American Express Membership Rewards - Rewards Plus Gold Card

Tried doing a search with the keywords "Rewards Plus" but did not see anything related to my question.
I'm a Gold Card holder paying $80? for the card and an additional $45 for
Membership Rewards for a total of $125. Amex tried to upsell me today on a "Rewards Plus" Gold Card for $150 total. They say I get 2 points for every dollar spent on airlines and hotels (for 1 year) and 1.5 points for groceries and gas (until March of 2010). I figure I charge about $1500 on airlines and hotels per year and $1,000 on groceries and gasoline.
I guess that's an extra 1500 points on airlines this year and an extra 500 points on groceries, etc.
I am currently signed up for the promotion (double points gas and groceries)that I saw on this site a month or two ago.
Does anyone have experience with this card? Is it a good deal?
Thanks.

With the Reward Plus Gold you can have up to 5 additional cards with no additional fee. http://www201.americanexpress.com/getthecard/learn-about/Rewards-Plus-Gold

You also get 2:1 on BonusPointsMall, FYI - although this may have increased to 3:1, anybody know? If so, that'd be worth the price of admission right there, IMO.

You also get 2:1 on BonusPointsMall, FYI - although this may have increased to 3:1, anybody know? If so, that'd be worth the price of admission right there, IMO.

Yes it's now 3X for MR Regular, 4X for MR First.

...2 points for every dollar spent on airlines and hotels (for 1 year) ...

Not exactly. You earn an extra point per dollar only on purchases from Membership Rewards transfer partner airlines and hotel chains. For example, you would earn the bonus if buying a ticket from AirTran, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, Jet Blue, Northwest or Southwest but not on American, US Air, United or any other domestic airline. After the first 12 months you continue to earn an extra 0.5 point per dollar with these same airlines and hotel chains.

As a Rewards Plus Gold Card member, you can earn double points for purchases with our Membership Rewards® airline and hotel partners during your first year of Card membership from then on, you can earn 1.5 points for virtually every dollar you spend with these partners on your eligible, enrolled Card

http://www201.americanexpress.com/getthecard/learn-about/Rewards-Plus-Gold


The Bonus Points Mall rewards rate is no different for the Rewards Plus Gold than for the card you have today.

Not exactly. You earn an extra point per dollar only on purchases from Membership Rewards transfer partner airlines and hotel chains. For example, you would earn the bonus if buying a ticket from AirTran, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, Jet Blue, Northwest or Southwest but not on American, US Air, United or any other domestic airline. After the first 12 months you continue to earn an extra 0.5 point per dollar with these same airlines and hotel chains.

As a Rewards Plus Gold Card member, you can earn double points for purchases with our Membership Rewards® airline and hotel partners during your first year of Card membership from then on, you can earn 1.5 points for virtually every dollar you spend with these partners on your eligible, enrolled Card

http://www201.americanexpress.com/getthecard/learn-about/Rewards-Plus-Gold


The Bonus Points Mall rewards rate is no different for the Rewards Plus Gold than for the card you have today.

I learned that the hard way after not receiving the double points on a 13k hotel stay :mad:

With the Reward Plus Gold you can have up to 5 additional cards with no additional fee. http://www201.americanexpress.com/getthecard/learn-about/Rewards-Plus-Gold

Am I right on this, I looked at the T&C for the card and it says after the first year up to 5 additional card will cost you $35.
I think they charge for them.

Am I right on this, I looked at the T&C for the card and it says after the first year up to 5 additional card will cost you $35.
I think they charge for them.

Correct. I guess they have changed the fee schedule :(

The website is inconsistent.

The linked page says: Share the benefits of membership. The benefits of membership are yours to share with no annual fee for up to five Additional Cards. You can even earn points on those Cards as well.

Click the question mark icon adjacent to Annual Fee, it states: The annual fees for the Rewards Plus Gold Card and Additional Rewards Plus Gold Cards will be waived for the first year. Thereafter, the annual fee will be $150 for the Basic Card, with up to five Additional Cards included at no extra charge.

However, the Terms and Conditions state: Additional Card: No annual fee for the first year; then $35 for up to five Additional Cards and $35 for each Additional Card after the first five.

I think it's prudent to assume that the Terms and Conditions supercede any advertising copy, but it's certainly worth asking for clarification.

I received an unsolicited offer in the mail for same Rewards Plus Gold (RPG). The back of the application says: $150 fee for Basic Card and up to five additional cards will be waived the first year, The annual fee FOR THE SIXTH OR MORE ADDITIONAL CARDS of $35 will also be waived for the first year. (emphasis added)

What's the difference between the rewards plus gold and the preferred rewards gold?

What's the difference between the rewards plus gold and the preferred rewards gold?

http://www201.americanexpress.com/getthecard/learn-about/Preferred-Rewards-Gold
http://www201.americanexpress.com/getthecard/learn-about/Rewards-Plus-Gold

The annual fees are different and the cost for additional cardmembers.

But the annual fees for adding additional cards are the same. $35

But the annual fees for adding additional cards are the same. $35

From Amex Webiste in the links I have provided above:

$125 per year; get up to 5 Additional Cards for one annual fee of $35, then $35 per year for each Additional Card for American Express Preferred Rewards Card

$150 per year; Additional Cards (up to 5) have no annual fee, then $35 each per year for American Express Rewards Plus Gold Card plus this card has expanded benefits listed at the links I have provided.

What's the difference between the rewards plus gold and the preferred rewards gold?

In addition to the fee difference, Gold Rewards Plus earns an extra point per dollar spent with Membership Rewards airline and hotel transfer partners, for the first year. Thereafter it is an extra half-point per dollar with those same airlines and hotel chains.

You can see a list of the transfer partners here...

http://www.membershiprewards.com/catalog/travel/NewPointsTransfer.aspx?tab=airlines&mrnavlink=topnav%3aTravelFreqFlyerProg

Ok so the annual fee for the additional cards will end up being the same after the initial promo year. Other than that there are those extra rewards points.

Thanks Tahkuct and Mia!

Ok so the annual fee for the additional cards will end up being the same after the initial promo year. Other than that there are those extra rewards points.

Thanks Tahkuct and Mia!

If my math is correct:

Rewards Plus is $150 including up to 5 additional cards
Preferred Rewards is $125+$35=$160 including up to 5 cards

Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but it looks as though the rewards plus will also have that same $35 fee for additional cards. It's only waived for the first year.

$150 annual fee for American Express Rewards Plus Gold Card includes five additional cards. This is a permanent feature of the card. You can verify this by clicking the link to apply and then reading the fee disclosure...

Annual Fee
Basic Card
$150 per year after the first year.
Additional Cards
No annual fee for up to five Additional Cards.
$35 for each Additional Card after the first five after the first year.

$150 annual fee for American Express Rewards Plus Gold Card includes five additional cards. This is a permanent feature of the card. You can verify this by clicking the link to apply and then reading the fee disclosure...

Annual Fee
Basic Card
$150 per year after the first year.
Additional Cards
No annual fee for up to five Additional Cards.
$35 for each Additional Card after the first five after the first year.

I currently have the American Express Rewards Plus with 2 additional cards. This year my membership was renewed and I was only charged $150 for all 3 cards.

Haha ok apparently I was reading it wrong. Thanks everyone!