Reduced AMEX earn rates from April 2019

[Valdek]

No. I was only guessing and @SOPOOR would appear to have huge points balance yet was rejected for doubling of points. I'm surprised the answer was so quick. The response took seconds. Not even 1 minute.

It clearly shows from many different individual examples of Amex membership presented on this forum that this company does not have any set criteria apart from one: Platinum Charge Card. All the rest is big chaos: 1. length of membership does not count; 2. value of spending p.a. does not count; 3. membership points balance does not count (many of us have more than 1M and we are to become greatest losers being forced to find the best way to run away before the D-day or face the devaluation;
It all does not make sense. Amex is about to lose some of the valuable long-standing members only because they have chosen the wrong product offered to them by American Express Australia

 

[JohnK]

I just did chat and expressed my "outrage" but got a "sorry, the changes are already set"

Actually the chat earlier was quite funny.

It's probably one of the few times I did not come out swinging but rather outlined the changes on 15 April and felt I would be disadvantaged greatly with the changes. He said something along the lines of they were doubling the points by invitation only for premium card holders.

After keying my pin he came back and said he had great news and asked me if I wanted to accept the offer of double points post 15 April. I have a confirmation number which I will follow up at some point.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

why were you recognised as a valued card member? the only likely critieria would be spend average and length of custom.

And it would seem if you have an outstanding balance if I have interpreted correctly..

 

[SOPOOR]

It clearly shows from many different individual examples of Amex membership presented on this forum that this company does not have any set criteria apart from one: Platinum Charge Card. All the rest is big chaos: 1. length of membership does not count; 2. value of spending p.a. does not count; 3. membership points balance does not count (many of us have more than 1M and we are to become greatest losers being forced to find the best way to run away before the D-day or face the devaluation;
It all does not make sense. Amex is about to lose some of the valuable long-standing members only because they have chosen the wrong product offered to them by American Express Australia

Im sure there is a permutation of criteria that makes you eligible or not for the doubling

 

[Valdek]

And it would seem if you have an outstanding balance if I have interpreted correctly..

I so, the whole game with Amex to acquire membership points to be transferred for flights does not add up. Paying 20% interest on the outstanding balance would cost $ thousands p.a. Would not it be better to spend this money on purchasing an airline ticket of your choice?
No problems with the seat availability, no need to stick to any particular airline. And in the end, you would still earn some points being a paying passenger.

 

[SOPOOR]

I so, the whole game with Amex to acquire membership points to be transferred for flights does not add up. Paying 20% interest on the outstanding balance would cost $ thousands p.a. Would not it be better to spend this money on purchasing an airline ticket of your choice?
No problems with the seat availability, no need to stick to any particular airline. And in the end, you would still earn some points being a paying passenger.

If having a balance is inevitable, fair enough

But it would be smarter to direct your energy to a way not to pay 20% interest

 

[Valdek]

Im sure there is a permutation of criteria that makes you eligible or not for the doubling

There should be one. Otherwise, it would seem such exercise introduced by Amex would only lead to losses. I do not see the current Platinum Charge members increasing their spendings being grateful for not being robbed. The only logical option I would risk to present is, that Amex is changing their profile and intends to rely more on the revenue earned from annual fees than from actual gain from the card transactions. If so, shortly we should see the redundancy of their staff.

 

[andye]

I so, the whole game with Amex to acquire membership points to be transferred for flights does not add up. Paying 20% interest on the outstanding balance would cost $ thousands p.a. Would not it be better to spend this money on purchasing an airline ticket of your choice?
No problems with the seat availability, no need to stick to any particular airline. And in the end, you would still earn some points being a paying passenger.

I think running a balance on Amex suggests either a lack of financial knowledge or a generally contrarian attitude

 

[jkbaus]

I have Edge.
Phoned this afternoon about continuing problems with petrol posting as 1 x point when should be 2 x points ( 3rd time I have called in last few months).
While on phone I expressed disappointment at coming changes and asked nicely if any chance of my points being doubled. Was told this is only happening for people who spend more than me.

 

[amaroo]

I haven't checked on this thread for some time. Would like an update..... If you've received the Plat letter confirming the doubling of points and you have / are crediting explorer & plat reserve directly into Ascent Premium - are all points still doubling?

 

[maccaisking]

I haven't checked on this thread for some time. Would like an update..... If you've received the Plat letter confirming the doubling of points and you have / are crediting explorer & plat reserve directly into Ascent Premium - are all points still doubling?

