Canadian SPG American Express
Jan 21, 2015, 4:12 pm
#1757
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
The referral links I created recently (about 5 days ago) using the email method, were failing too. So, I switched to Facebook and received a slightly different link, and it was fine.
I tried this also for the Amex Plat Rewards as well as the Airmiles Plat...all email referral links failed, but Facebook links worked find.
Now, I just tried the same email referral links which were failing 5 days ago, and they are all also working. So, Amex fixed things, like I knew they would.
I tried this also for the Amex Plat Rewards as well as the Airmiles Plat...all email referral links failed, but Facebook links worked find.
Now, I just tried the same email referral links which were failing 5 days ago, and they are all also working. So, Amex fixed things, like I knew they would.
Jan 27, 2015, 4:08 pm
#1758
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz
Posts: 1,611
Anyone know if the SPG Biz card has had a 20k offer attached to it in recent history? wondering if I should wait for a better offer than the 10k referral + 10k sign-up.
Jan 27, 2015, 6:49 pm
#1759
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
The highest I have seen this one was 15k about 2 years ago (over the past 4 years). It fell to the 10k mark and hasn't moved from there.
Jan 27, 2015, 6:58 pm
#1760
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,666
The straight up sign-up bonus for the Business version is 20,000 now - $1,000 minimum spend.
Jan 28, 2015, 4:59 am
#1761
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz
Posts: 1,611
Thinking of going hog wild and applying for all of them. Got my personal yesterday, referred my wife. Might get the biz for both of us too. We both got the Biz Gold. We don't have any other credit cards with Amex, so there is room for a second for both of us.
Would work out to 90k starpoints for $540 annual fees. Pretty steep, but not bad compared to Amex Plat 60k for $499 (after travel credit...ignore travel perks). Works out to 0.6c per Starpoint, or 0.5c per airline point.
Jan 28, 2015, 6:50 am
#1762
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz
Posts: 1,611
Just a follow-up...after reading about the Avios devaluation this morning, my appetite for Starpoints just went up, up, up. Heck, Aeroplan is looking better. Nice to see Avios kept the short-hauls at 4,500 one way...but if ever you wanted to use Avios to fly a OneWorld partner in J or F long-haul...think again.
Feb 3, 2015, 2:16 pm
#1763
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,847
Just a follow-up...after reading about the Avios devaluation this morning, my appetite for Starpoints just went up, up, up. Heck, Aeroplan is looking better. Nice to see Avios kept the short-hauls at 4,500 one way...but if ever you wanted to use Avios to fly a OneWorld partner in J or F long-haul...think again.
Here's an example of this summer's vacation vs. last summer's:
4 tickets YVR-YYZ (100,000 points) = $600 in taxes/fees & $400 to cancel within 22 days before departure (for reinstatement of miles)
4 tickets BLI-HNL (100,000 points)= $48 in taxes/fees & $0 to cancel within 24 hours before departure (for reinstatement of miles)
I think I'll stick with Avios. I do admit that Aeroplan comes in handy for certain flight redemptions, esp. J, but those taxes and fees are killer!
Feb 3, 2015, 2:27 pm
#1764
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West
Posts: 3,357
Yeah, but Aeroplans are a pain to use. They come with such hideous fees for most flights!
Here's an example of this summer's vacation vs. last summer's:
4 tickets YVR-YYZ (100,000 points) = $600 in taxes/fees & $400 to cancel within 22 days before departure (for reinstatement of miles)
4 tickets BLI-HNL (100,000 points)= $48 in taxes/fees & $0 to cancel within 24 hours before departure (for reinstatement of miles)
I think I'll stick with Avios. I do admit that Aeroplan comes in handy for certain flight redemptions, esp. J, but those taxes and fees are killer!
Here's an example of this summer's vacation vs. last summer's:
4 tickets YVR-YYZ (100,000 points) = $600 in taxes/fees & $400 to cancel within 22 days before departure (for reinstatement of miles)
4 tickets BLI-HNL (100,000 points)= $48 in taxes/fees & $0 to cancel within 24 hours before departure (for reinstatement of miles)
I think I'll stick with Avios. I do admit that Aeroplan comes in handy for certain flight redemptions, esp. J, but those taxes and fees are killer!
