Jan 18, 2016, 10:43 am
Last edit by: JamilD
This thread is a continuation of: Churning Amex in Canada (2015)
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
New as of Jun 30, 2016
AMEX Platinum Rewards - $699/year, 60K MR (via referral) after $1000 spending in 3 months vs. 50K non-referral + earn 15K MR for each referral you make
(Note: from Mar 23 - Jun 29 the bonuses were 75K welcome and 25K referral points)
New as of March 23 2016
AMEX Business Platinum Rewards - $399/year, 75K MR (via referral) after $5000 spending in 3 months vs. 40K non-referral + earn 25K MR for each referral you make
(Note: as of Jun 30, the Business Platinum is still at 75K welcome and 25K referral points).
New as of May 2016
AMEX Gold Rewards - $150/year, FYF, 25K MR after $1500 spending + $50 cashback from GCR
(Note: as of mid-May 2016, Gold will now earn 5K points for referring and increased from $500 to $1500 required spending. FYI: from Jan 11 to mid-May, the Gold card earned 0 referral points.)
AMEX Business Gold Rewards - $250/year, FYF, 30K MR after $5000 spending (or 40K via referral)
AMEX Air Miles Platinum - $65/year, 2000 Air Miles after $1500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
AMEX SPG - $120/year, 20K SPG after $500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
New as of July 2016
AMEX Aeroplan Plus Platinum - $499/year, 50K Aeroplans after $1000 spending in 3 months (or 51K via referral). The 50K/51K, extra 10K promo expired on April 01, 2016, but started up again July - Sep 30th, 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
New as of Jun 30, 2016
AMEX Platinum Rewards - $699/year, 60K MR (via referral) after $1000 spending in 3 months vs. 50K non-referral + earn 15K MR for each referral you make
(Note: from Mar 23 - Jun 29 the bonuses were 75K welcome and 25K referral points)
New as of March 23 2016
AMEX Business Platinum Rewards - $399/year, 75K MR (via referral) after $5000 spending in 3 months vs. 40K non-referral + earn 25K MR for each referral you make
(Note: as of Jun 30, the Business Platinum is still at 75K welcome and 25K referral points).
New as of May 2016
AMEX Gold Rewards - $150/year, FYF, 25K MR after $1500 spending + $50 cashback from GCR
(Note: as of mid-May 2016, Gold will now earn 5K points for referring and increased from $500 to $1500 required spending. FYI: from Jan 11 to mid-May, the Gold card earned 0 referral points.)
AMEX Business Gold Rewards - $250/year, FYF, 30K MR after $5000 spending (or 40K via referral)
AMEX Air Miles Platinum - $65/year, 2000 Air Miles after $1500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
AMEX SPG - $120/year, 20K SPG after $500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
New as of July 2016
AMEX Aeroplan Plus Platinum - $499/year, 50K Aeroplans after $1000 spending in 3 months (or 51K via referral). The 50K/51K, extra 10K promo expired on April 01, 2016, but started up again July - Sep 30th, 2016.
Churning Amex in Canada (2016)
Dec 31, 2015, 8:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 787
Churning Amex in Canada (2016)
Anyone else have their plat points post as 10k initially? I met the spend, received 10k immediately, but no sign of the other 50k as of yet. It's been roughly 1 - 2 weeks since the 10k posted.
Dec 31, 2015, 8:13 am
#2
Join Date: May 2014
Location: YYZ
Posts: 527
Amex really stepped up their game this year, applying the Plat $200 annual TC before the year even began 
Dec 31, 2015, 9:28 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: YXT
Programs: AC*E50, SPG Plat,
Posts: 575
Yeah I noticed that. When the email popped up on my phone I was a bit worried as the email had a subject line of "Membership Rewards Redemption Shipped" and I didn't make a redemption. Anyway, nice to see the credit already available.
