Home :: Uncapped Points Frequent Flyer Credit Cards :: Westpac Altitude Platinum Credit Card
Westpac Altitude Platinum Credit Card
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Key Features
- Earn Altitude points on purchases
- 3 Altitude points per $1 spent on your Altitude Platinum American Express ® Card
- 1 Altitude point per $1 spent on your Altitude Platinum Visa ® Card or Altitude Platinum MasterCard ®
- Two credit cards linked to one account - with one monthly statement and one credit limit
- Money magazine Award Winner - Altitude Platinum American Express ® Card
- No points capping or expiry while you remain an Altitude cardholder
- Receive 15,000 bonus Altitude points when you first use either of your cards
- Extended complimentary insurance covers in accordance with the policy
- Overseas Travel Insurance cover for trips of up to 6 months
- Purchase Security Insurance for 4 months
- Extended Warranty Insurance cover for up to 2 years
- Low balance transfer rate for up to 6 months
- For a fast and convenient payment option for everyday purchases of under $100, simply hold your MasterCard ® or Visa ® Card against the contactless terminal wherever you see your card’s logo and the contactless symbol - no need to enter a PIN or sign
- Up to 45 days interest free on credit purchases applies, as long as the closing balance (including any balance transfer amounts or any other promotional amount) is paid in full by the statement due date each month
- Altitude Platinum Concierge service - available 24/7 worldwide for help with obtaining tickets, hotel bookings, car hire, concert tickets and more
- Get extra security when you shop at participating online retailers by registering with MasterCard ® SecureCode™, or Verified by Visa ®, through Westpac Added Online Security service
- Paperless eStatements available.
- Start your application here.
Review & Analysis
With the Westpac Altitude Platinum credit card you get access to one of the most popular rewards programs in Australia with a platinum level earn rate. And as a companion account with both American Express and MasterCard versions, earning more Altitude points is easier than ever.
Frequent Flyer Points
This card is linked with the Altitude Rewards program and therefore is not directly linked with any airline rewards program. However, whatever points are earned can be transferred to a selection of airline rewards programs (Velocity Rewards, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Air New Zealand Airpoints and Malaysian Airlines Enrich). As an account with two cards, there follows two different earn rates intended to make it easier to optimise how you spend your money for maximum rewards. Purchases made using the American Express Westpac Altitude Platinum credit card are rewarded at the rate of 3 points per dollar, while purchases made on the MasterCard Westpac Altitude Platinum credit card earn rewards at the lower rate of 1 point per dollar. Obviously it pays, at least in terms of earning more points, to put as many transactions as possible through the Amex.
Other Rewards
One of the most popular and useful features common to this card and many other platinum rewards cards is the personal concierge service, available 24/7 to help. If you’re a busy person who would like assistance from someone to tick tasks off your todo list and free up time, then this feature is going to come in very handy.
On top of the concierge service is a range of insurance policies. Cardholders get purchase protection insurance, extended warranty insurance and the obligatory international travel insurance policy. This cover is complimentary and can save you a significant amount of money.
Pros
If earning more Altitude points is what you want to do, then this is the card for you. But features such as the personal concierge and free insurance really do make it much more competitive when compared to other platinum cards. The card’s travel insurance policy covers trips of up to 6 months in duration while the extended warranty policy offers cover for an additional two years on top of the manufacturer’s basic warranty. Both of these insurances are on the upper end of what’s available, easily beating many competing offers.
The good stuff doesn’t end there either. The card has a cheap balance transfer offer of 3.99% p.a. for 6 months that can save you money and help get your debt paid off faster. Purchase (19.99% p.a.) and cash advance rates (21.59% p.a.) are about average for this type of card.
Cons
Perhaps the biggest drawback is the fact that this card is not directly linked with any one airline loyalty program in particular. Yes, for example, you can transfer points to Velocity Rewards and redeem them for flights with Virgin Australia. However, if you have a favourite airline that you like flying with, you’d probably be better off getting a card that’s directly linked with it. Another drawback is that points cannot be transferred to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. If earning QFF points is what you want, then check out Westpac’s Earth cards or one of the many other cards linked to the QFF program.
Lastly, the balance transfer offer is simply not the best you can get. If one of your priorities is to save money by transferring your balance to a cheaper card, then look elsewhere. Having said that, the current balance transfer offer is more than likely vastly cheaper than what you are currently paying.
Eligibility
Platinum credit cards are more exclusive, so you can expect it to be more difficult to get one. This card is for applicants earning $65,000 or more with good credit. You’ll also need to be over 18 years old and a permanent resident or citizen.
Is This Card Right For You?
If you are not fussed about what airline you fly with, then this is the flexible option for you. Being able to redeem your rewards on not just flights is a nice perk, as is the personal concierge and free insurance. So if the Westpac Altitude Platinum credit card sounds like the one for you, why not apply today?
