This may have made sense several years ago when CAD$1.00 = USD$0.63, but now the dollars are almost at par (CAD$1.00 = USD$0.97).
Is there any hope for Amex Canada to wake up and change the conversion rate? I have abandoned all spending on my Amex Canada MR card, but I still have a lot of MR points that I would like to spend, and not in their current devalued form.:rolleyes:
Curiously, the conversion to airline miles has been the same for both Canadian and American MR customers (1 pt = 1 mile).
itsme
Sep 15, 07, 10:50 pm
1000 MR US for 333 SPG is pretty terrible, isn't it, since $1 with the SPG AmEx will get one 1 SPG. And 1000 MR CA for 230 SPG is just that much worse. It sounds like conversion to airline miles is the only reasonable way to go.
Can a non-AmEx CA MR person, like me, go to their website and see those conversion ratios? I find the website, like the similar AmEx AUS MR one, difficult to navigate and understand. I see where the CA site invites one to transfer 3,000 MR to SPG, but I don't see anything about the conversion ratio. 3,000 CA MR would yield 690 points? (I'm basing that on the OP, not on anything I see on the CA MR website.) When I look at the US MR website, I can see quite clearly that 1,000 US MR, the minimum amount that they will convert, yields 333 SPG. May not like that result (I don't), but one knows what they are getting. What is it with the CA (and AUS) MR website that one can't see it all clearly layed out?
For Canadian Membership Rewards customers, the conversion of MR points to hotel points is dramatically worse than it is for US MR customers.
This may have made sense several years ago when CAD$1.00 = USD$0.63, but now the dollars are almost at par (CAD$1.00 = USD$0.97).
Is there any hope for Amex Canada to wake up and change the conversion rate? I have abandoned all spending on my Amex Canada MR card, but I still have a lot of MR points that I would like to spend, and not in their current devalued form.:rolleyes:
Curiously, the conversion to airline miles has been the same for both Canadian and American MR customers (1 pt = 1 mile).
blackjack-21
Sep 16, 07, 12:28 am
Not lots better for MR to airline conversions in Canada either, with the exception of MR > AC, which is 1/1. Converting MR to either CO or DL results in a conversion rate of 1/.75 CO or DL miles. As pointed out above, those rates made sense when the C$ was so low against the U.S.$, but now that they're almost on parity, perhaps some adjustments could be called for. Also, what ever happened to the infrequent 25% bonuses in past years for converting MR to DL or CO. Looks like they're long gone and not returning, although there was a DL bonus for U.S. MR members recently. I think CO has said they won't be giving the conversion bonuses either in the U.S. or Canada, but nothing for DL conversions from Canada either?
bj-21.
GJS - yow
Sep 16, 07, 7:27 pm
Can a non-AmEx CA MR person, like me, go to their website and see those conversion ratios? I find the website, like the similar AmEx AUS MR one, difficult to navigate and understand. I see where the CA site invites one to transfer 3,000 MR to SPG, but I don't see anything about the conversion ratio. 3,000 CA MR would yield 690 points? (I'm basing that on the OP, not on anything I see on the CA MR website.) When I look at the US MR website, I can see quite clearly that 1,000 US MR, the minimum amount that they will convert, yields 333 SPG. May not like that result (I don't), but one knows what they are getting. What is it with the CA (and AUS) MR website that one can't see it all clearly layed out?
Try the membershiprewards.ca (http://membershiprewards.ca) site for the SPG Program (http://www99.americanexpress.com/myca/loyalty/catalog/action?request_type=un_intlCatalog&action=RewardDetailSearch&Face=en_CA&rewardID=SC0003&seqNo=1). It states that "you will be able to transfer your Membership Rewards points into Starpoints at the rate of 1,000 Membership Rewards points to 230 Starpoints." I did not need to log in to see this information. The Hilton Hhonors (http://www99.americanexpress.com/myca/loyalty/catalog/action?request_type=un_intlCatalog&action=RewardDetailSearch&Face=en_CA&rewardID=HH0006&seqNo=1)conversion is "1000 Membership Rewards points = 900 Hilton HHonors points", and the Priority Club (http://www99.americanexpress.com/myca/loyalty/catalog/action?request_type=un_intlCatalog&action=RewardDetailSearch&Face=en_CA&rewardID=HP0008&seqNo=1)conversion is "1,000 Membership Rewards points = 800 Priority Club points".
