American Express Membership Rewards - 100,000 points offer for Plat

I haven't had an Amex since college, and I tend to throw away their preapproved offers unopened, but I just got one that caught my eye enough to open:

100,000 points for Plat if I charge $1,000 within 2 months, plus of course pay the insane $450 annual fee.

The Rewards site is down at the moment (nice timing Amex) but the offer makes the claim that 100,000 points = 4 domestic RT air tickets.

Does that mean that 1 point = 1 mile? Is it possible to skip the 4 domestic coach tickets and use them for one intl. biz class ticket somewhere? Because that might make the $450 actually worth it, assuming availability isn't horrible.

I haven't had an Amex since college, and I tend to throw away their preapproved offers unopened, but I just got one that caught my eye enough to open:

100,000 points for Plat if I charge $1,000 within 2 months, plus of course pay the insane $450 annual fee.

The Rewards site is down at the moment (nice timing Amex) but the offer makes the claim that 100,000 points = 4 domestic RT air tickets.

Does that mean that 1 point = 1 mile? Is it possible to skip the 4 domestic coach tickets and use them for one intl. biz class ticket somewhere? Because that might make the $450 actually worth it, assuming availability isn't horrible.

This is a no-brainer - 100k points for $450 ! That's a $5k TATL J seat !

Yes, 1 point = 1 mile. There are occasionally bonus offers - I have made bonus transfers to CO at 1.2 miles/point.

Can't remember all the airlines, but IIRC there is at least one program from each of the alliances, so you can use the points for award tix on pretty much any carrier with a little bit of messing around.

where have you heard about this offer??

I haven't had an Amex since college, and I tend to throw away their preapproved offers unopened, but I just got one that caught my eye enough to open:

100,000 points for Plat if I charge $1,000 within 2 months, plus of course pay the insane $450 annual fee.

This is a great offer. Do you have a link for it? Thanks

The Rewards site is down at the moment (nice timing Amex) but the offer makes the claim that 100,000 points = 4 domestic RT air tickets.

Does that mean that 1 point = 1 mile? Is it possible to skip the 4 domestic coach tickets and use them for one intl. biz class ticket somewhere? Because that might make the $450 actually worth it, assuming availability isn't horrible.

This is a great offer

I don't think this is an offer you can just ask for -- there's a very long RSVP # attached to it, and it seems like that # is unique to me. I've gotten offers from them before, and I assume they keep ratcheting them up until you actually accept one -- which I guess I'm going to do now.

wow, i'd almost think amex made a typo or something. 100k is a LOT of points.

Agreed that this is a no brainer. Less than 1/2 cent per mile. Great deal. Transfer to AF and go to Europe. :cool:

All I get is 25K. :(

This sounds pretty good! I wonder if you can cancel after the MR points have posted and you've transferred them away, and receive a prorated refund?

It's not a typographical error, previously reported and discussed here...

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=685360

I've been holding out for 25k (still stuck at the 15k ante). This makes me think I should haold out for at least 50k. I'm in no hurry :D

I'm holding out for anything. Have not got a single offer of points. Of course, I also told them earlier to stop their incessant whining about travel insurance and other "products" they were flogging when I called in, and this may be curbing their promotions.

I got 50,000 for a Amex Gold card today, they waive the $150 fee for the first year, and I have to charge $500 within the first two months.

Even though I cancelled my green card earlier this year, I bit on this one.

It was a specific offer for me, there was a code number I had to enter.

I got 50,000 for a Amex Gold card today, they waive the $150 fee for the first year, and I have to charge $500 within the first two months.

Even though I cancelled my green card earlier this year, I bit on this one.

It was a specific offer for me, there was a code number I had to enter.

That is good offer enjoy.

I got 50,000 for a Amex Gold card today, they waive the $150 fee for the first year, and I have to charge $500 within the first two months.

Even though I cancelled my green card earlier this year, I bit on this one.

It was a specific offer for me, there was a code number I had to enter.
Would you be willing to share that code number now that you have enrolled yourself?

Would you be willing to share that code number now that you have enrolled yourself?

The code brought up my name and address automatically, so sharing it would not make any sense.

The code brought up my name and address automatically, so sharing it would not make any sense.
Enjoy the gift that AmEx has made you. If AmEx MR has a value of between .01 and .015 cents per point, as I think it does, then AmEx has given you as much as $500 for signing up. (Do you never have an AmEx card before? Or did you already have one and they wanted you to "promote"?)

Just wondering: has anyone ever experienced Amex sweetening their offers over time?

After not getting any upgrade promotions for years, I received a 25K-on-first-purchase offer to upgrade to personal Platinum. After I ignored that offer (expired in May), I just received another 25K-on-first-purchase offer (expires in July). So I'm wondering if I'm stuck at the 25K level or whether better offers would arrive over time.

