Oct 4, 2018, 1:05 pm
Last edit by: roberto99
Faq amex: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/campaigns/gold-card/gold-update-faqs.html
For existing and new cardholders
For new cardholders (Oct 4 2018 and after)
For existing cardholders (Oct 3 2018 or before)
For existing and new cardholders
- Changes below are effective immediately
- 4x US grocery (25k/calendar year), 4x US dining* (*pervasive reports that many dining transactions are not coding as 4x, including but not limited to those from Square or Toast-based POS systems. Scroll down in thread for more reports and information.)
- $120 dining credit ($10 monthly in certain restaurants)
- No change
- $100 calendar year airline reimbursement
- Other
- $250 AF (see below for existing cardholders)
- No 2x gas (removed, see below for existing cardholders who have it till Oct 2019)
- Metal card (contactless)
- Rose gold card - limited edition until Jan 9 2019
- Regular gold card
For new cardholders (Oct 4 2018 and after)
- You may be able to find targeted/referal 50k/$2k, but first AF is not waived
- Signup bonus: You get 20% off restaurant up to $500 restaurant spend (3 month)
- You do not get 2x gas (only for existing cardholders, see below)
For existing cardholders (Oct 3 2018 or before)
- AF will change to $250 for anniversary dates after April 1 2019
- 2x gas will be removed after Oct 2019
- You can chat/call for the gold/rosegold metal card. AU card will get whatever primary cardholder is getting, cannot be different
Premier Rewards Gold refresh: 4x USA dining, groceries, $10/mon dining credit. $250.
Oct 6, 2018, 5:04 am
#361
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
I have a Centurion account in the UK and another one in the US. For the UK product, the main cardholder gets issued a 2nd card on their account (it's called the Additional Card) - idea is that you can use it to separate spending between business/personal. The AC is issued in plastic, which also helps with the automated machines at train stations and car parks that 'ingest' your card as the metal versions had a tendency to get stuck in the mechanism.
i would be shocked they did
Oct 6, 2018, 6:20 am
#362
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
That's not the issue - it's already showing me the offer and I can just apply without logging in. My post was just a complaint about the bait+switch-iness of it, and that AMEX is making me jump through hoops to get a welcome offer they're giving pretty much everyone else.
Ditto, as above.
50,000 point offers are readily available here:
American Express Referral Offers (Read Wiki before posting).
American Express Referral Offers (Read Wiki before posting).
Oct 6, 2018, 10:25 am
#363
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ne-2018-a.html
Oct 6, 2018, 10:44 am
#364
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
I would say the downgrade, if available to you and has a similar bonus, is by far the safest, and applying before closing is the second safest, because of this:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ne-2018-a.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ne-2018-a.html
Oct 6, 2018, 1:27 pm
#365
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
Agreed. If all the rumors around the PRG are true, then airline spendings go to the Platinum (which many people keep) and dining goes to PRG, with only travel (hotels, rental cars, etc.) left on the CSR, it becomes much harder to justify the $150 AF. Did a simple math here: assuming UR points are valued at 1.5 cent, and the CSR earns 2 more points than other cards, you'll need to spend $5,000 on travel for the AF to break even. That translates to "not worth it" for many people.
I remember my first CSR renewal last year, as I calculated how many points I would have lost if I cancel the card, and the conclusion is to keep it. But for this year, it's the opposite answer. For me, now the value of the CSR is mainly an outlet of UR points, by transferring to various airlines. Still deciding, but it's likely that I'll cancel the CSR and let my UR points just sit there. When the time comes to use them, I can always get a CSP and simply pay the $95 AF for transfer availability. The real challenge of cancelling the CSR is actually breaking the habit of using it for almost everything.
It's crazy how two years ago, everyone's calling the CSR a no brainer. Now, everyone's discussing whether to keep it. For people who only carry one card in their pocket, it's still the best. But for most people on FlyerTalk, who wouldn't mind using different cards on different purchases, 4x dining from PRG definitely changes everything.
I remember my first CSR renewal last year, as I calculated how many points I would have lost if I cancel the card, and the conclusion is to keep it. But for this year, it's the opposite answer. For me, now the value of the CSR is mainly an outlet of UR points, by transferring to various airlines. Still deciding, but it's likely that I'll cancel the CSR and let my UR points just sit there. When the time comes to use them, I can always get a CSP and simply pay the $95 AF for transfer availability. The real challenge of cancelling the CSR is actually breaking the habit of using it for almost everything.
It's crazy how two years ago, everyone's calling the CSR a no brainer. Now, everyone's discussing whether to keep it. For people who only carry one card in their pocket, it's still the best. But for most people on FlyerTalk, who wouldn't mind using different cards on different purchases, 4x dining from PRG definitely changes everything.
There is no reason for me to keep the CSR other than that I own a very small business where I earn 20,000 UR a month using my Chase Freedom Unlimited and that I can transfer those points directly to United Airlines which has really good international deals with low fees (Washington to Seville is never under $1,200 and with United is only 60,000 points and $120 fees, same for a lot of cities in Europe). I would use AMEX for my business but none of the merchants where I buy stuff accept it and 1.5 UR per dollar is the best I can do. So, I'm basically paying $150 for the ability to transfer these points to United Airlines and 1.5x redemption. If I had no business, I don't think this card would be justified, Not even with 3x on international dining and travel.