I agree that it is difficult to find these conversions on the Amex CA site.
GJS - yow
Sep 16, 07, 7:34 pm
Not lots better for MR to airline conversions in Canada either, with the exception of MR > AC, which is 1/1. Converting MR to either CO or DL results in a conversion rate of 1/.75 CO or DL miles. As pointed out above, those rates made sense when the C$ was so low against the U.S.$, but now that they're almost on parity, perhaps some adjustments could be called for. Also, what ever happened to the infrequent 25% bonuses in past years for converting MR to DL or CO. Looks like they're long gone and not returning, although there was a DL bonus for U.S. MR members recently. I think CO has said they won't be giving the conversion bonuses either in the U.S. or Canada, but nothing for DL conversions from Canada either?
Small correction - conversion of 1000 MR CA points = 750 miles with Continental and Cathay Pacific, but is actually 1000 miles with Delta (http://www99.americanexpress.com/myca/loyalty/catalog/action?request_type=un_intlCatalog&action=RewardDetailSearch&Face=en_CA&rewardID=DELTA1&seqNo=1) as well as Air Canada.
Still, it is time for Amex Canada to update the reward conversions, especially the pitiful hotel conversion rates. I haven't even mentioned the Fairmont conversion rates... they are too embarrassing to post (let's see, a free flight to Europe, or one night at a Fairmont hotel... hmmm).:td:
itsme
Sep 17, 07, 12:32 am
Try the membershiprewards.ca (http://membershiprewards.ca) site for the SPG Program (http://www99.americanexpress.com/myca/loyalty/catalog/action?request_type=un_intlCatalog&action=RewardDetailSearch&Face=en_CA&rewardID=SC0003&seqNo=1). It states that "you will be able to transfer your Membership Rewards points into Starpoints at the rate of 1,000 Membership Rewards points to 230 Starpoints." I did not need to log in to see this information. The Hilton Hhonors (http://www99.americanexpress.com/myca/loyalty/catalog/action?request_type=un_intlCatalog&action=RewardDetailSearch&Face=en_CA&rewardID=HH0006&seqNo=1)conversion is "1000 Membership Rewards points = 900 Hilton HHonors points", and the Priority Club (http://www99.americanexpress.com/myca/loyalty/catalog/action?request_type=un_intlCatalog&action=RewardDetailSearch&Face=en_CA&rewardID=HP0008&seqNo=1)conversion is "1,000 Membership Rewards points = 800 Priority Club points".
I agree that it is difficult to find these conversions on the Amex CA site.
Thanks. I still don't know how one is supposed to find that conversion information though. I was able to do it with the second link you provided, but not with the first. If one were to start at the "beginning," wherever that may be (URL?), how does one get to that SPG page? (I ask because I now want to try it with the AmEx AUS website, which looks just like the AmEx CA website, both less than impressive examples of web design.)
mia
Sep 17, 07, 5:26 am
Go to: http://membershiprewards.ca
Click: Travel Rewards
Choose from Travel Categories: Airlines
Scroll to specific partner, click: See more
GJS - yow
Sep 17, 07, 8:13 am
how does one get to that SPG page? (I ask because I now want to try it with the AmEx AUS website, which looks just like the AmEx CA website, both less than impressive examples of web design.)
As Mia describes above - for SPG it is:
Go to: http://membershiprewards.ca
Click: Travel Rewards (third item on list in left column; or palm tree photo in middle of page)
Under Travel Categories (upper left region of web page): click on Hotel Participants
Scroll to specific partner (SPG in this case), click on words "SEE MORE" written in orange colour under the column labelled "reward name"
You need to do this for each hotel partner individually to see the reward conversion rate.
GJS - yow
Sep 17, 07, 8:19 am
As pointed out above, those rates made sense when the C$ was so low against the U.S.$, but now that they're almost on parity, perhaps some adjustments could be called for.
