Westpac Altitude Rewards is Westpac’s loyalty program for notching up points on eligible credit card spends. It’s a flexible points program, which means that relevant cardholders can convert their reward points across to points or miles with participating partners.
Westpac Altitude Rewards offers points transfers to the following partners.
- Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Cathay, by Cathay Pacific (formerly Asia Miles)
- Air New Zealand Airpoints
- Everyday Rewards
This guide details the features of the Altitude Rewards program and the range of credit cards linked to the program.
Just remember not to confuse Altitude Rewards with the Amplify Rewards program. The latter is the rewards program of St.George, Bank of Melbourne and BankSA. While Westpac Group owns these banks, the rewards programs are separate.
In this guide: Westpac Altitude Rewards guide contents and quick links:
Using points: program partners and transfer rates
Points can be converted from Westpac Altitude Rewards to its various partners at the following rates:
- Velocity Frequent Flyer: 3:1
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: 3:1
- Cathay: 3:1
- Airpoints: 180 = NZ$1.09
- Everyday Rewards: 3:2
Note that Air New Zealand’s Airpoints program has recently migrated to operating only in NZ dollars. Accordingly, the conversion rate from Westpac – which was a clean 180 Airpoints = AU$1 – is now 180 Airpoints = NZ$1.09. Even so, given that Airpoints is structured to be an ‘any seat’ rewards program, it represents very poor value.
With personal Altitude Rewards cards, you cannot transfer to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. However, you can do so with the Altitude Business Platinum Card. If you’re particularly keen to get personal Altitude Rewards points over to Qantas, you could convert them through the Everyday Rewards program. From Everyday Rewards, points can convert to Qantas at a 2:1 rate. But if Qantas Points are the goal, more points can be earned by choosing Westpac’s direct-earning Qantas cards.
Earning points: the Altitude Rewards credit card range
Currently, there are two personal cards open to new customers that can earn points with Altitude Rewards. These are Altitude Rewards Black and Altitude Rewards Platinum. The basic-level Altitude Mastercard is no longer offered to new applicants.
Altitude Rewards Black
Altitude Black is Westpac’s top-tier card offering. It’s geared towards high spenders and has a corresponding high earning rate per dollar of spent, combined with and an associated higher annual fee.
Card details
| Card | Westpac Altitude Rewards Black |
| Loyalty program | Westpac Altitude Rewards |
| Points earned from spend | 1.25 Altitude Points per $ of eligible spend |
| Travel benefits | 2 Priority Pass invitations per year |
| Included insurances | Extended Warranty & International Travel Insurance (PDS) |
| Overseas transaction fee | 3.0% of the converted amount |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay |
| Minimum income requirement | $75,000 p.a. |
| Card fee | $295 p.a. ongoing |
Effective frequent flyer program point earn rates
| Frequent Flyer Program | MasterCard |
|---|---|
| Qantas Points* | 0.75 points / $ |
| Velocity Points (transferred from Altitude Rewards) | 0.41 points / $ |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles | 0.41 miles / $ |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 0.41 miles / $ |
| Everyday Rewards | 0.83 points / $ |
| *Points earn rate only if linked directly to Qantas | |
Read the full credit card guide to the Altitude Black and Altitude Qantas Cards. Benefits of the Altitude Black Card include:
- Airport lounge access with Priority Pass membership and two included lounge visits. Or if opted into Altitude Qantas, two Qantas Lounge passes.
- Broader insurance coverage, including travel and extended warranty (see PDS here).
- Access to Westpac Concierge.
This guide references some of the benefits of insurance policies provided with this card. Before obtaining this product, you should read the PDS and obtain independent professional advice.
Altitude Rewards Platinum
The Altitude Platinum is the broader appeal credit card in the Altitude range.
Card details
| Card | Westpac Altitude Platinum |
| Loyalty program | Altitude Rewards |
| Points earned from spend | 1 Altitude Points per $ of eligible spend 2 Altitude Points per $ on eligible overseas spend |
| Minimum income requirement | $30,000 p.a. |
| Included insurances | Extended Warranty & International Travel Insurance (PDS) |
| Points Cap | uncapped |
| Overseas transaction fee | 3.0% of the converted amount |
| Card fee | $175 p.a. ongoing |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay |
Effective frequent flyer program point earn rates
| Frequent Flyer Program | Mastercard |
|---|---|
| Qantas Points* | 0.5 points / $ |
| Velocity Points (transferred from Altitude Rewards) | 0.33 points / $ |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles | 0.33 miles / $ |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 0.33 miles / $ |
| Everyday Rewards | 0.66 points / $ |
| *Points earn rate only if opting for the Altitude Platinum Qantas card | |
It comes with fewer benefits than the Altitude Black but gives access to the Altitude Rewards program with uncapped earn rates (still subject to points tiering) and a friendlier annual fee.
With the Altitude Platinum card, you’ll get a range of insurances, including overseas travel insurance for trips of up to three months, transit accident insurance and an extended warranty. You should check the descriptions for each policy if you plan to rely on them. Read the PDS here.
