Jan 17, 2015, 11:17 am
Last edit by: JJonahJ
This thread is a continuation of discussion which began HERE in 2011. It was very active in 2014, read HERE.
Referrals and self-referrals are an important part of churning Canadian-issued American Express cards. It is appropriate to discuss how the referral process works in this thread. However, please do not offer or request referrals here.
Use only this thread, and do read the Wikipost carefully before posting:
Referral Offers (post only in this thread, no referral links, read Wiki post first).
JerryHung: I figure I'll include all CURRENT AMEX Canada offers here (no referral links) for anyone curious about what the bonus and fees are
This is not an all-inclusive list, only the "good" offers, so feel free to add new offers
AMEX Platinum Rewards - $699/year, 60K MR (via referral) after $1000 spending in 3 months vs. 50K non-referral
AMEX Gold Rewards - $150/year, FYF, 25K MR after $500 spending + $50 cashback from GCR
(as of Jan 11, 2016 Gold card will no longer earn referral points.)
AMEX Air Miles Platinum - $65/year, FYF, 2000 Air Miles after $500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
AMEX SPG - $120/year, 20K SPG after $500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
New as of 2014/10/09
AMEX Business Gold Rewards - $250/year, FYF, 30K MR after $5000 spending (or 40K via referral)
AMEX Business Platinum Rewards - $399/year, 40K MR after $5000 spending (or 50K via referral)
AMEX Aeroplan Plus Platinum - $499/year, 50K Aeroplans after $1000 spending in 3 months (or 51K via referral). Normally 40K/41K, extra 10K promo running till Mar 31, 2016
Referrals and self-referrals are an important part of churning Canadian-issued American Express cards. It is appropriate to discuss how the referral process works in this thread. However, please do not offer or request referrals here.
Use only this thread, and do read the Wikipost carefully before posting:
Referral Offers (post only in this thread, no referral links, read Wiki post first).
JerryHung: I figure I'll include all CURRENT AMEX Canada offers here (no referral links) for anyone curious about what the bonus and fees are
This is not an all-inclusive list, only the "good" offers, so feel free to add new offers
AMEX Platinum Rewards - $699/year, 60K MR (via referral) after $1000 spending in 3 months vs. 50K non-referral
AMEX Gold Rewards - $150/year, FYF, 25K MR after $500 spending + $50 cashback from GCR
(as of Jan 11, 2016 Gold card will no longer earn referral points.)
AMEX Air Miles Platinum - $65/year, FYF, 2000 Air Miles after $500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
AMEX SPG - $120/year, 20K SPG after $500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
New as of 2014/10/09
AMEX Business Gold Rewards - $250/year, FYF, 30K MR after $5000 spending (or 40K via referral)
AMEX Business Platinum Rewards - $399/year, 40K MR after $5000 spending (or 50K via referral)
AMEX Aeroplan Plus Platinum - $499/year, 50K Aeroplans after $1000 spending in 3 months (or 51K via referral). Normally 40K/41K, extra 10K promo running till Mar 31, 2016
Churning Amex in Canada (2015)
Dec 19, 2015, 12:45 am
#1501
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,384
anyone know if personal gold purchase in Safeway/Superstore count as 2 points?
2.You can earn 2 Membership Rewards points (“points”) for every $1 in eligible consumer purchases at American Express retail merchants as follows: (i) at stand-alone automobile gasoline stations in Canada, (ii) at stand-alone drugstores in Canada, (iii) at stand-alone grocery stores in Canada, and (iv) for travel services or travel bookings including air, water, rail and road transport, lodging and tour operator sales but not including local and commuter transportation. Purchases at merchants where gas, grocery, pharmacy and travel sales are not their primary business (including superstores, wholesale clubs, alcohol retailers and general merchandise retailers) do not qualify for the earn rate in this category. Merchants are typically assigned codes and categorized based on what they sell. Earn rate of 1 point for every $1 applies if the merchant code is not in an eligible category, the purchase is made using an electronic wallet or is not made directly from the provider of the good or service, e.g. through a third party or by using a mobile device (e.g. smart phone) with an attached card reader. Provided your account is in good standing, points can be earned on eligible purchases less returns and other credits. Interest, fees, and charges for travellers cheques and foreign currencies are not purchases and do not earn points.
