Is This the End of AMEX Membership Rewards In the Netherlands?
Jeff Edwards July 19, 2019
FlyerTalkers are growing concerned about the unannounced changes being made to the American Express Membership Rewards program in the Netherlands. The Dutch Membership Rewards website now shows a limited number of transfer partners and charities where members can use points.
Is the American Express Membership Rewards program coming to an end? On the FlyerTalk forums, some are reporting serious changes to their options with the points currency – going from many transfer partners, to just two or fewer.
FlyerTalker StewieD was the first to notice the changes. In their experience, the number of transfer partners were limited to one airline partner or four charities. When they contacted the company to inquire about the changes, they claim a customer service agent said: “We have removed all rewards based on our customer input. You can still earn and collect points, and transfer these to charity.”
Adding to the confusion, some FlyerTalkers say nothing has changed for them. On the forums, janwillem writes: “I just logged in on the Dutch Centurion website and I could transfer to any of the usual partners.”
When we checked on the status of Membership Rewards transfers in the Netherlands, the options were indeed reduced to three partners: Air France-KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Avios and Radisson Rewards points. In addition, four charities still accept points as a donation to further their causes.
“It went from hundreds of options to a handful reward options,” StewieD wrote in a follow-up post. “I guess if you’re into booking points to hotel/airline you don’t mind, if you use the MR points for anything else, it’s all removed now.”
While the changes constrain how points may be used, some don’t see it as a life-altering event. FlyerTalker iamjessie offers: “The options that were available previously consisted mainly out of gift cards which were a terrible redemption anyway…I guess they were removed since nobody used them.”
Fortunately, these changes seem to be isolated to Europe. The only major change to happen to the U.S. American Express cards is the reduction of Priority Pass benefits to holders of The Platinum Card from American Express. FlyerTalk reached out to American Express to find out about the changes, but have not received a response as of press time.
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Based in the Netherlands with Amex Gold I just logged in and I can transfer to Alitalia Millemiglia, BAEC, Asia miles, Delta Skymiles, Finnair Plus, KL/AF Flying Bue, Iberia Plus, SAS Eurobonus and SQ Krisflyer, Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy and Radisson Rewards. I’m not sure if anything else is missing since recently..
you can still transfer to MarriottBonvoy
Same in Germany. All the alliances with Hotels and Airlines are NOT the ones I favor. For this reason, not applying for the Amex Plat here. Shameful.
The transfer partners here in France and also in Italy are also extremely limited. I don't understand why Amex Europe is so lousy.
I just checked on my account and I'm still able to transfer to Krisflyer, Asia Miles, etc. So maybe its an IT glitch? I have AMEX Platinum.