Not sure if anyone else realised, but Amex Local Champion earn rate was effectively cut in half with the recent Amex rewards changes. The program offers 1 Bonus Point which in the past equated to 1 QFF point, now that is equal to only 0.5 QFF points. Spending at a restaurant has fallen from a potential 4 QFF points per $1 spent to 1.625 QFF points if you include the 0.5 QFF from Local Champion...quite a reduction.
All true... however, there was a quiet change to Local Champion last year which makes it more attractive. It used to be that you could earn a maximum of 10,000 points via Local Champion. That's now changed to 10,000 points per year.
All true... however, there was a quiet change to Local Champion last year which makes it more attractive. It used to be that you could earn a maximum of 10,000 points via Local Champion. That's now changed to 10,000 points per year.
Swings and roundabouts.
I wonder what proportion of Amex card holders have ever maxed out the Local Champion bonus. The only place I've ever held champion status is the cafe across the road from work and even with a 10,000 points lifetime limit it would take me 6-7 years to hit that...
All true... however, there was a quiet change to Local Champion last year which makes it more attractive. It used to be that you could earn a maximum of 10,000 points via Local Champion. That's now changed to 10,000 points per year.
Swings and roundabouts.
I wonder what proportion of Amex card holders have ever maxed out the Local Champion bonus. The only place I've ever held champion status is the cafe across the road from work and even with a 10,000 points lifetime limit it would take me 6-7 years to hit that...
I’m Local Champion at my local supermarket and my local petrol station. With a family of 4 and 2 cars, we hit the 10000 point limit easily.
All true... however, there was a quiet change to Local Champion last year which makes it more attractive. It used to be that you could earn a maximum of 10,000 points via Local Champion. That's now changed to 10,000 points per year.
Swings and roundabouts.
I wonder what proportion of Amex card holders have ever maxed out the Local Champion bonus. The only place I've ever held champion status is the cafe across the road from work and even with a 10,000 points lifetime limit it would take me 6-7 years to hit that...
I’m Local Champion at my local supermarket and my local petrol station. With a family of 4 and 2 cars, we hit the 10000 point limit easily.
You would be better off buying groceries and petrol with discounted Coles or Woolies gift cards than chasing Local Champion points.
All true... however, there was a quiet change to Local Champion last year which makes it more attractive. It used to be that you could earn a maximum of 10,000 points via Local Champion. That's now changed to 10,000 points per year.
Swings and roundabouts.
I wonder what proportion of Amex card holders have ever maxed out the Local Champion bonus. The only place I've ever held champion status is the cafe across the road from work and even with a 10,000 points lifetime limit it would take me 6-7 years to hit that...
I’m Local Champion at my local supermarket and my local petrol station. With a family of 4 and 2 cars, we hit the 10000 point limit easily.
Hmm, I could become Local Champion at my local Coles if I ran stuff through the self checkouts in more separate transactions, but I think that'd mostly just make me more likely to miss out on flybuys offers that are worth more.
Actually, checking the app, I'm currently 4 transactions away from taking champion status so maybe it could be worth it... could potentially get myself another 3000 points a year out of that. Hmm.
In any case, I should really just use discounted gift cards, they easily exceed the value of MR points.
All true... however, there was a quiet change to Local Champion last year which makes it more attractive. It used to be that you could earn a maximum of 10,000 points via Local Champion. That's now changed to 10,000 points per year.
Swings and roundabouts.
I wonder what proportion of Amex card holders have ever maxed out the Local Champion bonus. The only place I've ever held champion status is the cafe across the road from work and even with a 10,000 points lifetime limit it would take me 6-7 years to hit that...
I’m Local Champion at my local supermarket and my local petrol station. With a family of 4 and 2 cars, we hit the 10000 point limit easily.
Hmm, I could become Local Champion at my local Coles if I ran stuff through the self checkouts in more separate transactions, but I think that'd mostly just make me more likely to miss out on flybuys offers that are worth more.
Actually, checking the app, I'm currently 4 transactions away from taking champion status so maybe it could be worth it... could potentially get myself another 3000 points a year out of that. Hmm.
In any case, I should really just use discounted gift cards, they easily exceed the value of MR points.
You don't need to do separate transactions just spilt the tender a few times over the same card, makes one self service check out transaction multiple transactions from AMEX'S view ;-)
My understanding is that Local Champion provides one bonus point in your card’s native points program, so yes, Membership Rewards cards now fetch 0.5 frequent flyer points per $1 via Local Champion, but the direct Qantas and Velocity branded cards should still earn 1 actual frequent flyer point via Local Champion, as there’s no ‘conversion’ taking place as such.
