Strategy to obtain US Amex

[velli25]

You could then transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to Aeroplan at a 3:1 rate. Plus, for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer you’ll get 25% bonus Aeroplan Points.

Using this method, you could effectively convert 90,000 Amex Membership Rewards Points into 25,000 Aeroplan Points. That’s a transfer rate of 3.6:1 from Amex to Aeroplan.

The rate for AU Amex (via Marriott) to Aeroplan is 0.27 not 0.625

 

[Grrr]

Link?

Sorry - have edited my post to add link

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/credit-cards/aeroplan-credit-cards-australia/

 

[Grrr]

The rate for AU Amex (via Marriott) to Aeroplan is 0.27 not 0.625

I presume the table in the article has 0.625 for Au Platinum because it's 2.25 MR per $, so 0.6x Aeroplan points per $1 spent - which seems sort of the same as Aus-US Amex but a lot less hassle, unless I'm missing something ?

 

[prozac]

Sorry - have edited my post to add link

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/credit-cards/aeroplan-credit-cards-australia/

Thank you.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I presume the table in the article has 0.625 for Au Platinum because it's 2.25 MR per $, so 0.6x Aeroplan points per $1 spent - which seems sort of the same as Aus-US Amex but a lot less hassle, unless I'm missing something ?

Assumption: 1 AU MR = 0.65 US MR, AUD - USD FX = 0.65.

$1 AUD = 2.25 AU MR = 1.46 US MR (US Amex)

$1 AUD = 2.25 AU MR = 0.625 Aeroplan points (via MB xfer)

If you're spending up to $100K PA, this translates to

US Amex: 146,000 Aeroplan Points
MB: 62,500 Aeroplan Points

Entirely up to you whether it's worth it. You'll need to take into consideration the costs of the extra points etc.

Edit:

Lets discuss spending on the cards as well.

Depending on what you spend on e.g. Dining and/or Travel (Green card as an example):

$3000 Dining out
$10000 on Travel

$13000 = $8,450 USD x 3 = 25,350 Aeroplan Points (via US Amex)
$13000 = $13,000 AUD = 29,250 AU MR = 8,125 Aeroplan points (via MB xfer)*

*But realistically it's a bit lower (6500 points) since you're transferring less than 60K points.

 

[Finale]

I presume the table in the article has 0.625 for Au Platinum because it's 2.25 MR per $, so 0.6x Aeroplan points per $1 spent - which seems sort of the same as Aus-US Amex but a lot less hassle, unless I'm missing something ?

That is 0.625 per $1 AUD spend. AU-US MR transfer you quoted at 0.6 - 0.65 is per 1 MR point which you get 2.25 when spending $1AUD on Platinum. It's more than double if you do AU-US transfer. The article says 90,000 MR points convert to 25000 Aeroplan but if you transfer from AU to US now, 90,000 MR will get you 57,884 Aeroplan.

 

[Grrr]

US Amex: 146,000 Aeroplan Points
MB: 62,500 Aeroplan Points

It's more than double if you do AU-US transfer

Oops yes thanks !
Onwards with the slow march towards my first GT ;-)

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Assumption: 1 AU MR = 0.65 US MR, AUD - USD FX = 0.65.

$1 AUD = 2.25 AU MR = 1.46 US MR (US Amex)

$1 AUD = 2.25 AU MR = 0.625 Aeroplan points (via MB xfer)

If you're spending up to $100K PA, this translates to

US Amex: 146,000 Aeroplan Points
MB: 62,500 Aeroplan Points

Entirely up to you whether it's worth it. You'll need to take into consideration the costs of the extra points etc.

If we take fees into account:

2% (1% for Amex FX and 1% for Wise):

$100,000 AUD on a x3 category (Direct Spend on US Amex) = 65,000 USD = 195,000 US MR/Aeroplan Points.
$100,000 + 2% = $102,000 AUD for 195,000 US MR/Aeroplan Points.

$100,000 AUD on general spend (Direct Spend on US Amex) = 65,000 USD = 65,000 US MR/Aeroplan
$100,000 + 2% = $102,000 AUD for 65,000 US MR. This also applies to general foreign spend.

$100,000 AUD on general foreign spend (on AU Amex) = 225,000 AU MR = 65,000 Aeroplan Points
$100,000 + 3% = $103,000 for 65,000 Aeroplan Points.

$100,000 AUD on AUD spend (Xfer via US Amex) = 225,000 AU MR = 146,000 US MR/Aeroplan Points

$100,000 AUD on AUD Spend (Via Marriott) = 225,000 AU MR = 65,000 Aeroplan points

 

[Ecco]

You would also have to take into account any retention bonuses you might be geting from Amex AU depending on what kind of volume you are putting through your Amex account and whether you would still get those bonuses if you transferred your spend to your US Amex card.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

You would also have to take into account any retention bonuses you might be geting from Amex AU depending on what kind of volume you are putting through your Amex account and whether you would still get those bonuses if you transferred your spend to your US Amex card.

