Sep 27, 2017, 10:12 am
Last edit by: alc
American Express Cobalt Credit Card
GCR $50 Rebate --> https://www.greatcanadianrebates.ca/...s/Amex-Cobalt/
Detail copy from GCR link above:
GCR $50 Rebate --> https://www.greatcanadianrebates.ca/...s/Amex-Cobalt/
Detail copy from GCR link above:
- In your first year as a new Cobalt Cardmember, you can earn 2,500 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $500 in net purchases on your Card. This could add up to 30,000 points in a year.
- Limited Time Offer: Apply by 01/30/18 and you can earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards® points when you spend a total of $3,000 in net purchases in your first 3 months
- Earn 5 points for every $1 spent on Card purchases at eligible restaurants, bars, grocery stores and food delivery in Canada
- Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible transit & gas purchases in Canada and eligible travel purchases. That’s 2X the points on purchases that get you from point A to B
- Earn 1 point for every $1 in Card purchases everywhere else. We won’t tell you where to spend, we’ll just reward you on your Card purchases
- Get advance access to tickets to some of the hottest concerts, shows and events through Front Of The Line® by American Express Invites® and advance screenings to blockbuster movies. Plus, more great perks.
- American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details, current product information and Terms and Conditions, click the Apply now link.
- $10 per month of Cardmembership ($120 annually)
2017 American Express Cobalt (Canada)
Sep 27, 2017, 11:21 am
#136
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
probably, but you will also have to pay the 2.5% forex, so nut sure it is better than the Visa Marriott...
Sep 27, 2017, 11:22 am
#137
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YYZ
Posts: 380
the percentage return is only accurate when you get a ticket at the maximum price allowed. If you get a ticket that had a base fare of let's say $200, then your return is 6.7%
BUT, do you have to pay taxes & fees on these tickets or do the points cover the whole cost? in the latter case the return could potentially be even higher than 10%. i've never used fixed price redemptions of this kind before, like RBC Rewards and Air Miles to name a couple.
BUT, do you have to pay taxes & fees on these tickets or do the points cover the whole cost? in the latter case the return could potentially be even higher than 10%. i've never used fixed price redemptions of this kind before, like RBC Rewards and Air Miles to name a couple.
Taking signup bonuses out of the equation - if i were to spend $50K and assuming all purchases are in the 5X category i can get 62.5K pts via SPG AMEX (after airline transfers) or the same via AMEX Plat vs the Cobalt now which is enough for a RT anywhere in the world in J - granted base fares are <$4.5K. It's an interesting proposition - now actually spending $50K on Groceries, Dining Out, Gas may not be easy but could make sense for some.
Sep 27, 2017, 11:23 am
#138
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
the percentage return is only accurate when you get a ticket at the maximum price allowed. If you get a ticket that had a base fare of let's say $200, then your return is 6.7%
BUT, do you have to pay taxes & fees on these tickets or do the points cover the whole cost? in the latter case the return could potentially be even higher than 10%. i've never used fixed price redemptions of this kind before, like RBC Rewards and Air Miles to name a couple.
BUT, do you have to pay taxes & fees on these tickets or do the points cover the whole cost? in the latter case the return could potentially be even higher than 10%. i've never used fixed price redemptions of this kind before, like RBC Rewards and Air Miles to name a couple.
Sep 27, 2017, 11:26 am
#139
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
Programs: Air Canada P25K, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, MGM Gold
Posts: 1,582
BUT, do you have to pay taxes & fees on these tickets or do the points cover the whole cost? in the latter case the return could potentially be even higher than 10%. i've never used fixed price redemptions of this kind before, like RBC Rewards and Air Miles to name a couple.
