American Express Membership Rewards - Your "Report Card" Comments for Membership Rewards

InsideFlyer is completing a review of the MR program and it's always valuable to include a "Report Card" grade (A - F) along with comments from members of the program. Feel like grading the program?

Please send along your grade and comments to:
randy@insideflyer.com

Randy, :
Since this is a public forum, mind if we just "post" our grades and you can have someone in your office cut/paste them into an aggregate report ? This way we can all share and read and debate, yet still get this info to you ? I don't mind taking the first step to "grade" AMEX's MR program and have done this very thing over the years in anecdotal posts here and there. The report won't be very strong for this program. Fundamentally, it is a shell of the program it once was, having rarely added partners when major ones left. Conceptually, it has more promise than any other program out there, since it attempts to create a "generic" point that has maximum utility and flexibility; unfortunately, so many nicks and cuts and near-misses as to make the program flawed in its execution and getting worse, not better, over time.

So here we go:
a) NW Airlines dropped out after the very first year of MR; ominous from the start
b) TWA went BK and involuntarily dropped out
c) US Air is apparently dropping out for 2006
d) (I think it was Marriott) already dropped out this year
e) normal conversion ratio to convert MR to starwood's starpoint is onerous as to not be something to even consider (3:1)
f) ONLY domestic airline I can think of off the top of my ahead that has joined in recent years was JetBlue. Yawn.
g) MR NEVER, but NEVER has promotions on the EARNINGS side, such as double miles for all charges. Since AMEX does offer double mile promotions w/ co-branded cards such as HH and Starwood, seems they would see some value in doing the same for their CHARGE CARDs (blue, gold, plat and cent) on the EARNINGS side as well. To my knowledge, I've never seen one. Yes, they occasionally establish promotions on the CONVERSION side (such as reduced ratios for a finite period, starwood conversion reduced ratios (2:1, usually in the summer) come comes to mind) but if one is not needing those given points or miles, then the promo is again of little value. I would like to see occasional promotions such as double MR Points on the EARNINGS side.
h) AMEX recently established a promotional web site to encourage AMEX cardholders to log in and "attempt to buy" w/ MR points various consumner items. The promotion was broken the day they released it, and literally AMEX had to close the site and the promotion. It was a joke. Read more of the frustrations of that promo here :
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=497866
In so doing, AMEX was essentially rewarding only people w/ the fastest internet pipeline and fastest typing skills...since logging in and clicking through a series of steps turned out to be the critical path to success, *if* the web site was stable long enough to allow the challengers to get through to the final screens. Me ? As a high-volume MR cardholder of years..didn't bother to even try, it was such a broken promotion AND it rewarded no one except fast typers w/ high-speed internet. What corporate marketing goal was that directed towards ?
i) AMEX has recently run full-page spreads in WSJ and maybe USA Today announcing an innovative initiative to convert MR points to pay for airline tix of all brands. Unfortunately, once again, AMEX's implementation is hobbled. Seems they chose such a sloppy web site and mechanism to facilitate this otherwise neat announcement...I have found it not worth my time to attempt to convert MR points to purchase these tickets. Talk about a dysfunctional, counter-intuitive site. Couldn't have designed it any worse, IMO. See more here and click on the MR logo to get the details:
http://go.americanexpress-travel.com/flights/GoToNewSearch.do?Service=AMEX&entryPoint=TP&time_pref=12&date_pref=MD&guest=N&SID=T0074000182021282512103212814046051902&leavingDate=01/02/2006&returningDate=01/04/2006&SSORequestPath=/flights/GoToNewSearch.do&stk=null&mrk=null&mck=0&tpg=null&mrt=null

j) the incredible irony of MR ? it seems to still be popular with someone out there, as AMEX keeps crowing about it and seems to be well-pleased. Heck, I even admit to accumulating MR points after I've exhausted my efforts towards my #1 affinity point - the starwood starpoint, and then my #2 affinity program, little-known USAA's Eagle Points, and finally my SWAirline's RR miles earnings efforts. MR comes in a distant fourth and gets very little spillover of my earnings effort each mo, but FWIW does stand ahead of DC/MC (Diners Club/Mastercard), which just put a dagger in its own back once and for all when it lost most of its airline partners (or is about to), and then finally the once proud-king of the hill, now dead-in-the-water AAdvantage, where I don't bother to go ever thanks to AA's stealth implimentation of milesaaver spring, 2004.

