jubberly

re.time-frame for MR welcome points. Any ideas as why some get the points as soon as spend is met whilst others have to wait for weeks?

JJonahJ

On the topic of delayed points and non-awarding of repeat welcome bonus points. It's ironic that that upon applying for another new MR card, we USED to always WANT to have our multiple MR accounts merged so that it facilitated things during cancellation, ensuring we wouldn't lose unused/unconverted MR points. So in those earlier years we WOULD always list down our other MR cards in the application as the reference/existing card, as this seemed to help get an auto-merge.

But ever since the July 1, 2015 monument date, we've been putting ANYTHING BUT another MR card, and INSTEAD we use our Airmiles, AeroplanPlus, SPG, SimplyCash etc, cards. We did this in the hopes that we would NOT get the new MR account auto-merging with an existing MR account. But at the same time we didn't want to leave it blank, because there are benefits in listing an existing Amex card, as it allows the system to properly identify you for pulling your Transunion credit file, in case someone else with a similar name pulls up on their systems.

But why the effort to get a new MR account created? Well over the course of applying and merging accounts, it's actually possible that the MR account # assigned to a Gold MR card can become merged with a newer Biz Gold MR account, and then when the Gold card is cancelled, the MR account # just shifts over under the Biz Gold MR card. Later, when the Gold is re-churned, and if it is automatically merged with the still-existing MR account, which if you followed this story is the previous Gold MR account's original number, it would definitely lend itself to being plonked for getting a repeat welcome bonus. If it's not auto-triggered to flag this, it at least requires some manual scrutiny to figure out that it's broken the one-welcome rules, right? Thus maybe why Amex needs to flag and review more files, and perhaps why we are seeing more reports of delayed points than in the past? Or, were we just a lot more silent lambs in those days of past?

So far so good for our team, getting new MR accounts created, and instant posting of points after the threshold-spending has completed.

Enjoy!
JJJ

jubberly

I've been equally fortunate....always having a new MR # created for every MR card.I never include any Amex card as existing card on an application.If no instant approval,a phone call to confirm my identity takes a couple of minutes and I get a kick out of hearing the agent congratulate me for a successful application!

jerryhung

One can message AMEX to split/separate the AMEX MR also, even if it's linked
but that also means message to link them at cancellation time to not lose the points

As my data point and some RFD'ers said, AMEX CAN auto-link your AMEX MR account, whether you provided an existing AMEX MR card or not... so it's not 100% guaranteed

JJonahJ

Well, no one said it'd be 100% guaranteed. It's something we hoped for, and got it. But if you don't shoot at the net, you'll never score, right? Just putting ideas out there so others can try and maybe benefit from. My bad, for not putting a disclaimer in my post.

jubberly

I had a look over at RFD and noticed reports of a HUGE increase in referral points not showing the day after and maybe taking up to 10 weeks to show. Its funny how some are implying that from a Business Platinum,there is no delay(my work mate referred his wife from his biz platinum a week ago and still no referral points)...tsk tsk tsk

Hopefully this will kill the practice of offering financial incentives to use a referral link....as the referrer will not know who the referral points are from,if he made a referral to multiple applicants using his referral link.

excerpt from Business Platinum referral terms

Referral program participants should allow 8 to 10 weeks for the award of the referral bonus once program criteria have been met and must be enrolled in the corresponding loyalty program (if applicable) when the referral bonus is awarded. All products and services are subject to applicable terms and conditions.

jerryhung

Referral/Welcome points not showing up next-day has nothing to do with $ incentives, stop promoting or suggesting the idea or scare others "cry wolf"

Also, here is the RFD thread (my thread)

Lately, it's only Personal Plat that seems to have the problem, not the Business Plat, so don't say AMEX is all bad

jubberly

I love Amex!
I seem to remember a poster(s),on RFD, that advised of delayed referral points....a few months ago,only to have long-time RFD poster's throw doubt on that,claiming that referral points always show the day after an app.is approved. I can only assume the claims were made so as to not discourage potential "clients" from accepting payment for a financial incentive to use their referral link . As I already posted earlier,if the referral points don't post the day after a referred application is approved and the referrer has made several referrals....there is no way to know who to pay.Perhaps that's why there have been numerous reports of non-payment by referrers.

crimsona

Collect payment up front from relatives or trusted friends and it doesn't matter if referral payout is delayed. SPG being the most explicit example

mia

Please write about American Express products, policies and practices, not about each other.

msp3

Looks like the best personal card to get is the Amex Gold? I'm assuming the referral isn't worth anything here and I should just go with GCR?

