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Old May 31, 2013, 3:32 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: mia
For discussion of retention bonuses on Starwood Amex cards, see Annual fee retention bonus for Starwood Amex card.

Retention's department:
(800) 452-3945

Everyday Preferred
10/13/15
2.5K points not to cancel, and 5k points for 1K spend within three months, Total 7.5K points, or in the alternate, a $75 statement credit or gift card.
1/15/16 - 16k spend - first renewal - offered $50, no MR offer - accepted
3/14/16 - 98k spend - first renewal - offered $100 or 15k MR - took the 15k.
11/18/16 -50k spend - first renewal - offered $100 or 15k MR - took the 15k.

Platinum OPEN/Business
6/11/15 - 8.5k spend - 2nd renewal - offered $100 or 10k MR - deferred on offer (see post #314)
8/18/2015 - 90k spend - 2nd renewal - first two times I called, no offer. Final time I asked explicitly to cancel, was offered $350 statement credit.
12/18/2015 - 10k spend, first renewal. Offered 10k MR, cancelled.
1/6/2016 - 10K spend, about 8 weeks after account opening - offered $50 credit or 7.5K MRs, took MRs.
4/29/2016 - 15k spend, 3 months after opening. No offer other than downgrade to BGR.
6/16/2016 - 15k spend to get signup bonus (in Jan 2016). Minimal spend after. Took a lot of nudging - including explicit request to cancel card -- but was offered 10k MR to keep open. No spend requirement.
9/29/2016 - offered $100, didn't catch whether there was a spend requirement, i canceled as I have a personal Platinum card and the go-go passes weren't worth having two.

Business Gold Rewards
10/10/15 - Offered 10K MR. declined and closed
12/26/15 - Offered 10K MR or $100 Credit, counter offered $150 or 15K MR. They offered me 15K MR..accepted.
1/26/16 - Offered 15k MR, counter offered $150 and 15k MR, offered either but not both. Accepted 15k MR. $20k annual spend. Opened account 1/2015.
2/2/16 Offered 15k MR. Accepted 15k MR. $40k annual spend. Opened account 3/2015.
2/4/16 Offered 15K MR. Accepted 15K. About a $15K annual spend.
3/5/16 Offered 15K MR or $100 credit. Took the 15K MR. Minimal spend.
5/23/16 Offered $50, then $100, then 15k MR. Accepted 15k MR. Also let me change the 3x category in the middle of the year.
6/9/16 7500 MR offer, even pushed for 10k or 15k. Minimal spend. AF just posted. Left as-is, going to wait till closer to 60 day mark.
6/11/16 7500 MR offer, about 30k spend. AF due in two weeks. Took it.
6/20/16 No offer. ~$10k spend. Wanted to close the card anyway so did it.
9/30/16 Offered $50 statement credit. (<$5K spend) That was all. Didn't take it and cancelled card
10/04/16 Offered $50 statement credit or 7,500 points or pay the annual fee of $175 with 17,000 points instead of 25000 points. (<$9K spend) Didn't take it any of them and cancelled card