I think we are beyond the "perhaps" stage.
Curiously, in the 1990's when the Canadian dollar was plummeting against the US dollar, Amex didn't hesitate at all to lower the conversion rate.;)
Any suggestions on where to send a request to have Amex look into this situation (other than their first level Customer Service)?
itsme
Sep 17, 07, 9:39 am
Thanks. I was clicking on elswhere and go directly to the "ultimate" page for transfer of MR to SPG, which asks how many MR one wishes to transfer, the minimum being 3K. Wasn't going to that "see more" page, which does show the miserable 1K to 230 points exchange rate. Now I'll try the same thing on the AmEx MR AUS site looking for their conversion to SPG rate.
Different question - one must have an SPG account open before they transfer, but why the requirement that they have had a paid Starwood stay within the previous 12 months? One can accumulate SPG through use of the SPG AmEx card, never paying for a stay at Starwood, only staying at those properties with points. It seems curious to me that the SPG card is an AmEx one, but there are these differences that depend on whether one is earning SPG directly with the SPG card or converting to SPG from MR (a pretty expensive way to get there).
mia
Sep 17, 07, 10:29 am
It seems curious to me that the SPG card is an AmEx one, but there are these differences that depend on whether one is earning SPG directly with the SPG card or converting to SPG....
Starwood Preferred Guest is a loyalty program. A customer who uses a Starwood co-branded credit card is "engaged" in the program. Someone who accumulates points in Membership Rewards or Diners Club Rewards and transfers as required can be seen as an opportunist. Also, the Canadian SPG credit card is issued by MBNA (now Bank of America), not by American Express.
PatATL
Sep 17, 07, 12:11 pm
Small correction - conversion of 1000 MR CA points = 750 miles with Continental and Cathay Pacific, but is actually 1000 miles with Delta (http://www99.americanexpress.com/myca/loyalty/catalog/action?request_type=un_intlCatalog&action=RewardDetailSearch&Face=en_CA&rewardID=DELTA1&seqNo=1) as well as Air Canada.
Still, it is time for Amex Canada to update the reward conversions, especially the pitiful hotel conversion rates. I haven't even mentioned the Fairmont conversion rates... they are too embarrassing to post (let's see, a free flight to Europe, or one night at a Fairmont hotel... hmmm).:td:
I'm not too embarassed to mention it ;) Fairmont rewards start at 35,000 a night (category A).
With the CDN$ almost on par with the US$ it's way past time for a re-evaluation of it`s real worth, especially in these loyalty programs!
A little off topic but Amex Canada and other companies like the `big 5/6` banks also aren`t as competetive as their US counterparts. Free chequing accounts still aren`t the `norm`as they are in the US... An unlimited banking plan at the Royal Bank can run $30.00 a month. The `privilege`of letting a bank hold on to your money affords great fees in Canada... And banks don`t pay out interest rates on savings accounts near what you can find in the US. Even HSBC direct Canada pays 3.5 per cent compared to the 5.05 they pay to US accounts!
itsme
Sep 17, 07, 9:03 pm
I sympathize with those who earn AmEx CA MR and feel that they are being screwed by the conversion rates which are still more unfavorable with the appreciation of your "loonie." As Bill Clinton says, I feel your pain. But rather than hectoring AmEx CA and its partners to readjust those conversion rates now that the loonie has appreciated so much, why don't you get your government to intervene so as to get the loonie back to where it belongs, that is something around $1 CAD = $.70 USD, where the Lord intended for it to be. It was much more fun to visit the Maritimes and your major cities and attractions when the loonie was at those levels, and you would then effectively get more out of your AmEx CA MR too.
itsme
Sep 17, 07, 9:19 pm
Starwood Preferred Guest is a loyalty program. A customer who uses a Starwood co-branded credit card is "engaged" in the program. Someone who accumulates points in Membership Rewards or Diners Club Rewards and transfers as required can be seen as an opportunist. Also, the Canadian SPG credit card is issued by MBNA (now Bank of America), not by American Express.
mia, thanks, as usual your responses are informative. I never gave any thought to the implications of "concepts" like so-called loyalty programs and co-branding. And I would snicker at the notion of "loyalty" in any of this, but I suppose that the SPG Amex has caused me to prefer Starwood properties all other things being equal, or even not so equal. My AmEx green card and MR does nothing to encourage me in the direction of Starwood because my "reward" is no different depending on where I use that card to charge. So it would make sense if Starwood charged AmEx more for the SPG had through conversions from MR than for the SPG given through the SPG AmEx, though in the end the value of 1 SPG is the same no matter how it was come by.
