MrAOK

June 21, 2007 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
American Express Creates Three Distinctive Membership RewardsŪ Levels to Meet Cardmember Lifestyle and Usage Needs

Multi-Level Program Linked to Different Card Products Offers Enhanced Customer Experience through Unique and Innovative Features, and Expanded Roster of Redemption Partners

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Express (NYSE:AXP) has introduced new Membership Rewards program levels aligned with specific Card products designed to better meet Cardmember lifestyle and reward program usage needs. Today, American ExpressŪ Cardmembers will participate in one of three Membership Rewards program levels based on the Credit or Charge Card they have in their wallet. For those Cardmembers with American Express Credit Cards, including Blue from American ExpressŪ, the company has created the Membership Rewards ExpressSM program. American Express Charge Cardmembers with American Express Green and Gold Cards will have the Membership Rewards program. Platinum CardŪ members and CenturionŪ Cardmembers will be enrolled in the Membership Rewards FirstSM program.

In addition, the company has announced a number of new, innovative features across all levels of the Membership Rewards program, including Points AdvanceSM, as well as an expanded list of redemption partners.

“Our goal is to continue to improve and evolve the Membership Rewards program to create a truly special experience for our Cardmembers,” said Ralph Andretta, senior vice president and general manager, Membership Rewards, American Express. “The new program levels and added redemption features are the latest examples of how we strive to give Cardmembers what they want and need from their rewards program.”

Details on New Program Levels

Membership Rewards Express will offer a breadth of benefits for Cardmembers with Credit cards, including Blue from American Express, such as:

* Easily attainable retail, dining, entertainment and select travel rewards
* Ability to earn points faster and more easily by shopping at BonusPointsMall.com, where Cardmembers can earn double points year-round at more than 160 online retailers
* Access to the new Express RewardsSM Hotel Card that allows Cardmembers to redeem points for a prepaid card valued at $25, $50 or $100, which can be used toward everything from hotel spa services and gift shop purchases to an entire stay at participating lodging locations at MarriottŪ and Radisson Hotels & ResortsŪ properties
* Features such as the Pay with Points option, which allows Cardmembers to instantly redeem Membership Rewards points for all or part of the cost of any airline ticket, hotels, cruises and travel packages without blackout dates or restrictions when booking travel at www.membershiprewards.com/paywithpoints
* Ability to earn double points when booking travel through the American Express Travel website
* Access to rewards from more than 140 desirable partners such as Barnes & Noble, Blockbuster, Crate and Barrel, Gap, The Home Depot, Pottery Barn, and newly added casual dining category partners

Membership Rewards will provide greater travel flexibility for American Express Green and Gold Charge Cardmembers, including:

* Ability to transfer points to more than 20 frequent flyer and frequent guest accounts to redeem for flight or hotel stays
* Ability to redeem points for travel certificates for additional airlines and hotels, as well as for cruises, car rental and adventure travel packages
* Access to Flight Finder and Room Finder, the program’s recently launched one-of-a-kind booking tools that enable Cardmembers to search, transfer points and book reward travel all in one single online transaction with participating frequent flyer and frequent guest programs. Participating partners include AirTran Airways, the Hilton HHonorsŪ Program and Priority ClubŪ Rewards, with more great partners to come.
* All the same reward partners and program features available through Membership Rewards Express

Membership Rewards First will provide the ultimate in exclusivity and flexibility, as well as unique access to one-of-a-kind experiences and travel rewards for Platinum and Centurion charge Cardmembers, including:

* Exclusive access to an assortment of luxury partners through First CollectionSM, a private portfolio of rewards from premium brands in jewelry and watches, high-end fashion, distinguished lifestyle, and world-class travel. Partners include EOS Airlines, Lamborghini, Monarch Billiards, Neiman Marcus, The Ritz-Carlton, Tiffany & Co., and Premier Cru vintage wines – a classification reserved for only the very best wines from the Bordeaux region of France
* Dedicated 800 customer service number
* Ability to earn triple points year-round on purchases made through BonusPointsMall.com
* All the same reward partners and program features available through Membership Rewards Express and Membership Rewards

To learn more about the new benefits and services of the new program levels, please visit http://www.membershiprewards.com/tie...omparison.aspx.

New Points Advance Feature Allows Cardmembers to “Advance” Points to Redeem Rewards

Membership Rewards program enrollees across all levels, can now enjoy Points Advance, a first-of-its-kind service that allows Cardmembers to “advance” points against future points earned at the time they choose to redeem points for a reward.1 The newly launched feature will allow Cardmembers to advance up to the number of points required for a desired redemption, or for the maximum number of points available to advance, whichever is less. The number of points Cardmembers can advance is based on their program level – 5,000 points for Membership Rewards Express, 15,000 points for Membership Rewards, and 60,000 points for Membership Rewards First.

When redeeming a reward online, American Express will provide Cardmembers with the Points Advance option at check-out on the shopping cart page near the conclusion of the redemption transaction. Points Advance can also be requested through the Membership Rewards’ customer service phone number. Cardmembers have 12 months to replace the points, without incurring any fees, through spending with the American Express Card.2

2007 Membership Rewards Program Partners

American Express has added a number of popular retail, travel, dining and entertainment Membership Rewards partners to allow customers to redeem points for more of the things they want. Among the latest offerings is a new casual dining category, which features dining rewards at The Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Red Lobster and Olive Garden. These latest choices are among the hundreds of redemption options that span the program’s Travel, Shopping and Dining & Entertainment categories.

