Westpac Altitude Rewards is Westpac’s loyalty program for credit card points earn from your day-to-day spend. It’s similar to the other major programs out there in that there is a range of cards in which you can earn Altitude Rewards points, and a number of frequent flyer transfer partners you can use them with.
Altitude Rewards is a versatile program, and partners with Qantas Frequent Flyer, Malaysia Airlines Enrich, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Singapore Airlines Krisflyer and Air New Zealand Airpoints.
This guide attempts to cover off the ins and outs of Altitude Rewards, the card range and the best partners to transfer your points to.
Note: Westpac also owns St.George Bank, Bank of Melbourne and Bank SA. These three other banks all share a common program which is very similar to Altitude Rewards—Amplify Rewards. The affiliate partners aren’t quite the same though.
In this guide: Westpac Altitude Rewards guide contents and quick links:
Using points: program partners and transfer rates
Let’s get into the points first—the range of frequent flyer program partners that Altitude Rewards have available to cardholders.
In short, Westpac has a wide range of airline partners, with:
- Singapore Airlines Krisflyer
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
- Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- Air New Zealand Airpoints
The transfer rate to most programs is 3 Altitude Rewards points to 1 frequent flyer point/mile. The exceptions is Airpoints where the transfer rate is 180:1 (poor value).
Note also that the Westpac Altitude Rewards Business cards have Qantas Frequent Flyer as a transfer partner, meaning you don’t have to direct sweep your points over to Qantas. There are very few cards on the market that offer Qantas transfers, and it’s a win for the flexibility of your points.
These programs are good options for competitive frequent flyer point redemptions in the region, and Westpac aren’t missing any key airline partners, which is great.
Earning points: the Altitude Rewards credit card range
If you want to maximise the number of flexible points you can earn, the ability to transfer points to Asia Miles or KrisFlyer is fairly valuable and as a result, is well worth considering.
Altitude Black Mastercard
The Altitude Black is Westpac’s premium card, with an accompanying high annual fee. It’s geared towards those who spend the most on their card, want a higher earn rate, are happy to pay the larger annual fee and will get value from the ongoing benefits.
Card Details
| Card | Westpac Altitude Rewards Black |
| Loyalty program | Westpac Altitude Rewards |
| Points earned from spend | 1.25 Altitude Points per $ of eligible spend |
| 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 |
| Minimum income requirement | $75,000 p.a. |
| Card fee | $250 p.a. ongoing |
Effective Frequent Flyer Program Point Earn Rates
| Frequent Flyer Program | MasterCard |
|---|---|
| Qantas Points* | 0.75 points / $ |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles | 0.41 mile / $ |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 0.41 mile / $ |
| *Points earn rate only if linked directly to Qantas | |
Given the number of benefits that come with Altitude Black, there’s a full standalone guide to the Altitude Black and Altitude Qantas cards here.
In brief, the benefits are:
- Airport lounge access with Priority Pass membership and two included lounge visits—or if opted into Altitude Qantas, two Qantas lounge passes
- Broader insurance coverage, including travel and extended warranty (See PDS here)
- Access to Westpac Concierge
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.
Altitude Platinum Mastercard
The Altitude Platinum is the mid-range card in the Altitude range with an annual fee of $150 with the Mastercard.
Card Details
| Card | Westpac Altitude Platinum |
| Loyalty program | Altitude Rewards |
| Points earned from spend | 1 Altitude Points per $ of eligible spend 2 Altitude Points per $ on eligible overseas spend |
| Minimum income requirement | $50,000 p.a. |
| Included insurances | Extended Warranty & International Travel Insurance (PDS) |
| Points Cap | uncapped |
| Overseas transaction fee | 3.0% of the converted amount |
| Card fee | $150 p.a. ongoing |
Effective Frequent Flyer Program Point Earn Rates
| Frequent Flyer Program | Mastercard |
|---|---|
| Qantas Points* | 0.5 point / $ |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles | 0.33 Mile / $ |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 0.33 Mile / $ |
| *Points earn rate only if opting for the Altitude Platinum Qantas card | |
It comes with fewer benefits than the Altitude Black but gives access to the Altitude Rewards program with uncapped earn rates and a friendlier annual fee.