Personal Platinum
1/11/16 - 5K points immediately, 15K points for 3K spend within three months. $22K spend in 2015.
1/17/16 - 5K points immediately, 10K points for 2K spend within two months. $560 spend in 2015.
1/26/16 - $200 "loyalty credit" without requirements. $18k spend in 2015 (~50k total Amex spend in 2015). Cardholder for 3 years.
1/27/16 - 5K points immediately + 10K points for 2K spend within 60 days, or $100 credit. Took the points.
1/29/16 - 5K points immediately + 10K points for 2K spend within 60 days, or $100 credit. Took the points. Cardholder 3 years; $17k spend last year.
2/3/16 - 5K points now and 10K points after $2K spend in 60 days. Rep had to "dig deep" into my account to find this "unique and very special" offer (Yeah, right). Accepted.
3/31/16 - Only offer was $100 statement credit. $15k spend last year.
04/19/16 - $200 statement credit for being loyal to amex (cardholder for 2 years $65k spend).
4/29/16 Initial offer $200. HUCA 5k MR immediately, 15k MR after 3k spend in 60 days.
8/12/16 - 40K MR immediately. Card holder for 7 year, $55K spend in 2015 (Post #1015)
8/19/16 - 5K points immediately, 15K points for 3K spend within three months or 200$ statement credit. Card holder only for 1 year but amex customer for 8 years
8/19/16 - called before AF hit, offered $200 credit, accepted, not a ton of spend after hitting minimum spend for signup bonus, Amex customer since 2013 with 3 other cards but generally don't spend that much on Amex (maybe $10k/year)
8/25/16 - $200 Statement credit or 20k points for 3k spend within 3 months. Amex for 6 years, plat for 1 year. 40k spend across all amex.
9/9/16 - $200 Statement credit, $20k spent on this last year
9/9/16 - $200 Statement credit. ~$14K spend this year.
9/10/16 - 25k MR (no spend req). $11k in spend last yr. Tough sell from AX.
9/12/16 - 15k points after $2k spend in 3 months. ~$7k in spend
9/21/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~5k spend
9/29/16 - 25k points, no spend req. ~$20k in spend during past year
10/6/16 - 40k points, no spend req. ~$35k in spend during past year
10/7/16 - 25k points, no spend req. ~$22k T12 spend
10/8/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~$10k spend during past year
10/17/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~$5k spend during past year. took the points.
10/29/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~$11k spend during past year. took the points.
11/14/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~$15k spend during past year. took the points.
11/19/16 40k points or $400, no spend req. ~$45k spend during past year.

Platinum Mercedes Benz
9/30/15 - 5K points immediately, in addition to 15K points for 3K spend within three months. 20K points Total to retain card.

Platinum Ameriprise
7/21/16 Offered $200 or 20k MR. Accepted $200 statement credit to offset the $450 AF for all 4 cards in the account. 35K spent

SPG Personal
12/4/15 - $25 loyalty statement credit
2/3/16 - $25 loyalty statement credit but did allude to a potential bonus when the SPG card goes away; referenced the $200-300 bonus offered to Costco Amex holders being asked to convert to Sams Club Amex products
3/1/16 - $25 loyalty statement credit
6/14/2016 - $25 plus 3,000 SPG points - Had to ask Supv for the addl. 3,000 pts.
7/6/2016 - $25 or 1500 points after $1000 spend. Canceled card. $25k spend last year.
7/15/2016 - $25 loyalty statement credit. HUCA, HUCA, declined, cancelled card. $10K spend last year, less recently.
8/10/2016 - Paltry $25 or 500 points + additional 1000 points after $1000 spend (total of 1500) in 3 months. I have another ~60 days for af to lock in, so will call again in ~30 days. $35k spend last year, but less than $1000 / month this year.
8/16/16 - Offered $50 or 7,000 SPG points, $48K spend, took the points.
8/24/16 - Offered $50 or 7,000 SPG points, $13K spend YTD, took the points.
8/25/16 - $25 loyalty statement credit, $5K YTD spend. HUACA resulted in the same offer (even with a symethic agent that noted my 15 years of membership).
9/13/16 $95 credit with +- $40K spend. Fast & easy
9/17/16 $25 or 1500 SPG points after $1K spend. Cancelled the card
9/17/16 Called after renewal fee posted. Offered 5,000 SPG points - $40K spent on this card.
9/18/16 $50 or 7k. ~$80k spend.
10/1/16 $25 offer ~$15k spend. Cancelled card.
10/7/16 $50 or 7k. ~$76k T12 spend.
10/27/16 ($7K spend in last 12 months, first renewal) $25 statement credit OR 500 Starpoints + 1,000 Starpoints for $1,000 spend in next 3 months
11/11/16 ($4k spend this year) We respect your decision. Goodbye.
12/16/16 Member since 1995, spent $25k in 12 months, was offered 7k points. Love SPG points so didn't enquire about any of the other credits.

