Finland, Finnair, and credit cards - pre 2020 discussion
Feb 13, 2014, 7:57 am
#181
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: ATL/KEF/HEL
Programs: AY Silver, BA Silver, FI Saga hopeful
Posts: 63
Just wanted to give heads up for anyone interested, and thought this would fit in here:
AMEX Gold card first year free and 10 000 MR points are currently on offer until end of March. I just got an offer and sadly enough I had applied for one in Dec-2013 which just arrived two weeks ago so I am gonna miss those 10k points
AMEX Gold card first year free and 10 000 MR points are currently on offer until end of March. I just got an offer and sadly enough I had applied for one in Dec-2013 which just arrived two weeks ago so I am gonna miss those 10k points
On offer where?
Their website doesn't mention this?
-
DJ
Jul 30, 2014, 1:09 am
#182
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seat 1L these days :)
Programs: AF Platinum/AY LUMO/SK EBG/baEC S/HYATT Globalist/MR LTP/A3 *G/HH Dia/IHG plat
Posts: 7,952
Just a heads up for forum members who collect MR points 
As of oct 2014 Amex gold cards will no longer earn 2 pts per euro on grocerirs and gasoline. Effectively one will earn the same on a green card a third of the card cost.
YMMV But for me this is a BIG devaluation as a big portion of my card spend comes from these.
They are offering a free spouse etc card but still not good in my opinion... Just thought I would let you know incase someone missed the Amex letter!!
This is for Finland based Amex cards!!
As of oct 2014 Amex gold cards will no longer earn 2 pts per euro on grocerirs and gasoline. Effectively one will earn the same on a green card a third of the card cost.
YMMV But for me this is a BIG devaluation as a big portion of my card spend comes from these.
They are offering a free spouse etc card but still not good in my opinion... Just thought I would let you know incase someone missed the Amex letter!!
This is for Finland based Amex cards!!
Jul 30, 2014, 8:08 am
#183
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
And don't forget the hidden 100€/yr extra cost from Oct/2015
From Oct/2014 - 1 free spouse card (-70€)
From Oct/2015 - yearly fee will not be waived (+170€)
I think I will have to rethink my Amex membership next year - less perks (points) for 100€ more. Really?
From Oct/2014 - 1 free spouse card (-70€)
From Oct/2015 - yearly fee will not be waived (+170€)
I think I will have to rethink my Amex membership next year - less perks (points) for 100€ more. Really?
Jul 30, 2014, 12:57 pm
#184
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Helsinki
Programs: BAEC Gold, TK E, HHonors Gold
Posts: 227
Sad news. I called Amex a few months ago and they told some big news are coming. I thought they were refering to a new co-branded card etc. But knowing how phatetic Finnish Amex is maybe this is the resolution.
What next? Is UK Plat still usable option?
What next? Is UK Plat still usable option?
Jul 30, 2014, 1:02 pm
#185
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seat 1L these days :)
Programs: AF Platinum/AY LUMO/SK EBG/baEC S/HYATT Globalist/MR LTP/A3 *G/HH Dia/IHG plat
Posts: 7,952
Uk card is where I will go soon... I got the idea there will be some good news coming in september to do with travel but it would have to be pretty big to keep me happy otherwise the green card is only 75€/year
otherwise the green card is only 75€/year
Jul 30, 2014, 1:06 pm
#186
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: AY+ Plat, A3*G
Posts: 672
Where did you read about the yearly fee not waived? Or are you currently using "first year free"? At least in my letter there was nothing mentioned.
Jul 30, 2014, 2:10 pm
#187
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
Normaalilla jäsenyysmaksulla enemmän etuja
Gold Card-kortin uudistuksen yhteydessä kortin käyttöön perustuva jäsenmaksun hyvitys poistuu 1.10.2015... blah, blah, blah
In the same paragraph
Nämä uudet ja entistä monipuolisemmat edut julkistamme syyskuun lopussa
These will have to be really mind blowing to counter the 100€ higher yearly fees and the 50% cut in earning MR points for groceries and gas.
Ah and while we are at it - "Tulevaisuudessa tiedotamme sinue Membership Rewards-ohjelman maksuja koskevista muutoksista 30 päivää ennen niiden voimaantulemista. Nykyisissä ehdoissa tämä aika on 6 kuukautta."
Jul 30, 2014, 2:11 pm
#188
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
Jul 30, 2014, 2:40 pm
#189
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seat 1L these days :)
Programs: AF Platinum/AY LUMO/SK EBG/baEC S/HYATT Globalist/MR LTP/A3 *G/HH Dia/IHG plat
Posts: 7,952
Here there are high fees and nill promotions...
Not worth it to me to keep gold after the changes, unless theres some super benefit, yeah not holding my breath
Jul 31, 2014, 1:41 am
#190
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,595
I got a letter from Amex too. Pretty weak.
My card has been useless for a couple of months already though, since I have been unhappy for some groceries/fuel not posting as double points and they failed to credit me a 10k Scandic promo bonus. Now this new letter will just confirm my canceling of my Gold card (which I got "first-year free")
My card has been useless for a couple of months already though, since I have been unhappy for some groceries/fuel not posting as double points and they failed to credit me a 10k Scandic promo bonus. Now this new letter will just confirm my canceling of my Gold card (which I got "first-year free")
Jul 31, 2014, 2:17 am
#191
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,783
I still find it pretty weird the double points has been Gold card specific and not a Plat benefit? Is that true?
Jul 31, 2014, 5:03 am
#192
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
I give them the benefit of doubt until late-Sept when the new benefits will be announced - though I don't hold my breath.
What would make me rethink to keep the card would be - SPG/Hilton/Carlson status (though I'm good with those until 2016), better conversion rates (at least 1:1 to airlines and to SPG, 1:2 to HH) and MUCH more travel conversion partners. Even more a co-branded card (HH, SPG, BA, whatnot)
What would make me rethink to keep the card would be - SPG/Hilton/Carlson status (though I'm good with those until 2016), better conversion rates (at least 1:1 to airlines and to SPG, 1:2 to HH) and MUCH more travel conversion partners. Even more a co-branded card (HH, SPG, BA, whatnot)
Jul 31, 2014, 5:12 am
#193
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: AYPlat, BASilver, SQG
Posts: 454
Using MR points towards BA Avios has been great, with the 30% bonus last year and the year before that. This year we didn't get it, has anyone heard it would be coming?
Otherwise perks and offers are of no interest, their travel service is not very good, hardly any airfare offers and all their concert tickets they offer are more or less pop & rock.....
Do the september new things affect Plat cards or only Gold?
Otherwise perks and offers are of no interest, their travel service is not very good, hardly any airfare offers and all their concert tickets they offer are more or less pop & rock.....
Do the september new things affect Plat cards or only Gold?
Jul 31, 2014, 6:04 am
#194
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: AMEX Plat / AY Plat, BA GGL-CCR / Bonvoy Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 474
+1 for SPG though I doubt. It is not available anywhere outside the US so not likely to launch in Finland. AY would be nice.
My guess is that they will roll some Platinum-style perks to Gold, but I don't have real information outside the letter. The letter states that there are no material changes for Platinum - only thing I see is the change in MR notice period.
Jul 31, 2014, 6:12 am
#195
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,783