Dec 31, 2015, 10:12 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Toronto
Programs: Aeroplan, Starwoods
Posts: 82
I have had the Plat card for a while but no longer see the value in it. I am going to move to the Amex Business Gold. I had a business gold about 5 years ago. Am I still eligible for a the bonus MR? Does anyone have data points about similar circumstances?
Dec 31, 2015, 12:25 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
"Platinum TC2016"
I suspect this really indicates my new card is being mailed out as the current one expires at the end of February.
Dec 31, 2015, 2:52 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2014
Location: YYZ
Posts: 527
Amex seems to be sending out these MR redemption emails for a variety of non-MR transactions. I found one in my email box this morning but have not made a redemption. No MR points removed but notation:
"Platinum TC2016"
I suspect this really indicates my new card is being mailed out as the current one expires at the end of February.
"Platinum TC2016"
I suspect this really indicates my new card is being mailed out as the current one expires at the end of February.
Dec 31, 2015, 4:41 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
I believe the new T&C doesn't apply to BUSINESS Gold anyway
just find a referral link and review the T&C, but no concerns
Good luck
Dec 31, 2015, 10:06 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Next time, if you're still feeling averse to speaking with someone to cancel an Amex card, just use the Secured-Message email way instead. "Contact Us" > "Email Us" - "Compose a message", then select your card. Choose any topic (I usually select "Account Management" & "Terms & Conditions".
It's not as quick as calling in, with turnaround time of a couple of days, but suits me just fine. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I called in to cancel.
It's not as quick as calling in, with turnaround time of a couple of days, but suits me just fine. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I called in to cancel.
I will use that instead. There's no confirmation using the phone; with your method I'll at least have some sort of record of having sent the secured message, etc.
Note: I've never been asked why I want to cancel, but as well I've never been given any retention offer, so if that's what you want, you're best to call in and speak with a rep (weekdays, business hours).
Happy Down-Sizing!
JJJ
Dec 31, 2015, 10:29 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
If so, you should be good to go. But to back this up, here are some fairly recent personal datapoints of successfully approved applications done after July 1st, complete with the welcome bonus. And these are for churn cards which I (or family) have carried multiple times in recent years:
- Business Gold Rewards - 40K, mid-Dec
- Gold Rewards - 25K, Sep, Oct, Nov
- Airmiles Plat - 2000 miles, Dec
There have been others, friends and FT/RFD members, also reporting the same for Platinum Rewards and SPG Amex cards too. Churned previously, and got the welcome bonuses once more, on applications submitted after July 1st, 2015.
So, with your Plat Rewards card, you can self-refer to get the Gold Rewards (25K/FYF/$500-spending) or the Business Gold Rewards (40K/FYF/$5,000-Spending). No need to look for someone else's referral.
For now, the Business versions of the different Amex card products do not have footnotes that indicate the once per lifetime welcome bonus. I believe we are in a transitional period right now where Amex Canada is being kind enough to allow previous Personal cardholders one last kick at the can after July 1st, 2015. But, they could very will shut this door today (after all, it IS 2016 now!), and follow Amex-USA practices, and be stringent on enforcing this new policy. Let's see how 2016 unfolds.
Jan 2, 2016, 6:24 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 353
Can someone find the link to AMEX Canada's car rental insurance policy? I spent the last 30 minutes on Google and was unable to locate it... 
Jan 2, 2016, 7:20 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Churning Amex in Canada (2015)
Can someone find the link to AMEX Canada's car rental insurance policy? I spent the last 30 minutes on Google and was unable to locate it...
https://business.americanexpress.com...um_English.pdf
Last edited by JJonahJ; Jan 2, 2016 at 8:28 pm Reason: Fix link
Jan 3, 2016, 5:22 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 13
Sorry, I am late to the party and was wondering if churning still works?
If so, what are some major changes i should b aware of?
If so, what are some major changes i should b aware of?
