As has been pointed out, AMEX has released their new offer for this much loved card. The signon bonus being offered is still the same, at 15,000 points, but they are waiving the annual for the first year (worth $195). The current 15,000 bonus points offer, with no annual fee for the first year
expires 27th March 2017!
REFERRAL LINK.
For anyone that doesn't have, or know about this card,
this would have to be the most recommended credit card on AFF!! And for good reason, if you'd like to know more my thoughts on this card follow, there are also plenty of posts and threads on how to make the most of this card. One that has a particularly good following, and is full of useful advice is
Gift Cards at Supermarkets, which covers how to make the most of this cards massive 3pts/$ earn at supermarkets by using gift cards for your other shopping. The
New statement credits thread also covers the current AMEX Statement Credit offers that are available to AMEX card holders. AMEX statement credit offers, come out frequently and can be a great way to save some extra $$$ (sometimes even serious cash), assuming they line up with your planned spending. I've certainly made some significant savings out of them over the last year - combined with small shop
I saved $1500 last year alone!.
I applied for this card exactly a year ago now, via a referral offer on this forum, and was approved instantly. Instant approvals have been the norm for me when applying through a
referral link. Since I've had this card, it has easily become the most used card in my wallet and nets me many more points a month than any other card I've ever had. I think this card has almost cracked the 110k points for me in the 12 months I've had it! It's just a pity I didn't get on the bandwagon sooner! I also feel that with the recent devaluations of many bank issued Visa and Mastercards, now is very much the right time to make the switch to AMEX cards (and not the bank issued ones). I've certainly made the switch to AMEX cards and between this card and the
Platinum Charge, I'm very happy with my decision. By buying gift mastercards at Coles / Woolies (like the current Coles MasterCard Offer), I've been able to switch almost all my spend to AMEX now.
I guess you've probably figured out by now that I'm a big fan of this card, but I feel that this is the case with good reason! And whilst you may not agree with my assessment, here are the main reasons I believe this is the
best card in the Australian credit card market at the moment - and why it should be in your wallet!:
- A $200 AMEX travel credit each card membership year - nice! Whilst probably not as valuable as the previous flight offer, at $200 it covers the annual fee and essentially makes this great card free! Nice! AMEX travel credits are easy to use, just book your flights, accommodation or hire card using the AMEX website and the travel credit will be applied. Very simple, no hassle and easy for everyone to use.
- 3 points per $ on grocery spend. This is a great deal! Everyone buys groceries and 3 points per dollar is an excellent earn rate on this spend. If you combine this with judicious gift card purchases from you local supermarket you can really maximise this. There's an excellent thread on that topic here (Gift Cards at Supermarkets). You can make this 4 points per $ if you can become the AMEX local champion at your local grocery store - thread on this here. At 4 pts / $ this card is impossible to beat!!!!
- 2 points per dollar on fuel - again like groceries, most people buy fuel - why not earn maximum points for this. Make this 3 or 4 points per $ if you buy gift cards from your supermarket which you then use to purchase fuel! Nice little earner too, especially for those that drive a lot!
- Points can be transferred to massive variety of partners (ie no FF program "lock in" - in case of FF program devaluations!!) - Virgin Velocity, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Cathy Pacific AsiaMiles, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, and some more valuable ones if you transfer via SPG (AAdvantage, BA Executive Club, Alaska Airlines & United Miles, among others)
- 15,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points - if you apply via THIS REFERRAL LINK - based on my numbers I value this at $570+ (and you can always cancel the card if you ends up not being for you!)
I've been a perennial churner of credit cards over the years, mainly because I don't think their are many keepers in the Australian credit card market place. With one major exception, this card, the AMEX Platinum Edge, given the free flight pays for the annual fee each year - and its excellent points earn on everyday spend - this card is going to be in my wallet for sometime to come!
UPDATED REFERRAL LINK: No expiry listed at the moment.
You'll receive 15,000 Membership Rewards points if you spend $750 in the first three months -
updated referral link HERE!
Quick Card Summary (as per the AMEX site):
- 15,000 Bonus Membership Rewards points, if you are approved and spend $750 on your new Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- $200 AMEX travel credit each card membership year
- Earn 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at major supermarkets
- Earn 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at major petrol stations
- Earn 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on all other purchases excluding utilities, insurance (except those issued by American Express), telecommunication providers and government bodies in Australia where you earn 0.5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent
- When you pay for travel on your card you will receive complimentary comprehensive domestic and international travel insurance
Membership Rewards Transfer Partners (highlights):
- Virgin Australia Velocity Points 1:1
- Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Miles 1:1
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles 1:1
- Malaysia Airlines Enrich Miles 1:1
- Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Starpoints (Good for AAdvantage, BA Executive Club, United Airlines transfers) 2:1
If you are sitting on the fence with AMEX cards at the moment, something that might swing you around is the RBA's changes in interchange fees, which come into effect later this year. These changes reduce the earn banks make on Visa and Mastercard transactions (AMEX issued, AMEX cards are excluded) and through 2016 banks reduced the points earn rates on a number of their cards. Expect more of the same in 2017, and consider getting on board the AMEX bandwagon!
As per all AMEX referral offers, anyone referring a friend (me in this case), earns a little bonus, currently 10k points for this card. The applicant also gets a bonus over the public offer too - an extra 5k points in this case. For anyone who would like to apply for this card,
and get the 15,000 bonus points,
my Referral Link, it is here. To anyone kind enough to use my link, you certainly have my heart felt thanks!
Finally, as always, whilst this is an excellent deal and an excellent card, you need to take your own financial circumstances into account before applying for any credit card. Whilst the chase for points can be addictive, even exciting, don't put your personal finances at risk in the process - it is simply not worth it!
