Well, I always look for a silver lining in a black cloud. As an Aeroplan member, every few months, I get a pre-approved CIBC Aeroplan Visa card invitation with the offer of 5K or 10K (variously) bonus Aeroplan miles upon first use. I have always passed on the offer, since I have the RBVisa/Cdn+ card and Amex Platinum and Cdn+ is my primary FF program. As well, I have my Diners enRoute|Maple Leaf card from the days of the old enRoute Club, and which I do use regularly.
I suppose the next time the invitation from CIBC comes around, I will take them up on it, and add 10K or more into my Aeroplan aco.....
Unless Amex quickly moves to shore up their Platinum card benefits in Canada (which will be difficult since the 2 for 1 coupon was the most valuable element) -- as well as the already disparaged Rewards program -- it may be time to reconsider the $300+ annual fee, my Charter Member status, and 28-year association with Amex. Their no-fee basic cards, or the AIR MILES card, are looking more and more attractive every day.
I am also surprised that Amex has not attempted to communicate any information directly with their Platinum members. Phone staff are uninformed -- surely the company could have provided them with a clear basic statement -- and both my email and fax number are on file so a prompt message could have gone out this week. (I am sure we'll get something in the mail within a week or two, but...) Their web notice is a disaster. When I downloaded the file and printed it out, it spooled 48 pages, most of which were uncomprehensible symbols and blank space! Even Amex's newspaper ads just appeared today and they blur the Rewards and Platinum card benefits, and thus are quite unclear.
Surely this will become a case study in corporate PR programs as "how not to do it". I guess all Amex's execs and PR staff were up in Muskoka over the Easter holiday, getting their cottages in shape for the Victoria Day weekend.