American Express Membership Rewards - American Express Canada card recommendation to earn Flying Blue miles?




djskynet
Jul 27, 12, 3:10 am
Hi all,

I just moved to Canada and just started to look for an Amex. Already having a french Amex Gold Flying Blue, I'd like to get a canadian one that makes me earn FB point and it seems quite difficult. Also, Amex is the only credit card company that makes possible to get a credit card when moving abroad without having any credit history yet in a new country. They also allow to keep your status and the same credit card level as you have previously without any minimum income needed.

Contrary to the US, Amex Canada does not have partnership with FB and only allows transfer to Alitalia, Delta, Aeroplan (Air Canada); Cathay & British Airways. The only way to earn FB miles with the classic Gold Amex is to transfer Reward points to Statwood Preferred Guest program then to transfer to FB. But, the ratio from Amex to SPG is only 1:2 (meaning 1000 Reward points give you 500 SPG points then 500 FB miles).

Amex Canada also have a cobranded SPG card which has partnership with FB and allows transfer to FB with a 1:1 ratio. But with that one, I am not sure you earn 1 point for every CAD spent whatever the point of sales used, contrary to the classic Gold Amex for which it is the case? Can anyone confirm?

Also, what about insurance coverage (mainly car rental, travel incident such as lost baggage, flight delayed,...)? Which one has the best coverage?

What would be for you, the best Amex between those two?

Thanks for your help!


Cruban
Jul 27, 12, 7:13 am
Welcome to Canada!
I can confirm that the SPG AMEX earns 1 point per dollar spent, and 2 points per dollar spent at SPG properties. Probably your best bet if you want to earn FB points.
I believe that like all AMEXs it offers a suite of insurance benefits.

For me the Gold is great for travel, gas, groceries, and pharmacy purchases as it earns 2 MR points per dollar spent.

beep88
Jul 27, 12, 9:21 am
Insurance Coverages : Platinum > (Gold = SPG ) > Air Miles ... You can pretty much tell by the annual fees they charge.

http://www.americanexpress.com/canada/travel-rewards-cards compares the insurance coverages.


Poor Pianist
Jul 27, 12, 12:46 pm
Correct me if I am wrong, but with Amex SPG card you actually get more Flying Blue points than with AirFrance/KLM Amex Gold:

AirFrance/KLM Card: 10 points per 10 euros spent, which works out to
0.8 Flying Blue points per Canadian Dollar spent! :td:

Canadian SPG Amex: 1 starwood point per Canadian Dollar spent, which is
1 Flying Blue point per Canadian Dollar spent! ^

djskynet
Jul 30, 12, 8:42 am
Ok thanks everyone!



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