Reduced AMEX earn rates from April 2019

[petejay]

Slightly off-topic - does anyone have any recommendation for a CC replacement that provides best earn rate on overseas spend? I have quite a bit of o/s spend and Explorer (linked to Edge) was perfect at 2ppd - but now useless considering Edge is increasing to 2 ppd from April (but then down to 1 point when converted to airline miles).

From a bit of research it looks like the AMEX-issued Altitude Black card via Westpac is the best available (effective 2 ppd to QF or Velocity, 1.67 to all others).

P

 

[chk123]

Ive cancelled my card over a month ago and never got a letter from amex to confirm the account closure - did an online chat with them and found out they had changed my address in the system, after 2 weeks still no letter, another online chat with them and im informed the incorrect address is still on file. Amazing how my address changes after i call to cancel but never when i have an active account (as I have always received statements to pay my amex bill)

 

[blueythecat]

Slightly off-topic - does anyone have any recommendation for a CC replacement that provides best earn rate on overseas spend? I have quite a bit of o/s spend and Explorer (linked to Edge) was perfect at 2ppd - but now useless considering Edge is increasing to 2 ppd from April (but then down to 1 point when converted to airline miles).

From a bit of research it looks like the AMEX-issued Altitude Black card via Westpac is the best available (effective 2 ppd to QF or Velocity, 1.67 to all others).

P

I like the Coles Platinum Rewards Mastercard personally. No foreign exchange fees, and an effective earn of 1VA pt / $, assuming you transfer from Flybuys to Velocity during one of the regular 15% transfer bonus periods.

 

[cove]

I think I will do a purchase of a few more Coles gift cards before Amex Platinum Edge runs out of 3 points per dollar seeing the Kris Miles conversion is worth 12% off. If I do them now I will be 6% Berger off than after April 15rh. I have doe enough Woolies ones unless something changes.

 

[ff-jr]

Amex have sent me an offer to upgrade to Velocity Platinum card (currently have Escape) with 50k bonus points with $3k spend. Same as the new card offer.

I'm assuming now that they can't do retention offers, the focus will be on acquisitions via upgrade. If your card has room for upgrade, keep your eye peeled!

 

[aerotravel]

I have Amex Explorer now and plan to dump it post devaluation and stay away from Amex for 18 months and sign up to Amex Plat Charge thereafter to get sign up bonus. Keep earning the MR points for now until devaluation. Unless they can come up with an upgrade offer to Plat Charge with sign up bonuses, I'll consider it.

 

[jbman]

Amex have sent me an offer to upgrade to Velocity Platinum card (currently have Escape) with 50k bonus points with $3k spend. Same as the new card offer.

I'm assuming now that they can't do retention offers, the focus will be on acquisitions via upgrade. If your card has room for upgrade, keep your eye peeled!

What was the fee for the upgrade offer?

 

[cove]

I currently value the Amex Platinum Edge because it pays 3 points per dollar at supermarkets which are worth 12 cents the way we redeem them. Early April I plan to transfer these before the changes occur.

 

[burmans]

What was the fee for the upgrade offer?

AF is $395, kind of kills it for me.

 

[jbman]

AF is $395, kind of kills it for me.

Yeah that's a hard hit. Do you get the $400 travel credit with this one?
I have the velocity escape so will be interesting if I get a similar offer

 

[blacksultan]

Yeah that's a hard hit. Do you get the $400 travel credit with this one?
I have the velocity escape so will be interesting if I get a similar offer

yes you do get the travel credit , as with most amexes.

 

[boris12345]

Tossing up between transferring my points to Krisflyer or Asia Miles before the devaluation. Most of my travel is Melbourne to various Asian cities(HK, Tokyo, Bangkok etc) and back. From my research it seems Asia Miles points redemptions are a bit cheaper but Krisflyer has more availability and also specials from time to time. Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

[kamchatsky]

Tossing up between transferring my points to Krisflyer or Asia Miles before the devaluation. Most of my travel is Melbourne to various Asian cities(HK, Tokyo, Bangkok etc) and back. From my research it seems Asia Miles points redemptions are a bit cheaper but Krisflyer has more availability and also specials from time to time. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Don't do Asia Miles as their award availability is now severely restricted since their changes last year. Also they have 3 year mile expiry as Krisflyer. I would transfer to Krisflyer

 

[N860CR]

A bit OT... but Amex does make me smash my head against the table with their service sometimes.

I get a voicemail this afternoon from “executive relations” asking me to call back. I call back and get someone in the Philippines who wastes half an hour of my time telling me they have no idea why they called, and that it was probably a scam. A quick google reveals the number is seemingly a valid Amex number.

Their systems must be very weak

 

[MicoPico]

Don't do Asia Miles as their award availability is now severely restricted since their changes last year. Also they have 3 year mile expiry as Krisflyer. I would transfer to Krisflyer

Agree with Kamchatsky.

Also fuel surcharges are no longer regulated in Hong Kong (since last year), so CX awards aren’t cheap any more. SQ has no fuel surcharge.

 

[SOPOOR]

im going to throw out my personal circumstances here, so maybe people can give feedback,
TLDR,
current Amex points balance 1mill, current Kris balance 1.2m
have partner, no kids, elderly parents
have gifted parents Return on F to Europe, so 600k points already used (this is separate to the 1.2m balance Kris),
we plan to travel in F for RTW next year, so thats another 600-700k points that will be used,

didnt get the doubling offer with edge/Exp

considering losing points and transferring to veloicty, minisming the loss with the 25% bonus offer, however have been told J/F on kris horrendous

dont want to redeem for gift cards or credit

may do europe on F in 2021 but not sure,

what are my options???

 

[zenyattamondatta]

have been told J/F on kris horrendous

dont want to redeem for gift cards or credit

may do europe on F in 2021 but not sure,

what are my options???

What is “horrendous“? Availability? And if you already have 1.2 million KF, wouldn’t you know for yourself?

A valid option would be to stop sweating about how to collect points if you don’t understand how to use them.

 

[SOPOOR]

What is “horrendous“? Availability? And if you already have 1.2 million KF, wouldn’t you know for yourself?

A valid option would be to stop sweating about how to collect points if you don’t understand how to use them.

didnt know you werent allowed to accumulate points if you "didnt know how to use them"

 

[Mr_Orange]

im going to throw out my personal circumstances here, so maybe people can give feedback,
TLDR,
current Amex points balance 1mill, current Kris balance 1.2m
have partner, no kids, elderly parents
have gifted parents Return on F to Europe, so 600k points already used (this is separate to the 1.2m balance Kris),
we plan to travel in F for RTW next year, so thats another 600-700k points that will be used,

didnt get the doubling offer with edge/Exp

considering losing points and transferring to veloicty, minisming the loss with the 25% bonus offer, however have been told J/F on kris horrendous

dont want to redeem for gift cards or credit

may do europe on F in 2021 but not sure,

what are my options???

If you really do have a significant surplus of points that you cannot use, then shopping cards of some description are not a terrible option.

 

[andye]

Hi Sopoor
I'm confused too about the 'horrendous' comment-what does it refer to
Velocity is not a terrible option if you are worried about points expiring
It does all depend on what you think you might redeem for though
EY TG VS MH all have their sweet spots too