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Qantas AmEx Discovery Card Upgrade to Ultimate Card, 50K Bonus Points [Existing Customers] $450 Annual Fee

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Existing Amex Qantas Discovery Credit Card owners may be able to upgrade their card to the ultimate card and earn 50K bonus Qantas points for a 3K spend in 3 months post card activation.

I received a mail-out from AMEX offering to upgrade my card from a discovery to an Ultimate.

Essentially the same deal as for new customers to the Ultimate card but with less bonus points. However the benefit here is that it is available for existing Discovery card customers. No need to cancel and wait for 18 months to apply for an amex bonus point deal.

I downgraded my card last August as I didn't want to pay the annual fee for the ultimate and wanted to hang on for some referral deals (and shop small) with the discovery card. I had been planning to cancel post the april devaulation on points earn per dollar, however this deal has changed my mind.

There is no link but I've taken a screen shot of the letter I received. I suggest calling Amex if you are a discovery card holder and have not received this offer to see if you are able to take advantage of it.

I guess there is a possible hack here where existing Ultimate card holders could call and downgrade their card to the discovery card and then call again before the end of march to see if this deal is still available. Do this at your own risk though as I have no idea if it will work…….

Mods - Please mark as targeted.

Note I contacted the ask a mod forum before posting this deal and it was debateable as to whether it could be classed as one so feel free to move to forums if that is the best home. I won't cry :-)

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

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closed Comments

  • +1

    Please update the title - it has $450 annual fee

  • +1

    $450 for 50k bonus isnt that great, so unfortunate….

    • +1

      You do get $450 of travel credit too

      • +1

        good point, makes it not bad!

      • Plus 2x Amex lounge passes and 2x Qantas Lounge passes.

        • +2

          It should be noted that you have to buy a qantas flight from qantas to get the lounge passes and that does not include if you buy it with the travel bonus.
          Also, if you're using the travel credit to buy flights you have to again only use it for qantas which can make it more expensive overall.

          • @trilby: Amex Lounge passes are for any airline,

            Qantas passes can be used for any booking with a QF flight number linked to your frequent flyer account regardless of where you purchased the flights from.

            If you forgot to link your card when purchasing the tickets (can't remember if this is possible) you can still link it later through the Qantas website.

          • @trilby: Totally unrelated but can you get travel insurance covered if you buy flights through an agent or sites like statravel etc?

            • +1

              @ozchobie: I believe so yes. It doesn’t matter who you pay for the flights, but I think you need to book the round trip with the card. Would need to read the T’s and c’s on the website.

    • Existing customers are not eligible for the 100K points deal, and in fact, are usually not eligible for any AMEX deal, so it is a good deal in that respect.

  • +4

    This is probably a sign that they're losing customers over the devaluation.

    • +1

      My thoughts also…

    • As they should when you devalue your points by 50%.

      Already cancelled my 2x cards and missus'

    • Isn’t this card for Qantas points though - not Amex points??

      Isn’t it the Amex bonus points that are changing? The Qantas points are still just Qantas points… right??

      Or are you saying they are trying to push people to this card with Q points because their normal points are lower. I’m confused.

      • Most if not all AMEX are taking a hit. Qantas Ultimate for example is 1.5->1.25 for general spend, 2.5->2.25 for Qantas spend.

        Still waiting to find out if my Westpac AMEX is getting devalued, already canceled my normal AMEX.

      • Yes, in this instance they are offering an upgrade from an entry level qantas points earning card to a top tier qantas points earning card.

  • +1

    I got a similar targeted offer in the mail, but to upgrade to the Velocity Platinum from the Velocity Escape. I’m tempted!

    • I was tempted until finding that the $450 "travel credit" can only be used with Qantas flights or flight+hotel. Why can't it also apply to hotel bookings only?

      • I would assume it’s because Qantas wouldn’t lose more money if it were able to be used on hotels only. The velocity version only lets you have a return flight to selected domestic destinations depending on your origin

    • Ditto

  • I got the offer. Has anyone tried to haggle for 100k pts?

    • +2

      Not I but feel free to be the guinea pig. Just report back your findings. The worst thing that can happen is that they say no?

      • +2

        Have already tried it mate and got told no..

        • Do you still think it is worth jumping on this offer for 50K points?

          • +1

            @JacobHarvey: Yes? You could cancel your current discovery and wait 18 months to be eligible for another deal but this months 100k deal for new customers was the first one in several months.

            So it could be a couple of years before your next Amex related bonus points deal.

    • I also got this letter. Made a phone call to match new customer deal, but no surprise. Only 2 options available are letter offer or $350 annual fee for life (no points). Told them that will cancel card soon and he willing to do that on phone if I really want to do. Existing member is no longer important at all. May not take offer as deal is not that attractive.

  • Had this same offer last year, but they also gave me $100 discount off annual fees, so $350 for life.

    • 50k points or 15k points?

      • 30k im pretty sure

    • I got offered this points offer OR $350 annual fee for life. Trying to decide which one to pick. Don't travel every year so leaning towards points

      • Did you ring them?

        • Yes I called them up

          • +1

            @JacobHarvey: Save $100 or earn 50k points (worth $500 at 1c per point).

            No brainer to me.

            If it was fee free for life i’d Take that!!!!

            • @Poolprouk: Yes I just took points offer. It would require keeping the card for 5 years at the reduced $350 annual fee just to match the value of the points offered through this one-time upgrade

  • i received a velocity upgrade in the mail. it doesnt entail a credit check does it?
    i called up about the Qantas discovery card they only offered me an upgrade to the gold card at $195 fee no points.

    • looks like it doesn't entail a credit check, as no asking about income on the form received.

  • Just rang them up to make an enquiry and was offered to upgrade on the phone - with a reduced annual fee $350 plus the 50k points if I upgraded then and there.

    • +1

      That's interesting, i'd want that recorded somehow as it's been an either or to others who have asked.

      I'd hate to pay the reduced annual fee and then find no bonus points because you were given bad info.

      I'm holding fire till later in the month as i'm working through another cards spending requirement but i will give this a go when i do.

      Thanks for sharing!!

      • +2

        Yeah I agree! I did a live chat and they confirmed. Although one of my mates tried also and the best they could offer is 350 annual fee plus 25k points.

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