American Categorical is making some large modifications to its Membership Rewards program in Australia. It will affect how cardholders can use their factors, particularly those that like to journey. The modifications are approaching December 15, 2025 so you might have a little bit little bit of time to organize. Learn the way these modifications might have an effect on you.
It hasn’t been clean crusing within the rewards bank card house these days. There’s been a raft of modifications throughout Westpac, Citi and CBA. These shifts, together with level devaluations and the removing of switch companions, are seemingly related to approaching modifications from the Reserve Financial institution of Australia (RBA).
For collectors of Membership Rewards, this system is evolving with new partnerships and up to date switch and earn charges. Whereas some modifications will affect how you exchange factors, in addition they current new alternatives on your rewards technique. Right here’s all the things it’s essential know to navigate these updates and proceed to get essentially the most out of your factors.
So, what precisely is altering?
Probably the most important change is the devaluation of factors for a number of worldwide airline companions. You’ll quickly want extra Membership Rewards factors to get the identical variety of frequent flyer factors.
- Devaluation of Switch Charges: The toughest hit is the switch price for British Airways, Cathay, Etihad, Malaysia Airways, Qatar Airways, and Virgin Atlantic is altering from 2:1 to three:1. This successfully means you’ll want 50% extra Membership Rewards factors to get the identical variety of miles. The conversion price for Emirates Skywards can also be altering, from 3:1 to 4:1.
- Removing of a Associate: Thai Airways’ Royal Orchid Plus will now not be a switch companion from December 15, 2025.
- New Switch Associate: On the upside, American Categorical is including a brand new companion: On a regular basis Rewards. It will assist you to convert your Membership Rewards factors to On a regular basis Rewards factors at a 5:4 price. From there, you’ll be able to convert On a regular basis Rewards factors to Qantas Frequent Flyer factors at a 2:1 price, which gives a brand new, albeit oblique, means for many cardholders to earn Qantas Factors.
- New Factors Calculation Technique: Amex can also be altering the way it calculates factors. Beforehand, factors had been solely earned on complete greenback quantities, however from December 15, 2025, they’ll be rounded to the closest greenback earlier than factors are calculated. This small change might imply a number of further factors on many low-value transactions.
It’s not all unhealthy information!
Some cardholders can breathe a sigh of aid as not all switch companions are affected. Should you’re banking:
the earn price will stay the identical. The switch price for Qantas Frequent Flyer additionally stays unchanged for American Categorical Platinum cardholders. The modifications don’t have an effect on co-branded Qantas and Velocity playing cards or the Enterprise Ascent, Company Decisions, Company Membership Rewards and Company Spirit accounts.
One other New Pathway to Qantas Factors
American Categorical can also be including On a regular basis Rewards as a brand new switch companion at a 5:4 price. This new partnership gives a means for cardholders to not directly switch their factors to Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Whereas particular particulars for the brand new American Categorical and On a regular basis Rewards partnership are nonetheless rising, some basic details about level transfers is offered:
- Switch Time: The time it takes to switch factors varies by companion. Transfers to some applications like Qantas and Velocity are typically immediate, whereas others can take as much as seven enterprise days. It could possibly take as much as 72 hours for On a regular basis Rewards factors collected within the odd course to seem in an account.
- Minimal Switch: Minimal switch quantities for different companions may be as little as 1,000 factors, however a selected minimal for the On a regular basis Rewards partnership has not been introduced.
Charges: There are usually no charges for changing factors to airline applications. Nevertheless, there could also be particular circumstances relying on this system.
Or, you would use it for money off on the checkout in your subsequent Woolies store.
Don’t panic simply but!
With these modifications on the horizon, it’s a superb time to assessment your factors technique. Fortunately Amex gave us all a little bit heads-up. The devaluations for some worldwide airline companions imply that transferring factors to these applications could now not supply the identical worth. In case you have a big stability of Membership Rewards factors, contemplate transferring them to your most well-liked frequent flyer program earlier than the December 14 deadline to reap the benefits of the present charges.
For individuals who depend on incomes Qantas Factors, the brand new partnership with On a regular basis Rewards affords a precious various. Be sure you perceive the conversion course of and any related timelines to get essentially the most out of this new redemption choice. Should you’re hoarding British Airways, Cathay, Etihad, Malaysia Airways, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic, now is likely to be the time to assessment your technique.
Keep knowledgeable by frequently checking for updates from American Categorical and its companions. Be proactive in your factors technique to make sure you proceed to maximise the worth of your Membership Rewards.