"You can redeem a fixed number of points to cover the base ticket price of eligible flights up to the applicable maximum base ticket price. The base ticket price (often referred to by airlines as the base fare) excludes taxes, fees and carrier surcharges. You will be charged for these additional costs and any dollar amount that exceeds the applicable maximum base ticket price. "
Sep 27, 2017, 2:05 pm
#140
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYJ
Posts: 2,230
The Amex fixed point travel program only covers the base cost. Here are the terms from my biz platinum card:
"You can redeem a fixed number of points to cover the base ticket price of eligible flights up to the applicable maximum base ticket price. The base ticket price (often referred to by airlines as the base fare) excludes taxes, fees and carrier surcharges. You will be charged for these additional costs and any dollar amount that exceeds the applicable maximum base ticket price. "
"You can redeem a fixed number of points to cover the base ticket price of eligible flights up to the applicable maximum base ticket price. The base ticket price (often referred to by airlines as the base fare) excludes taxes, fees and carrier surcharges. You will be charged for these additional costs and any dollar amount that exceeds the applicable maximum base ticket price. "
thanks for the additional info Yul_voyager and Low Roller. I'm still on the fence regarding this card. I'm in no rush so we'll see. great info and discussion on this thread. thanks to all.
Sep 27, 2017, 4:32 pm
#141
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 395
That's mine as well. If the 5x for restaurant and the 2x for Hotels are valid outside Canada and IF the SPG Amex doesn't extend the double SPG points for Marriott/ SPG stays, I think this could replace my SPG Amex. 99% of my spend is on hotels, Uber/Lyft and restaurants. (I use my SPG Amex exclusively for business travel).
Sep 27, 2017, 5:59 pm
#143
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: AC
Posts: 2,167
Interesting result after applying.
Have a Plat/Gold charge card and had a SPG AMEX (and nothing else). As of now, I don't have any credit card (not charge cards) with AMEX.
I was not instantly approved for this Cobalt card.
Have a Plat/Gold charge card and had a SPG AMEX (and nothing else). As of now, I don't have any credit card (not charge cards) with AMEX.
I was not instantly approved for this Cobalt card.
Sep 27, 2017, 7:08 pm
#145
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Star Alliance Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,194
Sep 28, 2017, 12:39 am
#146
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 415
You can earn Membership Rewards points for eligible consumer purchases at American Express retail merchants as follows: 5 points for every $1 at or for (i) restaurant, quick service restaurant, coffee shop and drinking establishments in Canada, (ii) stand-alone grocery stores in Canada, (iii) delivery of food and groceries in Canada as a primary business; and 2 points for every $1 at or for (i) stand-alone automobile gasoline stations in Canada, (ii) travel services or travel bookings including air, water, rail and road transport, lodging and tour operator sales, (iii) local commuter transportation in Canada including subway, streetcar, taxi, limousine and ride sharing services.
And this is my #1 annoyance with Amex Canada. For being a company that markets itself and its products heavily as being for world travellers, they make truly terrible cards to actually use when travelling abroad.
So I'll use my Gold Card to book my flights and hotels and get the 2/1 bonus, and I'll use my Platinum Card to access the lounges and use the concierge for special reservations along the way... but when it comes to actually paying for things? Amex is at the bottom of my list thanks to the 2.5% Forex fee and the restrictions on bonus points to only being earned IN CANADA.
Sep 28, 2017, 8:20 am
#147
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
GCR has $50 cashback for AMEX Cobalt card @ https://www.gcr.ca/details/Amex-Cobalt/
Sep 28, 2017, 9:20 am
#148
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
It looks like a pretty decent card, I mean, we spend a lot of $ on food/restaurants so I expect to earn a lot there.
I've got the TD Cashback (3%) for loblaws, but 5/$ @ le metro and longos is good.
I've got the TD Cashback (3%) for loblaws, but 5/$ @ le metro and longos is good.
Sep 28, 2017, 11:08 am
#149
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,398
GCR has $50 cashback for AMEX Cobalt card @ https://www.gcr.ca/details/Amex-Cobalt/
Sep 28, 2017, 1:04 pm
#150
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
Programs: Air Canada P25K, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, MGM Gold
Posts: 1,582
My thinking is we'll both meet the minimum spend required each month and then at year-end (12 month mark), use up her rewards from the card and then cancel her card shortly thereafter.
However, does my strategy outlined above make sense in terms of maxing out the rewards on this card for both the wife and I? We will then use a no annual fee cashback Visa card for merchants that do not accept Amex.
However, does my strategy outlined above make sense in terms of maxing out the rewards on this card for both the wife and I? We will then use a no annual fee cashback Visa card for merchants that do not accept Amex.