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American Express Platinum Edge - No Annual Fee for 1st Year, Complimentary Return Flight, 5000 Points

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American Express Platinum Edge - No Annual Fee for 1st Year, Complimentary Return Flight, 5000 Points
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prisonerzero on 29/03/2016 - 11:33 americanexpress.com (5490 clicks)
Last edited 20/12/2016 - 01:32 by 2 other users

One of OzBargain's favourite credit cards is free again for the first year ($195 afterwards).

  • Free return domestic flight each year of membership (including the first free year) to selected destinations
  • 5000 bonus points if you spend $550 in the first two months
  • Earns 3 points at major supermarkets
  • Earns 2 points at petrol stations
  • Earns 1 point everywhere else except
  • 0.5 points at utilities, insurance (except those issued by American Express), telecommunication providers and government bodies in Australia
  • 0% on balance transfers for 12 months (1% fee applies)
  • $50,000 minimum income

Some tips:

  • Woolworths and Coles sell a lot of different gift cards.
  • 2 point / $1 earning seems to be restricted not to just petrol stations. (Seems to apply at all 7-Elevens and Dan Murphy's, for example.) Edit: Dan Murphy's 3 points / $1
  • Free flight only has to be booked within the year of membership (not actually flown within the year) and can be redeemed for anyone (not just the cardholder). If you book around the time your annual fee is due, you may be able to book free flights from two years within days of each other.

Note: The Priceine deal is still on until 31 March 2016. This would seem to be a better deal (13,500 points) - however it does require a $200 spend at Priceline which is a bit more restrictive.

Referral bonus seems to have changed: now 10,000 bonus points + 0% balance transfer for 12 months + no fee 1st year: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/american_express_referrals

Referral Links

Business Explorer Card: random (4)

Referrer: 40,000 Reward Points

Centurion Personal Charge Card: random (7)

Referee gets 200,000 MR points. Referrer gets 150,000 MR points.

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closed Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2016 - 11:46
    +7

    Please put DOMESTIC flights.

    • GregFiona on 29/03/2016 - 17:20
      +5

      I'm not sure why you get downvoted…after all it's an American Express deal

  • Findmebargain on 29/03/2016 - 11:48

    I spent 4 x $80 at Dan Murphy online in Feb on this card and received 3x points.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2016 - 11:52
      +1

      so about 3 cents

      • miarn on 29/03/2016 - 11:55
        +1

        3 points per dollar, so 960 points. Worth between $10 and $50, depending on how you redeem.

        • cloudy on 29/03/2016 - 13:25
          +1

          Dw

      • Findmebargain on 29/03/2016 - 11:59
        +6

        Spent $320, received 960 points and based on Amex points for credit ($7 per 1000 points) conversion, the cash value of the points is therefore $6.72. So, a little over 2% "cash back".

        • Mad Max on 29/03/2016 - 13:29

          If you had used a 5% off wish gift card you would have saved $16 ($9.28 more)

        • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 13:36
          +1

          @maxi: No I think Mcz is talking about the "spend $80 at Dan Murphy's, get a $15 statement credit" promotion that was on recently. You had to pay with your AMEX directly with Dan Murphy's online to get it, so no chance of using WISH gift card.

        • Mad Max on 29/03/2016 - 13:39

          @illumination:
          Ah OK. But I thought that was only valid once per Amex card, so for the first $80 purchase. Unless he has 4 cards.

        • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 13:39
          +3

          @maxi: Very possible he has 4 cards.. lol some have 10+ cards (including me ;))

          edit: Supplementary cards with different card numbers count as "extra" cards for the purpose of qualifying for these sorts of promos

        • rockman117 on 29/03/2016 - 13:40

          @illumination: which 10 do you have if you don't mind me asking? are you including supplementary cards too?

        • Findmebargain on 29/03/2016 - 13:42
          +1

          @maxi: those $320 was in fact spent on DM gift cards which got me a further 18.75% discount on my Woolies/Big W purchases I eventually acquire. And most recently used to purchase $10 Amaysim starter packs. It's amazing how Amex allowed us to stretch monies…. ;)

        • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 13:44
          +4

          @rockman117: Yes including supplementary. I have (access to) the following AMEX cards:

          • AMEX Platinum Edge (+ 6 supplementary over 2 accounts)
          • Virgin Velocity Platinum AMEX (+ 4 supplementary)
          • Westpac Black (supplementary has the same card number as primary, so only one)
          • NAB Qantas Premium (+ 1 supplementary)
          • Qantas Premium AMEX (+ 1 supplementary)
        • Mad Max on 29/03/2016 - 13:46
          +3

          @Mcz:
          I bow to your OzBargain skills and knowledge!!!
          Edit…and yours Illumination!!!

