Reduced AMEX earn rates from April 2019

[michael65]

When I get my Edge letter I will respond to tell them that I will be cutting up the cards on the 16th of April just after I have transferred all my points to KrisFlyer and Velocity. I will wait 18 months and then apply for another AMEX card with bonus points. I will do something for the wife as well, and we will get bonus points, and then cancel wait 18 months and start again.

 

[psi999]

My explorer letter turned up today. Nothing more to add than a mighty chuckle at the envelope and letter header:

American Express: Don't live life without it

... I think many of us are now planning exactly that.

At least someone in their marketing department has a sense of humour

 

[SOPOOR]

My explorer letter turned up today. Nothing more to add than a mighty chuckle at the envelope and letter header:

American Express: Don't live life without it

... I think many of us are now planning exactly that.

At least someone in their marketing department has a sense of humour

Im surprised they didnt start with

" at amex, we've listened to your feedback and now we have introduced several positive changes such as reductions across the board and devaluing your airline partner rates, but dont worry, to compensate your annual fee has pnly increased by 25%"

 

[Tremere]

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.

Reserve was available standalone via professional associations until Jan 2017 - I have one (do not qualify for the charge.. yet!)

As I recall you could pick QF or Ascent at signup, there has never been an option to swap Ascent points for QF points unlike the Plat Charge.

 

[JessicaTam]

I got my letter today (for my Explorer). I think I will call and complain with the suggestion that I will cancel it. If I pick up a few bonus points for doing so, so be it. Otherwise wait till card year's end and consider my options. I.e. cancel and wait 18 months.

 

[michael65]

If you wish to complain direct to the American Express
Head of Airline Co-Brand Partnerships and Loyalty whose name is Will Thorne, you can send him a direct message on LinkedIn as long as you use Premium on LinkedIn or try a premium trial

 

[turffy]

Hi

I'm wondering if anyone knows which of the AMEX associated airlines that we can transfer existing points to that DO NOT EXPIRE?

Thanks Turffy

 

[cs_jacky]

Hi

I'm wondering if anyone knows which of the AMEX associated airlines that we can transfer existing points to that DO NOT EXPIRE?

Thanks Turffy

Velocity Points won't expire if you earn or redeem points at least once every 24 months.
Quote from their website https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/ProgramBenefits/LatestNews/program-updates-022016/

Firstly, from 1 June 2016 your Velocity Points will not expire provided you earn or redeem Points at least once every 24 months.

​

Qantas points won't expire if there are earning or redeeming activities in 7 years.

 

[carls888]

I am undecided what we will do as of April 2019. We spend 500k+ pa on Amex and with the transfer devaluation my instinct was to cancel everything.

But after reading this thread and blog posts, I am sitting on the fence for a bit longer. I hold an Edge/Explorer combo so no more point warehousing, which combined with the VFF devaluation from Jan 1st, has changed the game for me.

I will be transferring all of our points from both VFF (end of Dec) and Amex (April) into KF. What happens next, will be interesting.

Has anyone else decided on a definite game plan?

 

[Mr_Orange]

Qantas points won't expire if there are earning or redeeming activities in 7 years.

Isn't the QFF expiry 18 months without an earn or burn activity?

 

[JessicaTam]

Isn't the QFF expiry 18 months without an earn or burn activity?

Yep. 18 months if no activity.

 

[JessicaTam]

I got my letter today (for my Explorer). I think I will call and complain with the suggestion that I will cancel it. If I pick up a few bonus points for doing so, so be it. Otherwise wait till card year's end and consider my options. I.e. cancel and wait 18 months.

Hmmm. The call centre person tried to tell me that the points weren't being devalued, they were just making changes to the program. When I explained that I will get fewer airline miles after 15/4 it was most certainly a devaluation. She then conceded the point.

She also conceded 40k points for me to stay past my next anniversary. I agreed.

 

[cs_jacky]

Yep. 18 months if no activity.

I was lazy to use my memory about the Qantas point expiry... sorry.

It is 18 months...

Frequent Flyer FAQs | Qantas Points

 

[albyd]

Thanks for sharing your experience JessicaTam - particularly your success in getting some bonus points.

I've decided I'm going to stay post 15 April. I do have the Platinum Charge card on Ascent Premium so my existing points will be protected - I've however, made quite a few redemptions this year but expect a healthy points balance by the time the changes take effect before I put my Explorer out to pasture. I've not been able to get any retention points but I've not said the magic words that I wish to close my card as I don't wish to do that. Everyone's circumstances will differ as to ultimate reaction to these changes.

It's clear this is happening and getting angry at the call center staff (except to get retention offers) won't achieve much as they don't have any power to change what is a pretty poor result. Best they can do is put a positive (but false) spin on it.

 

[cs_jacky]

Isn't the QFF expiry 18 months without an earn or burn activity?

Please read my post (2 posts above).

It is 18 months.

 

[k3nnis]

Hi All,

I have the plat edge, does this mean transferring to krisflyer is effectively halved?

If I mostly use it for petrol do I gain anything since the PPD has increased for petrol.

Thanks,
K.

 

[JessicaTam]

It's clear this is happening and getting angry at the call center staff (except to get retention offers) won't achieve much as they don't have any power to change what is a pretty poor result. Best they can do is put a positive (but false) spin on it.

The staff member I spoke to actually thanked me for such a pleasant phone call (or words to that effect). They must have been copping a bit of grief from callers, which as you have said is pointless.

 

[psi999]

Hi All,

I have the plat edge, does this mean transferring to krisflyer is effectively halved?

If I mostly use it for petrol do I gain anything since the PPD has increased for petrol.

Thanks,
K.

Yes effectively halved & if enrolled in Accent most likely existing balance as well.

Edge currently receives the equivalent of 2.0 airline miles per $ (edit: for fuel) which will drop to 1.5 airlines miles per $ under new world. Supermarket spend at same rate as well and gets worse from there for everything else.

 

[k3nnis]

Yes effectively halved & if enrolled in Accent most likely existing balance as well.

Edge currently receives the equivalent of 2.0 airline miles per $ (edit: for fuel) which will drop to 1.5 airlines miles per $ under new world. Supermarket spend at same rate as well and gets worse from there for everything else.

Thanks. Hmm in that case I am thinking about cancelling. Question is, is it worth holding to plat edge to get 1.5 airlines miles per dollar for the plat edge annual fee?

Or should I find another VISA or MC that has equivalent or close to earn rate? Does one exist with low annual fee?

 

[SOPOOR]

The staff member I spoke to actually thanked me for such a pleasant phone call (or words to that effect). They must have been copping a bit of grief from callers, which as you have said is pointless.

I always thank very competent and polite staff, especially those that call vack when promised they would.

But when a staff keeps on telling ramming down my throat thata a net reduction is positive, despite me pointing it out, i get very obnoxious