American Express Membership Rewards - Truth Test: Upcoming devaluation of Memership Rewards points to Aeroplan Miles

Last week a representative for the American Express Aeroplan card at a kiosk at YUL told me that US members enrolled in Membership Rewards will soon see a devaluation of the 1:1 ratio from Membership Rewards to Aeroplan miles.

Has anyone else heard or read of this, or verified it to be accurate?

That would be terribly disappointing :td:

And one more step along a long line of Amex MR devaluations, they lose partner after partner without adding much of value (Jetblue doesn't count).

Rats! (If true)

I just established Aeroplan account for the purpose of moving MR to *Alliance. ANA works too of course for family members only.

I moved 50K in from an SPG nights and flights award and was hoping to use them before I dumped 85K MR points into Aeroplan.

When should I pull the trigger?

Well, I was spared having my call routed to India this evening. I reached a lovely lady in Membership Rewards (in the United States), and I asked her if she was aware of any changes forthcoming re: the valuation of Membership Rewards points to Air Canada Aeroplan miles.

She told me that she was aware of no changes, but she was quick to add "there are a lot of changes occurring to the program." I asked her if I could see those "changes occurring to the program" on the Membership Rewards website; she replied, no. I asked her when the "next forthcoming changes" may occurr; she replied April 15 (a date, I might add, that makes my hair stand up).

Conclusions:

I am generally distrustful of peddlers at Kiosks, even if they work for American Express (maybe these marketing-type work for a marketing company, and not American Express). In so far, I would not be surprised if there is a devaluation forthcoming, given the significant devaluation that the Membership Rewards program has already suffered;

I am skeptical of the inference made by the peddler about the Membership Rewards program. I just have this sense that she was trying to find a stimulis to get me to apply for the Air Canada Aeroplan card.

..."there are a lot of changes occurring to the program." I asked her if I could see those "changes occurring to the program" on the Membership Rewards website; she replied, no. I asked her when the "next forthcoming changes" may occurr; she replied April 15...

April 15 is, indeed, the date that Platinum and Centurion cards cease to participate in Membership Rewards and begin to participate in Membership Rewards First. It would not be surprising if there were a variety of concurrent changes to Membership Rewards.

edit - thanks mia

Available exclusively to US residents, this widely accepted credit card allows you to earn Aeroplan Miles with every net retail purchase

http://www.aeroplan.com/earn_miles/our_partners/partner_details.do?Partner=AirCanadaAeroplanPlatin umPlus