Qantas American Express Discovery Credit Card

Question 1

Stanley Yu

12 April 2021

I am employed overseas but will soon be moving back to reside in Sydney so I'm currently exploring my choices on credit cards. I don't have a credit score in Australia, and my income is purely rental property income (although the gross meets the 35k requirement). To help me qualify, can AMEX accept a security deposit upon application?

Question 2

Roland

Answer

Hi Stanley, no, credit card providers don't accept security deposits as part of the application. However, with American Express you can "transfer" your history from another country. I hope that helps.

Question 3

mick

1 March 2021

Is AMEX accepted around Australia as widely as Mastercard and Visa?

Question 4

Roland

Answer

Hi Mick, while most major businesses and retailers accept American Express, it is not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard for some smaller merchants. You can check out (an incomplete list of) who accepts Amex here.

Question 5

Beverly

17 February 2021

I am in a de facto relationship and my partner is the main account holder for the Qantas American Express Discovery Credit Card. I am an additional card holder. As we are getting in to our senior years we are concerned that something might happen to my partner. Am I still able to continue to use the account. If not, is there anyway we can update the account for either one of us to continue using the card if anything happens to either one of us? Your advice is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Question 6

Roland

Answer

Hi Beverly, the best thing to do would be to call American Express and discuss your options about getting your own card. They don't offer joint accounts and usually, if the primary cardholder passes away, the card needs to be cancelled and you'd be unable to continue to use your supplementary card. I hope that helps.

Question 7

Pete

22 January 2021

Hi Roland, do the FF points earned automatically transfer from the cc to your QF FF account or is there a fee that is required to be paid?

Question 8

Roland

Answer

Hi Pete, they automatically transfer to your QFF account each month - no fee is payable.

Question 9

Paul

25 September 2020

Are there any limitations on what/where you can purchase with an American Express card? That is will some places not accept American Express?

Question 10

Roland

Answer

Hi Paul, yes, some places will not accept AMEX. I always have my AMEX plus a Visa or Mastercard in my wallet for these situations.

Question 11

sol

22 July 2020

any Amex have 0 foreign transaction fee?

Question 12

Roland

Answer

Hi Sol, no, not that I am aware of. All AMEX cards have foreign fees.

Question 13

Matt

14 July 2020

Hi Roland, I've been thinking, all the cards with bonus free Qantas points etc have a yearly fee, which seems to go up or down in relation to the amount of free points. The amount of points earnt usually buys something in the Qantas store with approximate retale value to the fee so you can figure out a points/$ ratio. Nothing is free as the say so I'm wondering, is the AMEX surcharge you cop at every shop basically just you paying for the Qantas points? I'm considering this card purely for the points, thankyou.

Question 14

Roland

Answer

Hi Matt, this is a good card. Acceptable of AMEX or if they charge any fees for using is a concern. Depending on your spend, will sort out what card could be best. Naturally a card that has no annual fee is great. I do think a Visa or Mastercard makes sense though if your only card. I do like the HSBC Qantas Platinum which has stronger points earning and some good features. Though it has a $99 annual fee.

Question 15

suzanne cattell

3 March 2020

I am thinking of changing from an AMEX Westpac Credit card to Qantas Discovery card because of no annual fee. I have cancelled the Westpac card. Do I need to wait until that card is fully cancelled before applying for Qantas Discovery card?

Question 16

Roland

Answer

Hi Suzanne, if you have cancelled the Westpac card. Having paid it off in full. Then it should be fine as you will not include it as a liability as a credit card you have. Sounds like a plan. No annual fee cards are worth the annual fee for sure.

Question 17

Josh

4 February 2020

Hey Roland, Thanks for your time to answer all the questions. It is a very good resource for all types of people. It would be great if you can kindly suggest me an option. Like every points accumulator, I churn cards on an annual basis to get the maximum benefits and have been doing he same for the last many years. In the past (all signature/top of the line cards), when I need to use a lounge before my international travel, I make the booking give the ticket number/booking ref number to the relevant bank team and the pass will be issued in a few days (Don’t remember who issues whether the bank or Qantas). Anyway, I will be sent those passes which I can use. This is my second Amex card with which I wanted to use the lounge. Basically, all customers are eligible for 2 Qantas lounge passes and 2 Amex passes. I booked my travel via Amex travel and called Amex for the passes to be sent assuming it would be the same process like how other banks handled it. Unfortunately was told that, I need to book it via Qantas’s website. I had the credit and the credit was from Amex and I cant book it via Qantas. I am not even sure whether it is mentioned in the PDS. Anyway, I am sure they would have included it somewhere. Secondly when questioned about the Amex lounges, they have mentioned that it is only for international travel and not domestic travel. My card expires towards the end of Feb and basically I cant use any of the 4 passes. It looks like it is only useful when people book separate tickets for a separate travel via Qantas and apparently it can’t be issued for tickets booked via Amex travel. I was very disappointed and the lady on the phone reiterated the same again and again and eventually I hung up. Can you please explain to me what other savvy travellers do ? Or is this a kind of trap which the customer should be aware of? I understand all the rules and regulations like people cant get passes just like that without a ticket (to prevent from selling), every year it expires etc. etc. But unable to use it for tickets booked via Amex travel is kinda ridiculous and lounge facilities provided by Amex is only for international travel. What do you suggest? Is there an option to strike a deal with them? She put me on hold and claimed even that she spoke with Qantas but they cant do anything about it. Would be great to hear your thoughts ???? Thanks in advance. Cheers, Josh