        • Damnsmart on 29/03/2016 - 14:48

          @illumination: you are kidding me!!!!!

          How did you manage to collect 10 cards without affecting your credit rating????

          I started get rejections from my third card application onwards..

          • i dont owe any money on any of these cards (credit check systems dont care about it anyway)
          • earn about 110k
          • 3 dependents (wife and 2 kids)
          • have mortgage
        • super bargain on 29/03/2016 - 15:08

          @Damnsmart: I might be wrong. But, you should focus on the frequency of applying cards. maintain a healthy gap between applying cards. keep an eye on your credit rating always before applying.

        • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 15:28
          +3

          @Damnsmart: Well see I said I have access to those cards, + look at all the supplementary cards I listed.

          But yes as super bargain said, my understanding is it's more to do with how often you apply + how much time you leave between applications. I generally try to leave about 2-3 months between applications and I try not to apply for two at once (I have done that before though).

          In my own portfolio, I have 5:

          • AMEX Platinum Edge (Permanent card: for 10pts/$ at Priceline, 3pts/$ earn at supermarkets, 1st year annual fee waived)
          • Virgin Velocity Platinum AMEX (for the 110k bonus points promo last year + for paying at restaurants 3pts/$)
          • 28 Degreees (Permanent card: no annual fee, fee-free international transactions)
          • Coles Mastercard (Permanent card: no annual fee, price protection)
          • Westpac Altitude Black (for the 60k QF points promo last year)

          Anywhere else where I don't earn 3pts/$ I'd use my ING for 2% cashback :)

        • muncan on 29/03/2016 - 16:44

          @illumination: there's still time to reboot your Westpac card for another 40k QF points

        • Ughhh on 29/03/2016 - 21:15
          +1

          @Damnsmart:

          Supplementary cards means it's not under him name as the original account. I had 2 supplementary credit Cards when I was 17/18 with no job (from parents).

          Illumination, how many actual CC do you have?

        • illumination on 31/03/2016 - 10:07
          +1

          @Ughhh: I've got 5x - see here

        • f38r1 on 05/04/2016 - 09:33

          @Damnsmart: @illumination: you are kidding me!!!!!

          How did you manage to collect 10 cards without affecting your credit rating????

          I started get rejections from my third card application onwards..

          i dont owe any money on any of these cards (credit check systems dont care about it anyway)
earn about 110k
3 dependents (wife and 2 kids)
have mortgage

          That's weird, before I was married and still renting I had 8 at one time (I closed most of them now). I think your dependents, or your mortgage, killed your credit ratings.

  • miarn on 29/03/2016 - 11:54
    +2

    Bear in mind this doesn't include all domestic flights (e.g. no MEL-PER, although strangely PER-MEL is OK). Check availability here: http://www.americanexpress.com/australia/campaigns/platinum_…

    $50k minimum income.

    Compared to the ANZ card with 50k QFF points, this is probably not as good.

    • lolcoaster on 29/03/2016 - 11:56
      +6

      "although strangely PER-MEL is OK"

      Otherwise, it'd be almost useless for people living in Perth.

      • boonjin on 29/03/2016 - 16:14

        I haven't had problems booking Mel-Perth or Bris - Perth return before, maybe t&c might have changed recently

    • prisonerzero on 29/03/2016 - 12:03
      +1

      You could get creative and use the return flight as 2 one-way flights separated by nearly a year, but you still have to book them at the same time and for the one person. e.g. PER-MEL for April and MEL-PER for next March, and buy the other two flights separately. I'll add the minimum income to the description.

    • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 12:12
      +1

      From a long-term point of view, this card is definitely better.
      Cards like the ANZ with huge bonus points are good short-term cards.

      I recommend both.

      • Smigit on 29/03/2016 - 12:53
        +1

        Yep…this is a great every day card given the high points available on groceries and petrol. Even without the free year, the domestic return flights probably a worthwhile incentive to pay the annual $199.

        • Pcoder on 29/03/2016 - 19:29
          +3

          The airfare is best used in peak periods. Virgin has the saver fares available for most flights, but you can do a check before you call. Last year I booked a trip in Easter from Canberra to Melbourne with the trip costing about $600 and with the platinum edge it only cost me the price of the annual fee ($199).

