Help Me Decide on Credit Card

misticknight on 26/05/2024 - 21:43

Hi guys. i currently have a low rate no rewards credit card with commbank and i think i finally want to get a card that i can earn points with. in my research ive come accross 3 that have most what i want but each one has certain things missing theo ther doesnt and making my life hard. basically my main needs are something where the points dont expire, im not sure when ill travel next could be couple months could be years, i dont want to realise when i come to book in 5 years time that the points ive built up expires 2 years prior. i believe AMEX points dont expire hence im intrigured by 2 of there cards but im not 100% sure on any other cards. the other one is something that i can use toward Emirates as my next trip whenever it happens will likely be to Dubai. I dont want to fly Qantas however so im not looking at QFF. The below cards are what seem to be the best for my needs so far, but id like advice/opinions please:

  • Ameircan express explorer - easily the best on this list for sure but the $400 a year cost is stopping me. yes i know it pays for itself if you use the travel credit but its hard to pay for it now and not need to use it till months down the line.

  • American express essentials - love the $9 a month fee but i think i would earn less points per $ spent compared to the above and obviously no travel credit, travel insurance etc. but i was thinking i can start on this and upgrade to explorer if i decide to travel in a year or two?

  • St George Amplify Platinum - seems to be a good middle ground between the 2 above cards but im not sure how easily amplify points convert to other airlines especially like i said my next trip will likley be dubai i dont think Emirates is a velocity partner?

sorry for the essay guys and thanks in advance.

Financial Credit Card

Comments

  • askbargain on 26/05/2024 - 22:00

    how much spending are you doing each month?

    • misticknight on 27/05/2024 - 03:51

      Havent really looked into it maybe 3k off the top of my head?

      • Blokeinhisundies on 27/05/2024 - 09:21
        -1

        You will earn sweet fa points in a year with that spend and will take years to accumulate enough points for a flight to Dubai. Just start churning instead.

  • Mugsy on 26/05/2024 - 22:11
    +3

    Have you considered churning cards to get bonus points instead?

    I've been churning cards for Velocity Points for well over a decade. Stuck with Velocity due to an old job sending me on lots of Virgin flights and earning points was a perk. Velocity points do expire… if your balance doesn't change (up or down) in a 2yr period. Considering one can earn points from buying on ebay or filling up fuel from 711 servos, it's not hard to get activity on your account at least once every 2yrs (if not every month or week).

    • misticknight on 27/05/2024 - 03:53

      Is that getting a card to get the points then cancelling once doke and signing up for a new one ? Not sure i have the patience for that. And wait they only expire if you dont get use/gain points ?

      • Mugsy on 27/05/2024 - 06:01
        -1

        Yep. Sign up, meet the minimum spend, get bonus points, cancel, sign up again when waiting period is over and at least 4-6 months after previous sign up.

        If you spend $3k per month and assuming all of that spend is eligible for earning points at $1 per point, that's only 3k points that month. You can easily get 60k bonus points sign ups… over a 6 month wait between sign ups, that's 10k points per month by comparison.

        Do you really want to spend three times more or wait three times longer to earn the same points for a trip?

        A return flight to London is over 165k velocity points (yes, closer destinations require less points but we also have cheaper flights for many closer destinations. You can do Osaka at ~$600 return)

        • misticknight on 27/05/2024 - 06:51

          Got you. I mean i can see how i go once ive got this card it'll my first one. It probablt seems more daunting than it actually is.

          Can i go to dubai using velocity points or they dont convert to anything for emirates ?

          • Blokeinhisundies on 27/05/2024 - 09:29

            @misticknight: You can use Velocity points to Dubai on Etihad but it's 56,000 points plus $285 in taxes/fees each way. Pretty crap option though as it is a flight to Abu Dhabi then a two hour bus ride from Abu Dhabi to Dubai lol. Emirates is not a Velocity partner, you'd need Qantas points instead.

            Velocity points can be used on:

            Virgin Australia
            Air Canada
            ANA
            Etihad Airways
            Qatar Airways
            Singapore Airlines
            United Airlines

            Availability and different carrier fess and taxes are highly variable though.

          • Excelsior on 27/05/2024 - 09:51
            +1

            @misticknight: Sounds daunting but it's worth it IMO, especially since you know you'll be hitting the bonus spend amount easily anyway.

            • misticknight on 27/05/2024 - 10:16

              @Excelsior: Thanks. Youve tempted me to go for a velocity card i wasnt really happy with the AMEX outside of there point's being able to convert to emirates skyward points easily

              I saw this card earlier too it also sounds good maybe better than the St George one in my op. I noticed it has $65 fee per additional card holder which i dont like. If i give my mrs the card and i use it via google pay on my phone will we both rack up points or the card needs to be used?

            • Mugsy on 27/05/2024 - 10:57
              -1

              @Excelsior: Bonus amounts are usually easy to hit, though, in my case, I've been dialing back my monthly spend so I need to time my card applications with when I know i need to spend a bit more (e.g. car servicing, rego, annual bill payments) just to make sure I'm not spending for the sake of spending to hit that target.

              Use to be a lot easier when I had my unit and townhouse and all the bills that went with them. These have been replaced by a block of land that has a house that's still being built so not as many bills yet.

          • Autonomic on 27/05/2024 - 10:27

            @misticknight: If you want to fly to Dubai (from SYD) then Qantas points is the way to go. 50.3k QFF + $350 in taxes or so for economy. Note flying in business or first attracts a hefty premium in taxes/carrier surcharges. Like $4k+ return.

            • misticknight on 27/05/2024 - 10:37

              @Autonomic: Can i use my qantas points to fly with emirates? I dont want to fly qantas.

              • Blokeinhisundies on 27/05/2024 - 10:49
                +1

                @misticknight: Yes.

                • misticknight on 27/05/2024 - 10:51

                  @Blokeinhisundies: Thank you. Time to look for a card with QFF points now lol.

                  • Mugsy on 27/05/2024 - 10:59

                    @misticknight: Be sure to look up QFF point expiration and how to keep them from expiring.

                    What I explained to you was Velocity… I have no clue about QFF and it may be different.

              • Autonomic on 27/05/2024 - 10:51

                @misticknight: Yes. Qantas points can be redeemed on Emirates. Qantas don't fly to Dubai themselves - it'll always be Emirates when using QFF to fly to Dubai.

      • DingoBilly on 27/05/2024 - 11:58
        +1

        It's well worth it FYI.

        I probably only spend around $2k a month, but on that I can easily hit 300,000 Qantas or Velocity points in a year. You can then use those for flights or sell for a minimum of $3,000 which is easy money.

        • misticknight on 27/05/2024 - 12:34

          Wont i get charged for each time i do it. For example lets say i get tgis st george cars thats $125 a year. I get the points i need affer 3 months , cancel , dont i get charged the $125 and then when i sign up to say an amex offering points to get charged for the amex ?

          If theres a guide for dummies like myself you know of thatll be appreciated 😜

  • Drakesy on 27/05/2024 - 12:36
    +1

    A true churner does all of them.
    QFF
    VFF
    Rewards

    You name it.

    • misticknight on 27/05/2024 - 12:39

      Looks like i have alot of homework to do lol

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