CANSTAR has released a credit card report - I will post a link to the PDF later.

BNZ Advantage has received a five star rating "BNZ Advantage gives customers a choice between either earning Fly Buys points or Cash Rewards – and the ability to switch be-tween rewards types as often as once per month. The Advantage Visa Platinum card has picked up a 5-star award for outstanding value from CANSTAR this year, with a particularly strong performance in rewards at the two levels of annual spending we looked at in these ratings – $24,000 and $60,000."

Once I reduce my AirNZ APD balance I'll be returning to the BNZ Advantage card. Cash rewards are much more appealing for me.

I am getting the cash rewards and directing the amount automatically to an account in my daughter's name...

I did the same maths as most when BNZ Global Plus ended. I simply don't spend enough. However I had to pay for a family holiday which was a bit more than I had in cash. I'd been received relentless emails from Westpac (I still have savings an emergency cash with them from when I worked there) about being eligible for this and that card. Rang them up, annual card fee is permanently waived as an ex-employee. Made me wonder why I bothered having a BNZ card in the first place. With no card fee, it at least gives us a one way domestic flight per year. 

My work travel is much more lucrative!

wsnz:

 

Once I reduce my AirNZ APD balance I'll be returning to the BNZ Advantage card. Cash rewards are much more appealing for me.

 

My Royal Bank VISA (Canada) gives me cash rewards for points. I just put them on my credit card balance (which is usually zero....)  

My Kiwibank MasterCard gives me low interest....which is like a reverse cash reward. 

My ANZ VISA gives me.....nothing. I barely ever use it. Most often I'll drop a wad of cash on it so it has a significant credit balance....  and then treat it like a debit card when travelling overseas. 

the Amex Platinum Edge Credit card has an annual fee of $149 p.a. but includes a complimentary domestic return flight each year

A return flight from Hamilton to Queenstown in say October 2016 costs $391

Am I missing something here or does that sound like a deal? Forget about actually using the card - just get it for the annual return flight

Linuxluver:

 

wsnz:

 

Once I reduce my AirNZ APD balance I'll be returning to the BNZ Advantage card. Cash rewards are much more appealing for me.

 

 

My Royal Bank VISA (Canada) gives me cash rewards for points. I just put them on my credit card balance (which is usually zero....)  

 

My Kiwibank MasterCard gives me low interest....which is like a reverse cash reward. 

 

My ANZ VISA gives me.....nothing. I barely ever use it. Most often I'll drop a wad of cash on it so it has a significant credit balance....  and then treat it like a debit card when travelling overseas. 

 

 

 

If I can help it i could avoid interest at all.  Why pay more. 

logo:

 

the Amex Platinum Edge Credit card has an annual fee of $149 p.a. but includes a complimentary domestic return flight each year

 

A return flight from Hamilton to Queenstown in say October 2016 costs $391

 

 

 

Am I missing something here or does that sound like a deal? Forget about actually using the card - just get it for the annual return flight

 

 

 

 

 

Sure if you want the $391 credit card and you have those travel planned every year ie - to the more expensive Queenstown routes.   

But ANZ, Kiwibank, Westpact all over the AirNZ Plat Visa / Mastercards at $150 PA. So from that avenue you already saved yourself ~$250. 

Also with the free flight it would probably be rationed ie - you cannot travel in the peak times.  So cheap tickets. 

If my memory is correct, the Edge card uses Amex Rewards points. 

Even if you take the another $395 PA card the Amex's own Plat AirNZ Card. While it cost $395PA yes there is a return domestic fare probably rationed again.  The earn rate is the same as the other banks ie - spend $75 and get 1 APD.  Which is 1.3%. 

Going back to the Edge card.  I just looked at my spreadsheet.  The Edge isn't a AirNZ card it is a AMEX Reward Programme card.  At the time I looked up, a reward flight.  Return to HKG with Cathay cost 193,867pts or you could use your Amex and pay money of $1,454.  Or go to Japan with AirNZ requires 249,733pts at the time or $1,873 on the card.  Amex provides 3 points for supermarkets, 2 points for petrol and 1 point for anything else.  The avg person probably would spend more on other things.  So to get a $1,873 flight requires 249,xxx points but you may need to put $160,000+ on the card to get that.  If we take the figure overall you earn 1.5 Amex points per $1NZ spent.  For the $1,873 fare you need to spend around $170,000.  That is ~1.1% which is lower than the 1.3% that one gets with the AirNZ cards.  If you skew it more to the 1 Amex point per $1NZ spend you may only get a earn rate of 0.7%. 

Not a big deal but there are still stores that don't support Amex or stores that do support Amex but need a min amount.  Even the big guys - AMP insurances don't support Amex.  Not sure about NZTA though.  They might not from memory.  I got the free Amex card - the tap and go on that doesn't work - an inconvenience.

 To me if you want it cheap and you are structuring your credit card to suit.  I would just structure myself instead.  That way, the fares can be 80-120 either way and when they are available, you purchase them, they are there.  If you rely on a banking party to give them to you they can always say sorry but those dates are not possible but how about April. 

logo:

 

the Amex Platinum Edge Credit card has an annual fee of $149 p.a. but includes a complimentary domestic return flight each year

 

A return flight from Hamilton to Queenstown in say October 2016 costs $391

 

 

 

Am I missing something here or does that sound like a deal? Forget about actually using the card - just get it for the annual return flight

 

 

I can guarantee you won't get that seat free. It applies to specific booking classes, meaning there needs to be availability to book the seat.

The current Amex Platinum promo is a far better deal providing you want to front up with the $800 yearly fee.

Sbiddle can you elaborate. If one booked in advanced when the travel time is so low season could they get that booking class for free?

PS - even if this meant 2 or 3 periods in the year when they can go.  Ie I know the limited grabaseat $799 HKG returns are only advertised like 5x a year which concentrate in the most hottest awkward months. 

Bog standard ANZ Cashback card, paid off in full every 55 days and usually spend around 20-30K a year so I get enough cash back to make up for the fees.

But- have a flexible home loan so all spending goes on the card and keeps the loan balance down ie: it's not about the cash back, it's about the money