Westpac is the latest major bank to announce a big shake-up of its American Express credit cards.

The bank has announced that its current AMEX cards, which are issued and serviced by Westpac, will close in April 2018.

To replace them, Westpac and AMEX say they will launch a range of new rewards credit cards in early 2018, under a new partnership. These new cards will likely carry the Westpac logo but be issued and serviced by AMEX Australia.

We don’t know any details yet about the new cards or how existing Westpac cardholders will be transitioned to them, but nonetheless, this could be good news for Westpac customers.

All of the banks have been forced to respond to new laws that have made high-end cards, especially AMEX cards, no longer viable for them. However, Westpac, unlike ANZ and NAB, isn’t simply cutting its AMEX cards completely. Instead, it’s opted for a new partnership with AMEX Australia.

Since cards issued by AMEX Australia are not subject to the new laws that affect bank-issued cards, AMEX Australia is able to continue to offer generous perks. (In fact, AMEX has been increasing the perks it offers, to woo new customers).

It seems likely that the new Westpac AMEX cards, being issued by AMEX Australia, will also provide decent benefits. We don’t know any details yet, but yesterday’s press release states that the new cards will offer “an accelerated reward points earn rate, uncapped points, complimentary retail and travel insurance, and other benefits offered exclusively by American Express” – which sounds promising.

Westpac cardholders will also continue to have the choice of accruing points to either their existing Westpac Altitude Rewards or Qantas Frequent Flyer account.

More information about the new cards and the transition process for Westpac cardholders is expected in early 2018.

Singapore Airlines has pulled back the curtain on its eagerly-awaited new A380 business and first class cabins.

The big reveal comes as the airline faces tough competition from Middle Eastern and Asian carriers in the premium travel market. Singapore Airlines no doubt hopes the cabin upgrades will help it maintain its allure.

Singapore Airlines first class passengers are set to enjoy spacious new suites arranged in a 1-1 layout on the superjumbo’s upper deck.

A 21-inch leather armchair that reclines to 45 degrees and swivels is accompanied by a separate fold-down bed measuring 193 cm by 68 cm.

The new Singapore Airlines A380 first class suite

With just six suites in total (down from the current 12), the design is reminiscent of Etihad’s first class offering, which is regarded by many as industry-leading.

Couples travelling together will have the option to combine the suites in rows 1 and 2 by lowering the dividing wall between them, in effect creating a double bed. Unlike in Etihad first class though, it doesn’t look like you’ll be able to dine together as the seats are quite far apart.

Combine the suites in rows 1 and 2 into a luxurious space for two

Each suite has a 32-inch full HD monitor that can swivel for the different viewing angles in seat and bed modes, a full-sized personal wardrobe, customised handbag stowage compartment, amenity box and mood lighting.

Plenty of storage in the new suites

Unlike some of its competitors, Singapore Airlines has opted not to install first class showers. Instead, two spacious and stylishly appointed bathrooms will be located at the front of the cabin, one of which will have a sit-down vanity counter.

One of two stylish first class bathrooms

Filling out the remainder of the A380 upper deck will be 78 new business class seats arranged in a 1-2-1 layout.

The new Singapore Airlines A380 business class seat

Singapore Airlines has opted for a denser configuration and narrower seats compared to its existing A380s, no doubt to increase revenue.

Measuring 25 inches in width and reclining into a 78-inch full-flat bed, the new business class seats are an evolution from the airline’s current products on Boeing 777-300ERs and A350s.

The new Singapore Airlines A380 business class seat

A new feature is that the middle two seats behind a bulkhead (three rows in total) can be transformed into a ‘double bed’ for couples – but it doesn’t look like you’ll have much privacy.

A ‘double bed’, of sorts, in business class

Other features include USB ports and in-seat power, an enlarged dining table, an 18-inch entertainment screen and more stowage space.

In premium economy and economy, passengers can expect a minor refresh from what the carrier currently operates on its newer aircraft.

Sadly, Singapore Airlines has opted to not provide a social space on its A380s (such as a bar or lounge) where passengers can enjoy a change of scenery or mingle, unlike what you’ll find on some of its competitors’ planes.

