Reduced AMEX earn rates from April 2019

[potm]

Just checked my Ascent rewards on Explorer: I put through $6k of invoices (to a supplier and one to RewardPay on Sunday 14th afternoon) and whilst both were pending till today I see both were paid at the old @:1 rate.

The earn rate has not changed, the transfer rate has.

 

[albyd]

I noticed that too for some things I put through on the Charge on Sunday having been advised if they didn't post before 15th then they would go through the at new rate. Still glad I put through my larger ones with plenty of time to settle but did have some other transfers to do which I'm now tossing up whether to just EFT as the new 'facilitated' rates are so high with reduced earn on the Charge vs old Explorer.

 

[SuperSaeen]

My Amex reward points still show up as 'Gateway' for the explorer card (redemption rates have obviously changed to 2:1).
Are others with Ascent / Ascent Premium, still seeing their respective Membership reward flavor next to the points ?

Just wondering if Amex are keeping all three versions, even though they now have similar redemption rates (excluding the Qantas option for Ascent Premium), instead of one unified 'Membership rewards' program?

If so, might suggest plans for other points of differentiation between the three in the future.

 

[MathNerd]

My Amex reward points still show up as 'Gateway' for the explorer card (redemption rates have obviously changed to 2:1).
Are others with Ascent / Ascent Premium, still seeing their respective Membership reward flavor next to the points ?

Just wondering if Amex are keeping all three versions, even though they now have similar redemption rates (excluding the Qantas option for Ascent Premium), instead of one unified 'Membership rewards' program?

If so, might suggest plans for other points of differentiation between the three in the future.

I'm still seeing 'Ascent' for my Plat Edge + Explorer combo:

 

[Ken1]

I'm still seeing Ascent Premium for my Charge + Reserve + Explorer combo.

 

[foggy]

the one positive in all this is now I only need to have the Charge card in my wallet and google pay default tap. Makes life a little easier.

 

[coriander]

The earn rate has not changed, the transfer rate has.

My error then. I need to wait till June to see when the changeover to double points occurred. What I was trying to say was that it appears that purchases late on Sunday probably/possibly went into the doubling points bucket.

 

[daft009]

My Amex reward points still show up as 'Gateway' for the explorer card (redemption rates have obviously changed to 2:1).
Are others with Ascent / Ascent Premium, still seeing their respective Membership reward flavor next to the points ?

Just wondering if Amex are keeping all three versions, even though they now have similar redemption rates (excluding the Qantas option for Ascent Premium), instead of one unified 'Membership rewards' program?

If so, might suggest plans for other points of differentiation between the three in the future.

my charge is now "ascent premium 2" as I'm still on tiered earn tiil 30th June on the charge only.
and 1 to 1 transfers

 

[amaroo]

For those wondering at home. Yes, the transfer rate has halved, right on cue. Transferred 1M + points to KF today as I needed to top up the account for a spur of the moment suites trip we just decided to book . Lucky for me the balance prior to the transfer is getting doubled

 

[Comoman]

For those wondering at home. Yes, the transfer rate has halved, right on cue. Transferred 1M + points to KF today as I needed to top up the account for a spur of the moment suites trip we just decided to book . Lucky for me the balance prior to the transfer is getting doubled

When is the balance getting doubled? Mine hasn’t yet (plat charge and I got the letter).

 

[amaroo]

When is the balance getting doubled? Mine hasn’t yet (plat charge and I got the letter).

Sometime between now and mid June.

 

[coriander]

Amex rep told me doubled points will be added 15 June.

 

[MathNerd]

For those wondering at home. Yes, the transfer rate has halved, right on cue. Transferred 1M + points to KF today as I needed to top up the account for a spur of the moment suites trip we just decided to book . Lucky for me the balance prior to the transfer is getting doubled

So did you transfer 1M+ MR to get 500k+ KF?

 

[amaroo]

Correct. The transfer rate was 1/.5 they haven't landed in my KF account yet, but that's the number shown during the Amex transfer procedure.

Bit of a trap if someone hasn't got sufficient points right now, but wants to book a trip before the doubling occurs. I've got plenty, but I suspect there would be a few that would pull up 50% short.

 

[MathNerd]

Correct. The transfer rate was 1/.5 they haven't landed in my KF account yet, but that's the number shown during the Amex transfer procedure.

Bit of a trap if someone hasn't got sufficient points right now, but wants to book a trip before the doubling occurs. I've got plenty, but I suspect there would be a few that would pull up 50% short.

Ouch! And to think if you'd have transferred just a few days prior that you'd only have to send through 500k+ MR!
Are these bookings at the Saver or Advantage rates?
And yes, that "limbo" period between April 15 and June 15 is crucial as it's effectively putting you in a position of "non-doubling".
Well done on having sufficient points that the halving of the transfer rate isn't affecting you too much

 

[amaroo]

Ouch! And to think if you'd have transferred just a few days prior that you'd only have to send through 500k+ MR!
Are these bookings at the Saver or Advantage rates?
And yes, that "limbo" period between April 15 and June 15 is crucial as it's effectively putting you in a position of "non-doubling".
Well done on having sufficient points that the halving of the transfer rate isn't affecting you too much

Agreed. For those that didn't factor in the "point gap" and don't have sufficient balance to overcome it - they are up the proverbial creek?

Amazing for a trip in Sept / Oct one is saver, the other is Advantage.

Not sure I'll go ahead and book it now as late yesterday I tried my luck with getting QFF to release 2 x F seats SYD-LAX last night - that got approved. The return 2 x F LAX-SYD has been ratcheted up to higher authority ... will find out today / tomorrow.

If they come back with a yes, I suspect a week or so in Napa Valley / SFO will trump a suite ride somewhere West.

 

[dtmiles]

could you please list some tasks you use him/her for?

Sorry for the delay in responding - essentially anything we pay for with American Express we've been able to get our Relationship Manager to organise for us. So, travel bookings for the company - Amex can do easily with their preferred hotel partners, but in some cases we have negotiated our own arrangements - I have then introduced them to our RM and she takes over managing it - including negotiating a slightly better rate!

This, coupled with outsourcing our invoicing etc to our bookkeepers at a reasonable rate - we're able to save on a PA - so we're saving around $50k per year...

 

[codash1099]

Transferred points to KF on 3/4 but unfortunately had an incorrect KF number registered with Amex. Amex tell me they "bounced" on 5/4, so 5 days later, they sent me a letter to advise me of this. The letter arrived on 16/4. I am now having an argument with them based on the fact that if they advised me a) promptly and b) via email, I would have been able to make the appropriate corrections. They initially denied my request but I'm having another go.

Yes, I should have checked the number and also checked that the transfer had gone through, but I don't think that excuses their slowly, slowly approach.

 

[SOPOOR]

Transferred points to KF on 3/4 but unfortunately had an incorrect KF number registered with Amex. Amex tell me they "bounced" on 5/4, so 5 days later, they sent me a letter to advise me of this. The letter arrived on 16/4. I am now having an argument with them based on the fact that if they advised me a) promptly and b) via email, I would have been able to make the appropriate corrections. They initially denied my request but I'm having another go.

Yes, I should have checked the number and also checked that the transfer had gone through, but I don't think that excuses their slowly, slowly approach.

What a mess . Hope you get it sorted out

 

[Captain Halliday]

I have previously earned the supermarket rate for LiquorLand purchases on PE. Perhaps I’ve just been lucky.

A LiquorLand transaction since D day is back to 1:1.

YMMV.