This guide references some of the benefits of insurance policies provided with this card. You should read the PDS and obtain independent professional advice before obtaining this product.
Altitude Mastercard
The entry-level Altitude Rewards Card is no longer available to new customers.
Card Details
| Card | Westpac Altitude Mastecard |
| Loyalty program | Altitude Rewards or Qantas Frequent Flyer |
| Points earned from spend | 0.5 Qantas Points or 1 Altitude Points for every $ spent on the Mastercard |
| Points Cap | 5,000 Altitude points or 2,500 Qantas Points per statement period |
| Overseas transaction fee | 3.0% of the converted amount |
| Annual fee | $100 |
Effective Frequent Flyer Program Point Earn Rates
| Frequent Flyer Program | |
|---|---|
| Mastercard | |
| Qantas Points* | 0.5 points / $ |
| Velocity Points | 0.33 points / $ |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles | 0.33 miles / $ |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 0.33 miles / $ |
| Everyday Rewards | 0.66 points / $ |
| *Qantas Points are only earned if linked to Altitude Qantas Rewards. | |
The earn rates are the same as the Altitude Platinum Mastercard but there’s a reduced points cap of 5,000 Altitude Rewards points or 2,500 Qantas Points per statement period.
Business cards
Altitude Business credit cards are available to any ABN/ACN holder who meets the approval criteria. The cards need to be used for Business or Investment purposes. A great feature of Altitude Rewards business cards not offered with personal cards is the ability to transfer your reward points to Qantas Frequent Flyer. With personal cards, you must enrol directly in the Altitude Qantas program to earn Qantas Points, excluding you from earning Altitude points that can then be transferred to other airline programs.
Altitude Business Platinum
Card details
| Card | Altitude Business Platinum Mastercard |
| Loyalty program | Altitude Rewards |
| Points earned from spend | 1 Altitude Points per $ on domestic spend 2 points per $ on overseas transactions 0.5 points per $ on Government transactions |
| Points cap | No |
| Earns points at ATO | Yes - as a Government transaction |
| Included insurances | Travel insurance, purchase insurances and some business related insurances (PDS) |
| Overseas transaction fee | 3.0% of the converted amount |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
| Annual fee | $200 |
Effective frequent flyer program point earn rates
| Frequent Flyer Program | Domestic Spend | Overseas Spend |
|---|---|---|
| Qantas Points | 0.5 point / $ | 1 point / $ |
| Velocity Points | 0.33 point / $ | 0.66 point / $ |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles | 0.33 Mile / $ | 0.66 Mile / $ |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 0.33 Mile / $ | 0.66 Mile / $ |
Altitude Business Gold
Card details
| Card | Altitude Business Gold Mastercard |
| Loyalty program | Altitude Rewards |
| Points earned from spend | 1 Altitude points per $ spend 0.5 Altitude points per $ on government transactions |
| Points cap | 20,000 points per statement period |
| Earns points at ATO | Yes - as a Government transaction |
| Included insurances | Travel insurance, purchase insurances and some business related insurances (PDS) |
| Overseas transaction fee | 3.0% of the converted amount |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
| Annual fee | $150 |
Effective frequent flyer program point earn rates
| Frequent Flyer Program | Domestic Spend | Overseas Spend |
|---|---|---|
| Qantas Points | 0.5 point / $ | 0.5 point / $ |
| Velocity Points | 0.33 point / $ | 0.33 point / $ |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles | 0.33 Mile / $ | 0.33 Mile / $ |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 0.33 Mile / $ | 0.33 Mile / $ |
Altitude Rewards vs Altitude Qantas
Westpac makes it relatively easy to swap between Altitude Rewards and Altitude Qantas.
All Altitude cardholders holding personal cards are eligible to switch from Altitude Rewards to Altitude Qantas (and vice versa) at any time, without a cap on the number of times this can be done. Remember, business cardholders can transfer their Altitude points to Qantas Frequent Flyer at any time.
Personal cardholders wishing to switch should allow at least ten business days for a request to be processed or as advised at the time of your request.
There is an annual $50 Qantas Rewards fee if you opt-in to earn Qantas Points (rather than Altitude Rewards).
The ability to switch between programs allows you to effectively earn a signup bonus in one currency (e.g. Altitude Qantas), and then earn points ongoing in another (e.g. Altitude Rewards).
Which program to choose? There’s no right or wrong here. Obviously, if you wish to earn Qantas Points, then Altitude Qantas is a no-brainer. And if you want to earn anything but Qantas Points, it’s Altitude Rewards. If you’re indifferent between the two, the latter does offer ‘flexibility’ in points programs that the former doesn’t. However, the number of equivalent frequent flyer points earned per dollar is not the same as the direct earn card.
Who are the Westpac Altitude Rewards and the Altitude Card range for?
Westpac Altitude Rewards is a versatile program with a range of points transfer partners, making it suitable for those looking for flexibility in using their points.
This is a key benefit for when your ‘go-to’ airline or frequent flyer program isn’t offering points redemption seats for your chosen routes or dates and may make it easier for you to use more of your hard-earned points in the long run.
Originally written by Matt Moffit, with additional updates by Chris Chamberlin.