SUMMARY: Lost too many partners over the years that have never been replaced, failed to ever sign-up the two world's largest airlines (United and AA) into MR, fails to ever offer bonus promotions on the EARNINGS side, and the few promotions it does offer blow up in AMEX's face (granted this may be a failure of AMEX corporate, per se, and arguably should not be assssed against MR). AMEX's MR program - So much potential, so little tangible value for my travel and spending patterns anyway.

CONCLUSION: I grade them <C minus>.

g) MR NEVER, but NEVER has promotions on the EARNINGS side, such as double miles for all charges. Since AMEX does offer double mile promotions w/ co-branded cards such as HH and Starwood, seems they would see some value in doing the same for their CHARGE CARDs (blue, gold, plat and cent) on the EARNINGS side as well. To my knowledge, I've never seen one.

Actually, they have done numerous such double MR points on the earnings side over at least the last year. Where have you been? ;)

Actually, they have done numerous such double MR points on the earnings side over at least the last year. Where have you been? ;)

Examples, please. Unless you may be speaking of the so-called "everyday items" such as groceries, drug store, and such, which are of little value and more decoy promos than anything, I am not aware of any. TIA

Examples, please. Unless you may be speaking of the so-called "everyday items" such as groceries, drug store, and such, which are of little value and more decoy promos than anything, I am not aware of any. TIA

There was a promotion last summer for double points on all charges, and then there was a subsequent one from October - November, IIRC. Then there was the one about eating at a restaurant here in Manhattan during a certain recent time period (earlier this month?) and earning 15,000 MR points for doing so (it was posted in this forum by yours truly).

And why are double points for "everyday items" of "little value"? I mean, if I wanted, I could purchase most everything at an "everyday item" store like Duane Reade or Key Foods. I don't understand how you can suggest that this is not a real promotion but rather, a gimmick.

EDIT: Also, there was a promotion about 5,000 MR points for a financial consultation, of which I took advantage.

EDIT II: I do know that there are Amex holders here on FT who have indicated either that they don't get notice of the promotions or else they are ineligible, because they hold cards only through their association with their employers, for which the MR program is, it is claimed, not as generous w/r/t the MR promotions, as it is when you have a card based upon the merits of your own application.

If you are a platinum member, there is also an ongoing (for how long, I don't know) bonus of 25,000 MR points if you book full fare tickets through their Platinum Travel Service.

so there are opportunities out there.

There was a promotion last summer for double points on all charges, and then there was a subsequent one from October - November, IIRC. <-- guess it was targeted; I never read or heard about it, and, to my embarrassment, I spend more time than I should in these various forums. Don't suppose you can locate a thread because I am sure it got some discussion. You refer to not one, but two w/ no restrictions and double points for all charges ? I think I would have heard of one if not both, so pardon my skepticism. I don't think they happened within the MR program, and wonder if you are confusing MR promos w/ AMEX/HH/OPTIMA or AMEX/DELTA/OPTIMA promos which are another thing entirely ?

Then there was the one about eating at a restaurant here in Manhattan during a certain recent time period (earlier this month?) and earning 15,000 MR points for doing so (it was posted in this forum by yours truly). <-- this appeals to such a tiny sub-set of cardholders as to be a joke. ok, let's structure a promo for double points for anyone who eats at Joes Sloppy Joe Shack on the banks of the mississippi river. See...not much appeal for you or for me, eh ? Ditto for a named restaurant in NYC.

