Jan 17, 2015, 11:17 am
Last edit by: JJonahJ
This thread is a continuation of discussion which began HERE in 2011. It was very active in 2014, read HERE.
Referrals and self-referrals are an important part of churning Canadian-issued American Express cards. It is appropriate to discuss how the referral process works in this thread. However, please do not offer or request referrals here.
Use only this thread, and do read the Wikipost carefully before posting:
Referral Offers (post only in this thread, no referral links, read Wiki post first).
JerryHung: I figure I'll include all CURRENT AMEX Canada offers here (no referral links) for anyone curious about what the bonus and fees are
This is not an all-inclusive list, only the "good" offers, so feel free to add new offers
AMEX Platinum Rewards - $699/year, 60K MR (via referral) after $1000 spending in 3 months vs. 50K non-referral
AMEX Gold Rewards - $150/year, FYF, 25K MR after $500 spending + $50 cashback from GCR
(as of Jan 11, 2016 Gold card will no longer earn referral points.)
AMEX Air Miles Platinum - $65/year, FYF, 2000 Air Miles after $500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
AMEX SPG - $120/year, 20K SPG after $500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
New as of 2014/10/09
AMEX Business Gold Rewards - $250/year, FYF, 30K MR after $5000 spending (or 40K via referral)
AMEX Business Platinum Rewards - $399/year, 40K MR after $5000 spending (or 50K via referral)
AMEX Aeroplan Plus Platinum - $499/year, 50K Aeroplans after $1000 spending in 3 months (or 51K via referral). Normally 40K/41K, extra 10K promo running till Mar 31, 2016
Referrals and self-referrals are an important part of churning Canadian-issued American Express cards. It is appropriate to discuss how the referral process works in this thread. However, please do not offer or request referrals here.
Use only this thread, and do read the Wikipost carefully before posting:
Referral Offers (post only in this thread, no referral links, read Wiki post first).
JerryHung: I figure I'll include all CURRENT AMEX Canada offers here (no referral links) for anyone curious about what the bonus and fees are
This is not an all-inclusive list, only the "good" offers, so feel free to add new offers
AMEX Platinum Rewards - $699/year, 60K MR (via referral) after $1000 spending in 3 months vs. 50K non-referral
AMEX Gold Rewards - $150/year, FYF, 25K MR after $500 spending + $50 cashback from GCR
(as of Jan 11, 2016 Gold card will no longer earn referral points.)
AMEX Air Miles Platinum - $65/year, FYF, 2000 Air Miles after $500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
AMEX SPG - $120/year, 20K SPG after $500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
New as of 2014/10/09
AMEX Business Gold Rewards - $250/year, FYF, 30K MR after $5000 spending (or 40K via referral)
AMEX Business Platinum Rewards - $399/year, 40K MR after $5000 spending (or 50K via referral)
AMEX Aeroplan Plus Platinum - $499/year, 50K Aeroplans after $1000 spending in 3 months (or 51K via referral). Normally 40K/41K, extra 10K promo running till Mar 31, 2016
Churning Amex in Canada (2015)
Aug 3, 2015, 9:20 am
#901
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Marriott Rewards: Platinum
Posts: 124
No, you can't cross-refer, so if you really want to buy 50K Aeroplan for $499/year fee, look for someone to refer you (family/friend or even GCR.ca)
Maybe get her to refer you to AMEX Plat also, she gets 15K, you get 60K with $699 fee - $200 annual credit (or $400 if you do it twice). Much better deal
You get 15K per referral as AMEX Plat or AeroPlat cardholder; otherwise it's usually 10K per referral as AMEX Gold/Biz Gold/AeroGold/SPG/etc cardholder
Maybe get her to refer you to AMEX Plat also, she gets 15K, you get 60K with $699 fee - $200 annual credit (or $400 if you do it twice). Much better deal
You get 15K per referral as AMEX Plat or AeroPlat cardholder; otherwise it's usually 10K per referral as AMEX Gold/Biz Gold/AeroGold/SPG/etc cardholder
Aug 3, 2015, 11:52 am
#903
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: OZ Diamond
Posts: 29
Somebody said that as a Amex Plat holder, he received 15k referral bonus when referring friend to Amex Plat, and 10k when referring a friend to Amex Gold. If this is true, then the size of the referral bonus for the referrer depends on the type of card being referred, not the type of card being held by the referrer.
However, your post seems to imply the opposite: that the size of the referrer's referral bonus is dependent on the card being held by the referrer, rather than the card being referred to the friend.
Can someone clarify which is true -- does the size of the referrer's bonus depend on: 1) the type of card that the referrer is holding, or 2) the type of card that the referrer is referring to the friend?
