American Express Membership Rewards - New Amex Rewards Plus card - 2x MRP for travel purchases

Hey folks, I got a flier in the mail for a new gold card...when I called for the scoop, it turns out the only difference is that you get 2x points for travel purchases for the first year, and 1.5 points thereafter. Also, there's no fee the first year. Apparently you can rent international cell phones more cheaply too (although I don't need this as I simply buy SIM cards for my Treo overseas). The name of the card is "Rewards Plus," although I'm not sure if one must be invited to qualify for this deal. It's probably worth calling up Amex to find out.

The negatives are that upgrading to this card means you take a minor ding on your credit rating if you close your old one at the same time. I actually called up the Exec Office about this last year...I've had an Amex for a dozen years but my credit report says I've had six or so consecutive accounts with Amex, not one account with a long time frame. I have good credit, so it's not as much of a concern, but still...

I'm going to keep my regular Amex Gold card for the time being, use the new one for travel, and cancel the old one next year when it's time to pay the fee for the new card. At least that way I get one more year out of the old account before they close it because of the upgrade.

I have had this card since 1993 and this promotion was available every year since then. Here is the link to the card benefits
http://www201.americanexpress.com/apply/Fmacfservlet?csi=13/0/b/3/2116102300/207121305410/0/n&from=0&us_nu=dd&mgmID=undefined

Aye, here's the rub:

Earn 2 points for virtually every dollar charged on purchases with our Membership Rewards airline and hotel partners

They didn't tell me the "partners" part...they said it would be double points for ALL travel purchases. :mad: I notice they don't even list which "partners" earn the double points.

It should be on their website somewhere, but basicly travel partners are all the car rentals, hotels and airlines that participate in their memmbership rewards.

This is correct and is shown in specific language of T&C. Also, the above link goes to a page with a $150 annual fee so I guess you have to be specifically targeted to get a no-fee-the-first-year card.



It should be on their website somewhere, but basicly travel partners are all the car rentals, hotels and airlines that participate in their memmbership rewards.

...only difference is that you get 2x points for travel purchases for the first year, and 1.5 points thereafter.

Not exactly. It is 2/1.5 points for transactions with Membership Rewards transfer partner airlines and hotel chains. This means that if you buy an airline ticket from, for example, Continental or Delta you would earn the bonus, but not if you buy a ticket from American or United.

Also, Rewards Plus includes up to five supplementary cards with no additional annual fee.

...basicly travel partners are all the car rentals, hotels and airlines that participate in their memmbership rewards.

The bonus does not apply to car rentals or anything other than airlines and hotel chains that accept point transfers from Membership Rewards.