And why are double points for "everyday items" of "little value"? I mean, if I wanted, I could purchase most everything at an "everyday item" store like Duane Reade or Key Foods. I don't understand how you can suggest that this is not a real promotion but rather, a gimmick. <-- because it provides so little upside as to not have any impact. I don't frequent drugstores and my spouse buys the groceries. But I do spend significant money on ccards every single day in my business, so I am always on the prowl for a double points, double miles promo without restrictions, gotchas, "clauses", min thresholdes (another AMEX infamous trick), linked to special purchases of drugs and groceries and gas, "max" ceilings, and such.

There were three "double" MR points promotions discussed. Each offered one additional MR point per dollar, which meant "triple" points on so-called Everyday Spending and "double" on other spending.

July/August (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=456960)

September/October (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=469537)

November/December (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=488985)

These promotions were targetted, but I was able to enroll our Gold Rewards Plus card in two of the three.

dennis

All three of your referenced promotions have nothing to do w/ AMEX's PLAT or CENTURION charge cards. Only one includes the GOLD card and the other two only address the base-level Green cards and not only are they targeted as the lower-end AMEX cards, they also seem to be targetted within each class of cardholders, ie not ALL Green cardholders were targetted.

I hardly think these could be classed as broad-based double miles promotions.

All three of your referenced promotions have nothing to do w/ AMEX's PLAT or CENTURION charge cards. Only one includes the GOLD card and the other two only address the base-level Green cards and not only are they targeted as the lower-end AMEX cards, they also seem to be targetted within each class of cardholders, ie not ALL Green cardholders were targetted.

I hardly think these could be classed as broad-based double miles promotions.

I successfully registered my gold for all three, two such registrations based upon info provided here (i.e., I wasn't solicited for this offer). I didn't try registering my platinum, since that would have been redundant.

AMEX MR grades:

ease of linking accounts = A
ability to have multiple linked accounts with same partner = A
speed of moving points (actually showing up in partner's account) = A
helpfulness of telephone assistance when needed = A
accuracy = A
ease of using online system = A-
exchange fee for moving points to miles = B-
usefulness other partner offerings (other than linked accounts) = B-
flexibility of other partner offerings = B-
number of partners in program = D
loss of US Airways = F (why I will leave MR and move to AMEX Starwood platinum)

<<referenced promotions have nothing to do w/ AMEX's PLAT or CENTURION charge cards.>>

Peterson asked for a reportcard on Membership Rewards, not "Membership Rewards for Centurion". I do think it is a valid criticism of Membership Rewards that they do not offer their best promotions to their best customers, but this is different than saying that they "never" offer double miles on all purchases to chargecard holders.

However, I thought that one of the benefits of Centurion membership was additional cards in your choice of colors (e.g. Platinum, Gold, Green). Is this a UK-only benefit?

dennis

I successfully registered my gold for all three, two such registrations based upon info provided here (i.e., I wasn't solicited for this offer). I didn't try registering my platinum, since that would have been redundant.As has been noted before, a green promotion will usually also work for gold (and vice versa) just by playing with the URL. I've also made this work with the DL Amex (see the first promotion listed by mia). I was never targeted this year, but was also able to register my green card for all three promos.

I do think it is a valid criticism of Membership Rewards that they do not offer their best promotions to their best customers...
If I was a plat or cent cardholder, and I saw all these green or gold promotions going on, I'd be plenty PO'd.

As I've said before, during one of these promotions, there's no better way to earn Hilton points from credit card spending - and if you can wait for a 3:2 transfer promotion, there's no better way (via credit cards) to earn Starpoints

As I see it the membership rewards program has continually lost partners and added few exciting partners. For airlines, when I signed up about 2.5 years ago we had USAirways and Continental alogn with Delta and Southwest. Now we still have Continental, Delta, Southwest, and we received JetBlue. The loss of USAirways has made me decide to spend far less on my card because they are the dominant airline in Philadelphia. Also, Southwest has devalued their rewards program so that there will now be blackout dates and in addition the MR points have increased from 20,000 points to 24,000 points for a ticket. A double whammy in my opinion.

Other credit cards offer you 1% cash back as a base level. Amex only offers you a 0.5% back. This is sad.