Actually, I may be more interested in upgrading my Business Gold to a Business Platinum. Are there any promotions for a Business Platinum upgrade?

Also: if I had a Business Platinum, would I be able to make FHR and domestic companion ticket reservations and then pay for them using a personal Gold card?

I have the feeling that I am the only person here that was not targeted for the Amex Plat card. I have been a card holder since '01 and actually applied for mine back in Aug '06. I guess I should have held out a little longer or taken one of the Gold cards they kept "pre-approving" me for.

I got 50,000 for a Amex Gold card today, they waive the $150 fee for the first year, and I have to charge $500 within the first two months.

Even though I cancelled my green card earlier this year, I bit on this one.

It was a specific offer for me, there was a code number I had to enter.

I received this same targeted offer and bit on it as well. ;)

...if I had a Business Platinum, would I be able to make FHR and domestic companion ticket reservations and then pay for them using a personal Gold card?

FHR = Yes In order to receive Fine Hotels & Resorts (FH&R) program amenities and rates, reservations must be made through PTS. Payment must be made with an American Express Card in the Platinum Card member's name

Domestic Companion Airfare Program = No Purchase a domestic coach airfare for yourself from $299 with your Platinum Card® and your companion receives complimentary airfare

Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I received the upgrade offer with no incentive, so I repeatedly called customer service (getting different people each time) inquiring about any kind of "deals" they could give me to upgrade....like crediting the fee, bonus points, etc. After being told no, I told them well it's not really worth it for me to upgrade right now, I'll stick with my gold card.

Shortly afterward, within 2-3 weeks, I get an e-mail and regular mail invitation to upgrade for a 25k point bonus. After talking to the CSR, I could take a $100 statement credit in lieu of the points. I told her to let me decide. I had a ton of expenses come up this month so the extra $450 isn't feasible right now, (seems like taking the credit in lieu of the points would be a bad deal) but in a few months, I can most likely call and get the bonus....and hopefully in the meantime they might offer more. Usually they can pull your history and if you've been previously targeted, they can still give you any of those offers.

I have the feeling that I am the only person here that was not targeted for the Amex Plat card. I have been a card holder since '01 and actually applied for mine back in Aug '06. I guess I should have held out a little longer or taken one of the Gold cards they kept "pre-approving" me for.

You're not. I've been a card member on and off for years and never received a single promotional card offer from them. They bury me with their nonsense magazine subscription offers (with the accompanying scam companion voucher), but give me some incentive to step up to the Platinum card? Nada. Nothing.

Maybe it's because I pay my Amex SPG balance off every month and they don't make a dime off me in interest charges? However, the Plat is a charge card which must be paid off each month, so they wouldn't earn interest off me there either. Not sure why - but no offers ever come my way.

are people who have amex credit cards getting the bonus offers or only people with amex charge cards (green or gold)

I have an amex blue OPEN card I never use. I dont receive any offers from them at all whatsoever. I suspect it has to with my choosing privacy options to reduce the junkmail burden and environmental waste. After reading this, I should probably change that option.

On a related issue, I have checked up on my credit report every couple months, and even though I haven't used my blue card in a few years, amex REGULARY hits my credit with repeated INQUIRIES, more often than most creditors and banks I find. Sometimes it bothers me that they hit my credit when I dont owe them, but I just shrug it off. Bottom line - They really are watching what you do.

So I might suggest that some of the variances in "targeted offers" that different people receive, just have to do with different peoples credit ratings and spending habits.

You're not. I've been a card member on and off for years and never received a single promotional card offer from them. They bury me with their nonsense magazine subscription offers (with the accompanying scam companion voucher), but give me some incentive to step up to the Platinum card? Nada. Nothing.

Maybe it's because I pay my Amex SPG balance off every month and they don't make a dime off me in interest charges? However, the Plat is a charge card which must be paid off each month, so they wouldn't earn interest off me there either. Not sure why - but no offers ever come my way.

Has anyone had a successful experience going back to AMEX to negotiate for any bonus/signup MR points?

Has anyone had a successful experience going back to AMEX to negotiate for any bonus/signup MR points?

I tried requesting the same deal, or even a similar one, to the ones listed in this thread. I even tried to negotiate any deal I could to get the Plat card either at a reduced fee or with bonus points - the request fell totally on deaf ears.

I will continue to carry the Amex SPG card, only because SPG offers the best program out there - but if they ever sign with a visa/mc issuer (like they did in Canada), and it's still $1=1pt (or better), then it's bye bye Amex for me.

They've not done a single thing to keep my business or seek to extend it, unless you count the never-ending flow of spam and junk mail they send me for those magazine subscriptions+unusable companion ticket.

