Platinum Reserve companion card!

[blueythecat]

blueythecat: I used your referral this month and got my card about 2-3 weeks ago. Hope you got your 20K points, I got 120K points.Thanks.

Thank you very much for that. Hope you are enjoying the card. Unfortunately the points never turned up, might have to give AMEX a call about that

 

[Mr_Orange]

Given that the points earn structure on the Reserve is the same as the Platinum Charge card is there a compelling reason to get this over the Edge as a companion card?

 

[blueythecat]

Unfortunately the edge isn't available as a companion card anymore.

The only benefit, I can see, of the reserve is the free flight. If you have the reserve as a companion and a separate edge, you get two flights a year

 

[Mr_Orange]

Unfortunately the edge isn't available as a companion card anymore.

The only benefit, I can see, of the reserve is the free flight. If you have the reserve as a companion and a separate edge, you get two flights a year

I see both listed when I am logged in and click through to Supplementary Cards. They also both have a $0 annual fee. What am I missing?

 

[albyd]

I think the reasons to get the reserve outside of no annual fee and a better free flight than on the edge is of you hit your 300k MR cap before everything reverts to 1:1 on the charge card, can keep spending on the reserve instead and still get the bonus earn on dining and travel categories.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I think the reasons to get the reserve outside of no annual fee and a better free flight than on the edge is of you hit your 300k MR cap before everything reverts to 1:1 on the charge card, can keep spending on the reserve instead and still get the bonus earn on dining and travel categories.

OK I see. I just Googled the Reserve free flight destinations and see that it is much more extensive and valuable.

I'm starting to remember why I got rid of my Amex QF Ultimate card..... this bloody stupid points earn structure. You really need the Plat Charge, Plat Edge, bank-issued Amex earning 1.5pts/$ and a VISA/MC earning 1pt/$ in order to maximise points earn.

 

[junbugging]

I see both listed when I am logged in and click through to Supplementary Cards. They also both have a $0 annual fee. What am I missing?

Supplementary cards (for others) are free... I can't remember what they called the freebie second card for yourself.

 

[albyd]

I know it's not Amex's job to make our lives easier but would think that given the annual fees, Platinum Charge and Centurion members should get all the different bonus categories in the one card - would save us juggling so many statements every month to try to maximise the points haul.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I know it's not Amex's job to make our lives easier but would think that given the annual fees, Platinum Charge and Centurion members should get all the different bonus categories in the one card - would save us juggling so many statements every month to try to maximise the points haul.

Precisely. Platinum is the top card, that is generally available, so it should have the best points earn and be a combination of the best features of Platinum Charge, Reserve and Edge.

 

[blueythecat]

I see both listed when I am logged in and click through to Supplementary Cards. They also both have a $0 annual fee. What am I missing?

The AMEX site is a bit confusing regarding this. What you are seeing is the cost of adding a supplementary card holder to and existing Edge account, not adding an Edge as a companion card to the Charge. I was confused by this too and rang AMEX about it. This thread has more info for anyone interested. http://www.australianfrequentflyer....wards/free-amex-platinum-edge-card-75406.html

 

[Mr_Orange]

The AMEX site is a bit confusing regarding this. What you are seeing is the cost of adding a supplementary card holder to and existing Edge account, not adding an Edge as a companion card to the Charge. I was confused by this too and rang AMEX about it. This thread has more info for anyone interested. http://www.australianfrequentflyer....wards/free-amex-platinum-edge-card-75406.html

Oh, I see. Very misleading and disappointing. So no way of scoring 3pts/$ at supermarkets without shelling out yet another annual fee?

Think, I'm going to put this one down as an exercise in churning... I'll hoover up the 100,000 bonus points when they land, cancel and get a partial refund of the annual fee. The Amex points earn structure just doesn't work for me with much of my earning reducing to 1 (or even 0.5) pts/$ from the 1.5 that I get at the moment.

 

[blueythecat]

Oh, I see. Very misleading and disappointing. So no way of scoring 3pts/$ at supermarkets without shelling out yet another annual fee?
.....

Pretty much, except you'll get the first year free on an Edge card if you use a current referral offer (and 10k bonus points)

 

[albyd]

Reckon if you keep the Platinum Charge card after the first year if you like it, if you call Amex & ask, they will waive your Edge Annual fee because of how much annual fees you're already paying.
I still have my gold charge card and I did this earlier this year and they waived its annual fee.

 

[blueythecat]

Reckon if you keep the Platinum Charge card after the first year if you like it, if you call Amex & ask, they will waive your Edge Annual fee because of how much annual fees you're already paying.
I still have my gold charge card and I did this earlier this year and they waived its annual fee.

Good tip - I might try that next time my annual fee comes around. Normally AMEX offer some incentive points instead of fee waivers, but it can't hurt to try. Don't ask, certainly don't get!

 

[Mr_Orange]

Reckon if you keep the Platinum Charge card after the first year if you like it, if you call Amex & ask, they will waive your Edge Annual fee because of how much annual fees you're already paying.
I still have my gold charge card and I did this earlier this year and they waived its annual fee.

Worth a shot, that's for sure. Seems liek I might as well get the Reserve for the free flight, the Edge on the fee free for first year deal and then maybe bin my bank issued Amex and just suck up the loss of 0.5pts/$ on some things which should be more than offset by the 3pts/$ from groceries, booze and fuel c/o discoutend WISH gift cards.

 

[albyd]

Only bug bear with reserve is it's an extra hit to your credit score. Amex has a limit of 2 Credit cards and 2 charge cards per customer. If you already have another product other than the edge you are closing, see if they will just do the migration. Generally, the answer is no but managed to get my Velocity Platinum converted to Reserve last year without the application and extra credit check process (given they'd only just credit checked me for the Platinum Charge). Depends on you circumstances. YMMV

 

[Mr_Orange]

The only Amex issued product I have is the Platinum Charge. All other cards are bank issued so I figure I would be OK. I'd get the Edge first and then hit them up for the Reserve as my companion card in a few months.

 

[blueythecat]

The only Amex issued product I have is the Platinum Charge. All other cards are bank issued so I figure I would be OK. I'd get the Edge first and then hit them up for the Reserve as my companion card in a few months.

Yep good idea - that is what I did.

 

[Nooks]

I've recently got the business platinum charge card and they only offered the reserve and the comp card. Feeling ripped off as I was told the reserve had 3,2,1,0.5 points like the edge, but they are for different categories (3 points with restaurants with the reserve but the more valuable 3 points in supermarkets with the edge). Do you reckon they'd give me a free edge? I'm already spending $1500 on card fees...

 

[blueythecat]

Do you reckon they'd give me a free edge? I'm already spending $1500 on card fees...

It seems as though they aren't keen to do this, but it never hurts to ask, does it!