Feb 27, 2015, 9:22 am
Last edit by: italdesign
Summary of Premier Rewards Gold costs and benefits, effective 6.1.2015:
Cost
$195 Annual fee
$100 Reduced by Airline Fee Reimbursement
$ 95 Net
Benefits
No foreign transaction fee
Travel Protection:
Auto rental CDW (Secondary)
Roadside Assistance
Baggage Insurance (lost, stolen or damaged; not coverage for delays)
Travel Accident Insurance (Life insurance, excludes award redemptions)
Shopping Protection:
Return Protection ($300 maximum per item, 90 days)
Purchase Protection (damage or theft, 90 days; no coverage for lost)
Extended Warranty (Up to one extra year; 5 years maximum)
Rewards
3x Airfare
2x Gasoline
2x Dining
2x Groceries (no cap)
1x General
Compare with American Everyday Preferred
Cost
$ 95 Annual fee
Non-Benefit
2.7% Foreign transaction fee
Travel Protection:
Auto rental CDW (Secondary)
Roadside Assistance
Baggage Insurance (lost, stolen or damaged; not coverage for delays)
Travel Accident Insurance (Life insurance, excludes award redemptions)
Shopping Protection:
Return Protection ($300 maximum per item, 90 days)
Purchase Protection (damage or theft, 90 days; no coverage for lost)
Extended Warranty (Up to one extra year, 5 years maximum)
Rewards (assuming 30 transactions per month)
4.5x Groceries (capped at $6,000 per year)
3.0x Gasoline
1.5x General
Compare with Chase Sapphire Preferred
Cost
$ 95 Annual fee
Benefits
No foreign transaction fee
Travel Protection
Auto Rental CDW (Primary)
Lost or Delayed Luggage Reimbursement (covers award tickets)
Trip Cancellation or Interruption Insurance (covers award tickets)
Travel Accident Insurance (Life insurance, $500,000)
Shopping Protection
Return Protection ($500 maximum per item, 90 days)
Purchase Protection (damage or theft, $500 per item, 120 days; no coverage for lost
Price Protection ($500 per item, 90 days)
Extended Warranty (Up to one extra year, 3 years maximum)
Rewards
2x Travel
2x Dining
Compare with Citi Premier, effective 4.19.2015
Cost
$ 95 Annual fee
Benefits
No foreign transaction fee
Rewards
3x Travel
3x Gasoline
2x Dining
2x Entertainment
1x General
Cost
$195 Annual fee
$100 Reduced by Airline Fee Reimbursement
$ 95 Net
Benefits
No foreign transaction fee
Travel Protection:
Auto rental CDW (Secondary)
Roadside Assistance
Baggage Insurance (lost, stolen or damaged; not coverage for delays)
Travel Accident Insurance (Life insurance, excludes award redemptions)
Shopping Protection:
Return Protection ($300 maximum per item, 90 days)
Purchase Protection (damage or theft, 90 days; no coverage for lost)
Extended Warranty (Up to one extra year; 5 years maximum)
Rewards
3x Airfare
2x Gasoline
2x Dining
2x Groceries (no cap)
1x General
Compare with American Everyday Preferred
Cost
$ 95 Annual fee
Non-Benefit
2.7% Foreign transaction fee
Travel Protection:
Auto rental CDW (Secondary)
Roadside Assistance
Baggage Insurance (lost, stolen or damaged; not coverage for delays)
Travel Accident Insurance (Life insurance, excludes award redemptions)
Shopping Protection:
Return Protection ($300 maximum per item, 90 days)
Purchase Protection (damage or theft, 90 days; no coverage for lost)
Extended Warranty (Up to one extra year, 5 years maximum)
Rewards (assuming 30 transactions per month)
4.5x Groceries (capped at $6,000 per year)
3.0x Gasoline
1.5x General
Compare with Chase Sapphire Preferred
Cost
$ 95 Annual fee
Benefits
No foreign transaction fee
Travel Protection
Auto Rental CDW (Primary)
Lost or Delayed Luggage Reimbursement (covers award tickets)
Trip Cancellation or Interruption Insurance (covers award tickets)
Travel Accident Insurance (Life insurance, $500,000)
Shopping Protection
Return Protection ($500 maximum per item, 90 days)
Purchase Protection (damage or theft, $500 per item, 120 days; no coverage for lost
Price Protection ($500 per item, 90 days)
Extended Warranty (Up to one extra year, 3 years maximum)
Rewards
2x Travel
2x Dining
Compare with Citi Premier, effective 4.19.2015
Cost
$ 95 Annual fee
Benefits
No foreign transaction fee
Rewards
3x Travel
3x Gasoline
2x Dining
2x Entertainment
1x General
Amex Premier Rewards Gold new benefits and higher annual fee, 6.1.2015
Feb 27, 2015, 8:06 am
#31
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
Feb 27, 2015, 8:16 am
#32
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
Either the $100 is an universal airline fee reimbursement...OR NO DEAL!
