This is my own personal mini-FAQ. Answers to some questions that I couldn't find easily in one place, posted here for the value of others and to make sure I'm not missing something.
When does my US Bank visa switch from accumulating Miles to accumulating Points? Does this happen at the moment I call the 800 number to activate my new FlexPerks card?
From the
FAQ:
You will continue to earn WorldPerks miles until the date communicated to you via First Class mail in April and May. On this date, you'll begin earning FlexPoints rather than WorldPerks miles.
Regarding that last sentence quoted above, NOTE the following later communication, from the May 9th email from NWA: [again, my emphasis]
In honor of our 15-year card partnership, U.S. Bank and Northwest Airlines are pleased to inform you that for one month after you begin earning FlexPoints, your account will also earn WorldPerks miles, regardless of which card is used. After this one-month period, your WorldPerks Visa card will no longer allow charges and your FlexPerks card will only earn FlexPoints.
So what is that date when the account starts to earn Points? I must've missed it in that postal mailing, so I called USBank...
My first call to USBank led me to believe that this "miles to points" cutover date is June 30 2009, period. This date has no dependence on when I call and activate the new FlexPerks plastic. I was also told it has no dependence on my account billing cycle; I found this last part surprising.
But that first rep didn't sound all that confident, and he didn't seem to know what I was talking about when I asked about the May 9th email and earning both miles and points. So I decided to call back and ask one more time. The second rep gave me a different answer, one that made more sense:
The "miles to points" cutover date definitely does not depend on when you call to activate the new card. But that cutover date does depend on the account billing cycle. That cutover date is/was "the beginning of the last billing cycle that ends BEFORE June 30th." wha?
For example, if your billing cycle ends on the 20th of every month:
-starting on May 21st, a dollar spent earns a point
-starting on May 21st, until the end of that billing cycle on June 20th, that dollar spent also earns a mile
-starting on June 21st, a dollar spent will earn a point, but NO MILES
I suspect many people on this thread might be interested in this one-month window of opportunity to get a bit more value for your USBank spending.
Others, please correct me if you see any mistakes in the above.
thanks!