Option coming to Buy AMEX MR points

[Diesellife]

The Ascent T&C's have this:

https://catalogue.membershiprewards...t_Choices_Spirit_Feb2012.pdf&languageId=en_au


Ascent Premium has



https://catalogue.membershiprewards.com.au/getWebImage.mtw?webImageName=Ascent%20Premium_July2011.pdf&languageId=en_au

Ascent Premium seems to get a discounted rate. Just $22 per 1000 points

Have they update Ascent Premium's T&C yet? Section 8 of AP is for non frequent traveller rewards only. Section 11 doesn't have the points buying terms in it?!

I hope it is not designed for Ascent only :-(

 

[cove]

If Amex buy the points for sub 1.25 cents each they can do pretty well selling points at 2.5 cents each.

 

[QF WP]

As others have said, nice to have another method to get points - more beneficial for top ups than serious buyers

 

[cove]

Yes I don't think you would want to buy a million or 10 million at a time unless you were travelling by paying list prices for front of the plane seats.

 

[QF WP]

You'd never do that cove

You'd rather talk to your ATO girlfriend and pay your tax/BAS

 

[cove]

My ATO girlfriend is a bit of a money grabber but she isn't high maintenance and she never complains about us.

 

[QF WP]

Far be it for her to complain about you ringing her up - you're one of her regulars

 

[Vincent Hardy]

Does anyone know where the option to buy the points is?. I can't see it on the MR website...

 

[cove]

Vincent you could call them but to do this you will need to have your Amex card ready to key in your card number to help identify yourself.

 

[k3nnis]

Actually to think of it say if we buy 80000 points @ $25 per 1000 that would work out to be $2000. So if we were to transfer that to CX for example for a CX J flight SYD-HKG return, seems like a good deal? Plus taxes of course, not sure what the tax figure is but still cheaper than a regular J ticket I suppose?
Or is my maths wrong? Not surprised if it is

 

[johnnyb255]

Just called up Amex because I'm (well my partner) is 8000 Krisflyer miles short of the flights we want. Apparently you cannot buy points for transferring to airline partners, only for merchandise. I find that strange considering- from the Ascent T&C-

11. Redeeming Frequent Traveller Rewards –

11.2 You can purchase points for the redemption of any reward but any points purchased
must be redeemed for rewards at the time of purchase. Points can only be purchased
in multiples of 1,000 for the relevant fee set out in the schedule of fees and the cost
will be billed to your primary account.

and the next point is

11.3 A minimum number of points must be transferred to a frequent traveller program, as
outlined in the following table:

etc, which implies the two points are linked- you can buy points and transfer them.

Anyone have luck with this?

 

[k3nnis]

Call up and speak to another rep and see what answer you get?And maybe point them to the t&c?

Just called up Amex because I'm (well my partner) is 8000 Krisflyer miles short of the flights we want. Apparently you cannot buy points for transferring to airline partners, only for merchandise. I find that strange considering- from the Ascent T&C-

11. Redeeming Frequent Traveller Rewards –

11.2 You can purchase points for the redemption of any reward but any points purchased
must be redeemed for rewards at the time of purchase. Points can only be purchased
in multiples of 1,000 for the relevant fee set out in the schedule of fees and the cost
will be billed to your primary account.

and the next point is

11.3 A minimum number of points must be transferred to a frequent traveller program, as
outlined in the following table:

etc, which implies the two points are linked- you can buy points and transfer them.

Anyone have luck with this?

 

[johnnyb255]

I've also just found this thread-

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/american-express-rewards/gifting-american-express-membership-reward-13275.html

- and the link to the form is still active, so maybe I can 'gift' her the points. Would work out much cheaper too.

UPDATE: Amex called back to say the initial information was incorrect and points can indeed be purchased for transfer to frequent flyer programs. Also confirmed points gifting, but it requires you calling them up to get a MR Member ID number (which can't be accessed via the website).

 

[Brooke01]

Hi,

I have purchased points recently (April) through Centurion. I was 12k short for 2 x J redemptions MEL-LAX-MEL.

Initially, I was told I only had to buy 8k worth of points - as AmEx were "gifting" me 4k worth of points.

So - I was expecting to pay $200 for the remaining 8k worth of points I needed.

For me - it was definately worth it to get the J seats.

Oh - and AmEx organised the credit straight through to VA.

Cheers,

Brooke

 

[johnnyb255]

Just an update, decided to go with points gifting- did take longer than expected for the points to go through (and a couple of follow up phone calls) but I think the customer services guys pulled some strings for me- points in the account today and now awaiting transfer to Krisflyer.

Must say, every time I call AmEx platinum card services I hang up feeling happy I'm a customer. Very rare these days.

 

[Ricardo]

Must say, every time I call AmEx platinum card services I hang up feeling happy I'm a customer. Very rare these days.

Very interesting feedback, I have also the same opinion that Amex Plat seem to have lifted service standards.

R

 

[k3nnis]

Maybe its due to the recent "enhancements"....

 

[johnnyb255]

Very interesting feedback, I have also the same opinion that Amex Plat seem to have lifted service standards.

R

Actually I should specify it was platinum credit card (Edge), not Platinum Card. Not sure if it is different staff.

 

[beardoc]

The experiences in this thread suggest that you can buy points for frequent traveller rewards, but the T&Cs specifically exclude them. I'm wondering are Amex being more liberal about this than their T&Cs are saying they will?

 

[paultiffen]

Hi,

From what I know they used to have the option in the US to "borrow" points and have recently removed that. I think that they used to have the opportunity to buy points on the site so maybe they have been redoing it in general. 2.5 c per point is bad for speculative purposes but there are some rewards where it would make sense. For most airlines though I would check out the Starwood buy points promo at the moment as with the 25% transfer bonus on 20000 points it brings down the cost of miles to 2.1c for almost every program