The redemption to hotel partners is pitiful. I have an Amex Hilton HHonors Credit card and get 3 points per dollar and 5 on everday spend. With the membership rewards program I can get a whopping 1300 Hilton HHonors points for 1000 MR Points (ie. 1.3 points per dollar approximately unless it is an everday spend category then 2.6 points per dollar. ) The redemption levels should almost be equitable with their hotel specific cards since they already offer them.

The gift cards are the same as any other rewards program for redemption value.

As far as the service. It seems to be good.

Linking of accounts online is great.

The lag of 1 month between when points are earned and when they actually post to your account is sad. No other rewards program does this.

The fact that the points never expire is a great thing.

The redemptions on merchandise is pathetic.

The new redemption on any airline is okay but not great considering it values a point at only 1 cent. At least let us get a similar point value to the new Blue Sky program which values a point at about 1.3 cents or 1.6 cents (I forget).

They sorely need to add United or American to the program.

The fact that they have various other airlines with specific redemption levels is great until you read the fine print and realize there are so many blackout dates it isn't funny.

The fact that none of their credit cards let you enroll in the regular MR program is pathetic and you can only get options. For me if I could be in the regular MR program for $40 which is what the fee is on a charge card I would quickly dump my charge card. Instead, I have to maintain my fidelity card which I never use just to get the regular MR program.

They should offer more bonuses throughout the year and have a tiered cash redemption program like other cards (ie. MBNA Worldpoints or Bank of America Power Rewards.)

Also, they should reward spenders with bonus points when they spend X amount of dollars on a particular card whether it be $15,000 or $25,000. Basically like their new The Knot card does (but of course this card is MR options only).

I think the reason the membership rewards program is doing so well from Amex's point of view is that they have a lot of corporate customers who spend a lot of money on the cards and only need to spend $75. Maybe amex should come up with different programs for their corporate and consumer cards so that the redemption levels are different (ie more generous for consumer cards since a consumer is far less likely to be spending several hundred thousand dollars on a card like the corporate cards do.)

Also, losing home improvements from the everyday spend category was a loss for me as I shop at home improvement stores on a regular basis but if they replaced it with doube points for dining I would be happier.

As it stands now, I am highly considering shifting most of my spending to other cards like the Chase Cash Plus, AT&T Universal Rewards, and possibly applying for a Starwood Amex instead.

Joe16900, I concur with your comments; can you assign a "letter grade" to your post ?

mia, instead of sniping my post and expending your intellectual capital, why not put together your entire discussion, pro or con, post it here and then assign a grade ? Contribute instead of denigrade, ok ? Obviously my comments are based on my experience, which is based on the level of card I hold. Yours may well be different since you appear to have a different card than mine.

There is not a right or wrong when one posts opinions and experiences, no ?

ILUVCITIBANK - Great summary of the MR program. I agree with everything, but want to express my comments on the extremely, extremely poor web-site. It is difficult to navigate and find stuff; I get an error message 75% of the time I try to redeem, and end up having to call; I have multiple accts, and the system cannot ever keep them straight....I could go on and on. Grade for the world's worst web site: F------------

And why are double points for "everyday items" of "little value"? I mean, if I wanted, I could purchase most everything at an "everyday item" store like Duane Reade or Key Foods. I don't understand how you can suggest that this is not a real promotion but rather, a gimmick.





I agree, as a college student with a mininal spending limit, the double MR offers are of great value to me.

As a previous poster requested here are my grades for the MR Program:

Format from previous poster who captured almost all of the areas I wished to rate:
ease of linking accounts = A
ability to have multiple linked accounts with same partner = A
speed of moving points (actually showing up in partner's account) = A
helpfulness of telephone assistance when needed = A
accuracy = A
ease of using online system = A-
exchange fee for moving points to miles = F (no other card except Diners does this and the annual fee for this program is as much or more than airline specific credit cards.)
usefulness other partner offerings (other than linked accounts) = D+
flexibility of other partner offerings = C
number of partners in program = F
loss of US Airways = F
Redemption value for Cash = F
Redemption value for Gift Certificates = B+
Redemption value for Starwood SPG & Hilton HHonors points = D
New redeem on any airline (1 cent per mile) = C
Points per dollar earned (everday Spend) = C
Everday Spend Categories = B+
No Point expiration = A
Number of front end bonuses = C
Number of Back end bonuses = C
Cost to Benefit Ratio (annual fee/ number of points earned and then comparing the program with other cards out there.) = C
1 month lag time until points earned can be redeemed = F