For example, if I am holding Amex Gold (not holding Amex Plat), and refer Amex Plat to a friend, after application approval would I receive 10k or 15k referral bonus as the referrer?
Aug 3, 2015, 12:16 pm
#904
Join Date: May 2014
Location: YYZ
Posts: 527
I've gone through this thread and there seems to be some conflicting opinions on the size of the referrer's referral bonus, for cross-product (same family) referrals.
Somebody said that as a Amex Plat holder, he received 15k referral bonus when referring friend to Amex Plat, and 10k when referring a friend to Amex Gold. If this is true, then the size of the referral bonus for the referrer depends on the type of card being referred, not the type of card being held by the referrer.
However, your post seems to imply the opposite: that the size of the referrer's referral bonus is dependent on the card being held by the referrer, rather than the card being referred to the friend.
Can someone clarify which is true -- does the size of the referrer's bonus depend on: 1) the type of card that the referrer is holding, or 2) the type of card that the referrer is referring to the friend?
For example, if I am holding Amex Gold (not holding Amex Plat), and refer Amex Plat to a friend, after application approval would I receive 10k or 15k referral bonus as the referrer?
Somebody said that as a Amex Plat holder, he received 15k referral bonus when referring friend to Amex Plat, and 10k when referring a friend to Amex Gold. If this is true, then the size of the referral bonus for the referrer depends on the type of card being referred, not the type of card being held by the referrer.
However, your post seems to imply the opposite: that the size of the referrer's referral bonus is dependent on the card being held by the referrer, rather than the card being referred to the friend.
Can someone clarify which is true -- does the size of the referrer's bonus depend on: 1) the type of card that the referrer is holding, or 2) the type of card that the referrer is referring to the friend?
For example, if I am holding Amex Gold (not holding Amex Plat), and refer Amex Plat to a friend, after application approval would I receive 10k or 15k referral bonus as the referrer?
Aug 3, 2015, 12:48 pm
#905
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,666
I'm sure if it was the other way around with Gold referring a Plat - they wouldn't give you the 15K either. HA!
Aug 3, 2015, 3:28 pm
#906
Join Date: May 2014
Location: YYZ
Posts: 527
Not as of late. As a Plat cardholder I referred a friend who ended up getting the Gold. 10,000 points hit my account for the referral. Called in thrice and asked why I didn't get 15K and was told each time that it was because my friend got the Gold.
I'm sure if it was the other way around with Gold referring a Plat - they wouldn't give you the 15K either. HA!
I'm sure if it was the other way around with Gold referring a Plat - they wouldn't give you the 15K either. HA!
Aug 3, 2015, 4:08 pm
#907
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
Aug 3, 2015, 7:54 pm
#908
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: OZ Diamond
Posts: 29
To be clear: you are holding Amex Plat and referred Amex Gold? Or you are holding Amex Gold and referred Amex Plat?
Last edited by saitojohn; Aug 3, 2015 at 8:02 pm
Aug 3, 2015, 10:27 pm
#909
Join Date: May 2014
Location: YYZ
Posts: 527
I am holding an Amex Plat. Any MR product that I refer from a Plat entitles me to 15k. Even if it is a gold level card. I also hold a Gold card, if I were to refer any MR product using my gold card I would be entitled to 10k, even if I were to refer a Plat.
Aug 4, 2015, 7:54 am
#910
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: OZ Diamond
Posts: 29
Thanks. Using a more extreme example to confirm my understanding: if I hold Amex Aeroplan Plat and I refer just the basic Amex AeroplanPlus (not AP Gold), I would still get 15k AP miles referral bonus?
Aug 4, 2015, 7:58 am
#912
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, Alaska, Marriott
Posts: 435
Yes, that's what it says when I put that combination thru the refer a friend steps
Aug 4, 2015, 10:46 am
#913
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Spatially speaking or metaphysically speaking?
Programs: Aeropain: Zirconia Status; Altitude: Marianas Trench Status; UA MP: 1 Kick to the curb status
Posts: 623
I can confirm. Did this exact process: self-referral and referral for the basic Aeroplan card while holding the Aeroplan Plat garnered me 30K points. Took awhile to show up though, about 3 weeks.
Aug 4, 2015, 1:04 pm
#914
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: YVR
Programs: AC, BA
Posts: 137
Not as of late. As a Plat cardholder I referred a friend who ended up getting the Gold. 10,000 points hit my account for the referral. Called in thrice and asked why I didn't get 15K and was told each time that it was because my friend got the Gold.
I'm sure if it was the other way around with Gold referring a Plat - they wouldn't give you the 15K either. HA!
I'm sure if it was the other way around with Gold referring a Plat - they wouldn't give you the 15K either. HA!