The revamped cabins will be installed on the five new A380s Singapore Airlines has on order while its 14 existing A380s will be retrofitted between 2018 and 2020.

The first A380 with the new cabins will debut on the Singapore-Sydney route in December, with Singapore-London tipped to be next in early 2018.

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Singapore Airlines’ eagerly awaited new cabin products, which will be revealed at global launch events in Singapore over 2-4 November, will debut on the Singapore-Sydney route in December.

The introduction of the new cabin products – in first class suites, business, premium economy and economy class – follows four years of development involving extensive customer feedback. They will initially be fitted on five new A380s that the airline has on firm order with Airbus.

The first of the A380s with the new products will operate daily from 18 December as flight SQ221, departing Singapore at 2040hrs and arriving into Sydney at 0740hrs the following day. It will return as flight SQ232, departing Sydney at 1215hrs and arriving into Singapore at 1735hrs. Additional destinations for the new products will be revealed in the coming months.

Sydney was the launch destination for Singapore Airlines’ first Airbus A380 – which was also the world’s first commercial A380 flight – exactly 10 years ago yesterday, so it’s fitting that the new products will again debut on this route.

Stay tuned next week for the big reveal of the new cabins, and good luck to anyone trying to secure award seats to test them out!

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Qantas and Emirates announced more changes to their partnership today, with bad news for travellers who were looking forward to flying between Australia and New Zealand with Emirates.

From March 2018, Emirates will stop flying from Melbourne and Brisbane to Auckland, retaining only its daily A380 flights between Sydney and Christchurch.

At the same time, Qantas will increase the frequency of its services between Australia and New Zealand, adding seven new return flights per week between Melbourne and Auckland and two return services per week between Brisbane and Auckland.

Some of these services will be up-gauged from a 737 to a much more comfortable A330.

Qantas’ new trans-Tasman services will carry Emirates code and will connect to Qantas’ London services via Perth or Singapore and Emirates’ services between Australia and Europe via Dubai.

Emirates will reportedly reschedule some of its Australian flights to Dubai to create a better spread of departure times throughout the day.

Emirates is evaluating potential new direct services between New Zealand and Dubai.

These latest changes are included in the airlines’ pitch to regulators to extend their joint venture for another five years.

Tickets for Qantas’ new Tasman services will be available progressively from tomorrow.

Emirates customers with existing bookings impacted by the Tasman changes will be re-accommodated onto Qantas services or will be given the option to change their flights.

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National Australia Bank has become the second major bank (after ANZ) to axe its American Express companion cards.

NAB announced today that it will stop issuing AMEX cards on 13 November 2017, with all existing NAB-issued AMEX cards to cease working on 21 February 2018.

This affects customers who hold the following Visa and AMEX companion card products: NAB Qantas Rewards, NAB Qantas Rewards Premium, NAB Velocity Rewards and NAB Velocity Rewards Premium.

NAB blames the new credit card regulations that kicked in on 1 July for this change. Under the new laws, margins on bank-issued credit cards have been slashed, with bank-issued AMEX cards the hardest hit.

On 13 November, the Visa earn rates on the NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card and the NAB Velocity Rewards Premium Card will also change, moving from 0.5 points per $1 (capped at $5,000 per month) to 1 point per $1.50 spent (i.e. 0.66 points per $1) with a $3000 monthly cap (after which you earn a measly 1 point per $3).

NAB customers will surely be disappointed that their AMEX cards are being shut down. If that’s you and you’re now looking for a new AMEX card (which is essential to get the most from your everyday spending), here are my top picks:

• for earning Qantas Points, the Qantas AMEX Ultimate Card gets you a high earn rate and comes with a $450 travel credit that fully offsets the annual fee.
• for earning Velocity Points, I love the AMEX Explorer Card  or AMEX Velocity Platinum Card, both of which have great earn rates and a stack of other perks, including a free flight or travel credit.

Click the links above to read our reviews of these great cards, all of which offer bonus points for signing-up 🙂

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