Affinity Cards and Membership Rewards
Dec 31, 2011, 7:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: Most airlines + Hilton HHonors
Posts: 2
Affinity Cards and Membership Rewards
I have 300,000+ points in the Membership Rewards program and an Amex green card as well as a Costco Amex True Earnings card. Costco's card doesn't allow me to earn Membership Rewards points, so I only earn points on my green card (and my former corporate Amex card). I want/need to retain my MR points but don't want to continue paying the $95 fee for my green card. An Amex rep told me I could switch to one of their blue cards which are no fee cards and keep my MR points, but I'm wondering if there are any affinity Amex card programs, such as Hilton HHonors, that offer points in their programs and are also eligible to earn Amex MR points? Any ideas / suggestions as to what options I have? Thanks in advance! 
Dec 31, 2011, 7:54 pm
#2
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Signatures.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 49,034
Holding an American Express card which is linked to any other rewards program will not preserve the Membership Rewards balance.
Dec 31, 2011, 9:56 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,551
You can delay the day of reckoning by getting a card with a first year fee waiver.
Also, if you get a Blue card, then later get a Green/Gold/Plat card, your MR points will revert back to regular MR points and be useable.
Also, if you get a Blue card, then later get a Green/Gold/Plat card, your MR points will revert back to regular MR points and be useable.
Dec 31, 2011, 10:35 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: Most airlines + Hilton HHonors
Posts: 2
Thank you Mia and Redtop43. Your advice is quite helpful. I will probably delay moving to a blue card until I decide what I might want to transfer to my airline and hotel programs. Once that's done, I think I'll switch to a blue card and get a pro-rated refund of my $95 fee when I already have a Costco Amex card that does everything else I need it to. Happy New Year!