Changes to AMEX Rewards Maximiser Point Earning

[kamchatsky]

Does the Gold Credit Card still exist? I can only see the Gold Choices Credit Card (which credits to Choices, not Ascent program)

Well it may not be advertised but you can call up for annual fee for life Gold Credit card I think. I still keep my fee free for life Amex Gold Credit card open just in case I need it!

 

[JohnK]

Does the Gold Credit Card still exist? I can only see the Gold Choices Credit Card (which credits to Choices, not Ascent program)

I still have an Amex Gold credit card and it is my favourite credit card. I have it fee free but I think it is conditioned on an annual spend of $9,000 which is reasonable. Just recently I was given an extra 50% bonus points for 6 months. Didn't ask for it, one day received a phone call and asked would I like to have 50% bonus points for 6 months. Needless to say I am putting most of my spend, except for QF flights, through the Amex Gold card....

 

[vt]

Just got my annual fee waived. Saves $192. Pretty good.

Although a free professionally sponsored AMEX Gold with free Ascent membership is probably better.

1 to 1 up to $10000 annual
1 to 1.5 from $10000

dont think there is a cap.

 

[beardoc]

Just got my annual fee waived. Saves $192. Pretty good.

Although a free professionally sponsored AMEX Gold with free Ascent membership is probably better.

1 to 1 up to $10000 annual
1 to 1.5 from $10000

dont think there is a cap.

If you spend more than $20000/year on the card, the professional organisation AMEX cards are better than the "new" Rewards Maximiser - and they are fee free for life too. Of course, there's no guarantee that these cards won't be reviewed as well in time.

 

[vt]

If you spend more than $20000/year on the card, the professional organisation AMEX cards are better than the "new" Rewards Maximiser - and they are fee free for life too. Of course, there's no guarantee that these cards won't be reviewed as well in time.

Yep. $20,000 is $1,667 a month. Thats a couple flights/hotels per month. My normal household expenditure would be greater than $20,000 a year. Hope that didnt come across as arrogant.

Not a very high watermark.

Its also free rather than $192.

Of course, there's no guarantee that these cards won't be reviewed as well in time.

Yep. Subject to evaluation when conditions change.

 

[MicoPico]

Today, I walked into an AMEX platinum promotional stand and had a chat with the reps there.

I told them I have a rewards maximiser gold card and the rep said that there'll be changes on 1/4/09 -
* 1.25 pt per dollar instead of 1.5pt per dollar, after $100k, it's 1 to 1.
* that i will not be able to transfer points to SQ anymore and that all my MR points will be "nullified".

Now, from what i have read so far, the first point is correct, but the 2nd point doesn't seem true to me! she said that some AMEX customers already got sent a letter, and that i should receive one soon.

Maybe all they care about is selling Plat card, but I think I need to get the facts straight before I consider up-ing to plat or just sticking with Maximiser.

I currently spend about $30k/year, what do you think my chances are to get my Maximiser fee waived in Nov, or better still... get my 1st year Plat fee waived?

Is it as simple as asking nicely when calling them up? or do I need to play the "I would leave if I don't get waived" card?

 

[Mal]

Today, I walked into an AMEX platinum promotional stand and had a chat with the reps there.

I told them I have a rewards maximiser gold card and the rep said that there'll be changes on 1/4/09 -
* 1.25 pt per dollar instead of 1.5pt per dollar, after $100k, it's 1 to 1.
* that i will not be able to transfer points to SQ anymore and that all my MR points will be "nullified".

Methinks they're confused about the dropping of Qantas redemptions from April 1st next year and mentioned SQ instead.

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...-amex-changes-consolidated-threads-14509.html

"Nullified"? Hahahahahaa. Maybe if you abuse [note this is very subjective, and could be in the future subject to legal definition!] the current Amex promo for 5/5000 bonus points...

 

[MicoPico]

Hi Mal,

Nah... she didn't mention anything about the abuse She also said that I can keep all my MR points if i switch to the Plat card haha....

She said my best option is to sign up for Plat before November (renewal), but I am not changing my card choice unless there's concrete evidence in writing that I'll lose all my MR points and no SQ option if I stay on Maximiser.

Btw, I wonder if I can keep my 5k/5 if I upgrade to Plat in the middle of the promo (e.g. in Nov). No way am I giving away this promo!

 

[serfty]

Amex have sent notification of the 1½ to 1¼ change come April. Also notification in regard to Ascent not being able to transfer to QF.

I have come across nothing in regard to removing SQ from the program, in fact (IIRC) the SQ redemption ratio improved significantly earlier this year.

 

[smart1999]

Just got my annual fee waived. Saves $192. Pretty good.

Although a free professionally sponsored AMEX Gold with free Ascent membership is probably better.

1 to 1 up to $10000 annual
1 to 1.5 from $10000

dont think there is a cap.

How did you manage to get the fees waived?

 

[vt]

I called up to say due to the changes I want to cancel my card.

 

[Flashback]

Generally by spending $x in a year, they will waive. I think if you read further up... it may be posted.

 

[smart1999]

Someone mentioned that it used to be waived for >$8000 spend but I sounded like they don't do that anymore.

Has anyone recently had their fees waived because of their yearly spending pattern?

 

[vt]

Someone mentioned that it used to be waived for >$8000 spend but I sounded like they don't do that anymore.

Has anyone recently had their fees waived because of their yearly spending pattern?

Dont think they do this automatically. My fee was charged in July/August and when I rang to complain about the changes found that they had charged my annual fee. They said I can get the money back if I cancelled my card before the end of the month. I asked to cancel and they forwarded me to cancellations.

They said I was high value so waiving/refunding the fee.

I do use my AMEX for travel expenses so put through on average 10 to 15 k a month.

Not sure about high value given I have never paid a day in interest.

 

[serfty]

... Not sure about high value given I have never paid a day in interest.

AMEX get at least a commission of around 1% from every sale and probably more. I would guess they are getting at least $200 per month from that alone.

Lets not forget about FOREX charges ...

So at that level of expenditure, they are doing alright from you ...

 

[vt]

AMEX get at least a commission of around 1% from every sale and probably more. I would guess they are getting at least $200 per month from that alone.

Lets not forget about FOREX charges ...

So at that level of expenditure, they are doing alright from you ...

noice :shock:

Always thought it was those living on credit that make credit cards profitable.

 

[Andy]

Someone mentioned that it used to be waived for >$8000 spend but I sounded like they don't do that anymore.

Has anyone recently had their fees waived because of their yearly spending pattern?

Last year they had offered me half the fees and this year when i called up and asked for waiving of the fees, they immediately obliged and said 'you had a good spending year with us...' they also waived off the supp card fees

 

[sparoy]

I rang AMEX and they confirmed that all stays the same until 1 April 2009... when all Rewards Maximiser Cardholders revert to the new system... $1 = 1.25 pts, capped at $100,000 p.a.

As mentioned... it was a little ridiculous having a card offering unlimited points at the $1 = 1.5 conversion for such a low annual fee...

Oh well...

Sorry to dig up old thread, but I just spoke to Amex and they told me that my RM is uncapped ie. I'm getting unlimited $1 = 1.25 pts.
I haven't reached $100,000 this year, so there's no way of checking (unlikely now because of the CBA Amex promo).

Has anyone been able to confirm this?

 

[glass]

" I just spoke to Amex"

You won't trust amex but will trust some wierdo on the net?
Yeh ok I'll confirm it then.