Westpac Altitude Platinum Credit Card (Altitude)

When it comes to choosing the ideal credit card, it makes sense to have your own wishlist against which any card’s features can be checked. So if yours reads something like this – Rewards Points, Bonus Points, Complimentary Benefits, Security – you need to seriously consider the Westpac Altitude Platinum Credit Card (Altitude).

Prepare to be surprised at how much you get for a fee that’s probably lower than you expect, and even lower in the first year.

So, let’s roll out the wishlist.

Rewards points

Tick this one off right away, because this is a rewards card account. It comes with Westpac’s own Altitude Rewards points for every dollar spent, at the following earning rates:

• 3 Altitude points per dollar spent on Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia flights purchased in Australia
• 2 Altitude points per dollar spent on Uber, Uber Eats, Spotify Premium, Airbnb, and overseas purchases (including overseas online spending made from Australia)
• 1 Altitude point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases*.

Altitude points never expire as long as you hold an Altitude card. There are no points caps, or thresholds beyond which the earning rate declines, in contrast to the restrictive caps or thresholds found on many competing rewards points cards.

*Cash advances, purchases of foreign currency, card fees and interest charges, balance transfers, BPAY/Post Billpay payments and government payments do not count as eligible purchases, and will not earn Altitude points.

Bonus points

When you first start collecting points, accumulating enough of them to redeem your first reward can seem like climbing a mountain. Credit card issuers have recognised this, and many cards now have a sign-up or first purchase bonus designed to give your points account a kickstart and boost your enthusiasm.

So here’s another wish you can fulfill. The bonus with this card is an extremely generous 90,000 points, earned by spending $3,000 on eligible purchases with the card in the first 90 days of holding it. That’s not such a high target – $1,000 per month – especially when the $30,000 minimum income, as a basis for card application, is taken into account. Plus an extra 30,000 points after your first eligible purchase in year 2. Earning you a total of 120,000 points!

Altitude points redemption options

Altitude lets you fly with your points, allowing you to convert them into frequent flyer points with four partner airlines: Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand. Even more airlines can be accessed through Altitude Travel.

The Altitude online store also has a range of merchandise and retail gift cards, and you can also convert your points into cashback on your card account if you wish.

Complimentary benefits

Your platinum card wishlist wouldn’t be complete without some platinum lifestyle complimentary benefits. Here’s what you’ll get with this card:

• Overseas travel insurance. For cardholders and their families, covering multiple annual trips of up to three months’ duration, activated by using the card for at least $500 of prepaid trip expenses
• Extended warranty insurance. Doubles the manufacturer’s Australian warranty for items purchased with the card, up to a maximum of 12 extra months
• Purchase security insurance. Covers new items bought with the card against loss, theft or accidental damage for three months

Please note that these insurance conditions were correct at the time of writing, but will be updated on 27th October 2021, and you should read the latest Product Disclosure Document for Westpac Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance if you need to confirm any details.

Security

Westpac gives you a Fraud Money Back Guarantee (provided you follow a few simple precautions) and also participates in the Verified by Visa one-time password systems for more secure online shopping.

If you download the Westpac mobile banking app to your Apple or Android smartphone you will transform your phone into a digital wallet for Tap & Go payments. You can also use a secure fingerprint log-in on your phone for card payments, get a Quick Balance for your card account or points to account in seconds, and put your account on hold with a few taps if you temporarily misplace the card (saving you the annoyance of having to cancel a card you later find).

SmartPlan

Here’s a benefit that’s probably not on your list because you didn’t know it existed. If you manage to run up a balance on your new card that you are struggling to repay, or if you make a major purchase that you’ll need time to clear from your account, you can choose to commit to a SmartPlan monthly repayment program and take advantage of an interest rate that’s lower than the advertised 19.99% interest rate on purchases.

You’ll also be able to retain up to 45 interest-free days on purchases if your unpaid balance is totally covered by one or more SmartPlans.

Shopping discounts

Another possibly unexpected benefit comes in the form of Westpac Extras – personalized cashback offers for specific stores that you’ll receive by email. It means that in some cases you’ll be earning rewards points and getting cashback on the same purchase.

High foreign transaction fees

Something that certainly won’t be on your ‘most wanted' list is a foreign transaction fee, but it’s an unfortunate reality. The transaction fee for foreign currency payments, and payments to overseas merchants even if in Australian dollars, is 3% of the amount spent.

None of this will be a problem if you don’t intend to use the card overseas or online, but it’s something you need to be aware of (and most cards do charge a foreign transaction fee).

Typical interest rates

The 20.99% p.a. purchase interest rate and 21.99% p.a. cash advance rate are fairly standard for a platinum rewards card. If you think you will need to pay interest on your purchases on a relatively regular basis, don’t choose a rewards credit card. Look for a low-interest rate card instead.

Reasonable annual fee, discounted first year

With an annual fee of $170 and no charge for a supplementary card, it costs less than you might expect for a platinum rewards card with plenty of benefits.

However, you can try it out for the first year and pay a discounted fee of only $99.

A card that ticks all the boxes

Looking back at that credit card wishlist, with most cards you may find it difficult to tick everything off without paying more than you were prepared for. But this card has the advantages of a satisfactory point earning rate, an upfront points bonanza, significant platinum benefits, security, hi-tech convenience, and an annual fee discount to make your early relationship with your card even better.

How does it compare with similar platinum rewards cards?

‘Platinum Rewards’ is one of the most popular varieties of credit cards. You can check out competing cards, such as the American Express Platinum Card and the Bendigo Bank Platinum Rewards Card, on our rewards credit cards page.