American Express Membership Rewards - Which member rewards program should I sign up for?

Im a new AmEx Green holder. I got the card today with no member rewards program set up because I thought american express would be sending me a 'welcome package' to explain everything. What I got was a card, an activation slip and not much else. The people on the phone seem to know just as much (or less) than I do.

I want the points primarily so that I can take nice vacations. I dont travel nearly as much as I would care to so I want hotel and airline points. I fly out of EWR so Im mostly interested in OnePass miles on the airline side although I can get to LGA or JFK if the deal is that much better.

I anticipate putting about 20-25k annually on the card depending on how nice Amex is with their imaginary credit limits. Which of the rewards packages would suit me best? what is the Plus program exactly? Ive never heard of it until now. I always assumed it was the options for dining out and crummy gifts and the preferred rewards for air and hotel.


The Membership Rewards Plus program - Fly any airline and enjoy no blackout dates with the travel program that offers ultimate freedom.
All of the premium travel, shopping, and leisure rewards, plus unprecedented flexibility • Fly any airline • No blackout dates • No frequent flyer seat restrictions • You’ll even earn frequent flyer miles on your free flights. Point levels vary based on destination. Review complete Terms & Conditions.
Fee: $75.00 annually


The Membership Rewards program - our premium travel rewards program for frequent travelers
All the shopping and leisure rewards, plus premium travel • Transfer points into the frequent flyer programs of 11 airlines • Free flight ands discounts from 20 airlines, like Delta, Continental, and US Airways • Free stays at hundreds of hotels • 50 luxury cruises • Vacation packages • Spa Retreats. 1 point equals 1 frequent flyer mile or frequent guest credit for most programs. Review complete Terms & Conditions.
Fee: $40.00 annually


The Membership Rewards Options program - for those seeking top-name shopping and leisure rewards.
Rewards from over 50 of the finest names in shopping, dining, and entertainment like Crate and Barrel, Morton's of Chicago, and Ticketmaster • Airline and hotel rewards. 2 points equals 1 frequent flyer mile or frequent guest credit for most programs. Review complete Terms & Conditions.
Fee: None

Can I sign up for the membership rewards plus program retroactively? I put over 100,000 points a year on my card and would like to be able to use them for anything with no blackout dates.

How do you earn miles on free flights? I thought there was only mr rewards and mr options?

Can I sign up for the membership rewards plus program retroactively? I put over 100,000 points a year on my card and would like to be able to use them for anything with no blackout dates.


If you get a Gold Rewards Plus Card - your points are automatically bumped up to the plus tier.

Get at least the gold so you could get double the points on gas, grocery, and wireless bills.

Get gold rewards plus if you want to add another card member to your account. You also get double points if you use the card at AMEX partner airlines or hotels.

I am confused. Is the plus tier for the Rewards Plus Gold Card. If so, what are the no blackout date airlines and rewards levels for using these points. From the sounds of it, the program is similar to MBNA Worldpoints or Citibank Thankyou program meaning I can redeem X miles for a trip on American Airlines if I choose. Is this correct. Additionally, am I still able to convert my existing points into hotel and frequent flier programs.

Sincerely,

JC

Guys, come on now.

Does anyone know the difference between MR Plus and MR

I've never heard of the MR Plus program either. Can you provide a link to the info? Rewards Plus Gold cardholders are automatically enrolled in MR, not MR Plus.

As far as I can see there is no mention of it on membership rewards site. The only way I found it was on the signup page to change my amex rewards options. Log into acct mgt and hunt around is my best advice.


I called amex again and apparently the only difference is no blackouts and the pts transfer to any airline not just their partners. But they dont tell you the xfer ratios for the out of network airlines. I have a feeling they arent 1:1. I just went with the regular $40 MR. It seems like a bargain with a total amex acct bill of $95 versus the charge for a preferred rewards green.

20000 points get you 25000 miles on more airlines and you have access to Starwood Hotels for first year free then $30.

thistestname,

Is your account a personal account or is it a small business/corporate account. Additionally, do you just have a regular green card without membership rewards built in. The reason I ask is that I can't seem to locate on the website how to change my membership rewards program but I have a card with membership rewards built in (Preferred Rewards Green Card).

Sincerely,

JC

Gold Rewards Plus (http://www66.americanexpress.com/cards/Fmacfservlet?csi=13/0/b/3/undefined/undefined/undefined/undefined&mgmID=undefined&request_type=undefined)
It doesn't give the terms of redemptions on the "21 airlines", though.

Confusingly, there are three Gold Rewards products. The Rewards Gold Card ($90/yr) is the lite version, with 2:1 point transfers. The middle level is Preferred Rewards Gold Card ($130/yr) and has 1:1 transfers. The high level is Rewards Plus Gold Card ($150/yr). It has double points on certain travel purchases for the first year, then 1.5 after that. It also gives up to 5 free additional cards.

thistestname,

Is your account a personal account or is it a small business/corporate account. Additionally, do you just have a regular green card without membership rewards built in. The reason I ask is that I can't seem to locate on the website how to change my membership rewards program but I have a card with membership rewards built in (Preferred Rewards Green Card).

Sincerely,

JC

JC,
I just signed up for MR and now can no longer get to the signup page from my account at americanexpress.com. I suspect if you want MR Plus you would have to call customer service. They can add it for you.

I have a personal green card with no rewards whatsoever built in (its the $55/year card). I added the MR plan at $40 after I got the card in the mail. It seems like a better deal than the card you have. Same benefits for a bit cheaper no?

thistestname,

I was going to change to the regular green card for $55 without mr and then pay $40 for the program but was told by countless customer service representatives that you don't earn double points on the everyday purchases. I am not sure if this is correct though. Maybe you can let me know or if there are other members of flyertalk that have just a regular green card $55 and earn the double membership rewards points let me know.

Sincerely,

JC