Reduced AMEX earn rates from April 2019

[theblank]

I got told all calls are recorded, even whilst you're on hold.

yes, most call centres will tell you that. Just so that nobody can whine later that they were not told calls may be recorded.

For most calls are recorded so supervisors can listen in for performance reporting, the old days they did it live. but now its just easier for them to select some historical calls at random. This means that it might be difficult for them to track any particular phone call recording, nor might they keep them for long.

 

[SOPOOR]

just got my explorer letter, no mention of doubling points, (ascent linked with edge)

 

[boomy]

So far got generic etters for Explorer and Reserve but for the one card that actually matters (to which the others are linked) nada!

 

[Bell21]

So far got generic etters for Explorer and Reserve but for the one card that actually matters (to which the others are linked) nada!

I was just talking with AMEX and they indicated that it's been a bit chaotic since the changes were announced and that Plat card holders should expect their letter in the next 1 to 2 weeks

 

[foggy]

Letters for reserve and edge for those who haven't received theirs yet.

 

[TonyHancock]

Just got off the phone with an agent and was advised that as a Platinum Charge card holder I would receive one point for every point in my account on the date in April when the change occurs. (Still no letter)

For those rushing to sign up and take advantage of the Charge card and enjoy all of the benefits a $1450 card offers, the main reasons for my call were as follows:

Failure of American Express to correctly follow up fraudulent charges. (Second call)
Repeated failure of American Express to correctly credit commission charges on the reversal of fraudulent transactions
Failure of American Express to correctly credit points for Australian charges - second call after being advised it had been actioned.
Follow up on incorrect points for overseas transactions - I am waiting for a breakdown of the now credited total

So my advice is do not expect $1450 of customer service!!!! (I am not a huge spender with Amex - approx $160k per year, but about 70% of that is overseas, so Amex makes a bit on the commission charges from me.) One further piece of advice is to ensure the customer service rep repeats back exactly what you have asked/advised.

 

[daft009]

Letters for reserve and edge for those who haven't received theirs yet.

your edge letter says nothing about doubling :'(

 

[bbqwer]

your edge letter says nothing about doubling :'(

received mine just now, NO DOUBLING !

 

[Mr_Orange]

received mine just now, NO DOUBLING !

No less annoying, but you should have expected that from the feedback so far.

 

[turtlemichael]

Can someone put me straight here? I have the Platinum Charge and the Reserve card and have received the two letters. My understanding was that now the only people with the Reserve card were those who had the Plat Charge card. The Reserve letter does not list Qantas as a redemption partner. Does that mean that points I earn on the Reserve card will not be able to be used to book a Qantas award flight?

 

[SOPOOR]

Just called amex to see if they will admit to doubling on the phone so i have a record

Apparently im not eligible for the doubling

However according to them, its a positive move because i now get increased petrol and os spend

I told them a 25 % increase followed by 50% decrease is negative

However ita stil positive because we can exchange points for gift carda and credit.

I told them you're also cutting them as well, so how is that positive?

However its still positive because theyre giving us 5 months notice

Thay was a fun argument

 

[Bell21]

Just called amex to see if they will admit to doubling on the phone so i have a record

Apparently im not eligible for the doubling

However according to them, its a positive move because i now get increased petrol and os spend

I told them a 25 % increase followed by 50% decrease is negative

However ita stil positive because we can exchange points for gift carda and credit.

I told them you're also cutting them as well, so how is that positive?

However its still positive because theyre giving us 5 months notice

Thay was a fun argument

Yes, I had a similar 'fun' discussion...

 

[Bell21]

Can someone put me straight here? I have the Platinum Charge and the Reserve card and have received the two letters. My understanding was that now the only people with the Reserve card were those who had the Plat Charge card. The Reserve letter does not list Qantas as a redemption partner. Does that mean that points I earn on the Reserve card will not be able to be used to book a Qantas award flight?

My understanding is that it's reward system based - so if your points are in Ascent Premium, they will be double and can be used for QF (I think that whilst most people with a Reserve card will have a Plat card, I suspect that there could be some legacy Reserve cards around that don't necessarily have a Plat attached)

 

[TonyHancock]

I also got the letter confirming the doubling of my existing points balance (Plat Charge).

So here is a potential opportunity:
Those with Plat Charge/Centurion will have their existing points doubled but the transfer rate to SPG/Marriott remains at 3MR :2 Marriott points. With a doubling of the existing points balances, the transfer rate becomes 3MR: 4 Marriott. Or under the old SPG scheme, 3MR to 1.33 SPG OR in other words 1MR = 0.4444 SPG (old program). This isn't too different to the old rate of 1 MR = 0.5 SPG (11% deval).

Of course this effective transfer rate only applies to existing points balances when the crossover happens.

Can someone confirm my logic is correct?

This certainly has my interest. I need to get points into BA so "laundering" through SPG was the only viable means. I may well keep hold of the Amex Plat Charge until April and dump into BA, via SPG/Marriot, after my balance is doubled.

 

[andye]

This certainly has my interest. I need to get points into BA so "laundering" through SPG was the only viable means. I may well keep hold of the Amex Plat Charge until April and dump into BA, via SPG/Marriot, after my balance is doubled.

Marriott while not great is fairly comparable to other redemptions (CX SQ etc) in the devalued Amex future. I suspect some of my future Ascent Premium points will pass through Marriott on their way to BA and AS

 

[boomy]

I was just talking with AMEX and they indicated that it's been a bit chaotic since the changes were announced and that Plat card holders should expect their letter in the next 1 to 2 weeks

Makes me wonder how many Plat customers there are in Australia. Didn’t think the number could be so high to create chaos in the AMEX system.

 

[psi999]

Analysed my Edge spend on super market / fuel / random gift vouchers Vs ANZ rewards black that i also hold on potential points loss while sitting out 18 month signup qualification period.

Provided ANZ continue to offer 30% loadings to velocity based on my spend i'll only be ~12996 points down after 18 months. And if ANZ again offer 50% potential only down ~6876. As i have property loans with ANZ my annual fee is only $60 for this card, but could be substituted with coles mastercard, free for life citi diners etc for similar earn.

Points doubling of my accent account would have kept me as a customer as i valued point warehousing (as Explorer is now officially dead for me) but based on the above there is no way i'll continue to be an Amex customer post April 2019. Just not worth it when i can just apply in 18 months time and potentially receive 4-5 times the points i would have ever earned as signup points.

 

[Mac502]

My understanding is that it's reward system based - so if your points are in Ascent Premium, they will be double and can be used for QF (I think that whilst most people with a Reserve card will have a Plat card, I suspect that there could be some legacy Reserve cards around that don't necessarily have a Plat attached)

I still have a legacy reserve card with no platinum...

 

[Mr_Orange]

As a holder of the Plat Charge, Reserve and Edge, would there be any mileage in retaining the Reserve only?

I realise it would not be fee free, as it is as a companion card, but the travel credit (yes I know what I have said about these) does offset the annual fee.

 

[Mr_Orange]

As a holder of the Plat Charge, Reserve and Edge, would there be any mileage in retaining the Reserve only?

I realise it would not be fee free, as it is as a companion card, but the travel credit (yes I know what I have said about these) does offset the annual fee.

Scratch that. It ends up being the same as the Explorer so not worth it.