SPG OPEN/Business
8/3/15 - called with intent to cancel, $18k spend last year, offered $100 one-time statement credit - accepted.
8/12/15 - called with intent to cancel, $15k spend last year, offered only $50 one-time statement credit - accepted
12/14/15 - called with intent to cancel, $15k spend last year, AF hit 90 days ago with $0 spend since then. Offered $100 one-time statement credit.
1/14/16 - called with intent to cancel or product change to no fee Simply Cash card, $10-12k spend last year, $65 AF hit 30 days ago with $0 spend since then. Offered $100 one-time credit to keep card.
8/29/16 - called to cancel & they didn't offer any retention bonus so we canceled it. Only had min. spend last year.
10/1/16 - retention offered 5K SPG pts.
10/19/16 - offered $25 credit. Spend last year ~$15k.

DL Skymiles Platinum OPEN/Business
5/28/15 - called with intent to cancel, card opened 9 months, initial min spend (1.3k) only - offered simply cash open, declined, closed.
03/10/15- the date is date of miles post, do not remember original request date, no offers until reaching the retention department, 15k miles offered with 50k spend
11/4/15 - called to see what retention offer would be $60K spend offered nothing. sm
12/10/15 - Called again to actually cancel, got 25K skymiles. Kept card open. sm
04/26/16 - Called again, 3k bonus as good will to keep open. Will HUCA for 3rd time.
10/23/16 - called to cancel told me they have nothing to offer as I took advantage of the 25K miles last year. Said also they will remove the companion travel cert in my account if I cancel. I have until mid Nov and will call again

Premier Rewards Gold
6/12/15 - 1st renewal. Called 5 days after fee posted stating not happy about losing 15k bonus. Offered 10k MR now and 10k after $3k spend in 60 days. Accepted. $40k spent last year.
11/2/15 - Offered 20K MR. $130K spend in previous year.
1/14/16 - Offered $50 statement credit + $50 credit if meet $500 spend in 60 days. ~$8k spend previous year.
1/21/16 - Offered 5k MR + 15k MR with $3k spend in 60 days or $75 credit + $75 credit if $1k spend in 60 days. ~$25k in spend last year
2/11/16 - Offered 2.5k MR + 5k MR with $1k spend in 60 days or $50 credit + $50 credit if $500 spend in 60 days. ~$25k in spend last year
2/23/16 - Offered 5k MR + 15k MR with $3k spend in 60 days . ~$33k in spend in my first year
4/12/16 - Offered $50 statement credit + $50 credit if meet $500 spend in 60 days. ~$10k spend previous year.
4/22/16 - 1st offer - $50 statement + $50 credit after $500 spend in 60 days. 2nd offer - 2.5k MR + 5k MR with $1k spend in 60 days (took 2nd offer) ~10k spend previous year.
6/9/16 No offers. Minimal spend. AF just posted. Left as-is, going to wait till closer to 60 day mark.
6/26/16 - Offered $175 or 25k MR. $135k spend.
6/20/2016 Phoned and requested transfer to retention dept. After a brief explanation of benefits, I was offered $50 statement credit and $50 additional statement credit after $500 spend in 60 days. Took the offer.
7/25/2015 1st anniversary, 25k spend. Offered upgrade to platinum with 10k + 50k MR. Lengthy talk with Retention who finally offered only 7.5k MR for $1k spend in 92 days. Very disappointed. Declined. HUCA. 2nd call on the 60th day: offered and took the 50+50 offer.
8/19/2016: Presented with 2 offers: (1) $50 statement credit now and $50 statement credit after spending $500 within 60 days (2) 2,500 MR points now, and 5,000 MR points after spending $1,000 within 90 days.
11/2/2016: $100 credit no spend needed

DL Skymiles Gold
6/2015 - Have had card since 1991 and have never asked for a retention offer. $30k spend annually except for the last year with $1k spend. Flat out denied hard for any retention. Paid AF b/c my oldest card.
1/2016 - Have had card for ten years+, usually around $10,000/year spend. Never asked for retention bonus before. Given two choices: 1) 1000 miles immediately and 2000 more miles for $1000 spend in 60 days or 2) $75 statement credit. Took the $75.
5/2016 - Had card for 3 years, never asked for a retention. Spend is probably only around $2K/year. Was not offered any miles or credit.
6/15/2016 - 15k offer. Have had card since 1995. <1k spend last year. Took 15k

DL Skymiles Gold Business
9/24 - under $1k spend in last 12 months, no offer. They said they don't have a retention department.
4/18/2016 - Had card for 1 year with 2K spend. Asked for the nature of my small business, what expenses and travel requirements I have for my business. Given two choices: 1) 7,500 miles immediately to offset $95 AF or 2) switch to a generic no fee Amex. Took the 7,500 miles.


