Qantas Frequent Flyer Program Changes – American Express & Points Expiry as of 1st May 2010

Family transfers and the three-year interval for using your Qantas Frequent Flyer points will no longer apply starting on July 1, 2010.

There have been some recent changes to the way in which points expiry dates are calculated in the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.

In addition, there have also been changes to some Airline Partner transfer rates in the American Express New Zealand Membership Rewards Program.

Earn more Qantas Frequent Flyer Points

Increase your points earning potential with a Westpac Earth Platinum credit card. Earn 1.5 Qantas Frequent Flyer Points per $1 spent on purchases with your AMEX, and 0.5 points per $1 on your Visa.

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• 0.99% p.a. for 6 months on balance transfers
• Cash Advance Rate of 21.49% p.a.
• 45 days interest free
• 5 Star Rating from CANNEX
• No points capping
• Complimentary overseas travel insurance, purchases security and extended warranty cover on purchases
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Read the Westpac Earth Platinum Cards terms and conditions.

Changes in the Airline points transfer rate

Before May 1, 2010 the transfer rate for Membership Rewards points to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program was 1 point = 0.6 Qantas Frequent Flyer points. As of May 1 2010, this has become 1 point = 0.5 Qantas Frequent Flyer points.

Members were therefore advised to transfer points before May1. If you have not done so, do not despair, you can still transfer your points to obtain Frequent Flyer points. It is very easy to transfer points. If you are enrolled in the Online Services with American Express, you can transfer points through the Internet at http://americanexpress.co.nz/rewards. If you are not enrolled for Online services, you can transfer points by calling American Express Rewards at 0800 44 22 08.

A transfer fee of $35 does apply, and the minimum number of points transferred must be at least 500 Membership Rewards points.

Update to the Frequent Flyer Points expiry method

Currently, your Qantas Frequent Flyer points do not expire, as long as you earn points or use them through your account at least once every three years. This three year date is counted from the date you last used or earned points. You will be able to retain your points by also earning points with program partners and using the points for an Award.

However, this method is set to change from July 1, 2010. From this date onwards, family transfers will no longer count towards keeping your account active. The way in which your points stay active will also change: instead of needing to earn or use points every three years, you will need to keep your account active by earning or using points every 12 months. By keeping your account active, you will prevent your points from expiring.

Effect on points earned before June 30, 2010:

Any points you have in your account as of June 30, 2010 will not be affected by the alterations to the expiry period. Those points will continue to expire after every three years. If you do not earn or use any points after June 30, 2010, the points which you earned before July 1, 2010 will expire in three years after the date on which you conducted your last activity.

If you earn or use any points after June 30, 2010, your points will expire either:

1. three years after the date of your last account activity before 1 July 2010, or
2. 12 months from the date of your last activity after June 30, 2010 – whichever is later.

If your current expiry date is later than 12 months after July 1, 2010, your expiry date will hold.

Your online Frequent Flyer Activity Statement will notify you whenever you have points that are due to expire within 60 days.

How to keep your account alive

It is easy to keep your Qantas Frequent Flyer account alive.

You can earn points in a wide variety of ways. You can earn points by spending at a number of Qantas Frequent Flyer partners. This includes the Woolworths and Safeway stores in Australia, where you can earn points just for doing your grocery shopping. You can also earn points by spending in over 200 restaurants throughout Australia who are Qantas Frequent Flyer partners. In addition, there is a huge range of credit card and charge card partners – you can earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points by doing your shopping using one of those partner credit cards. Point redemption options include the online Qantas Frequent Flyer Store and the Qantas and Jetstar Any Seat Awards.

Using points

There are many ways to keep your account alive by using points. The Qantas Frequent Flyer program offers the Classic Awards, the Any Seat Awards, and over 1200 products, including over 100 gift vouchers, in the online Qantas Frequent Flyer store.

With all the latest ways to use and earn points and so many Frequent Flyer partners throughout Australia, keeping your account active has never been easier.

Image source: Qantas

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