Question 18

Roland

Answer

Hi Josh, you can get the passes as well if you book using points on the Qantas site. Yes the amex lounge is international. Though the Qantas lounge passes can be used for domestic. Even if you book through the AMEX Travel site to use your travel credit. Then as long as the flight is Qantas. Then you could allocate the Qantas lounge passes to that flight. https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/the-qantas-club/complimentary-invitations.html. In the end - they are out to make money. They want the passes to expire and not be used. So that profitability is higher. I myself have never used the Qantas lounge passes in 8 years that come with the card. Though I do go to the AMEX lounge in Sydney with my wife and 3 kids. Then use the lounge access when flying international. The AMEX lounge passes also do not require you to be traveling with any certain airline for access. I still like the flight credit. I know the deals arent that great sometimes on AMEX travel. Though I use it to get my annual fee payment back.

Question 19

Felicity

3 January 2020

Hi Roland, I have a couple of Qs about this card - this will be our first credit card so please excuse my naivety. 1. Do the points roll over year on year? Or do we have to use the points before 12 months is up? 2. Up to 44 days interest free - if I buy something 10 days before my bill for that month is due, do I realistically only have 10 days to pay it off before interest is charged? Or will that purchase show on the next month statement? Thank you Felicity

Question 20

Roland

Answer

Hi Felicity, points are automatically transferred each month to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. To keep the points alive you need to be active in your Qantas account every 18 months. This can be either earning points through the card or using the points. On your 2nd points, yes you are correct. This is a high interest card so make sure you pay off your balance in full each billing cycle.

Question 21

Brad

26 November 2019

Will i still have to pay the $99 QFF membership number as the card is $0 annual fee?

Question 22

Roland

Answer

Hi Brad, this card does not come with complimentary Qantas Frequent Flyer membership. On better news, at least the joining fee is a once off. Then if you dump this card you still have your QFF membership and points.

Question 23

Jeremy

9 September 2019

While 0.5 points per dollar spent on the AMEX Discovery Card are earned - does this include payments to the ATO for your tax instalments?

Question 24

Roland

Answer

Hi Jeremy, yes it does. Though you need to look at what surcharge the ATO charges for using an AMEX. The surcharge could out way the value of the points.

Question 25

Ben

13 July 2019

Can you earn points on utility bills such as interet, water, electricity and phone?

Question 26

Roland

Answer

Hi Ben, yes you can. Though you need to watch if any surcharges are added. If they are, these could out weigh the points benefits. AMEX are one of the only cards that pay out points for government spend etc.

Question 27

Yousef

3 July 2019

Hi I live in Brisbane and i did not know anything about bad credit during the years that followed and then the language of englishism was not good and then i was given an operation on my hand and thats where i was at that time i could not pay what should i do ? now i do everything i know about bad credit but now im bad credit but i do not want to be bad credit again but now i need a credit card please help me thank you Kind Regards

Question 28

Roland

Answer

Hi Yousef, if you have bad credit, it is very hard to get approved for a new credit card. This is not a great card but one of the easier to get approved for. Have a look at the ANZ First. This could be a good starter. Then after 12 months of good use you could look to get a card that more suits your needs.

Question 29

Karen

9 April 2019

Does my American Express discovery credit card allow me entry to the international lounge at Sydney airport?

Question 30

Roland

Answer

Hi Karen, this no annual fee card does not have access to the AMEX lounge in Sydney. Its the more premium AMEX cards that provide feature.

Question 31

John

31 January 2019

Where minimum income is required as part of eligibility, does superannuation income count for someone who is retired and not earning any other income?

Question 32

Roland

Answer

Hi John, yes super can be seen as income by AMEX. I have know some people receiving SMSF payments that used that as income and were approved.

Question 33

Lena

16 January 2019

which bank will allow me to pay my morgage on the credit card

Question 34

Roland

Answer

Hi Lena, I have no idea what banks will let you pay your mortgage on your credit card. You need to contact a mortgage related comparison site and see if they can assist.

Question 35

Dhara shah

7 January 2019

What is the best credit card to spend overseas?

Question 36

Roland

Answer

Hi Dhara, I always suggest a card with no foreign fees. Have a look at the ANZ Rewards Travel Adventure credit card. It has no foreign fees. You can also pull out cash from ATMs overseas with no cash advance fees. You get a full suite of insurance products. Overall this is a travelers credit card friend.

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