Canadian SPG American Express
Feb 9, 2010, 1:24 pm
#106
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hilton Honours Gold, Air Canada Elite
Posts: 8
I live in Ontario, I think I decided I will switch my AMEX Aeroplan Platinum card for this one. I want another FREE Visa or MC as a back up. Recommendations would be appreciated. Shoppers MC is noted......
I have been an Amex user since 1995 in Canada and went through various cards (Gold/Plat) through the years (some I paid for, other times the fees were waived due to other business I had with them) and even when we moved to the US.
I have always been very happy with their incredible service and have yet seen a comprehensive website as theirs to explain what is going with my numerous cards. I enjoyed their credit secure services as well as baggage plan (which I had to use during one conference in Munich when my luggage was lost and they were super). All this was in the US. Coming back to Canada has been a pain re: credit. Amex Canada is not as friendly and helpful. Their website is horrible.
It will be interesting to see what is the fee for this new Amex card. I like SPG points since I can get free stays for my parents at luxurious hotels which they cannot afford. However Amex is indeed not as widely used as MC or Visa. It will take some time to organise how to do the household spending but I believe that if the fee is reasonable, the 1:1 ratio should be worth it.
As for MBNA cards, I also have a Shopper's card and that will be my backup MC card since I go there often and can earn 25x Shopper's points on regular purchases which I then redeem for cosmetics.
I have always been very happy with their incredible service and have yet seen a comprehensive website as theirs to explain what is going with my numerous cards. I enjoyed their credit secure services as well as baggage plan (which I had to use during one conference in Munich when my luggage was lost and they were super). All this was in the US. Coming back to Canada has been a pain re: credit. Amex Canada is not as friendly and helpful. Their website is horrible.
It will be interesting to see what is the fee for this new Amex card. I like SPG points since I can get free stays for my parents at luxurious hotels which they cannot afford. However Amex is indeed not as widely used as MC or Visa. It will take some time to organise how to do the household spending but I believe that if the fee is reasonable, the 1:1 ratio should be worth it.
As for MBNA cards, I also have a Shopper's card and that will be my backup MC card since I go there often and can earn 25x Shopper's points on regular purchases which I then redeem for cosmetics.
Feb 15, 2010, 12:57 am
#107
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: HH Gold VIP, BonVoy Gold, BAEC Gold, AmEx Platinum, Visa Infinite
Posts: 689
Canadian AmEx SPG credit card
I don't know if this has been posted before, but I just saw it.
http://www.americanexpress.com/canad...aunch_ty.shtml
Anyone with insights please do share.
Thanx
http://www.americanexpress.com/canad...aunch_ty.shtml
Anyone with insights please do share.
Thanx
Feb 15, 2010, 10:43 am
#108
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: HH Gold VIP, BonVoy Gold, BAEC Gold, AmEx Platinum, Visa Infinite
Posts: 689
There is also BMO's MC cash back gives variable returns depending on where you shop.
The other option would be capital one cash back platinum card. Its also comes without an annual fee and gives out upto 1% cash back.
I think these two in addition to Shoppers MC and BMO's airmiles are the best.
If you really spend almost everything on your AmEx it might be wise to go with a cashback card since you won't be using it that much which means you won't collect enough points to do anything with them. Cashback seems the best way to go.
Feb 15, 2010, 2:47 pm
#109
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE 2MM, HH Dd, SPG; IC Pl/A; AA; DL
Posts: 14,321
got an invite^ on Friday to a pre-launch in Toronto on FEb 24th but can't go as I am in Argentina. Seems like it might be an interesting time to get a new AMEX Starwood card.
Feb 15, 2010, 5:51 pm
#110
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Waterloo, ON, Canada
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 228
I received an invite too (on another forum) and will be there. If no one else from this forum is invited I'll post what I learn here.
Last edited by JWL; Feb 16, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Feb 15, 2010, 7:17 pm
#111
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
Yes, please do!
Feb 15, 2010, 7:23 pm
#112
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Kelowna
Programs: AS AC AA SPG IHG Gold
Posts: 215
I have an AeroplanPlus Gold card and my backup card is CIBC Dividend Visa. It pays upto 1% cash back (>3000 annual spending) and comes with no annual fee.
There is also BMO's MC cash back gives variable returns depending on where you shop.
The other option would be capital one cash back platinum card. Its also comes without an annual fee and gives out upto 1% cash back.
I think these two in addition to Shoppers MC and BMO's airmiles are the best.
If you really spend almost everything on your AmEx it might be wise to go with a cashback card since you won't be using it that much which means you won't collect enough points to do anything with them. Cashback seems the best way to go.
There is also BMO's MC cash back gives variable returns depending on where you shop.
The other option would be capital one cash back platinum card. Its also comes without an annual fee and gives out upto 1% cash back.
I think these two in addition to Shoppers MC and BMO's airmiles are the best.
If you really spend almost everything on your AmEx it might be wise to go with a cashback card since you won't be using it that much which means you won't collect enough points to do anything with them. Cashback seems the best way to go.
Feb 16, 2010, 11:09 am
#113
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYC
Posts: 1,876
Also got the invite (originally it was supposed to be on the 18th) but don't think I'll make it out from YYC.
Feb 16, 2010, 7:52 pm
#114
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Waterloo, ON, Canada
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 228
So far it sounds like there are people invited from RedFlagDeals.com, SmartCanucks.ca and Flyertalk.com.
Feb 17, 2010, 6:32 am
#115
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 709
how come i didn't get one 
i do remember signing up for more info at the amex site
i do remember signing up for more info at the amex site
Feb 18, 2010, 6:55 am
#116
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Waterloo, ON, Canada
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 228
Feb 18, 2010, 10:07 pm
#117
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: China
Programs: UA,DL,CZ
Posts: 860
Not sure if this card holder is qualified for the 5K referral bonus promotion? I mean the SPG credit card referral bonus.
Feb 19, 2010, 9:26 pm
#119
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: China
Programs: UA,DL,CZ
Posts: 860
I mean the canandian SPG AE card. If two people will be applying in Mar time-frame, it should be better for one to sign in first to get 10K points. While the second person should be referred to by the first person to get 5K refferal bonus and the second person only gets the 10K sign-in bonus.
I do not know if the referral bonus applies to this Canadian SPG AE card.
I do not know if the referral bonus applies to this Canadian SPG AE card.
Last edited by tylorcl; Feb 21, 2010 at 9:54 am Reason: typo
Feb 20, 2010, 11:02 am
#120
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 974
Hopefully this is one of the details that will be released at the pre-launch bash on February 24th.
Yes JWL or superdawg, please share what you learn at the party. A detailed description of the food and drinks menu is also appreciated.
