No more complimentary flight for NEW AMEX Edge card

[nlagalle]

Hmmm wonder if this will happen to the reserve card. I've only used it lately for hotel stays. I don't wish to fly VA anymore

 

[oz_mark]

Hmmm wonder if this will happen to the reserve card. I've only used it lately for hotel stays. I don't wish to fly VA anymore

I'd opt in for a 400 credit if given the option....

 

[blueythecat]

I spoke to Amex about the new $200 travel credit. They advised they will be contacting exisiting Edge card holders soon asking if they would like to move over to the $200 credit. I was told this will be an option and not a forced move over. No date was given when this offer will be coming through, however it would be soon.

Amex customer service said that they had been having many enquiries for people to move over since they didn't have the use for the free flight.

Sounds like a win for everyone

This sounds promising - hopefully it is what AMEX ends up going with! Definitely a win-win situation!

 

[pauly7]

I spoke to Amex about the new $200 travel credit. They advised they will be contacting exisiting Edge card holders soon asking if they would like to move over to the $200 credit. I was told this will be an option and not a forced move over. No date was given when this offer will be coming through, however it would be soon.

Amex customer service said that they had been having many enquiries for people to move over since they didn't have the use for the free flight.

Sounds like a win for everyone

Great news as I'd prefer a credit. Wonder if I can proactively contact them...

 

[jb747]

As I had no intention of ever using the VA flights, this would be an improvement.

 

[Haplo]

It would be really good if the reserve is given the $400 credit instead of the flight

 

[albyd]

I don't mind the change as long as the earn structure remains - that's the most attractive feature if the card. The free flight is an added bonus.

Haven't had any trouble using the flight reward for specific flights I've had in mind and have been able to book at the same time as for Reserve and Velocity Platinum.

 

[Happy Dude]

I'm in two minds on this. Because I'm Canberra-based, I usually get terrific value out of the free flight.

Recently though, however, twice I have not been able to redeem the flight at two weeks notice. I don't know if it's new but only certain fare classes are available when booking within 21 days of departure, which I understand, but it feels like I'm not getting as much value as possible from the free flight, and the flexibility is not there. It forces me to plan way ahead in order to use the free flight but if it's cheap enough then I'm better off buying the flights and getting FFP's/SCs.

With a travel credit, there'd be plenty of flexibility but, at $200, the value just wouldn't be there. That amount doesn't go far when booking travel out of CBR.

I'll probably end up keeping the flight and use it to fly the parents here.

 

[halogen]

Perth user here: a VA flight to melb/syd was always around $600-700 so it was a massive saving for me.

My wife and I have our own cards and there are always plenty of friends and family (in Perth) that would happily take (buy) the flight off us so expiring free flight was never an issue for us.

Definitely wouldn't opt for the $200 option but can see why users on the Eastern States would see more value in the credit.

 

[pauly7]

Perth user here: a VA flight to melb/syd was always around $600-700 so it was a massive saving for me.

My wife and I have our own cards and there are always plenty of friends and family (in Perth) that would happily take (buy) the flight off us so expiring free flight was never an issue for us.

Definitely wouldn't opt for the $200 option but can see why users on the Eastern States would see more value in the credit.

Yes, makes complete sense for WA based members, if you can avoid the VA737s
Has anyone proactively called to switch their flight to flight credit yet?

 

[kylebb]

Based in melbourne I found the value of the flight pretty dubious at best - the route I regularly fly is only 7800 VFF + ~$17 in tax each way, much more flexible to just book the same fares this way

Does anyone know if the credit for the edge can be used in the same booking as the credit for the explorer? (So $600 towards one booking?)

 

[get me outta here]

When is the date for the existing card holders to book their flight (or auto go to $200 travel credit)?

 

[Jonova]

The letter says 30th March is the last day to book flights

 

[scwappy]

I tried to book a free flight yesterday, but the phone number said they were experiencing significant volume and after 35 minutes I hung up. It maybe the number is no longer being manned. has anyone had any luck trying to book their last flight?

 

[Ricko]

Scwappy I booked my flight last week and was on hold for an hour and a half. I rang up to book a flight on my partner's card on Wednesday and was asked by a general CSM for my preferred dates and was told someone would call back. The same lady I spoke to last week was the person who called me back. I suspect there aren't many people left in the flight redemption team.

 

[blueythecat]

I booked my Edge one the other day. First time I called it was over 30mins before the call was answered and then the person on the phone couldn't help. They promised a call back, but it never came.

I called again the next morning and got straight through, flight booked in under 10 mins.

 

[Tiki]

The $200 credit has more use to me as I rarely fly domestically and prefer to spend on hotels. My question is: Do you have to use it all at one go or can it be split up, for example $50 at 4 different hotels (in Brazil)?

 

[BacchusMarsh]

My question is: Do you have to use it all at one go or can it be split up, for example $50 at 4 different hotels (in Brazil)?

Has to be used all at once.

 

[Plutonus]

Credit can only be applied to one transaction, if it's less than $200 you don't get the difference.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

if it's less than $200 you don't get the difference.

Does that mean that you can call up and ask to use it for (say) a $199 transaction?