(Cue the usual “not financial advice” disclaimer...)
I have been LC at my local Woolworths store for over three years.
However I have noticed in the last three months that I've only been getting LC bonus points every 4th or 5th transaction with no apparent logic to the purchases that do get the bonus points.
I have been LC at my local Woolworths store for over three years.
However I have noticed in the last three months that I've only been getting LC bonus points every 4th or 5th transaction with no apparent logic to the purchases that do get the bonus points.
I've noticed the points come in a batch rather than per transaction and is taking 3-4wks
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Amex Local Champion effective points change
Greg84
Greg84
Member since 03 Nov 2014
Total posts 130
Not sure if anyone else realised, but Amex Local Champion earn rate was effectively cut in half with the recent Amex rewards changes. The program offers 1 Bonus Point which in the past equated to 1 QFF point, now that is equal to only 0.5 QFF points. Spending at a restaurant has fallen from a potential 4 QFF points per $1 spent to 1.625 QFF points if you include the 0.5 QFF from Local Champion...quite a reduction.
Sibelius
Sibelius
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 06 Aug 2017
Total posts 181
All true... however, there was a quiet change to Local Champion last year which makes it more attractive. It used to be that you could earn a maximum of 10,000 points via Local Champion. That's now changed to 10,000 points per year.
ajd
ajd
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 27 Nov 2014
Total posts 24
I wonder what proportion of Amex card holders have ever maxed out the Local Champion bonus. The only place I've ever held champion status is the cafe across the road from work and even with a 10,000 points lifetime limit it would take me 6-7 years to hit that...
Sibelius
Sibelius
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 06 Aug 2017
Total posts 181
I wonder what proportion of Amex card holders have ever maxed out the Local Champion bonus. The only place I've ever held champion status is the cafe across the road from work and even with a 10,000 points lifetime limit it would take me 6-7 years to hit that...
I’m Local Champion at my local supermarket and my local petrol station. With a family of 4 and 2 cars, we hit the 10000 point limit easily.
anonymous
anonymous
Member since 24 Dec 2013
Total posts 159
I wonder what proportion of Amex card holders have ever maxed out the Local Champion bonus. The only place I've ever held champion status is the cafe across the road from work and even with a 10,000 points lifetime limit it would take me 6-7 years to hit that...
I’m Local Champion at my local supermarket and my local petrol station. With a family of 4 and 2 cars, we hit the 10000 point limit easily.
You would be better off buying groceries and petrol with discounted Coles or Woolies gift cards than chasing Local Champion points.
ajd
ajd
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 27 Nov 2014
Total posts 24
I wonder what proportion of Amex card holders have ever maxed out the Local Champion bonus. The only place I've ever held champion status is the cafe across the road from work and even with a 10,000 points lifetime limit it would take me 6-7 years to hit that...
I’m Local Champion at my local supermarket and my local petrol station. With a family of 4 and 2 cars, we hit the 10000 point limit easily.
Rhino
Rhino
Member since 27 Aug 2013
Total posts 6
I wonder what proportion of Amex card holders have ever maxed out the Local Champion bonus. The only place I've ever held champion status is the cafe across the road from work and even with a 10,000 points lifetime limit it would take me 6-7 years to hit that...
I’m Local Champion at my local supermarket and my local petrol station. With a family of 4 and 2 cars, we hit the 10000 point limit easily.
You don't need to do separate transactions just spilt the tender a few times over the same card, makes one self service check out transaction multiple transactions from AMEX'S view ;-)
moa999
moa999
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Jul 2011
Total posts 834
The current champion at my local supermarket does about 40 txns/month
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
My understanding is that Local Champion provides one bonus point in your card’s native points program, so yes, Membership Rewards cards now fetch 0.5 frequent flyer points per $1 via Local Champion, but the direct Qantas and Velocity branded cards should still earn 1 actual frequent flyer point via Local Champion, as there’s no ‘conversion’ taking place as such.
daft009
daft009
Member since 09 Jul 2016
Total posts 19
I've been maxing out LC for the last 3yrs. Just maxed it out for 2019 as well
johnjinsf
johnjinsf
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
Member since 14 Jan 2019
Total posts 1
I have been LC at my local Woolworths store for over three years.
daft009
daft009
Member since 09 Jul 2016
Total posts 19
I've noticed the points come in a batch rather than per transaction and is taking 3-4wks