I tried requesting the same deal, or even a similar one, to the ones listed in this thread. I even tried to negotiate any deal I could to get the Plat card either at a reduced fee or with bonus points - the request fell totally on deaf ears.

I will continue to carry the Amex SPG card, only because SPG offers the best program out there - but if they ever sign with a visa/mc issuer (like they did in Canada), and it's still $1=1pt (or better), then it's bye bye Amex for me.

They've not done a single thing to keep my business or seek to extend it, unless you count the never-ending flow of spam and junk mail they send me for those magazine subscriptions+unusable companion ticket.
I feel that my AmEx green isn't much a deal given the annual fee and limited benefits it provides, but still have a large amount of MR to dispose of before I can close. Since the SPG card costs less and yields more (1 SPG > 1 MR in my book), I am satisfied with it. Like you, I have never been targeted with any wonderful promos, only spam for the business card or Blue or whatever. Why they wouldn't want more of my credit card business beats me.

As we'd all figured, AmEx has a computer model in place that determines who gets targeted and who doesn't. From that interesting speech posted to the SEC site that was the subject of this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=722302), I saw:

With Points Accelerator, a Cardmember is invited to enroll and earn double
points for a specified time on any spending above a personal spending level.
This is truly innovative in that we have leveraged:
- Our closed loop information, and
- Our customer-level size of wallet capability.

And we have used our proprietary models to create an algorithm that tells us:
- The right offer...
- To give to the right Cardmember...
- At the right time.

This includes:
- The duration of the offer,
- Whether to charge a fee, and
- Where to set the spending threshold.

This program has been successful on many fronts.
- We have identified Cardmembers with large wallets and low share,
and have increased their spending with us.
- We have also created "persistence" - meaning that Cardmembers
continue to spend at higher levels after the bonusing period.
- And finally, these Cardmembers have lower attrition.

As we'd all figured, AmEx has a computer model in place that determines who gets targeted

The remaining question that still interests me is whether the stretch in 2006 when anyone could enroll in these promotions was: a data processing problem, a way to establish a baseline, or a viral marketing experiment. In 2007 American Express certainly seems to have the ability to restrict enrollment to those who were targetted.

I also think their IT capability is sufficiently sophisticated to track spending that is moved to another American Express program (e.g. Delta, Hilton, JetBlue or Starwood) and probably to other accounts in the same household if there are any shared cards. To make your spending disappear it probably needs to move to another issuer, such as Citi Diners Club.

Judging from this thread, it looks like there are no special deals out there for the Platinum card, and so far, no one has been able to negotiate anything on the phone. If anyone can think of anything, please let me know. I'll be applying within a day or so, as I want to use the FHR upgrade deal for a hotel res. next month.

Thanks.

So, shortly after I started this thread I did in fact apply for the card and I received it in late June. I quickly made the required $1,000 in charges and I received the 100,000 bonus points ... last week.

Not that I'm complaining, but anyone pondering these deals should be aware that you're not going to be able to use the points anytime soon. (In contrast, for ex., I applied for the BA Visa, got the card and the 20K miles, and used the miles for a Club upgrade all within 5 weeks.)

You may also need to call to make sure the points get posted. I called twice, and because I assume these offers are relatively rare, I encountered a lot of confusion before finally getting them posted. (Everyone was very professional and helpful, just confused.)

Finally, I have to say, that I have successfully been wooed into the Amex life. I've been very pleased with the FHR benefits I've used so far, and the airport lounge access is a definite plus. I suspect I will find it hard not to renew next year.

Finally, I have to say, that I have successfully been wooed into the Amex life. I've been very pleased with the FHR benefits I've used so far, and the airport lounge access is a definite plus. I suspect I will find it hard not to renew next year.

I agree. I have used the airport lounges every chance I get; for those times when you are bumped, canceled, etc., they are a life saver. Basically you bypass a line of a hundred people in a cattle call line dealing with rude GAs and enter a club, walk right up to the counter, get re-booked by a friendly club agent, and you're on your way. The club agents are friendlier and put more effort in trying to get you to your destination, even if it means alternate airlines.

I travel every other week for work and this benefit, along with the domestic companion ticket and bonus points have already more than paid for the fee for this year.

You may also need to call to make sure the points get posted. I called twice, and because I assume these offers are relatively rare, I encountered a lot of confusion before finally getting them posted. (Everyone was very professional and helpful, just confused.)


Actually....I got the 25k deal, and I had to call. They did not want the RSVP#. There is a 4-digit bonus code on the second page of the letter. I would suggest that if those are published here, anyone can probably call in and get the points. I did not get my points posted, called MR, talked for about 5 minutes, they asked for my bonus code, and then I got points the next day.

If teaddict could get the 4 number bonus code id from his initial promo letter or he could definitely find out from membership rewards.