Can you think of other examples were the "loyal" are greatly advantaged over the "opportunistic" in a way similar to the SPG through SPG AmEx vs SPG through conversion of MR?
What marketing reason can you imagine for the bonuses SPG gives for SPG to airline mile conversions (20K SPG -> 25K miles), making $1 charged spent with SPG AmEx as much as 25% more "productive" than $1 spent with the airline's own affinity card?
blackjack-21
Sep 17, 07, 11:41 pm
Thanks for the clarification on the DL 1/1 transfers, GJS - yow. I must have missed the change in the past from 1/.75, and that might explain why we haven't received any of the past 25% bonus offers for the MR/DL transfers that we've had in past years.
I agree that AMEX Canada should have been proactive and readjusted their percentages on both hotel and airline MR transfers upward after the Canadian dollars' upward movement, and its now being almost on parity with the U.S. $, but just as the airlines are quick to raise their fuel surcharges on an uptick on the price of jet-A, and very reluctant to drop those surcharges when fuel declines, it would seem that AMEX follows the same pattern.
Don't know if a letter to someone in upper levels of management would do any good in suggesting that they look at readjusting their points exchange rates, but it couldn't hurt, although I'm sure they're well aware of the widening gap between what was, and what now is, the past reasons for lowering the rates of exchange. Perhaps next time our MR renewals come up, we should call or email them with a suggestion to let them know of our displeasure with the Canadian transfer rates vis-a-vis the U.S. ones. A letter to AMEX Canada's president wouldn't hurt though.
bj-21.
GJS - yow
Sep 18, 07, 8:47 am
A letter to AMEX Canada's president wouldn't hurt though.
I was going to try using PlanetFeedback (http://www.planetfeedback.com/), but they don't have AMEX Canada in their list of companies.
blackjack-21
Sep 18, 07, 10:40 pm
Many, many years ago, I wrote to the presidents of two corporations (Henry Ford II of Ford Motor Corp., and Robert Sarnoff of RCA) about problems I had with or about their products. Both letters (and subsequent calls) were answered and replied to, and to my surprise and satisfaction, the problems and suggestions I made were implimented.
Point is, don't feel that you always have to go through a subordinate to get a response (not like in the army, where we always had to follow the chain of command). Sometimes a well thought out letter can bring at the very least a direct response, and sometimes a solution. Maybe if enough of us wrote to AMEX about our displeasure with their point transfer rates (especially with the two currencies almost on par), we might get some results. But then again, maybe not. It's worth a try though.
bj-21.
Crampedin13A
Sep 18, 07, 11:07 pm
I've basically stopped using my AmexCanada Plat charge card because of the pathetic redemption rates. I've still got 200K MR points and the only thing I can see that would be useful for me right now is to convert to CX Asia Miles for BA upgrades but since they expire every 3 years I'm going to wait. After 15 years of Plat and very good service in the first 10 years I'm basically ready to give up on Amex all together if they don't make MR more attractive, especially after the Plat MR bonus being lowered from 50% to 25% earlier on this year.
GJS - yow
Sep 19, 07, 9:05 am
I've basically stopped using my AmexCanada Plat charge card because of the pathetic redemption rates. I've still got 200K MR points and the only thing I can see ...
I face a similar dilemma, having 185k MR points, but then switching to the AMEX Aeroplan card when it first came out. I've basically stopped using the MR card and switched all my purchases to the Aeroplan card, due to the poor redemption rates with MR.
With those points, I could have 6 nights in the best of Hhonors hotels/resorts, or 4 or 5 nights with SPG at their top properties. With Air Canada or Delta, I could have three transatlantic tickets - a much better value, I think.