American Express Membership Rewards - Gold to Plat Offer: 25,000 MR points.

Got this in mail today. Nothing really new, except that the bonus points will kick in if I use the new card by 9/30/09, and I would get double MR points on gas/grocery purchases for 12 months. The letter makes much note of the "up to $250 in gift cards" possible by redeeming the 25,000 MR points. (bonus ID 9387) The double miles promotion is valid for up to $1,000 in gas/grocery spending per month. That caught my attention!

Are they gonna waive the annual fee for this offer?

No, fee of $450 is not waived.

if the main thing your interested in is double gas/groceries..the gold card also has that promo going on...you also get your first year AF waived.

keith

Got this in mail today. Nothing really new, except that the bonus points will kick in if I use the new card by 9/30/09, and I would get double MR points on gas/grocery purchases for 12 months. The letter makes much note of the "up to $250 in gift cards" possible by redeeming the 25,000 MR points. (bonus ID 9387) The double miles promotion is valid for up to $1,000 in gas/grocery spending per month. That caught my attention!

My wife got this yesterday. What we found confusing was that they referred to getting 25,000 MR "bonus points" (good for gift cards) after the first card purchase; implying these were some some sort of alternative/inferior points and not just MR points.

Is that how you read this offer? She gets one every month or so anyway; we'd rather have 25K regular MR points free and clear than this.

My wife got this yesterday. What we found confusing was that they referred to getting 25,000 MR "bonus points" (good for gift cards) after the first card purchase; implying these were some some sort of alternative/inferior points and not just MR points.

Is that how you read this offer? She gets one every month or so anyway; we'd rather have 25K regular MR points free and clear than this.

It shouldn't be restricted, they're just trying to quantify it. Because as you know most other things are less than 1% (when assuming $1 = 1 MR).

I had a similar intro offer with my gold card, I was able to do whatever I wanted, I ended up transferring out to airline points.

My wife got this yesterday. What we found confusing was that they referred to getting 25,000 MR "bonus points" (good for gift cards) after the first card purchase; implying these were some some sort of alternative/inferior points and not just MR points.

Is that how you read this offer? She gets one every month or so anyway; we'd rather have 25K regular MR points free and clear than this.

I don't read it that way. They are probably just trying to give you a frame of reference for what MR points are worth.

If anything, MR points linked to a Plat card are more valuable because of access to the MR First portfoio of awards.

Thanks--I'll call them tonight to verify.

These are regular MR points, no restrictions. The 25k offer is pretty standard. In fact, there are public links floating around for 25k sign-up bonuses on new accounts.

A bunch of people on here have seen 50k offers to upgrade from gold to platinum. These are always targeted. Some (a very small few) have even claimed to receive 100k upgrade offers. Based on evidence here, the fee is almost never (if ever) waived.

...referred to getting 25,000 MR "bonus points" (good for gift cards) after the first card purchase; implying these were some some sort of alternative/inferior points....

They mean bonus in the sense that the points are in addition to the 1 point per dollar that you will earn for spending. The giftcard redemption is merely an example, not a restriction.

They mean bonus in the sense that the points are in addition to the 1 point per dollar that you will earn for spending. The giftcard redemption is merely an example, not a restriction.

I did call, you (and others) were correct. The rep indicated we weren't the only ones confused by their letter--it mentioned "redeem for gift cards" in six different places!

Still holding out for 50K