Caution: A Question of Morals
Jan 13, 2007 | 5:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Programs: Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 431
Caution: A Question of Morals
Here's the setting.
You are at YYZ. You have had a long day. You arrive 90 mins early for your domestic flight home.
You are not SE.
You are not E.
You are not P.
Heck, your monthly ESSO fillups (and Tropicana orange juice purchases) generate more AP mileage than your actual flying.
The lounge beckons.
Inside your wallet is a cancelled (but not expired) AMEX Platinum card, which when it was not cancelled provided access to the MLL.
Do you buy yourself a magazine and sit at the crowded gate area - or give into the dark side?
You are at YYZ. You have had a long day. You arrive 90 mins early for your domestic flight home.
You are not SE.
You are not E.
You are not P.
Heck, your monthly ESSO fillups (and Tropicana orange juice purchases) generate more AP mileage than your actual flying.
The lounge beckons.
Inside your wallet is a cancelled (but not expired) AMEX Platinum card, which when it was not cancelled provided access to the MLL.
Do you buy yourself a magazine and sit at the crowded gate area - or give into the dark side?
Jan 13, 2007 | 6:06 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Toronto (YYZ)
Posts: 6,285
Jan 13, 2007 | 6:56 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,626
Jan 13, 2007 | 7:01 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 5,212
I figured as much. And further to that, if you cancel the card before expiry, do you get any pro-rated refund on the annual fee? Being a financial instituion, I doubt not. Therefore, just because a card was cancelled so as to not incur more charges, say, from a shop-happy spouse, but the fee was paid, I wouldn't even call into question the morals of using the card for the benefits paid for.
Jan 13, 2007 | 7:05 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
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I figured as much. And further to that, if you cancel the card before expiry, do you get any pro-rated refund on the annual fee? Being a financial instituion, I doubt not. Therefore, just because a card was cancelled so as to not incur more charges, say, from a shop-happy spouse, but the fee was paid, I wouldn't even call into question the morals of using the card for the benefits paid for.
So I guess it's a matter of "I paid therefore..." vs. "What do the Terms and Conditions say?"
Jan 13, 2007 | 7:28 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: YYZ, DUB, OGG
Programs: *G/NEXUS/GE (as are spouse & both kids since 2 years old), ACCOR ALL DIAMOND since program inception
Posts: 1,220
Theoretical morals ...
So has anyone here signed up for an AMEX-MLL or CIBC Aerogold-MLL card, then cancelled once the card has been received and ultimately gone into the MLL?
Would you receive back any of your sign-on fee to these cards?
(Don't know myself as I use my status to get in)
Would you receive back any of your sign-on fee to these cards?
(Don't know myself as I use my status to get in)
Jan 13, 2007 | 8:02 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: ex AC SE100K now 75k :-( / Bonvoy Titanium / All Accor Gold/ Avis Presidents Club / National EE
Posts: 164
you paid for the service!!! also consider this as a amex aeroplat you pay just as much as one would pay for MLL access membership but don't get all of the benefits (ie admitance to rcc or other * lounges) so really they are getting they are really fleecing the card holder! head for the lounge!! :-D
Jan 13, 2007 | 9:10 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC SE (+1MM)
Posts: 240
To the OP,
Is this a trick question? Your profile indicates that you are a lawyer so if anyone knows, it would be you. If you paid the annual fee and did not get a pro-rated rebate when you cancelled then this is a no brainer. IMHO you should be entitled to the full benifit period, regardless.
Is this a trick question? Your profile indicates that you are a lawyer so if anyone knows, it would be you. If you paid the annual fee and did not get a pro-rated rebate when you cancelled then this is a no brainer. IMHO you should be entitled to the full benifit period, regardless.
Jan 13, 2007 | 10:43 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
Everybody seems to focus on the annual fee being paid.
Ok, that's true for the first year. However, the expiry dates on those cards are for several years. How about when the next "unpaid" year rolls around?
Ok, that's true for the first year. However, the expiry dates on those cards are for several years. How about when the next "unpaid" year rolls around?
Jan 14, 2007 | 5:47 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 20,547
Jan 14, 2007 | 6:09 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Programs: Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 431
Actually, the point of my question. The card was initially valid for four years (and that was 2 years ago....).
Jan 14, 2007 | 6:14 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Well AC does not, I presume just allow such people in for free but charges Amex. I also would expect Amex to require card numbers from ac and if so then you may be opening yourself to a question from them later on.