Indeed but based on recent DPs, retention bonuses seem to be all over the place. Last year, I spent <30K but got a 40 or 50K retention bonus so who knows!

 

[Ecco]

Indeed but based on recent DPs, retention bonuses seem to be all over the place. Last year, I spent <30K but got a 40 or 50K retention bonus so who knows!

True. Amex are very erratic…
ps I like your analysis of going with US amex or not. I forgot about the amex and wise fx %. Just wondering is the amex exchange rate used really 1% worse than the spot rate?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

True. Amex are very erratic…
ps I like your analysis of going with US amex or not. I forgot about the amex and wise fx %. Just wondering is the amex exhcanfe rate used really 1% worse than the spot rate?

I haven't been following it closely but I believe it's about 1% from spot from a few DPs earlier on by Levelnine and Finale (I think...)

 

[sudoer]

You would also have to take into account any retention bonuses you might be geting from Amex AU depending on what kind of volume you are putting through your Amex account and whether you would still get those bonuses if you transferred your spend to your US Amex card.

Better off spending on the AU card and transferring to the US.

$100k AUD spend on Aus card = 225k Aus MR
225k x 0.65 = 146k US MR
(plus any retention bonuses!)

vs

$100k AUD spend directly on US card = 65k MR

The only time it might make sense to spend on the US card is bonus categories like 3x restaurants/travel on the Green etc, or transactions in non AUD currencies.

 

[Ecco]

Better off spending on the AU card and transferring to the US.

$100k AUD spend on Aus card = 225k Aus MR
225k x 0.65 = 146k US MR
(plus any retention bonuses!)

vs

$100k AUD spend directly on US card = 65k MR

The only time it might make sense to spend on the US card is bonus categories like 3x restaurants/travel on the Green etc, or transactions in non AUD currencies.

Sure am hoping as well that amex au/nz run that 50% transfer bonus on MR to Bonvoy. They did it last year in May. I’m just waiting to see if they run it again. I haven’t applied for amex GT yet as the bank statement address verification would be a problem and it appears from recent DPs that they are asking quite frequently for this.

 

[Grrr]

I haven’t applied for amex GT yet as the bank statement address verification would be a problem and it appears from recent DPs that they are asking quite frequently for this.

I haven't read about a solution to this if they aren't accepting Wise statements anymore - any recent DP for alternatives ?

 

[sudoer]

One for Aspire holders:

I stumbled on a Reddit thread about the Aspire resort credit reshuffle last year, and the challenges of the new credits only being applicable on non-prepaid rates.

A few posters reported the $200 credit was still crediting on prepaid resort bookings in Japan - where transactions appear to be processed by the property instead of the Hilton website.

I tested this myself on the weekend, and the transaction was processed by the resort a day after booking a prepaid rate on the Hilton site. This opens some interesting opportunities to stack up to 3 x US$200 credits fairly easily with consecutive nights bookings. And that US$600 can go a fairly long way with the weak yen right now. I haven't received the credit yet, but I will be very surprised if it doesn't post - will update in the coming week or two.

 

[http_x92]

One for Aspire holders:

I stumbled on a Reddit thread about the Aspire resort credit reshuffle last year, and the challenges of the new credits only being applicable on non-prepaid rates.

A few posters reported the $200 credit was still crediting on prepaid resort bookings in Japan - where transactions appear to be processed by the property instead of the Hilton website.

I think I have seen advance purchase rates for Europe and APAC hotels count towards the credit, it's only the NA based non-refundable rates which are processed by Hilton centrally which don't count. However occasionally I have seen special saver rates for US resorts which require some deposit and that is processed by the hotel.

 

[Leroy87]

So I've had a crack at signing up for AMEX Green via GT...

Online process was smooth enough - got a 'call us' page at the end of the application and reps from Amex Home Depot have left messages on my US number (middle of the night) to call back during business hours. I'll try and do that this week once I'm awake at a useful time.

A few days after applying (and before I've made any phone calls) I got an email saying "we've reached a decision". It takes me to a page requiring SSN and Zip Code to see the application result. Anybody had that before? I don't have an SSN and when the online application asked for ID it let me use my passport instead

Passport number and zip code don't work on that page in case anybody was wondering

As an update, when I called AMEX they had flagged the address as a mail forwarding address so could not proceed with the application (it's just a standard MyUS suite). They said the application would remain valid for 60 days and I could call to update the address on file at any time.

Anyone else had this happen?
Might need to try a different address service...

 

[Franko Costa]

Transferring from AU MR to MB to another program is a losing strategy if you already have an US MR account.

I will be transferring 6m MR points later this week so I'll let you know the exchange rate

 

[Ecco]

If amex nz run the 50% Bonvoy bonus in May, it works out better for me to wait and see if they run the bonus than a transfer to US MR would be. Our NZD:USD exch rate is so poor (.60) that it tips the scale in favour of that Marriott bonus whereas you guys in Oz are better off with the straight transfer to US MR.