2.You can earn 2 Membership Rewards points (“points”) for every $1 in eligible consumer purchases at American Express retail merchants as follows: (i) at stand-alone automobile gasoline stations in Canada, (ii) at stand-alone drugstores in Canada, (iii) at stand-alone grocery stores in Canada, and (iv) for travel services or travel bookings including air, water, rail and road transport, lodging and tour operator sales but not including local and commuter transportation. Purchases at merchants where gas, grocery, pharmacy and travel sales are not their primary business (including superstores, wholesale clubs, alcohol retailers and general merchandise retailers) do not qualify for the earn rate in this category. Merchants are typically assigned codes and categorized based on what they sell. Earn rate of 1 point for every $1 applies if the merchant code is not in an eligible category, the purchase is made using an electronic wallet or is not made directly from the provider of the good or service, e.g. through a third party or by using a mobile device (e.g. smart phone) with an attached card reader. Provided your account is in good standing, points can be earned on eligible purchases less returns and other credits. Interest, fees, and charges for travellers cheques and foreign currencies are not purchases and do not earn points.
Even the Starbucks inside Safeway counts lol
Dec 19, 2015, 2:00 pm
#1502
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Marriott Rewards: Platinum
Posts: 124
Same thing happened to my wife - 25k for no apparent reason (though we have yet to get the other 40K + 11K). I have zero idea as to why this 25k happened, but like the rest of you, I am not asking any questions at all....enjoy while you can fellow flyertalkers, the churning days are slowly coming to an end, sadly.
Dec 19, 2015, 5:23 pm
#1504
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West
Posts: 3,357
Safeway yes but Superstore does not take Amex period.
Dec 20, 2015, 10:05 pm
#1505
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR to SEA
Posts: 2,532
Do old referral links still work? I'm seeing the new referral screen but had someone apply using my old link... but no referral bonus yet.
This was a Gold business to Gold rewards
This was a Gold business to Gold rewards
Dec 20, 2015, 11:14 pm
#1506
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
How old was your referral? My wife created a referral in early Oct. I used it last week, she got the referral points, within a day after my approval. Same cards as your scenario, btw.
Dec 21, 2015, 4:56 am
#1507
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
My July 2015-generated referral link still works as of this week (I see the bonus next day after "approval" as he had to call in to clear the approval)
Gold -> Gold
maybe your "someone" isn't approved yet? have him/her call in with Ref #
Gold -> Gold
maybe your "someone" isn't approved yet? have him/her call in with Ref #
Dec 21, 2015, 10:49 am
#1508
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Marriott Rewards: Platinum
Posts: 124
Hey all - bit of an off the wall question.
I referred my wife to the AMEX aeroplan platinum. When we never saw the welcome/bonus points posted, we called and they told us it had been deposited into an Aeroplan account that wasn't ours. AMEX claims I we never posted an AEROPLAN number when we signed up so they automatically created an aeroplan account and put them there.
They're now saying we have to call Aeroplan to merge the two accounts.
Now firstly, I am absolutely sure I put my Aeroplan number in when we signed up.
Number 2, I am worried that Aeroplan won't like this. I know you aren't supposed to deposit into an account that isnt' yours (and the Aeroplan account is in my name and the aeroplan platinum card is in my wife's name). I'm worried they'll refuse, or at the least, charge us some fee to transfer 25000 points.
Could anyone comment on whether I'm right or not and have any suggestions on how I proceed from here? AMEX is flat out refusing to look further despite my insistence.
THanks!
I referred my wife to the AMEX aeroplan platinum. When we never saw the welcome/bonus points posted, we called and they told us it had been deposited into an Aeroplan account that wasn't ours. AMEX claims I we never posted an AEROPLAN number when we signed up so they automatically created an aeroplan account and put them there.