Given the rate I am currently using Explorer at I hope so!! The letter says they will ‘credit your MR account with the same number of points held at 1am on 15 April’. The points all go into the one MR account so I expect all will be doubled.

 

[Bell21]

fingers crossed indeed

 

[zig]

Given the rate I am currently using Explorer at I hope so!! The letter says they will ‘credit your MR account with the same number of points held at 1am on 15 April’. The points all go into the one MR account so I expect all will be doubled.

This is also my understanding. I wouldn't expect that only the portion of MR points balance earned from the Plat Charge would be doubled and not remaining balance. I expect my total MR balance to be doubled as per the letter.

 

[snufl]

My husband had an interesting chat back in February. We don't have a transcript but the wording was very close to this.Hubby explained he was saving points for KF but, because of the 3 year expiry, did not want to transfer now. He asked, as he did not use travel credit, has held Amex since 1983 and given his good payment record, could he considered for doubling of points.
Response: before we go any further will you answer a question? Then a long pause...Do you think that would be fair to other members just because they have less tenure than you? Or that they will earn less points than you after the change?
He included a link to the changes and made it clear he was there to explain the changes and nothing more.

The second part of the question didn't make much sense because Edge devalues a lot with the changes but the "fairness" seemed extreme. I think there would be a nicer way of saying no.

 

[SOPOOR]

My husband had an interesting chat back in February. We don't have a transcript but the wording was very close to this.Hubby explained he was saving points for KF but, because of the 3 year expiry, did not want to transfer now. He asked, as he did not use travel credit, has held Amex since 1983 and given his good payment record, could he considered for doubling of points.
Response: before we go any further will you answer a question? Then a long pause...Do you think that would be fair to other members just because they have less tenure than you? Or that they will earn less points than you after the change?
He included a link to the changes and made it clear he was there to explain the changes and nothing more.

The second part of the question didn't make much sense because Edge devalues a lot with the changes but the "fairness" seemed extreme. I think there would be a nicer way of saying no.

I would have replied, "listen here, 1983 is before you were even born, what do you think!"

 

[kpc]

Have Edge / Explorer....rang to enquire about Double rewards balance post April 15....after being put on hold for ~10 mins, the apologetic lady said that the "Back Team' said NO

 

[N860CR]

Service isn’t Amex’s strong point these days.

I had the Indian live chat staff member (Scott...) tell me I was going to earn more points. When I asked “so it’s a positive change”, he told me “Exactly!”

I’m kind of glad to be less attached to Amex to be honest. If a decent Visa/MC comes up with 1 SQ per dollar then I’d dump Amex in a minute. The cash backs are virtually non-existent now and don’t even cover the annual fees, plus the travel credits are a pain to use.

 

[potm]

Service isn’t Amex’s strong point these days.

I had the Indian live chat staff member (Scott...) tell me I was going to earn more points. When I asked “so it’s a positive change”, he told me “Exactly!”

I’m kind of glad to be less attached to Amex to be honest. If a decent Visa/MC comes up with 1 SQ per dollar then I’d dump Amex in a minute. The cash backs are virtually non-existent now and don’t even cover the annual fees, plus the travel credits are a pain to use.

There’s no chance of getting 1 SQ point per dollar on MC/Visa now. The highest is the St George card at 0.75 plus 10% bday bonus and it’s the most primed for devaluation.

 

[mark_syd]

I called up last week to chat about continued decrease in PE value (for me) along with upcoming points redemption increase and as Amex didn’t want to lose me as a customer I was offered 1200 points. Thanks Amex, I feel sooo valued.
Been with them 18 years, always paid in full and on time. Have 900K MR points which we were building to use come 2022 but now forced to move them and will probably end up moving to VA in an attempt to secure SYD > JFK in J. Not liking chances of this given millions and millions of points over the next few days will be hitting VA.
So lucky you JohnK for getting your points doubled.

 

[lilkid28]

I called up last week to chat about continued decrease in PE value (for me) along with upcoming points redemption increase and as Amex didn’t want to lose me as a customer I was offered 1200 points. Thanks Amex, I feel sooo valued.
Been with them 18 years, always paid in full and on time. Have 900K MR points which we were building to use come 2022 but now forced to move them and will probably end up moving to VA in an attempt to secure SYD > JFK in J. Not liking chances of this given millions and millions of points over the next few days will be hitting VA.
So lucky you JohnK for getting your points doubled.

203k Velocity points for about 29 hours on Etihad A380 apartment, although with 600USD surcharge + normal taxes, would be pretty nice.