Hilton HHonors Surpass
1/2016 - spend > $40k, 2nd year had card, offered $50 statement credit or 5000 points
4/2016 - Offered $75 statement credit or 10k points. Took the credit.
6/2016 - Offered 500 HH points now and another 1K after spending 1K or $25. Took the $25.
9/2016 - spend > $40k, 2nd year had card, offered $50 statement credit or 5000 points. Took the credit.
11/2016 - Spend $5k on this card, $55k in last year across all Amex accounts. 1st anniversary, offered $25 statement credit or 1,000 points. Cancelled.
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American Express retention offers [2008 - 2016]

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Old Nov 11, 2016, 3:22 pm
  #2881  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Programs: TK E+
Posts: 398
11/11/2016
AMEX SPG Business
$120K in spend
1st renewal
No retention offer at all, even when asking to cancel. but CSR mentioned I can receive the AF refund even 3-4 months after the posting date if not "using the card too much"...
bamba70 is offline  
Old Nov 11, 2016, 8:51 pm
  #2882  
Formerly known as FTRox87
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: TX
Programs: AA/US 1M, AS, BA, CX, EK, EY, JL, KE, LH, NH, OS, QF, QR, TG, UA/CO | *$G
Posts: 1,428
has anyone tried retention or had luck w the AX Gold card? the $160, crippled brother of the PRG. it's not a v compelling card. but just thought I'd check to see here anyways.
FTR 787 is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2016, 2:02 pm
  #2883  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: OAK
Posts: 11
Data point:

Called retention department # in Wiki, on a Saturday 1pm PT
11/12/2016
AMEX Platinum Personal
$6.75K in spend
1st renewal
Offered 25K MR points or $200 statement credit, no spend requirement. Took points. Happy.
Rep said points will post 4-6 weeks, will update when hit acct.
***UPDATE: points posted next day.

++++NEW UPDATE: after posting reviewed thread and remembered that I was rejected online for pay over time. Called regular customer svc to report upcoming overseas travel and ask if there was an offer on my acct for pay over time. 15k MRs! I'm super happy and will celebrate in the SFO Centurion lounge on my way out of the US!

BIG thanks to forumites for the info/advice!

Last edited by mo270; Nov 15, 2016 at 4:26 pm Reason: additional offer and posting times
mo270 is offline  
Old Nov 14, 2016, 9:30 am
  #2884  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: DEN
Programs: Hilton Diamond Hyatt Globalist Marriott Gold AA EXP
Posts: 1,014
Originally Posted by eajusa
Called to close Delta Gold. Automatic system walked me through each step. No attempt to put me through to a CSR, let alone retention specialist. I didn't want a retention anyway. I went ahead and closed.
Same here. I did asked about the possibility of a fee waiver since I still fly Delta, but only sporadically. The CSR put me on hold and checks with the membership consultants, then came back and said no offers were available.

It was a business card, and I have 3 other AMEX cards - 2 are business, SPG and OPEN Cash. My spend on the DL Gold was probably 4-5K over the past year.

I guess that's not enough to worry them about loss of an account? Or they just figure I'll use another Amex anyway?

Also, if I need the free checked bags in the future, can I just sign up for the card again and get the fee waived - even if I don't re-qualify for the signup bonus miles? How long would I have to wait to get the fee waived on a new acct?
bbriscoe34 is offline  
Old Nov 14, 2016, 10:53 am
  #2885  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: O6 GOLD, SPG GOLD
Posts: 122
Data point:

Called retention department # in Wiki today
AMEX Platinum Personal
$15K in spend
1st renewal
Offered 25K points or $200 statement credit, no spend requirement. Took points.