With the Altitude Platinum card, you’ll get a range of insurances, including overseas travel insurance for trips of up to three months, transit accident insurance and extended warranty. You should check the descriptions for each policy if you plan to rely on them. Read the PDS 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.
Altitude Mastercard
The entry-level Altitude Rewards card comes in with a $100 annual fee, and few extra benefits. This card however is no longer available to new cardholders.
Card Details
| Card | Westpac Altitude Mastecard |
| Loyalty program | Altitude Rewards or Qantas Frequent Flyer |
| Points earned from spend | 0.5 Qantas Points or 1 Altitude Points for every $ spent on the Mastercard |
| Points Cap | 5,000 Altitude points or 2,500 Qantas Points per statement period |
| Overseas transaction fee | 3.0% of the converted amount |
| Annual fee | $100 |
Effective Frequent Flyer Program Point Earn Rates
| Frequent Flyer Program | |
|---|---|
| Mastercard | |
| Qantas Points* | 0.5 point / $ |
| Velocity Points | 0.33 point / $ |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles | 0.33 Mile / $ |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 0.33 Mile / $ |
| *Qantas Points are only earned if linked to Altitude Qantas Rewards. | |
The earn rates are the same as the Altitude Platinum Mastercard but there’s a reduced points cap of 5,000 Altitude Rewards points or 2,500 Qantas Points per statement period.
Altitude Qantas vs Altitude Rewards
Westpac makes it relatively easy to swap between Altitude Qantas and Altitude Rewards:
If you have an Altitude Mastercard, Altitude Platinum Mastercard, or Altitude Black card, you may switch all cards linked to the card account between Altitude Rewards and Altitude Qantas programs at any time and any number of times, subject to the time it takes us to process each request. You should allow at least 10 business days for a request to switch to be processed or as advised at the time of your request.
Note that there is an annual $50 Qantas Rewards fee if you opt to earn Qantas Points (rather than Altitude Rewards).
This makes it possible to take a signup bonus in one currency (e.g. Altitude Qantas), and then earn points ongoing in another (e.g. Altitude Rewards), if there is value in doing so.
When choosing Altitude Qantas over Altitude Rewards cards, you’ll need to factor in the different earn rates of each currency and transfer rates to partner programs.
With Qantas Points, you will earn an additional bonus point per dollar when spending with Qantas.
All up, the choice between Altitude Qantas or Altitude Rewards is primarily up to your personal points-earning preference. You might find a sign-up bonus from a card to be more valuable in raw Qantas Points, but when using the card on an ongoing basis, there may be more value in taking advantage of Altitude Rewards’ flexibility from having a wide range of transfer options.
My take: who is Westpac Altitude Rewards and the Altitude Card range for?
Westpac Altitude Rewards is a pretty versatile program with a range of points transfer partners, making it suitable for those looking for flexibility in how they can use their points.
This is a key benefit for when your ‘go-to’ airline or frequent flyer program isn’t offering points redemption seats for your chosen routes or dates and may make it easier for you to use more of your hard earned points in the long run.
Assuming we will be allowed to travel internationally again, KrisFlyer now probably better for me than virgin as I don’t know that they will be able to make the exchange as we used to do. But obviously their rate is significantly lower.
Would love any advice? thanks
Thanks
What other Business Credit Cards (Mastercard/Visa) have a better earn rate than the Westpac Altitude Business?
Cheers
Thanks
Effective 08 February 2015, Altitude Black cardholders will receive 0.33 Altitude Points per $1 spent on the Altitude Travel Service. Click here for terms and conditions.