  • yycan on 29/03/2016 - 11:59

    I assume with the Priceline deal you can just buy vouchers. Anyone had any success?

    • FW190 on 29/03/2016 - 12:08

      yeah worked fine for me

    • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 12:13

      Yep me too

  • DoddLad101 on 29/03/2016 - 12:13

    Would it be advisable to not apply for this card if you already hold two credit cards for the sake of FF point deals?

    • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 12:16

      Depends how recent your last couple of applications were. I think that matters more than how many you actually have, but of course there can come a point where you have "too many/too much credit".

    • yht on 29/03/2016 - 12:18

      Amex has a policy that restrict people of having Amex issued cards more than 2. You can only have 2 Amex issued cards thus you need to cancel one to apply for new one.

      • user27 on 29/03/2016 - 12:25
        +2

        Don't think so, I have three

        • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 12:28

          This is true, however he's missing one very important piece of information. That limitation is only applicable to direct AMEX cards (i.e. those that appear on the AMEX website) and not the bank issued AMEXs (from CBA, ANZ, Westpac, NAB).

        • yht on 29/03/2016 - 12:50
          +1

          Three Amex issued cards or some issued by banks ?

        • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 13:39
          +1

          @yht: If what you're saying is correct (and I think it is correct), then definitely some would have to be bank issued.

  • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 12:14
    +1

    Yea this is probably a bit better than the previous offer which was 10k points (15k pts with referral) but without the first year annual fee waived. I'd say this is better.

    However, the Priceline one is even better which as you said is still available and I believe has now been extended twice. Yes a little more restrictive, but you could buy $200 Priceline gift cards and resell them.

    • drillvoice on 29/03/2016 - 19:54

      How could you go about selling the gift cards?

  • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2016 - 12:17

    however it does require a $200 spend at Priceline
    So that'd be a tube of toothpaste then.

    13500 points ~ $100, so unless you really needed to spend up big at Priceline, it's not really much better.

  • googoogaga on 29/03/2016 - 12:29
    +11

    I took the priceline deal, bought a $200 gift card which also netted me 2000 points so it is 15500 points for spending $200 at priceline. Then slowly use the giftcard on catalogue 45-50% specials.

    Also if you ever shop at priceline in the future after spending the $200 you will still get 10:$1 which is crazy good as long as you purchase catalogue specials, otherwise priceline is a big rip

    • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 12:45
      -6

      Oh yea I forgot about that! Yes the 10:1 reward rate is amazing. Sounds like you're using it perfectly!

      So really you'd be getting 33500pts for $200 spend at priceline which is awesome.

      • nickj on 29/03/2016 - 13:53
        +1

        It's not 33500 points, rather it's 13500 points + 10 points/dollar spent at priceline * 200 dollars spent at priceline = 13500 + 2000 points = 15500 points.

        The only way it could be 33500 points is if it was 100 points/dollar spent at priceline, instead of 10 points/dollar spent at priceline.

        • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 14:15
          +5

          Yea whoops…
          I completely miscalculated. My bad.
          Please neg that comment so it can be hidden from view lol.

          Can't neg myself (just tried)

    • fomal on 29/03/2016 - 13:09

      Hey mate, do you have to spend the gift card in one go? Or you can spend it bit by bit?

      • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 13:34

        Bit by bit, like most gift cards. It's just like eating away at your balance on a debit card.

        • fomal on 29/03/2016 - 13:57

          awesome! Im a bit mixed up with their vouchers which is one use only. thanks!

    • vvti85 on 22/04/2016 - 10:37

      is the priceline platinum edge eligible for amex local champions?

  • coxymla on 29/03/2016 - 12:31
    +4

    T&C say:

    The American Express® Platinum Edge Credit Card will have a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year of Card Membership. After the first year, the annual fee for the Basic Card will be $195 p.a. Offer only available to new Platinum Edge Credit Card Members who apply by 30 May 2016, and are approved. There is no annual fee for up to 4 Additional Cards. This offer excludes existing or previous Card Members who have held any American Express Card offered by American Express Australia Limited in the preceding 12 months.

    I would imagine by that standard most ozbargainers would not be eligible…

    • yht on 29/03/2016 - 12:49
      +1

      Yep, advised by Amex operator, I won't be eligible for bonus points etc as I am existing Amex card holder.

