Reduced AMEX earn rates from April 2019

[liuyz]

Have received my letter for my Platinum Charge card in today's mail. I'm assuming I'll be getting one for each of my cards. In short, my thinking is that since all my points pool into Ascent Premium with my Platinum Charge card into one homogenous points pool, I'm assuming that all of my points at 15 April will be doubled to retain parity with current conversion rates.

Whilst I'm not excited about the reduced earn rate, I appreciate the gesture from Amex to help us keep our Amex points warehouse at no disadvantage to us and giving us 5 months notice to prepare for the changes. I'll continue with Explorer as my main card until April 15, then concentrate all my spend on the Charge card - should mean I don't need to keep topping up the Charge card like I do currently with the Explorer during the month to keep it within its credit limit.

Thanks for sharing and confirming.

Just want to double check, so you have Plat Charge and some other AMEX cards (say Edge/Explorer), and all of them are linked and earning Ascent Premium points. The letter received is for Plat Charge account and saving the Ascent Premium points balance will be doubled on 15 April 19. And the balance get doubled is the balance as at 14 April 19. Is my understanding correct?

Thanks a lot for clarifying.

 

[jasonfungsing]

Thanks for sharing and confirming.

Just want to double check, so you have Plat Charge and some other AMEX cards (say Edge/Explorer), and all of them are linked and earning Ascent Premium points. The letter received is for Plat Charge account and saving the Ascent Premium points balance will be doubled on 15 April 19. And the balance get doubled is the balance as at 14 April 19. Is my understanding correct?

Thanks a lot for clarifying.

Correct. I have plat charge, explorer and plat reserve. All points going into Ascent Premium. It will double on 15 Apr 2019 based on the mail I received.

 

[liuyz]

Correct. I have plat charge, explorer and plat reserve. All points going into Ascent Premium. It will double on 15 Apr 2019 based on the mail I received.

Thanks for confirming. This is good news to those with Ascent Premium points.

So, that's how AMEX handle this. According to the info released on their web site, they ask as to set expectation low and prepare for the worst. Then, quickly roll out 'good news' pieces by pieces. Psychologically, this will make us feel 'better', and would be much easier to swallow the real devaluation in April.

 

[bbqwer]

I rang amex yesterday around 11pm. They said: Ascent points will get doubled, but not for all members, amex will assess individual case depending on spending criteria.

 

[Saltywings]

I rang amex yesterday around 11pm. They said: Ascent points will get doubled, but not for all members, amex will assess individual case depending on spending criteria.

Oh bloody hell, I'll be quite annoyed if I don't pass their 'spending criteria' then.

 

[liuyz]

Oh bloody hell, I'll be quite annoyed if I don't pass their 'spending criteria' then.

They are giving us 5 months to meet the criteria.

 

[liuyz]

I rang amex yesterday around 11pm. They said: Ascent points will get doubled, but not for all members, amex will assess individual case depending on spending criteria.

Then, what's the situation here?
Ascent: points doubled pending spending criteria?
Ascent Premium: doubled with no condition?

 

[amaroo]

Like many here I have Plat / Explorer / Edge all linked to Ascent Premium .... terrific news on the doubling of that setup.

I also have the QF Ultimate that I've tried to cancel twice in the last few months .... but since they've gifted me 170,000 QFFP to keep it - I have.

 

[codash1099]

I've got the Amex Rewards Advantage but have received neither email nor letter. Points are in Ascent Premium, so I can only hope for the best.

Points earn will go to 1.5 per $ (up from 1) so the future isn't too bad. Card fee is a bit high but probably worth it for the flexibility of Ascent Premium.

 

[theblank]

Let us know if you actually go down this path and it works.

Just curious, if it works and he lets us know, how will that help us?

 

[Saltywings]

Just curious, if it works and he lets us know, how will that help us?

Because if s/he applies for the plat charge and successfully get a full conversion of Ascent MR to Ascent Prem MR before April 15 then I would also utilise the same strategy to maintain the value of my points.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Just curious, if it works and he lets us know, how will that help us?

Indeed, because by the time the strategy has been confirmed as working, it will be too late for everyone else!

 

[Mr_Orange]

Because if s/he applies for the plat charge and successfully get a full conversion of Ascent MR to Ascent Prem MR before April 15 then I would also utilise the same strategy to maintain the value of my points.

Conversion will only take place on 15th April.

It's possible that the user may receive a letter before then which might give you time to apply.

 

[kkl]

Will give it a few days and see if anything appears for edge

 

[Saltywings]

Conversion will only take place on 15th April.

It's possible that the user may receive a letter before then which might give you time to apply.

Yes, that is what I meant. Only two conditions need to be met:

1) A letter in writing that Ascent Prem pts get doubled on 15 April 2019 (fulfilled)
2) Successful conversion of Ascent pts to Ascent Prem points (waiting to see)

 

[foggy]

I've received the snail mail for my explorer and plat charge. See attached if you haven't received yours yet.

 

[liuyz]

I've received the snail mail for my explorer and plat charge. See attached if you haven't received yours yet.

Is this because that the Explorer is linked to the charge card? So, theoretically, you don't have gateway points to double.

 

[foggy]

Is this because that the Explorer is linked to the charge card? So, theoretically, you don't have gateway points to double.

it is linked but I'm assuming the gateway program will not double in april because the letter seems generic.

 

[60spud]

Spoke to amex offshore today and was told that after checking my profile she could not see any doubling of points and a letter has been sent out.
I have 630,000 ascent points on my edge over 5 years. I also have DJs card and Westpac Altitude (free with bonus points earlier this year).With over 1.3 million Velocity as well it would be good to find out the real deal before Dec 31 so decisions can be made re transferring to KF.

 

[michael65]

it is linked but I'm assuming the gateway program will not double in april because the letter seems generic.

Hi all, I rang AMEX to enquire about my EDge card and whether it would be eliglble for the double points offer. He told them that they are reviewing all AMEX cards in terms of the account history (suspect spending), your management of the account (payments on time etc) and your relationship (how long you have been with AMEX). This supposed to be finalized by the end of February and is supposed to done via criteria entered into the “system”. They can also take account of other factors.