They're now saying we have to call Aeroplan to merge the two accounts.
Now firstly, I am absolutely sure I put my Aeroplan number in when we signed up.
Number 2, I am worried that Aeroplan won't like this. I know you aren't supposed to deposit into an account that isnt' yours (and the Aeroplan account is in my name and the aeroplan platinum card is in my wife's name). I'm worried they'll refuse, or at the least, charge us some fee to transfer 25000 points.
Could anyone comment on whether I'm right or not and have any suggestions on how I proceed from here? AMEX is flat out refusing to look further despite my insistence.
THanks!
At this point, I think we're going to let this go. I'm sure Aeroplan will see two different names on the account and refuse to merge them. Just FYI.
Quite disappointing, but that's how she goes. Goodluck everyone.
Dec 23, 2015, 12:07 pm
#1509
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: All Accor Plat, 1865 Voyager, AE E35K, HH Gold,Hyatt, Hrtz Gold, Marriott Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 1,669
Annual fee posted on my gold card yesterday. Called in to cancel and was given 25,000 MR points to stay on so same as sign up bonus but no FYF.
Dec 23, 2015, 12:27 pm
#1510
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR to SEA
Posts: 2,532
August generated, referral points posted today. Crisis averted. Not self-referral, was a buddy's that I offered $75 to to beat GCR's payout
Dec 23, 2015, 1:55 pm
#1511
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YWG
Programs: Aeroplan, MileagePlus, Marriott Rewards
Posts: 2,159
I was thinking about self-referring for the Amex Gold Rewards and Amex AeroGold, but for the first time I got the dreaded "new" referral page.
Once you get it is it there to stay like a stubborn disease, or is it possible to get the "old" referral page back?
Once you get it is it there to stay like a stubborn disease, or is it possible to get the "old" referral page back?
Dec 23, 2015, 5:27 pm
#1512
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: yow,yvr,yxx
Programs: aeroplan airmiles priorityclub choiceprivilege asiamiles spg bw
Posts: 317
I am about to pull the trigger doing a self-referral from biz gold to personal gold reward, but reading the previous few posts gives me the impression that "self-referral bonus" is hit-or-miss at best now?
Has anyone done a selfie and still getting the selfie bonus?
If it is not a surething, I would go the G-C-R route instead ...
Has anyone done a selfie and still getting the selfie bonus?
If it is not a surething, I would go the G-C-R route instead ...
Dec 23, 2015, 5:32 pm
#1513
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
I am about to pull the trigger doing a self-referral from biz gold to personal gold reward, but reading the previous few posts gives me the impression that "self-referral bonus" is hit-or-miss at best now?
Has anyone done a selfie and still getting the selfie bonus?
If it is not a surething, I would go the G-C-R route instead ...
Has anyone done a selfie and still getting the selfie bonus?
If it is not a surething, I would go the G-C-R route instead ...
Your 25K may just take longer
Dec 24, 2015, 3:36 pm
#1514
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 822
Card arrived today! WOW! that was fast....especially at this time of year.Just in time for Boxing day sales!
Dec 24, 2015, 7:27 pm
#1515
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Just got a new Business Gold Rewards card. Took exactly 5 business days to arrive after applying...pretty fast indeed, considering the Business version uses regular Canada Post mail delivery, versus the Personal Gold which is couriered with Xpresspost and usually arrives in just 3 business days after approval.
Spent the $5K threshold spend within 2 days. The required $$ txns posted when I checked Amex.ca at 7am. Checked again at 9am, and the 40K MR points posted as well. Good to see no delays for the Biz Gold's welcome points to post, in contrast to several people posting that the Plat's 60K takes 4-8 weeks to post. ^
Spent the $5K threshold spend within 2 days. The required $$ txns posted when I checked Amex.ca at 7am. Checked again at 9am, and the 40K MR points posted as well. Good to see no delays for the Biz Gold's welcome points to post, in contrast to several people posting that the Plat's 60K takes 4-8 weeks to post. ^