$25 bonus on Amex travel card

[Cynicor]

Hey guys and gals,

In the latest points update I noticed that they have an offer for a bonus $25 on a $100 minimum travel card.

Anyone else think this might be a good deal? Even with really poor rates, commissions and fees, you'd probably end up ahead. I'll be heading to my aus post outlet today to see what the deal is, and I'll post rates if I can.

Thoughts?

 

[akeno]

Good find.

If you buy from Australia Post do you get the bonus $25. It says to go to the Amex Foreign Exchange outlets and quote "bonus $25".

 

[AdMEL]

Hey guys and gals,

In the latest points update I noticed that they have an offer for a bonus $25 on a $100 minimum travel card.

Anyone else think this might be a good deal? Even with really poor rates, commissions and fees, you'd probably end up ahead. I'll be heading to my aus post outlet today to see what the deal is, and I'll post rates if I can.

Thoughts?

What points update are you referring to?

Could you please post a link to the points update or the specific offer?

 

[akeno]

it's in reference to the global travel card promo on the americanexpress.com.au/more site:

https://www.americanexpress.com/australia/bonus-partners/details.html#/globaltravel-card

 

[AdMEL]

it's in reference to the global travel card promo on the americanexpress.com.au/more site:

https://www.americanexpress.com/australia/bonus-partners/details.html#/globaltravel-card

Thanks! ...

 

[Cynicor]

Ok.
So I'm in the aus post shop now, and this one has a specific Amex booth within the store.
Lots of fees and t and cs but the initial card fee and the 3% fee is being waived right now.

Seems you choose euro, usd or gbp for $100AUD then get a bonus $25 on it.

Cannot pay by card, cash or possibly eft pos. not sure if XS card might work

Need to fill in a few details, and the rate is 0.927 compared to xe of about .952
So already out by 3%.

Will update soon!

 

[Cynicor]

Ok. $100AUD became $115 USD
Not bad. Seems only usable once per cardmember, but that is about 20 free USD over what I would have got from my Citi or 28 Degrees...

 

[FrankC]

Ok. $100AUD became $115 USD
Not bad. Seems only usable once per cardmember, but that is about 20 free USD over what I would have got from my Citi or 28 Degrees...

Do you mind sharing how long the card is valid for? I understand the credit do not expire, but would like to see how long I have to use up the $ before need to deal with transferring credits, etc

 

[Cynicor]

05/2018, should be long enough!
comes with a backup card too.

 

[akeno]

Thanks for sharing Cynicor. So the amex booths at Australia Post load the bonus $25 credit into the card straight away?

 

[Cynicor]

Yep. As they take your details down to issue the card, it seems like it will be only 1 bonus per cardmember. Supp cards will likely work, however. As I have edge and charge plat but no supps, I think I would not be allowed the bonus twice.

 

[JohnK]

Sorry I have never used one of these cards.

Any further fees when you use the travel card overseas? Can one use it to withdraw the total amount at an ATM in say Thailand?

 

[Cynicor]

Sorry I have never used one of these cards.

Any further fees when you use the travel card overseas? Can one use it to withdraw the total amount at an ATM in say Thailand?

They are absolutely loaded with fees, and so I have never used one before.
There's an issuing fee, reload fee, ATM fee, conversion fee (built into the poor rate) to load it to USD then a 3% commission to change it to your currency of choice when you withdraw it.

So really poor value overall, and I'm not sure why anyone would use them normally. However- right now they issue the card free and waive the 3% conversion fee AND give the bonus $25, so it works out really well for the first $100. At which point I will either spend or withdraw it all and never use it again!

 

[JohnK]

So really poor value overall, and I'm not sure why anyone would use them normally. However- right now they issue the card free and waive the 3% conversion fee AND give the bonus $25, so it works out really well for the first $100. At which point I will either spend or withdraw it all and never use it again!

Thanks. I sort of understand they would not be good value.

Just trying to work out how much I would be able to withdraw in Thailand with the USD115 and if it is worth me leaving work for an hour or two to go into Queen St Mall to purchase!

Can anyone speculate?

 

[Cynicor]

My guess is currently it would get you quite close to the xe rate, minus $2AUD for the ATM fee. The fine print also mentions that you cannot cash out the bonus $, but I get the impression they mean in AUD rather than your foreign currency. I will know more in 2 week, when I attempt to withdraw it in SIN.

So if its 2 unpaid hours vs getting paid at work, not worth it. On a weekend it may be a different matter.

 

[JohnK]

It would be my personal time during the week.

Another thing to factor is the 150THB ATM withdrawal fee in Thailand.

 

[fersea]

Where on earth do you live that it is going to take you an hour or two to get to a post office?

I might look at this.

 

[fersea]

Where on earth do you live that it is going to take you an hour or two to get to a post office?

I might look at this.

Sorry I take that back, not every post office is one of these Amex things.

 

[JohnK]

Where on earth do you live that it is going to take you an hour or two to get to a post office?

I might look at this.

As you have worked out things are not as they seem.

When you live and work in a small country town sometimes it is a long way to get in to the city to get things done.

 

[paultiffen]

Does it have a cc function ie can you get the money off it with PayPal?