750 Qantas Points.
Take those 4,750 Qantas Points, together with the 90,000 bonus Qantas Points in the first year, and the 30,000 bonus Qantas Points in the second year (after making just one eligible transaction of any amount), and there you have it. A total of 124,750 Qantas Points to your name through Westpac… and that Premium Economy flight is only 124,700 Qantas Points. Bingo.
Spending those Qantas Points on Premium Economy
We’ll readily admit, hunting for that perfect reward seat takes a little work. In general, airlines release seats to people spending points which they believe won’t otherwise be purchased using cash. Translation: don’t expect to simply click the date you’d like to travel and have your perfect seat secured in a couple of minutes.
As anybody familiar with frequent flyer programs would know, booking reward flights can take patience. You might need to be a little bit flexible on your travel dates, or consider a few different routes for getting where you need to be. But that’s also where it pays to stay alert to the latest deals, with Point Hacks’ Reward Seat Alerts highlighting large batches of airline reward seat releases, via a free newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.
As with any points-based booking, government taxes, airport fees and other charges are payable when spending points. These vary between airlines, routes, airports and travel classes. But from Australia to London or New York, you’d typically expect to pay around A$500-$800 for the flight over, in addition to the points. The exact cost is displayed at the time of redemption, based on your specific journey.
Maximising your Westpac credit card points and benefits
Here are a few tips to boost your credit card points through Westpac.
- Add an additional cardholder. For no added cost, you can give a supplementary card to one person aged 16 or over. Many people use this feature to give a card to their partner, so that all household spends are earning points.
- Use mobile wallets. Always be ready to pay in a way that earns points. Westpac supports Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. As long as you’re using your smartphone, smartwatch or other eligible device, it won’t matter if your plastic card isn’t with you.
- Try Instant Digital Card. Once your application is approved and the account is open, you’ll have access to an Instant Digital Card. This will allow you to shop online and in other places where credit card details can be entered manually. This way, you don’t have to wait until your plastic card lands in your mailbox to start earning points.
The Westpac Altitude Qantas Black Credit Card also includes two complimentary Qantas Club passes per year. These can get you into a domestic Qantas Club or Qantas International Business Lounge prior to an eligible flight. There’s also a stream of insurance covers, spanning domestic and international trips, car hire, extended warranty and more. (Browse the full PDS documents available from Westpac for full details and exclusions).
In return for the various points and perks, Westpac charges an annual fee of $295 on this card, plus a $75 annual rewards fee for earning Qantas Points. (That’s $370 p.a. in total). But, if you play your cards right – and use points in savvy ways, like booking pointy-end flights – the value gained from the rewards earned can outweigh the cost of the related fees.
All opinions expressed in this article are solely those of Point Hacks’ editorial team.
Westpac Altitude Qantas Black
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