From a quick look at the AA reimbursement T&Cs, it seems that award booking fees are not reimbursable. That stinks. Makes this benefit pretty much worthless to me.
Also, the fact that you have to choose a single airline (right?) for your reimbursements makes it even less worthwhile. Unless you can edit your choice throughout the year?
Also, the fact that you have to choose a single airline (right?) for your reimbursements makes it even less worthwhile. Unless you can edit your choice throughout the year?
Feb 27, 2015, 8:19 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NJ
Programs: United Silver, Hyatt, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Amex Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 751
So I called customer service on my card to ask some questions on the changes.
She told me information is being sent out and they are "forbidden" to talk about any of the changes until March 1.
I asked why the secrecy....details are around. It is company policy not to speak of it until then..... very strange...
Anyone else get a similar response from CS?
She told me information is being sent out and they are "forbidden" to talk about any of the changes until March 1.
I asked why the secrecy....details are around. It is company policy not to speak of it until then..... very strange...
Anyone else get a similar response from CS?
Feb 27, 2015, 8:56 am
#36
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
Feb 27, 2015, 9:29 am
#37
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
Wikipost
I have slapped together a Wikipost summarizing the costs, benefits and rewards of the refreshed Premier Rewards Gold card and three alternatives.
Any member who can see the [Edit] button in the lower right corner of the Wikipost is able to change the content. Please make corrections, changes, additions as you see fit, and as more information becomes available. The Wikipost is not the moderator's playground. I encourage everyone to work on it. (If you are not eligible to edit the Wikipost, just reply to the thread with your ideas and I will incorporate them. Be patient. I do read every post, but not instantly.)
Any member who can see the [Edit] button in the lower right corner of the Wikipost is able to change the content. Please make corrections, changes, additions as you see fit, and as more information becomes available. The Wikipost is not the moderator's playground. I encourage everyone to work on it. (If you are not eligible to edit the Wikipost, just reply to the thread with your ideas and I will incorporate them. Be patient. I do read every post, but not instantly.)
Feb 27, 2015, 9:45 am
#38
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Georgia
Programs: Delta, SPG
Posts: 157
Man... this is tough. I had just got the CSP in plans to cancel the PRG. Really can't justify having both as they seem redundant. Tough call. I think the CSP might win because I have the Freedom too.
Feb 27, 2015, 10:37 am
#40
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,926
Also, dieuwer2's point about the ridiculousness of the sign-up hoopla, need for manufactured spend, etc. is very well taken. The whole thing is needlessly complicated and really implies that only highly dedicated scroungers (i.e. the population of FT, but surely a small minority) will be able to take advantage of the $100 rebate. For the rest of Amex's customers, it's just a price increase.
Feb 27, 2015, 10:45 am
#41
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
Agreed, that's one reason American Express invented this Airline Fee Reimbursement rather than lowering annual fees. On the other hand, the general population is more likely to incur fees for checked bags, in-flight meals, seat selection, or lounge access.
Feb 27, 2015, 11:09 am
#42
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: American AAdvantage
Posts: 1,045
Also, dieuwer2's point about the ridiculousness of the sign-up hoopla, need for manufactured spend, etc. is very well taken. The whole thing is needlessly complicated and really implies that only highly dedicated scroungers (i.e. the population of FT, but surely a small minority) will be able to take advantage of the $100 rebate. For the rest of Amex's customers, it's just a price increase.
Feb 27, 2015, 11:24 am
#43
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 114
AmEx is obviously trying to match up with CSP. They may fall a little short, especially for me since their transfer partners do not match my travel patterns. But it does not mean Chase and others are not taking notice, and hopefully will add more to their cards to get ahead. Competition is good.
Feb 27, 2015, 11:35 am
#44
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 539
One thing that I would add as well is the Small Business Saturday credit. Even though there's no guarantee that this benefit will be around forever, Amex has been pretty consistent these past few years in offering something (in 2014 it was a combined $30). If the benefit remains I believe that also lowers the net cost of the annual fee making this card a bit more attractive.
Feb 27, 2015, 12:28 pm
#45
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: AA Gold, Bonvoy Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 1,197
These are all really good changes with two caveats. One, unless you spend a lot on dining, airfare, and foreign spend and not a lot on anything else the EDP is still the better product (assuming you don't care about charge vs credit). Two, this makes the Platinum card worth a lot less. This is just commenting on earning MR points, the benefits of the Plat card are obviously a lot better (FHR, DL lounge, Cent lounge, PP Select)