Feb 5, 2015, 11:52 pm
#1765
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: YYZ, HKG, MFM
Programs: AC35K, AS MVP, WS Gold, ITA EP, Marriott Plat, Hyatt-Explorist, IHG Diamond
Posts: 2,019
Received my SPG AMEX last week, I haven't had a SPG card since it was still issue by MBNA. I look forward using it as my main card now, really like their cash+points redemption 
Feb 6, 2015, 2:33 pm
#1766
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,847
Last year I gifted an Aeroplan award to my nephew to save him some money on a trip to Frankfurt. 60,000 and still $750 in fees. Ouch. It was a last minute booking though, so there was no avoiding that. Still saved him $1000, but I was crying on the inside that my points got less than 2% return...
Feb 6, 2015, 4:20 pm
#1767
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West
Posts: 3,357
That's amazing! What was your flight itinerary/airline? I am eager to hear how we can better spend our Aeroplans...
Last year I gifted an Aeroplan award to my nephew to save him some money on a trip to Frankfurt. 60,000 and still $750 in fees. Ouch. It was a last minute booking though, so there was no avoiding that. Still saved him $1000, but I was crying on the inside that my points got less than 2% return...
Last year I gifted an Aeroplan award to my nephew to save him some money on a trip to Frankfurt. 60,000 and still $750 in fees. Ouch. It was a last minute booking though, so there was no avoiding that. Still saved him $1000, but I was crying on the inside that my points got less than 2% return...
YYC-ORD-BRU-KRK
YYC-YUL-ZRH-BRU
any low or no YQ airlines would accomplish this, UA,LX, SN, LO, TK
there are numerous threads indicating low tax routes and examples on this forum for flights to Europe.
Feb 6, 2015, 4:51 pm
#1768
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BC, Canada
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium Elite, VSE/MVC Chairman's Club
Posts: 546
That's amazing! What was your flight itinerary/airline? I am eager to hear how we can better spend our Aeroplans...
Last year I gifted an Aeroplan award to my nephew to save him some money on a trip to Frankfurt. 60,000 and still $750 in fees. Ouch. It was a last minute booking though, so there was no avoiding that. Still saved him $1000, but I was crying on the inside that my points got less than 2% return...
Last year I gifted an Aeroplan award to my nephew to save him some money on a trip to Frankfurt. 60,000 and still $750 in fees. Ouch. It was a last minute booking though, so there was no avoiding that. Still saved him $1000, but I was crying on the inside that my points got less than 2% return...
YYJ-SFO-FRA-BCN (UA+LH), BUD-ZRH-BOS-SFO-YYJ (LX+UA) -- 105,000 Aeroplan points + $187.71ea in J this last summer.
Funny thing was, due to weather in SFO, we ended up being rerouted YYJ-YVR-FRA-BCN outbound on AC+LH, which was the routing we would have preferred, but it cost $600+ more in taxes/fees.
Feb 6, 2015, 5:17 pm
#1769
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,847
Just dont' fly AC or LH (and others who have carrier/fuel surcharges), and get out of Canada as quick as you can.
YYJ-SFO-FRA-BCN (UA+LH), BUD-ZRH-BOS-SFO-YYJ (LX+UA) -- 105,000 Aeroplan points + $187.71ea in J this last summer.
Funny thing was, due to weather in SFO, we ended up being rerouted YYJ-YVR-FRA-BCN outbound on AC+LH, which was the routing we would have preferred, but it cost $600+ more in taxes/fees.
YYJ-SFO-FRA-BCN (UA+LH), BUD-ZRH-BOS-SFO-YYJ (LX+UA) -- 105,000 Aeroplan points + $187.71ea in J this last summer.
Funny thing was, due to weather in SFO, we ended up being rerouted YYJ-YVR-FRA-BCN outbound on AC+LH, which was the routing we would have preferred, but it cost $600+ more in taxes/fees.
Feb 23, 2015, 8:32 am
#1770
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: Top Tier Flyertalk Member
Posts: 680
Great to see the welcome bonus increased back again. Missed out by few days last year. Finally get a chance to sign up for this card ^