Jan 7, 2018, 10:23 am
Last edit by: MasterGeek
Referrals and self-referrals are an important part of maximizing rewards from 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).
This thread is a continuation of: Churning Amex in Canada (2017). All the listed offers below are still valid as of January 2018.
AMEX Business Gold Rewards - $250/year,FYF, 40K MR (by referral, else only 30K) after $5000 spending
(no longer FYF as of Jun 26, 2018)
Updated as of Jan 22, 2018
AMEX Gold Rewards - $150/year,FYF, 25K MR after $1500 spending + $50/$60 cashback from GCR. New as of Jan 15, 2017, on a referred signup: and an additional 5,000 Membership Rewards points for one approved Supplementary Card added to your account at time of online application. That’s a total of 30,000 Membership Rewards points.
AMEX SPG - $120/year, 25K SPG after $1500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
New card as of Sep 25 2017
AMEX Cobalt CREDIT card - $10/month ($120 annually)
Apply through GCR for $50 Rebate https://www.greatcanadianrebates.ca/...s/Amex-Cobalt/
This thread is a continuation of: Churning Amex in Canada (2017). All the listed offers below are still valid as of January 2018.
AMEX Business Gold Rewards - $250/year,
(no longer FYF as of Jun 26, 2018)
Updated as of Jan 22, 2018
AMEX Gold Rewards - $150/year,
- July 11, 2017, Amex Gold MR will no longer earn referral points.
- July 21, 2017, no other Amex MR card can refer to Gold MR
- Jan 22, 2018, as of Sep 14, 2017 the Amex Gold MR is no longer FYF. $150/yr applies on first statement. Only another Gold or Cobalt card can refer to Gold (and vice versa) for a 5,000 MR bonus. The Personal Gold cannot refer to Business Gold, Personal Platinum nor Business Platinum.
AMEX SPG - $120/year, 25K SPG after $1500 spending + $30 GCR cashback
New card as of Sep 25 2017
AMEX Cobalt CREDIT card - $10/month ($120 annually)
Apply through GCR for $50 Rebate https://www.greatcanadianrebates.ca/...s/Amex-Cobalt/
- Earn 2,500 Membership Tiered Rewards points for each month where you spend $500 (up to 30,000/year).
- Limited Time Offer: Apply by Jan 30, 2018 and you can earn a Welcome Bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $3K in 3 months.
- See discussion thread for more details: 2017 American Express Cobalt (Canada)
American Express Canada application and reward strategies
Apr 30, 2018, 10:11 pm
#256
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Aeroplan Diamond, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, Marriott
Posts: 1,839
This might be a very silly question, but will my SPG/Marriot Gold Status (from Amex Personal Plat) end when I cancel the Amex? I know PP does quite soon after, but I'm not sure about the Hotel Loyalty status.
I'm in the process of self referring to the Biz Gold, with plans to try and re-up for the Personal Plat sometime in the late summer/fall. So I'm a little unsure of my status with SPG/Marriot during the summer (August) time?
I'm in the process of self referring to the Biz Gold, with plans to try and re-up for the Personal Plat sometime in the late summer/fall. So I'm a little unsure of my status with SPG/Marriot during the summer (August) time?
May 3, 2018, 4:30 pm
#259
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 108
May 4, 2018, 9:46 am
#261
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 188
I signed up for a card a few weeks ago, booked a flight and right when the transaction posted on my Amex personal Gold card, the 25K welcome bonus was posted instantly. Surprised how quickly it was.
I transferred the points to Aeroplan, and I have since returned/refunded the flight. Posted and no clawback on points... yet. How likely is this to happen?
Should I book another flight and wait a while until I'm in the clear? At least after the 3 months? Or should I be ok since I got the points already? I don't want to be in the negative and have them run after me for the points.
I transferred the points to Aeroplan, and I have since returned/refunded the flight. Posted and no clawback on points... yet. How likely is this to happen?
Should I book another flight and wait a while until I'm in the clear? At least after the 3 months? Or should I be ok since I got the points already? I don't want to be in the negative and have them run after me for the points.
May 4, 2018, 12:44 pm
#262
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
I signed up for a card a few weeks ago, booked a flight and right when the transaction posted on my Amex personal Gold card, the 25K welcome bonus was posted instantly. Surprised how quickly it was.
I transferred the points to Aeroplan, and I have since returned/refunded the flight. Posted and no clawback on points... yet. How likely is this to happen?
Should I book another flight and wait a while until I'm in the clear? At least after the 3 months? Or should I be ok since I got the points already? I don't want to be in the negative and have them run after me for the points.
I transferred the points to Aeroplan, and I have since returned/refunded the flight. Posted and no clawback on points... yet. How likely is this to happen?
Should I book another flight and wait a while until I'm in the clear? At least after the 3 months? Or should I be ok since I got the points already? I don't want to be in the negative and have them run after me for the points.