So my Overall Grade would be a C-/D+ for the program. Not at all very flattering but I think this is (as mentioned previously) because I am a consumer who has to pay a higher annual fee than a business for the program (when including the actual cost of the card) and cannot possibly earn nearly as many points as a business in 1 year. I'm lucky if I earn 50,000 - 60,000 points in a year with an average year bringing me closer to 30,000 - 40,000 points. Not bad until you figure that it costs you a $110 a year for the program plus conversion fees and then to use it for a carribbean airline ticket I would have to use Continental or Delta and as we all know Continental NoPass would require 70,000 miles for a ticket to the carribbean vs. the standard 35,000 points on most other airlines. So I would be better with a straight 1% card considering that would net me $300 - $400 per year and if I used amex's new 1cent per mile redemption for airlines I would net $300 - 400 minus the annual fee of $110 or be out $110.

I too have cut and pasted the format used by Joe 1690 and here are my ratings:

ease of linking accounts = A-
ability to have multiple linked accounts with same partner = A
speed of moving points (actually showing up in partner's account) = A
helpfulness of telephone assistance when needed = B+
accuracy = A+
ease of using online system = B+
exchange fee for moving points to miles = D-
usefulness other partner offerings (other than linked accounts) = D+
flexibility of other partner offerings = C-
number of partners in program = F
loss of US Airways = F
Redemption value for Cash = F
Redemption value for Gift Certificates = C
Redemption value for Starwood SPG & Hilton HHonors points = D
New redeem on any airline (1 cent per mile) = D
Points per dollar earned (everday Spend) = C- (I wasn't targetted for a single promo this year!)
Everday Spend Categories = B
No Point expiration = A
Number of front end bonuses = D
Number of Back end bonuses = D
Cost to Benefit Ratio (annual fee/ number of points earned and then comparing the program with other cards out there.) = C-
1 month lag time until points earned can be redeemed = D

Overall the program has been hugely devalued in my opinion over the last several years!!! Current grade overal would thus be a D!

The current loss of USAirways is what is really getting me because Star Alliance is my primary airline alliance. I know I can use Air Canada and ANA but US was easier since I can easily use PHL since I live in Baltimore. Add to this the recent increase in SWA transfers and the loss of Marriott and the program has hit rock bottom im my opinion.

DL and CO are virtually useless for me! I hate CO since I have NEVER been able to redeem the points I have in NONEPASS program so I definitely will not be transferring AMEX points to a program where I can't even use the points I have. DL is acceptable but I have read numerous posts on the lack of their award seats and their redemption levels are also higher than US. Several of the airline partners only offer "Certificates" and I do not think these are a good use of my points. The airlines like Frontier and Jet Blue that have been added recently aren't much of a benefit for me since they either do not fly from or to the destination I am interested in.

I can't understand that AMEX can't add airlines like LH, Swiss, etc. that they have as part of the program in other countries for US based members. You would think this wouldn't be such a hard task. Transfers to Hyatt would be nice too!!

I have already started charging pretty much all of my things on other cards and will be using AMEX only when I have to in the future. Once I use up my MR points I will probably close my account. What a waste for a program and a credit card I used to prefer over all others!! :mad:

Do you recall if needed to edit the URL of the November/December promotion to register a Gold card?

I successfully registered my gold for all three, two such registrations based upon info provided here (i.e., I wasn't solicited for this offer). I didn't try registering my platinum, since that would have been redundant.

Do you recall if needed to edit the URL of the November/December promotion to register a Gold card?

no, it was a simple hyper-link somebody posted, if I recall correctly.