Thanks all.
romania2007 is offline  
Old Nov 14, 2016, 4:05 pm
  #2886  
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 64
Originally Posted by sheri723
AMEX PRG:
First renewal. Very minimal spend after bonus points earned. After transfer to retention department they immediately offered $75 statement credit. Offer accepted.
Same offer today (11/14/16). Called directly to retention line. Slightly disappointed, around 10k annual spend. When I called a few months back, I was offered "$50 statement credit now and $50 statement credit after spending $500 within 60 days." Will call after annual fee posts.
pchong8 is offline  
Old Nov 14, 2016, 4:23 pm
  #2887  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: Milege+, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,685
Originally Posted by bbriscoe34
I guess that's not enough to worry them about loss of an account? Or they just figure I'll use another Amex anyway?
Possibly Amex expects us to use Platinum Card for airfare given the new 5X MR points per $.
eajusa is offline  
Old Nov 14, 2016, 4:49 pm
  #2888  
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Tampa, Florida USA
Programs: Marriott, SW, United
Posts: 193
AMX SPG
10 year card member
$100K+ yearly
Two calls, both "nothing available"
One agent said "it looks like we give you a discount every other year".
Keeping card
Bud Florida is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2016, 3:45 am
  #2889  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 106
Hello, I'm new to Amex US. I got PRG in April then Platinum in September. I wonder if the retention bonus is based on card or account. ie if I get a bonus for PRG, will get it again for Platinum 5 months later?

Thanks a lot
Fishy is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2016, 1:19 pm
  #2890  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: Milege+, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,685
Originally Posted by Fishy
Hello, I'm new to Amex US. I got PRG in April then Platinum in September. I wonder if the retention bonus is based on card or account. ie if I get a bonus for PRG, will get it again for Platinum 5 months later?

Thanks a lot
When you call to cancel a card and they offer a retention bonus, it is for that card only.
eajusa is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2016, 2:09 pm
  #2891  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: London
Programs: BA bronze, Hertz pres circle, Marriott Platinum, hilton diamond
Posts: 2,537
UK Spg, called to cancel was offered 3 months of double star points
aceman is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2016, 3:19 pm
  #2892  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Florida
Posts: 686
Wife's DL Reserve

Opened 10/2015
26k spend

Had her call retentions directly - offered 12.5k miles. She cancelled.

I had 62k in spend and only received a $75 offer credit. What I learned was that I was hurt by having a DL Platinum open as well. They kept referencing all of my DL Amex cards. I kept both open for MS purposes trying to capitalize on the MQM bonuses of both since I don't fly as much. Looks like it hurt me a bit as I lost a lot of leverage.
sig05 is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2016, 3:38 pm
  #2893  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
Originally Posted by sig05
I had 62k in spend and only received a $75 offer credit. What I learned was that I was hurt by having a DL Platinum open as well. They kept referencing all of my DL Amex cards. I kept both open for MS purposes trying to capitalize on the MQM bonuses of both since I don't fly as much. Looks like it hurt me a bit as I lost a lot of leverage.
I'm slow today. Could you please break it down for me how having fewer accounts to cancel would give you more leverage?
MaxVO is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2016, 3:49 pm
  #2894  
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Florida
Posts: 686
Originally Posted by MaxVO
I'm slow today. Could you please break it down for me how having fewer accounts to cancel would give you more leverage?
I called twice on my DL Reserve Amex. Have both Reserve and PLAT. Both times they referenced my PLAT when I threatened to cancel and said I would still have DL benefits through my PLAT if I cancelled my Reserve. I can only conclude that having both opened hurt my retention offers as AMEX was quick to point benefits I would still receive even if I canceled the Reserve.

Last edited by sig05; Nov 15, 2016 at 3:51 pm Reason: clarification
sig05 is offline  
Old Nov 15, 2016, 4:49 pm
  #2895  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,477
Originally Posted by sig05
...AMEX was quick to point benefits I would still receive even if I canceled the Reserve.
Ah, but that is your leverage right now. AmEx was just pointing it out to you. When you're down to your last DL account, then the loss of DL benefits becomes their leverage. Maybe they're thinking long term in this case
Regardless, thanks for a valuable data point!
MaxVO is offline  


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