Reduced AMEX earn rates from April 2019

[potm]

The $ transfers and point allocation are a bit sluggish (or maybe it's because I am waiting *patiently* for them all to clear...). Normally $ clears within 12 hours but it's over 24 hours and the $ still has not credited to my account. Also, transaction have posted (not pending) and the points have not.
I am glad I decided to organise it all this week instead of next week.

I’m experiencing the same thing this week. Maybe they are getting an unsually high volume of transactions this week. I’ll be trying to finish up all my spending this weekend to give a one week buffer for transactions to clear and points to be received.

 

[albyd]

I've noticed the same but will chance it up to mid next week.

I did have a large GC transaction a few weeks ago which took nearly a week to post. Was at a major retailer so not sure what was the hold up. Glad it all went through again. Might not chance it for any more.

 

[Happy Dude]

It does go to negative. But you can cancel your card owing them points, I believe.

Weren't there some stories coming out of the US about AmEx aggressively pursuing -ve points balances?

 

[travelnutjohn]

Im in a bit of conundrum,
I was going to keep both my cards, as travel credit offsets it and statement credits make up for some profit, However Ive Found that travel credit hotels are always about 10-30% more, but now im thinking of cancelling both and starting the exclusion period

reasons-
- ive prepaid heaps of eftpos, prepaid mastercard and wish cards to last me a year
- my points balance is currently negative 15,000 (long story, had a few fradulent transactions that were reversed, but for some reason, the points worked in my favour)

so 1. probably wont need to use the card due to having prepaid cards 2. any points i earn are just offsetting the negative

anyway, due to personal circumstance, im currently working part time,, when I originally got these amex cards, the application did say househould income, however in 18 months if I reapply, I may still be part time, and would need to go down the household income route, and only if they dont ask for payslips like this time, so tldr , am a bit worried in case I cant get my amexs back,
I should still be able to get my annual fee back as I havent used travel creidt it

really, doing my head in of should I keep or should i ditch

 

[Doctore1003]

The stated minimum income is now $65k personal not household, so you may not qualify.

 

[travelnutjohn]

The stated minimum income is now $65k personal not household, so you may not qualify.

ok I didnt know that, looks like ill end up keeping them, since the sign on bonus are worth half soon,

I guess statement credits and shop small will be able to compensate the annual fees

 

[BriarFlyer]

I'm seeing the same issues with slow processing, holding up my carefully planned last weeks of spending. Argh!!!

 

[carls888]

The points have finally dropped for the processed transactions but the cash transfers are soooooo slow! I am waiting for money that was transferred on Tuesday to be available.
Tried a points transfer last night and it arrived at lunch time today into KF. At least that is moving at 'normal' speed.

 

[albyd]

I've been doing one-off over the phone payments. You can do them once every 72 hours (depending on who you get in the call center, they'll let you do one sooner paying to one of your supplementary cards). They Direct Debit your linked account with the funds showing in a few days but the funds are available straight away - may help to reload a depleted credit limit to go again depending on your limit in these crazy last few days before devaluation.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Thanks albyd, I'll try that!

 

[tbim]

I have recently contacted Amex online chat for double points offer. However I was told the offer was only available to some selected Platinum card members that opened the cards prior to Dec 2018. (My p card was opened this year...what a pity)

 

[k3nnis]

When are you guys/girls transferring the MR to your airline partners?
April 14th?
Or should be do it a day or 2 earlier to be safe?

 

[SOPOOR]

When are you guys/girls transferring the MR to your airline partners?
April 14th?
Or should be do it a day or 2 earlier to be safe?

Did mine today

 

[gizzard]

Most of mine have gone. I'll leave 5k in to pick up the pieces next week.

 

[k3nnis]

Ok. I will do mine next week

 

[carls888]

I'm having to wait until Wednesday next week now for my final transfer due to the lag in $ clearance. That way all the big extra points will have dropped. I am transferring the bulk of them today.

 

[burmans]

When are you guys/girls transferring the MR to your airline partners?
April 14th?
Or should be do it a day or 2 earlier to be safe?

The conversion rate applies at the time of conversion not based on when it hits your FF account. So I think doing on the last day is probably OK, albeit with a small risk that the Amex website might not be available that day. Having said that why wait, what I have done is transfer most out already and have kept 5000 or so, will do one last minute transfer literally on the last day or two to maximise last minute points earning.

 

[k3nnis]

Ok thanks for the info

 

[umberloidster]

Is anyone else seeing a slowdown in points being transferred to airline partners?

I popped some Ascent Premium across to Emirates, Qantas and Krisflyer on Wednesday. Emirates transferred overnight, but I'm still waiting on Qantas and Krisflyer.

One would expect that the value of the point is determined at the time of transfer but I'd hate to see airlines waiting till post-deval to credit accounts with miles!

 

[SOPOOR]

Is anyone else seeing a slowdown in points being transferred to airline partners?

I popped some Ascent Premium across to Emirates, Qantas and Krisflyer on Wednesday. Emirates transferred overnight, but I'm still waiting on Qantas and Krisflyer.

One would expect that the value of the point is determined at the time of transfer but I'd hate to see airlines waiting till post-deval to credit accounts with miles!

I've just done my transfer but I think some of you are nuts that are going to transfer at one days notice