Jan 3, 2016, 6:51 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
Churning Amex in Canada (2015)
The most significant change that Amex Canada has made to their policies came this past July 2015 where the footnotes/T&C now mention that the welcome offers are "only available to new American Express ___ Cardmembers. For current or former American Express ___ Cardmembers, we may approve your application, but you will not be eligible for the welcome bonus". Which basically means that they've followed Amex-USA's footsteps to stop/hamper the churning. However, this footnote only appears for the Personal card products, and the Business versions are for the moment clear of it.
Previous cardholders have reported that they are still able to get the welcome bonus, even on a churned application post-July 1st, but this maybe due to Amex-Canada starting the clock on this policy anew after they changed the footnotes. No one on this board can say for sure, and no one at Amex can clarify as well, so it's not guaranteed you will get the welcome bonus if you do try one more churn.
Other changes that we are starting to see with more consistent frequency is that you may only choose your existing card when you want to refer others to the same card product family. But that's another topic on it's own, but referring and self-referring are part of the 'program' as well. Due to FT's TOS, if you want to share your referrals with others then you should be posting in the approved thread for this: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...e-posting.html
As mentioned earlier, I would suggest you read this thread's Wiki for more info.
JJJ
Jan 3, 2016, 2:27 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 13
Well, churning means to repeatedly sign up for cards for welcome bonuses, cancel before any annual fee (some are waived for the first year) comes due, wait a while and then sign up again for the same/similar welcome offer. There are several card product families with the major ones of interest being the Membership Rewards, Aeroplan Plus, SPG, Airmiles, Simply Cash. See this thread's Wiki page for some of the better offers.
The most significant change that Amex Canada has made to their policies came this past July 2015 where the footnotes/T&C now mention that the welcome offers are "only available to new American Express ___ Cardmembers. For current or former American Express ___ Cardmembers, we may approve your application, but you will not be eligible for the welcome bonus". Which basically means that they've followed Amex-USA's footsteps to stop/hamper the churning. However, this footnote only appears for the Personal card products, and the Business versions are for the moment clear of it.
Previous cardholders have reported that they are still able to get the welcome bonus, even on a churned application post-July 1st, but this maybe due to Amex-Canada starting the clock on this policy anew after they changed the footnotes. No one on this board can say for sure, and no one at Amex can clarify as well, so it's not guaranteed you will get the welcome bonus if you do try one more churn.
Other changes that we are starting to see with more consistent frequency is that you may only choose your existing card when you want to refer others to the same card product family. But that's another topic on it's own, but referring and self-referring are part of the 'program' as well. Due to FT's TOS, if you want to share your referrals with others then you should be posting in the approved thread for this: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...e-posting.html
As mentioned earlier, I would suggest you read this thread's Wiki for more info.
JJJ
The most significant change that Amex Canada has made to their policies came this past July 2015 where the footnotes/T&C now mention that the welcome offers are "only available to new American Express ___ Cardmembers. For current or former American Express ___ Cardmembers, we may approve your application, but you will not be eligible for the welcome bonus". Which basically means that they've followed Amex-USA's footsteps to stop/hamper the churning. However, this footnote only appears for the Personal card products, and the Business versions are for the moment clear of it.
Previous cardholders have reported that they are still able to get the welcome bonus, even on a churned application post-July 1st, but this maybe due to Amex-Canada starting the clock on this policy anew after they changed the footnotes. No one on this board can say for sure, and no one at Amex can clarify as well, so it's not guaranteed you will get the welcome bonus if you do try one more churn.
Other changes that we are starting to see with more consistent frequency is that you may only choose your existing card when you want to refer others to the same card product family. But that's another topic on it's own, but referring and self-referring are part of the 'program' as well. Due to FT's TOS, if you want to share your referrals with others then you should be posting in the approved thread for this: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...e-posting.html
As mentioned earlier, I would suggest you read this thread's Wiki for more info.
JJJ
So i guess if I had the Amex Aeroplan card (2 years ago, I didn't renew), it's not worth to have my spouse refer me again? Since I am already an existing Amex user?
Also it's good to know that the new T&C doesn't apply to business. Can I refer myself to the business gold amex using my personal? or do I need to get someone to refer me? Thanks.