[edison]

Originally Posted by AnonymousCoward

Does the Gold Credit Card still exist? I can only see the Gold Choices Credit Card (which credits to Choices, not Ascent program)

Well it may not be advertised but you can call up for annual fee for life Gold Credit card I think. I still keep my fee free for life Amex Gold Credit card open just in case I need it!

[JohnK]

Originally Posted by AnonymousCoward

Does the Gold Credit Card still exist? I can only see the Gold Choices Credit Card (which credits to Choices, not Ascent program)

I still have an Amex Gold credit card and it is my favourite credit card. I have it fee free but I think it is conditioned on an annual spend of $9,000 which is reasonable. Just recently I was given an extra 50% bonus points for 6 months. Didn't ask for it, one day received a phone call and asked would I like to have 50% bonus points for 6 months. Needless to say I am putting most of my spend, except for QF flights, through the Amex Gold card....

[vt]

Just got my annual fee waived. Saves $192. Pretty good.

Although a free professionally sponsored AMEX Gold with free Ascent membership is probably better.

1 to 1 up to $10000 annual
1 to 1.5 from $10000

dont think there is a cap.

[beardoc]

Originally Posted by vt

Just got my annual fee waived. Saves $192. Pretty good.

Although a free professionally sponsored AMEX Gold with free Ascent membership is probably better.

1 to 1 up to $10000 annual
1 to 1.5 from $10000

dont think there is a cap.

If you spend more than $20000/year on the card, the professional organisation AMEX cards are better than the "new" Rewards Maximiser - and they are fee free for life too. Of course, there's no guarantee that these cards won't be reviewed as well in time.

[vt]

Originally Posted by beardoc

If you spend more than $20000/year on the card, the professional organisation AMEX cards are better than the "new" Rewards Maximiser - and they are fee free for life too. Of course, there's no guarantee that these cards won't be reviewed as well in time.

Yep. $20,000 is $1,667 a month. Thats a couple flights/hotels per month. My normal household expenditure would be greater than $20,000 a year. Hope that didnt come across as arrogant.

Not a very high watermark.

Its also free rather than $192.

Originally Posted by beardoc

Of course, there's no guarantee that these cards won't be reviewed as well in time.

Yep. Subject to evaluation when conditions change.

[petertwister]

Today, I walked into an AMEX platinum promotional stand and had a chat with the reps there.

I told them I have a rewards maximiser gold card and the rep said that there'll be changes on 1/4/09 -
* 1.25 pt per dollar instead of 1.5pt per dollar, after $100k, it's 1 to 1.
* that i will not be able to transfer points to SQ anymore and that all my MR points will be "nullified".

Now, from what i have read so far, the first point is correct, but the 2nd point doesn't seem true to me! she said that some AMEX customers already got sent a letter, and that i should receive one soon.

Maybe all they care about is selling Plat card, but I think I need to get the facts straight before I consider up-ing to plat or just sticking with Maximiser.

I currently spend about $30k/year, what do you think my chances are to get my Maximiser fee waived in Nov, or better still... get my 1st year Plat fee waived?

Is it as simple as asking nicely when calling them up? or do I need to play the "I would leave if I don't get waived" card?

[Mal]

Originally Posted by petertwister

Today, I walked into an AMEX platinum promotional stand and had a chat with the reps there.

I told them I have a rewards maximiser gold card and the rep said that there'll be changes on 1/4/09 -
* 1.25 pt per dollar instead of 1.5pt per dollar, after $100k, it's 1 to 1.
* that i will not be able to transfer points to SQ anymore and that all my MR points will be "nullified".

Methinks they're confused about the dropping of Qantas redemptions from April 1st next year and mentioned SQ instead.

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/comm...ads-14509.html (Qantas/Amex Changes [consolidated threads])

"Nullified"? Hahahahahaa. Maybe if you abuse [note this is very subjective, and could be in the future subject to legal definition!] the current Amex promo for 5/5000 bonus points...

[petertwister]

Hi Mal,

Nah... she didn't mention anything about the abuse She also said that I can keep all my MR points if i switch to the Plat card haha....

She said my best option is to sign up for Plat before November (renewal), but I am not changing my card choice unless there's concrete evidence in writing that I'll lose all my MR points and no SQ option if I stay on Maximiser.

Btw, I wonder if I can keep my 5k/5 if I upgrade to Plat in the middle of the promo (e.g. in Nov). No way am I giving away this promo!

[serfty]

Amex have sent notification of the 1½ to 1¼ change come April. Also notification in regard to Ascent not being able to transfer to QF.

I have come across nothing in regard to removing SQ from the program, in fact (IIRC) the SQ redemption ratio improved significantly earlier this year.

[smart1999]

Originally Posted by vt

Just got my annual fee waived. Saves $192. Pretty good.

Although a free professionally sponsored AMEX Gold with free Ascent membership is probably better.

1 to 1 up to $10000 annual
1 to 1.5 from $10000

dont think there is a cap.

How did you manage to get the fees waived?