Westpac Altitude Credit Card Points Earning Changes on Purchases (from 1st August '25)

Haven't seen this posted anywhere yet. Was perusing on Westpac's site and noticed that from 1st August 2025, the earning on Altitude credit cards is changing:

https://www.westpac.com.au/personal-banking/credit-cards/rew…

Each card has its own changes. I have the Altitude Black Velocity, so will show the changes with this.

Right now (May '25): 0.75 points per $1 spent on eligible purposes (the usual, no gambling, no gov charges, etc.)

Starting 1st August: $1 spend gives the following:

  • 1.2 points for international spend (but their intl transaction fees are 3% it seems, ouch!)
  • 0.8 points for most major Australian supermarkets, department stores, petrol stations, dining and utilities
  • 0.5 points for all other purchases (eligible ones, so non-gov, no gambling, etc)
  • Above points capped at $10k per billing cycle. Amounts above that earn 0.25 points per $1

All of the Altitude rewards cards have the above 4 bullet points, with with different earning and a cap number.

Basically, it depends on what you use the card on as to the devaluation (or possible increased value). If all your spend is on the second category (supermarkets, dept stores, petrol, dining, utilities), some cards will earn more than they do now after the change. If you have a lot from the third point or you go noticeably over the monthly cap, you will likely earn less from the change. One noticeable change for some OzB'ers will be the purchase of online gift cards, you will earn less, with the exception being some Coles/Woolies gift cards may show as supermarket charges (e.g., giftcards.com.au purchases of Coles Mastercard gift cards show up as a Coles charge).

The changes Velocity/Qantas cards are easier to quantify than the non-airline Altitude cards.

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Comments

  • +3

    It is weird to me that card issuers spend hundreds of dollars to attract new customers, often churners, but seem to be unable to resist screwing the existing customers bit by bit till they leave.

    These changes target the highest spenders on the card, that by definition make them the most money in interchange fees, and interest if they carry a balance.

    Seems crazy that they want to target their cards at churners who struggle to meet the spending qualifications.

  • Meh,

    Churn and burn

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