Now for personal expenses, the Gold card is a no brainer if you are in the AMEX ecosystem:
1) 5x on flights with Amex Platinum
2) 4x on dining and grocery store (I think this accounts for 70% of my credit card spending) with Amex Gold
3) 2x on everthing else with Amex Blue Business Plus
For the annual fees, as far as I'm concerned, the math checks out: $800 ($550 plat + $250 gold) - $300 airline credit (gift cards on southwest) - $120 dining credit - $200 Uber credits = $180 for Platinum benefits? Totes worth it.
The most interesting thing is that I used Uber and GrubHub regularly before having any of these cards. Now, if the airline credit stops working for gift cards then that would be me wasting $300 because I never have any incidentals. I'm ok flying economy with only a carry on.
Oct 6, 2018, 1:40 pm
#366
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: BAY AREA
Posts: 1,125
I agree 100% with you.
There is no reason for me to keep the CSR other than that I own a very small business where I earn 20,000 UR a month using my Chase Freedom Unlimited and that I can transfer those points directly to United Airlines which has really good international deals with low fees (Washington to Seville is never under $1,200 and with United is only 60,000 points and $120 fees, same for a lot of cities in Europe). I would use AMEX for my business but none of the merchants where I buy stuff accept it and 1.5 UR per dollar is the best I can do. So, I'm basically paying $150 for the ability to transfer these points to United Airlines and 1.5x redemption. If I had no business, I don't think this card would be justified, Not even with 3x on international dining and travel.
Now for personal expenses, the Gold card is a no brainer if you are in the AMEX ecosystem:
1) 5x on flights with Amex Platinum
2) 4x on dining and grocery store (I think this accounts for 70% of my credit card spending) with Amex Gold
3) 2x on everthing else with Amex Blue Business Plus
For the annual fees, as far as I'm concerned, the math checks out: $800 ($550 plat + $250 gold) - $300 airline credit (gift cards on southwest) - $120 dining credit - $200 Uber credits = $180 for Platinum benefits? Totes worth it.
The most interesting thing is that I used Uber and GrubHub regularly before having any of these cards. Now, if the airline credit stops working for gift cards then that would be me wasting $300 because I never have any incidentals. I'm ok flying economy with only a carry on.
There is no reason for me to keep the CSR other than that I own a very small business where I earn 20,000 UR a month using my Chase Freedom Unlimited and that I can transfer those points directly to United Airlines which has really good international deals with low fees (Washington to Seville is never under $1,200 and with United is only 60,000 points and $120 fees, same for a lot of cities in Europe). I would use AMEX for my business but none of the merchants where I buy stuff accept it and 1.5 UR per dollar is the best I can do. So, I'm basically paying $150 for the ability to transfer these points to United Airlines and 1.5x redemption. If I had no business, I don't think this card would be justified, Not even with 3x on international dining and travel.
Now for personal expenses, the Gold card is a no brainer if you are in the AMEX ecosystem:
1) 5x on flights with Amex Platinum
2) 4x on dining and grocery store (I think this accounts for 70% of my credit card spending) with Amex Gold
3) 2x on everthing else with Amex Blue Business Plus
For the annual fees, as far as I'm concerned, the math checks out: $800 ($550 plat + $250 gold) - $300 airline credit (gift cards on southwest) - $120 dining credit - $200 Uber credits = $180 for Platinum benefits? Totes worth it.
The most interesting thing is that I used Uber and GrubHub regularly before having any of these cards. Now, if the airline credit stops working for gift cards then that would be me wasting $300 because I never have any incidentals. I'm ok flying economy with only a carry on.
Oct 6, 2018, 1:49 pm
#367
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
You're right. But the difference is only $55 more and I get to keep primary car insurance and put my travel expenses like hotels, Expedia purchases, etc., on my CSR. I think that is worth the extra $55.
Oct 6, 2018, 2:04 pm
#368
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
Does Trader Joe’s count as grocery spend?
Oct 6, 2018, 2:08 pm
#369
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
Oct 6, 2018, 2:10 pm
#370
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
Big question is: how will Chase respond? I suspect it will want to act quickly, as it appears that many people are rethinking the CSR now... I guess it just goes to show that nothing is "forever."
Oct 6, 2018, 2:13 pm
#371
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,953
Oct 6, 2018, 2:52 pm
#372
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards
Posts: 191
Also, to stop posting a lot in here, one last question:
Have anyone received their Gold card yet? I applied Thursday night and it says "Pending", Shipping Method: UPS. Didn't know that Amex would also expedite it as they do with the Platinum.
Added it to my Apple Wallet and started using it already.
Have anyone received their Gold card yet? I applied Thursday night and it says "Pending", Shipping Method: UPS. Didn't know that Amex would also expedite it as they do with the Platinum.
Added it to my Apple Wallet and started using it already.
Oct 6, 2018, 3:02 pm
#373
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,510
Oct 6, 2018, 4:08 pm
#374
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 22
What are you shocked about?
Last edited by smith16john; Oct 6, 2018 at 4:13 pm
Oct 6, 2018, 4:18 pm
#375
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,224
Also, to stop posting a lot in here, one last question:
Have anyone received their Gold card yet? I applied Thursday night and it says "Pending", Shipping Method: UPS. Didn't know that Amex would also expedite it as they do with the Platinum.
Added it to my Apple Wallet and started using it already.
Have anyone received their Gold card yet? I applied Thursday night and it says "Pending", Shipping Method: UPS. Didn't know that Amex would also expedite it as they do with the Platinum.
Added it to my Apple Wallet and started using it already.