New Amex redemption rates for SQ/EK; adding transfers to QR/HA

[Cynicor]

While churning is devalued too, ongoing/daily spend is the most hit, so churning as a strategy is still viable.

Post automatically merged: Jul 4, 2023

I think I’ll move spend to VA, though I need to consider avios value

 

[Skyhawk]

Amex are dramatically devaluing the MR transfer rates to Silverkris

Just Silverkris???

 

[SOPOOR]

Im going to sound like a broken record,
But these devals are just pure greed.

Will there be some point of which people will cancel all their cards.....

Id love to hit them where it hurts by having a mass boycott, but i dont like my chances

 

[andrewpf]

Damn. With an Amex and a separate Mastercard I could still pool my points for a KF award. Now that becomes so much harder. While Avios may be of interest, there is no Australian card that earns them outside Amex; so that doesn't help.

 

[dsotm]

How do you think QR J/F availability compares with SA? I've always had good luck booking Singapore savers a long way out

 

[dajop]

Im going to sound like a broken record,
But these devals are just pure greed.

Will there be some point of which people will cancel all their cards.....

Personally I think churning is to blame for all of this. Too much generosity when it comes of attracting new business, too many points out there which leads to inevitable devaluations.

By contrast I have multiple Singapore cards and In the market here, the sign up incentives are either so small, or come with so many strings attached that churning is too much bother. Instead though we have cards that typically earn 1.2-1.4 pts per $ local spend, 2 pts per $ foreign spend and then often other bonuses (eg 3 pts per $ for online flight bookings on one card I have).

Swings and roundabouts really.

 

[blacksultan]

Makes US Amexes more attractive !

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Personally I think churning is to blame for all of this. Too much generosity when it comes of attracting new business, too many points out there which leads to inevitable devaluations.

By contrast I have multiple Singapore cards and In the market here, the sign up incentives are either so small, or come with so many strings attached that churning is too much bother. Instead though we have cards that typically earn 1.2-1.4 pts per $ local spend, 2 pts per $ foreign spend and then often other bonuses (eg 3 pts per $ for online flight bookings on one card I have).

Swings and roundabouts really.

From what I've heard from those in the banking industry, the costs associated with Skywards and KrisFlyer have long been at the more expensive end of the spectrum in terms of 'buying' those miles for customers behind the scenes. When you consider that most foreign airlines also operate internationally in USD (and with Emirates, their home currency, AED, is directly tied to the USD value anyway), and that the Australian dollar has been progressively losing value against the USD since around 2021, it can make what's already 'expensive' even more so. Still, can't say I'm happy about the devaluation, although I've been trying to save my AMEX points for more creative uses anyway, such as Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for ANA first class (but which, as a redemption, was also recently devalued). You can't win, really!

 

[Chicken]

I've been trying to save my AMEX points for more creative uses anyway, such as Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

AmEx to Virgin Atlantic is still 2:1; but I tried to book Australia to USA using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and only economy was available. I feel like it's time to go back to Qantas Frequent Flyer.

 

[Doctore1003]

After these changes, you may as well just transfer MR->VA->SQ.
100k MR = 33.3k SQ
100k MR = 50k VA = 32.2k SQ - or more if you use a VA transfer bonus

 

[jakeseven7]

How do you think QR J/F availability compares with SA? I've always had good luck booking Singapore savers a long way out

QR is very poor in my experience and many others on here. SQ much better.

So although the addition of AVIOS is interesting, first reaction is meh.

After these changes, you may as well just transfer MR->VA->SQ.
100k MR = 33.3k SQ
100k MR = 50k VA = 32.2k SQ - or more if you use a VA transfer bonus

Yup - BUT lets hope Velocity isn't next to be devalued....

AmEx to Virgin Atlantic is still 2:1; but I tried to book Australia to USA using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and only economy was available. I feel like it's time to go back to Qantas Frequent Flyer.

Virgin Atlantic is a joke for redemptions too agreed.

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

Amex MR transfer devaluation !

I got that in New Zealand as well.

 

[ltwo]

I don't like the chances of VA to SQ rates staying the same. If this is driven by SQ putting a premium on their points, it won't be long before VA needs to lower the transfer rate too.

 

[jakeseven7]

I don't like the chances of VA to SQ rates staying the same. If this is driven by SQ putting a premium on their points, it won't be long before VA needs to lower the transfer rate too.

Exactly and they can sneak through changes very quickly as well

 

[dajop]

If this is driven by SQ putting a premium on their points, it won't be long before VA needs to lower the transfer rate too.

I have no doubt SQ probably put a premium on their points, but I also have no doubt that Amex see the volumes going out to SQ, and see this as an easy win. They are probably being hit by the double whammy of exchange rate (both in having to pay more in AUD terms for points, and in USD revenue generated for the parent). So it is really low hanging fruit, introducing and incentivising cheaper Avios, which no doubt that Al Baker is selling for a lot cheaper than SQ.

 

[Doctore1003]

After these changes, you may as well just transfer MR->VA->SQ.
100k MR = 33.3k SQ
100k MR = 50k VA = 32.2k SQ - or more if you use a VA transfer bonus

Another option is MR->Marriott->SQ if/when Amex have another 50% transfer bonus to Marriott
60k MR = 60K Marriott = 25k SQ (that;s 'only' 5K less miles than the current MR->SQ)

 

[drcam]

Not good at all.

In my experience Qatar miles were next to impossible to redeem for any premium flights.

Does even VA have any redemption availability in J and on any of its partners?

I've been an Amex member for 17 consecutive years. It seems like it's time to pull the pin.

 

[Viridis]

I have the HSBC *A credit card - interesting to see if anything happens there. Makes the poor redemption rates on that card look much better now.

If I were a cynic ......

 

[yoyo]

I have the HSBC *A credit card - interesting to see if anything happens there. Makes the poor redemption rates on that card look much better now.

If I were a cynic ......

What airline did you choose to get the status with? This change definitely makes the HSBC card more attractive and may be worthwhile moving points to Air Canada or United for redemptions as they are generally less than KF.

 

[Viridis]

What airline did you choose to get the status with? This change definitely makes the HSBC card more attractive and may be worthwhile moving points to Air Canada or United for redemptions as they are generally less than KF.

SQ