      • coxymla on 29/03/2016 - 12:51

        Do you get first year free though?

        • CheapskateQueen on 29/03/2016 - 13:41

          Ugh. I applied, got approved and then realized you can't be a card holder of any amex. I called and confirmed, we're not eligible and they won't waive it.

          What a waste of a credit hit. Ugh. Got too excited

        • virhlpool on 30/03/2016 - 22:47

          @CheapskateQueen: How do you know you got approved for the card? Did you receive an email? I haven't received any communication yet.

        • CheapskateQueen on 31/03/2016 - 08:57

          @virhlpool: i was approved instantly when i applied but i haven't received any emails or calls from them

    • wazza23 on 29/03/2016 - 14:43
      +3

      EVERY amex card says that. I have applied for 6 cards so far ALL whilst having an AMEX issued card and have ALWAYS received the points and annual fee waiver etc.

      A lot of people on ozbargain will vouch for that too.

      Do it at your own risk but I have not heard of anybody who hasn't received points.

      (whole family signed up all whilst having amex issued cards)

      • yht on 29/03/2016 - 15:04

        Amex rep will call you advising you that you can only have 2 Amex issued cards. You can have many Amex bank issued cards.

        • wazza23 on 29/03/2016 - 15:35

          Yep 2 Max. We've always had 1 then rotate through the other promotion bonuses. Never had an issue

        • CheapskateQueen on 29/03/2016 - 22:12

          @wazza23:

          hhmm.. interesting. anyone else had luck with still getting annual fee waived?

          I have to wait a day before i can cancel my application (since i was told i wasn't eligible) but if it's a greater chance that they won't charge the fee, maybe i'll try my luck.

          worst case scenario if it's not waived, i break even after the flight and generous points conditions, but still not sure whether i'll go ahead

      • coxymla on 29/03/2016 - 15:05

        I signed up for some ACS branded Amex a few years ago and didn't get any of the bonuses.

        Personally I don't mind not getting the 5000 points but not getting the first year free would be bad.

    • MelbBargainChaser77 on 29/03/2016 - 16:37
      +1

      not particularly true. I was an existing amex issued card and recently applied for another that had a big bonus point offer, and was approved and got the points

  • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2016 - 12:44

    Couple of noob questions:

    1- Will I be easily able to cancel the card in 360 days in order not to pay for the annual fee, or will I have to jump through hoops to do that?

    2- Can the additional cardholders too benefit from the return fare free deal?

    • prisonerzero on 29/03/2016 - 12:49
      +2

      1 - You shouldn't have any issues with a phone call to American Express.
      2 - You only get one return flight, not one for each cardholder. Although, the return flight can be booked in anyone's name.

  • NBAD25 on 29/03/2016 - 13:01

    I've already wasted a year on this, but can somebody explain to me how I am to claim my free domestic flight? Is it via the AMEX travel section on their wesbite?

    • qtmai on 29/03/2016 - 13:04
      +6

      call them up and redeem over the phone

    • scrypton on 29/03/2016 - 13:06
      +2

      You would need to call their customer service. The number is on the back of the card.

  • drongodave on 29/03/2016 - 13:09

    Anybody successfully booked their free flights with this card? Which airline are flights with? Would be interested to find out your experience around availability etc? Just wondering whether it is possible/easy to book flights for a weekend away - or whether the only available flights are inconvenient times mid week?

    • Wyn-Ryder on 29/03/2016 - 13:19
      +1

      I've booked multiple flights successfully, it's with Virgin Australia. Availability is generally quite good, might not be every single flight you can find tickets for, but if you book long enough in advance there are no issues.

      Flights I've booked have been on the weekend, with no issues. As above recommend calling early(ish). AFAIK you don't get points / status credits for the flights.

    • AG_ACT on 29/03/2016 - 13:20
      +2

      Virgin. Provided that an online search shows flights available within the cheapest fare bucket , i.e. Saver, they will book it for you. I found them to be pretty good actually

    • anawth on 29/03/2016 - 20:59

      Virgin, too. Booked one with the AMEX reps, over the ANZAC day long weekend out of Sydney. They were great to deal with, to be honest.

  • rockman117 on 29/03/2016 - 13:14

    I'm currently have 79k QFF points. if i get this card, is it worth sticking to the amex rewards system, or change to QFF?

    • qtmai on 29/03/2016 - 13:24
      +2

      AMEX only offers their reward program. Your cant change to QFF. I'm pretty sure that only Amex platinum charge reward program is the only one that allows you to transfer to QFF.

    • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 13:42
      +3

      To be honest, with all the credit card bonus point offers that are around, it's probably much easier to build up your QFF balance. However, I still think this is a great card and if you funnel the majority of your spend through this card I think it's definitely worthwhile having both QFF and AMEX rewards.

      The cards that earn you QFF points on spend usually don't earn as much as cards like these, however their bonuses are usually much greater and that's where the value is in for cards like those.

    • ilikeradiohead on 29/03/2016 - 14:40

      They're not interchangeable, but the AMEX points are better than QFF, just harder to acquire as there are few free bonus point offers around. You can always change points to reduce your CC balance (EG $7/1000 points).

  • atlas on 29/03/2016 - 13:30

    Anyone got any comments on the chances of getting the annual fee waived after 1 year?

    • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2016 - 13:46
      +1

      Haha the chance of that would be about 0.

      • fomal on 29/03/2016 - 13:57
        +2

        yeah because you got free domestic flight each year, which worth the annual fee

      • Smigit on 29/03/2016 - 13:59

        Yeah can't see that happening, not when the card includes a return flight in the cost.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2016 - 14:04

    So you can't get the card if your income is <$50k?

  • [Deactivated] on 29/03/2016 - 14:11

    no quantas frequent flyer points :(

  • Holysmoke on 29/03/2016 - 15:20
    +1

    It seems like referrals are being offered 0% on balance transfers for first 12 months along with the 15,000 bonus points:
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/american_express_referrals

  • Cluster on 29/03/2016 - 15:21
    +5

    Just thought I'd mention a sign I saw in regards to American Express cards. Costco will no longer accept them from 1 April. It appears to me that the number of businesses that take Amex is shrinking instead of growing. My local petrol stations require a 2.2% surcharge for Amex too. High fees charged to merchants allow Amex to be generous to customers.

    • notout50 on 31/03/2016 - 07:58

      What petrol stations are they? Surely BP, Coles and Woolworths don't charge the extra?

      • Helmutson on 03/04/2016 - 21:44
        +3

        Most Caltex/Woolworths petrol stations now charge a surcharge for using Amex.
        Shell/Coles servos don't at this stage.
        Not sure about BP or any others.
        Hope this helps.

  • rawm on 29/03/2016 - 16:20
    +1

    As someone who knows very little about the rewards point system of amex etc, what can the points from the 15000 priceline deal?

  • drillvoice on 29/03/2016 - 16:44

    I literally rang them this morning and was told the annual fee was non-negotiable! How quickly things change.

  • drillvoice on 29/03/2016 - 16:47

    Here is the wiki of referral codes FYI: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/american_express_referrals…

  • aidzbruhh on 29/03/2016 - 16:56

    So you need $50k gross income to apply. I know this is unrelated, but does anyone have any recommendations for a beginner credit card, something to build good credit history on?

    Thanks for the help

    • googoogaga on 29/03/2016 - 17:55

      if you visit david jones and if someone approaches you to sign up for an amex david jones card, do it. Usually they fill in the details in such a way so that you will get approved.
      From there you can sign up to amex cash back offers and dump the card when renewal comes round. Possibly sign up to an amex edge card before you dump it.

  • l2argain on 29/03/2016 - 17:10

    Does this get you into Amex lounge at the airport?

    • illumination on 29/03/2016 - 19:43
      +1

      Nope. It's mostly only the high-end ones that do (the Blacks).

      Also note that in Australia, there's only a AMEX lounge in Sydney International (not domestic).

    • yasui on 29/03/2016 - 19:46

      This one? Free Entry to The AmEx Lounge (Sydney International Airport T1) for Various AmEx Card Holders
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/180675

  • Piggybank1 on 29/03/2016 - 17:32

    Can someone please confirm, it says a minimum of 50k personal income. But when you apply the requirements change to household gross income of 50k? Any help would be appreciated :)

    • delfredo on 02/04/2016 - 11:29

      It should be the cardholder's personal income, I believe.

  • OmniAtlas on 29/03/2016 - 19:57

    I got this in the mail today, but affiliated with my profession.

    It doesn't have the free year, but the membership is $145/year instead; and you get the first year $145 back after spending 5 times on the card.

  • Ivan Krazy on 29/03/2016 - 21:35

    Ahhh man. I signed up 3 weeks ago. This made me sad :(

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