What AMEX does is up to them, no idea, but certainly don't want to be declined by AMEX in future
Keep us posted
May 4, 2018, 3:15 pm
#263
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Canadia
Programs: A loyal Amerisuites customer... oh wait
Posts: 2,033
I signed up for a card a few weeks ago, booked a flight and right when the transaction posted on my Amex personal Gold card, the 25K welcome bonus was posted instantly. Surprised how quickly it was.
I transferred the points to Aeroplan, and I have since returned/refunded the flight. Posted and no clawback on points... yet. How likely is this to happen?
Should I book another flight and wait a while until I'm in the clear? At least after the 3 months? Or should I be ok since I got the points already? I don't want to be in the negative and have them run after me for the points.
I transferred the points to Aeroplan, and I have since returned/refunded the flight. Posted and no clawback on points... yet. How likely is this to happen?
Should I book another flight and wait a while until I'm in the clear? At least after the 3 months? Or should I be ok since I got the points already? I don't want to be in the negative and have them run after me for the points.
You should absolutely buy something on your Amex Gold card to at least bring your minimum net spend up to $1,500.
May 4, 2018, 4:47 pm
#264
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Starwood:Lifetime Platinum, Air Canada:Basic, Asiana:Lifetime Diamond Plus, ANA: Basic
Posts: 980
I signed up for a card a few weeks ago, booked a flight and right when the transaction posted on my Amex personal Gold card, the 25K welcome bonus was posted instantly. Surprised how quickly it was.
I transferred the points to Aeroplan, and I have since returned/refunded the flight. Posted and no clawback on points... yet. How likely is this to happen?
Should I book another flight and wait a while until I'm in the clear? At least after the 3 months? Or should I be ok since I got the points already? I don't want to be in the negative and have them run after me for the points.
I transferred the points to Aeroplan, and I have since returned/refunded the flight. Posted and no clawback on points... yet. How likely is this to happen?
Should I book another flight and wait a while until I'm in the clear? At least after the 3 months? Or should I be ok since I got the points already? I don't want to be in the negative and have them run after me for the points.
May 5, 2018, 5:24 am
#265
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: AC
Posts: 2,167
I signed up for a card a few weeks ago, booked a flight and right when the transaction posted on my Amex personal Gold card, the 25K welcome bonus was posted instantly. Surprised how quickly it was.
I transferred the points to Aeroplan, and I have since returned/refunded the flight. Posted and no clawback on points... yet. How likely is this to happen?
Should I book another flight and wait a while until I'm in the clear? At least after the 3 months? Or should I be ok since I got the points already? I don't want to be in the negative and have them run after me for the points.
I transferred the points to Aeroplan, and I have since returned/refunded the flight. Posted and no clawback on points... yet. How likely is this to happen?
Should I book another flight and wait a while until I'm in the clear? At least after the 3 months? Or should I be ok since I got the points already? I don't want to be in the negative and have them run after me for the points.
May 5, 2018, 7:15 pm
#267
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
I signed up for a card a few weeks ago, booked a flight and right when the transaction posted on my Amex personal Gold card, the 25K welcome bonus was posted instantly. Surprised how quickly it was.
I transferred the points to Aeroplan, and I have since returned/refunded the flight. Posted and no clawback on points... yet. How likely is this to happen?
Should I book another flight and wait a while until I'm in the clear? At least after the 3 months? Or should I be ok since I got the points already? I don't want to be in the negative and have them run after me for the points.
I transferred the points to Aeroplan, and I have since returned/refunded the flight. Posted and no clawback on points... yet. How likely is this to happen?
Should I book another flight and wait a while until I'm in the clear? At least after the 3 months? Or should I be ok since I got the points already? I don't want to be in the negative and have them run after me for the points.
First, did you see the points clawed back from the actual refund of the purchase? Has it been more than just a couple of days since you canceled for the refund? Eg, if you bought a $2000 air ticket, and received 4000 MR points, did those points get reversed in your MR account when the $2000 was refunded? If not, then I think you're likely not going to see the 25K clawed back either, and you're probably 'in the clear'. (no need to give actual numbers nor airline names...keep that info guarded from prying eyes on this public forum).
In my experience, when I've already received a welcome bonus, but then made a refund within the initial 90 days, and it took me below the required spending, I saw an immediate reversal of the bonus points along with the points earned from the purchase. But once I spent over the minimum again (within the 90 day period) the points re-posted automatically to my MR account.
There's been other reports of others who went in the negative and then were charged something like $1/100MR points upon cancellation of their cards, while others just ignored it and in the process 'ended' their relationship with Amex. I would suggest you to NOT be in this latter camp.
Give it another week and see what shakes out from Amex, and if it's not too personal, post some updates, thanks.
May 5, 2018, 7:16 pm
#268
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: *void
Posts: 2,408
This is not new, Ty. Since 'forever' people have had varying experiences with how fast/slow the 40K welcome points will post after meeting the minimum spending. Could be instant, or could take 8-10 weeks. Just be patient.
May 8, 2018, 1:30 pm
#270
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
Programs: Air Canada P25K, Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, MGM Gold
Posts: 1,582