JJonahJ

Actually, all of the four Membership Rewards (MR) cards now have a bonus if you sign up via a referral. But if you're strictly discussing PERSONAL cards, then it's the Gold or Platinum cards in this product family to consider.

The Personal Platinum card is offering 60K welcome points via a referral signup (50K without a referral), but comes at a cost of $699 and a calendar year travel credit of $200 when you book at the Amex travel website. It's a good card to get as well if you do fly often but don't have airline status, as it provides free access to many airport lounge benefits via a free membership to the Priority Pass program, plus several hotel benefits and elevated status.

But, if you don't like paying any fees, and feel the FYF ($150 waived for first year) Personal Gold is the preferred choice, then it depends on what you want to use the points for. It's 25K points if you sign up by GCR and get the current $60 cash back boost from GCR. Otherwise, it's 30K points if you sign up via a referral, since you then get the option to add a supplementary cardholder for another 5K bonus. This is a new referred benefit for the Gold card, and we discussed it about a page back, at post #105 and onwards. You don't get this benefit through GCR nor can you combine the two ($60 GCR + referral 5K offer). The spending requirement is $1500 in 3 months to earn the welcome bonus.

But why just consider the Personal cards? If you have any "unofficial" form of income from a side business, such as selling lemonade from a stand, or offering psychiatric services for 5c, then you can apply for the Business cards as a sole proprietorship (your name is your business name), which does not require you to have a legitimate business registration number. Jokes aside, this could be for any extra income you get from things like freelance work, tutoring, rental properties, clearing neighbours driveways of snow or mowing their lawns.

So, it depends on how deep you want to get into earning points, because a lot of people are considering the Business Platinum card, even though it has a $399 annual fee. The Business Plat has a signup bonus of 75K if you get a referral for this card (40 K without a referral). Plus if you have plans to do some referring or self-referring the cards unique benefit of earning 25K for referring other cards is very enticing. However it does have a high $5000 minimum spending within 3 months requirement.

There's also the FYF Business Gold offer of 40K points via a referral (30K without a referral), and also a high $5000 minimum spending requirement. People who want to open both FYF cards, the Business Gold and Personal Gold) would benefit if they opened the Business Gold first, since it has a 10K bonus for referring, whereas the Personal Gold only earns 5K. So self-referring from the Business to Personal Gold would net an extra 5K.

Since all of the MR cards now have better offers on a referred signup, head over to the 'official' FlyerTalk Amex referral offers thread, and look for a Canadian cardholder's post to request for a referral.

JJonahJ

For people who are wondering about the lounge access benefits of the Amex Personal Platinum and the Amex Business Platinum cards.

Both Personal and Business versions give you and 1 or 2 guests free access to these lounges:

The Plaza Premium lounges - http://www.plaza-network.com (you + 1 guest)
These are located in various airports in these countries:
Hong Kong, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taipei, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.

The American Express lounges - http://thecenturionlounge.com/ (you + 2 guests)
There are a handful of lounges in USA and some Internationally.
DFW-Dallas
IAH-Houston
LAS-Las Vegas
LGA-New York
MIA-Miami
PHL-Philadelphia
SEA-Seattle
SFO-San Francisco

At this writing there are also ten International Amex lounges, in 5 countries:
http://thecenturionlounge.com/international/
BOM-Mumbai, India
DEL-Delhi, India
EZE-Buenos Aires, Argentina
MEX-Mexico City, Mexico (2 here, Domestic and International terminals)
MTY-Monterrey, Mexico (2 here, Terminals A & B)
SYD-Sydney, Australia
TLC-Toluca, Mexico
HKG-Hong Kong (as of Oct 2017)

Both cards also give you free access to the Servisair Executive Lounges and free access to the Delta Sky Club Lounges, but I don't have a list of these locations.


The difference between Personal Platinum and Business Platinum lounges?

Both give you a free membership to the Priority Pass Lounges - http://www.prioritypass.com

The Personal Platinum gives you and a guest free access to ALL of the member lounges in this network of lounges.

The Business Platinum card REQUIRES you to pay US$27 per visit, no free guests.
This is a significant drop off in the number of lounges that you can access for FREE!

The Priority Pass has over 1000+ membership lounges. Surprisingly though, NONE at Tokyo HND, but yes at NRT!

Note: this does not pertain to the Amex Aeroplan Plus Platinum (AeroPlat) card's lounge access - the AeroPlat card gives you free access the the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges (MLL) only.

Pseudo Nim

And the Centurion lounges are amazing. As in, they're worth rerouting your flights for. That good.

CanuckFan

I am sorry if this has been asked in previous years, but I have read the whole 2017 thread and do not see my question.
How do I refer myself from my Personal SPG to a Business SPG?