The 2007 Membership Rewards program partners3 are as follows:

* Airlines: Aeromexico, Aeroplan, Air France/KLM, Air Jamaica, AirTran Airways, Alitalia, All Nippon Air-ways (ANA), Cathay Pacific Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EL AL Israel Airlines, Frontier Airlines, GlobalPassŪ, Hawaiian AirlinesŪ, JetBlue Airways, MexicanaŪ Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Southwest AirlinesŪ, SWISS, Virgin Atlantic Airways.
* Car Rentals and Rail: AmtrakŪ, AvisŪ, Enterprise Rent-A-CarŪ, HertzŪ, Classic Car Club and Rail Europe.
* Dining & Entertainment: American Express Ū Gift Cards Especially for Dining, Benihana, BLOCKBUSTERŪ, Broadway.com™, By Invitation OnlyŪ Events for Platinum Cardmembers, California Pizza Kitchen, The Capital GrilleŪ, The Cheesecake FactoryŪ, Create Your Own Reward, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine BarŪ, Lettuce Entertain YouŪ Enterprises, Inc., LIVE NATION, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, The Melting Pot, Morton’sŪ The Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Patina Restaurant Group, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Red Lobster, Roy’s, Regal Cinemas, Regal Entertainment Group, Smith & Wollensky Restaurant GroupĐ, Telecharge.com, Theme Parks Unlimited, Ticketmaster, Tribeca Film Festival, USGAŪ, USTATM, Xperience Days.
* Financial Services: American ExpressŪ Gift Cheques, American ExpressŪ Travelers Cheques, AwardPlanner and MileageManager, Link2Gov (www.pay1040.com/mr), Official Payments Corp.Ū (http://www.officialpayments.com/mr), SIRIUS Satellite, and Points.com, USA TODAYŪ. More than 1,000,000 charitable organizations are available through an online giving portal, www.americanexpress.com/give.
* First Collection: Baccarat, Bergdorf Goodman, Chopard, Davidoff Cigars and Accessories, EOS Airlines, Ermenegildo Zegna, Premier Cru Bordeaux Wines, IWC, Lamborghini, Mikimoto, Monarch Billiards, Montegrappa writing instruments, Neiman Marcus, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Pebble Beach Resorts, Piaget, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Relais & Chateaux's Relais Gourmands Restaurants, The Ritz-Carlton, Steinway & Sons, and Tiffany & Co.
* Hotels: Best Western Gold Crown ClubŪ International; Destination Hotels and Resorts, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts; Hilton HonorsŪ (HiltonŪ, ConradŪ, Coral by Hilton, DoubletreeŪ, Embassy Suites HotelsŪ, Hampton InnŪ , Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden InnŪ, Hilton Grand Vacations ClubŪ, Hilton Vacation Club, Homewood Suites by HiltonŪ, and Scandic); Hyatt Hotels & ResortsŪ; Priority ClubŪ Rewards (InterContinentalŪ, Crowne PlazaŪ, Hotel IndigoŪ, Holiday InnŪ, Holiday Inn ExpressŪ, Staybridge SuitesŪ and Candlewood SuitesŪ), Joie de Vivre Hospitality, Loews Hotels, Marriott InternationalŪ (MarriottŪ Hotels, Resorts and Suites, RenaissanceŪ Hotels & Resorts, CourtyardŪ by Marriott, Residence InnŪ by Marriott, Fairfield InnŪ by Marriott, TownePlace SuitesŪ by Marriott, Spring Hill SuitesTM by Marriott); Marriott Vacation Club International, MGM Grand/The Mirage, Miraval Life in Balance Resort and Spa, Omni HotelsŪ; Preferred Hotel Group (Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Summit Hotels & Resorts), Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Preferred GuestŪ (St. RegisŪ, The Luxury CollectionŪ, W HotelsŪ, Le MeridienŪ, SheratonŪ Hotels & Resorts, Four PointsŪ by Sheraton, WestinŪ Hotel & Resorts), and Wyndham Hotels & ResortsŪ. Swissotel Hotels & Resorts.
* Merchandise: Adidas, All-Clad, Apple iPod, AT&T, Bang & Olufsen, Baume & Mercier, BodumŪ, BoseŪ, Boston Accoustics, BowflexŪ, Bulova, Bushnell, CallawayŪ Golf, Camelback, Canon, Celestron, Cobra Golf, Coleman, CreativeŪ, Cuisinart, De'Longhi, Dooney & Bourke, Dunhill, Dyson, Garmin, Hearts on Fire, Hewlett Packard, Igloo, iRobot, Jabra, JA Henckels, Hartmann, Jansport, JBL, JVC, kate spade, Kenneth Cole Reaction, KitchenAidŪ, Krups, KOSS, Lagos, Lalique, Le CreusetŪ, Lenox, Lladro, Logitech, Majorica, Maui JimŪ, Microsoft, Mizuno, Monster Cable, Montblanc, Motorola, Movado, Nambe, Nike, Nikon, The North Face, Oakley, Ogio, Omas, OreckŪ, Panasonic, PentaxŪ, Philips, Plantronics, Polar, Rayban, Riedel, Royal, Samsonite, Samsung, SanDisk, Sharp, SenrySafe, Skagen, Skil, Sky Golf, SonyŪ, Staub, Steiner Sports, Swarovski, TAG Heuer, Takamine, TaylorMadeŪ, Timberland, Titleist Golf, TIVO, Toro, Toshiba, Travelpro, TrekŪ, Tumi, Villeroy & Boch, Waterford, Weber, WilsonŪ, Yamaha, and many more.
* Retail: Banana Republic, Barnes & Noble, Bath & Body WorksŪ, Bloomingdale’s, Brooks Brothers, Cole Haan, Crate and Barrel, Dell™ Computer, ESCADA, FTD.COMŪ, Fortunoff, Gap, Lands' EndŪ, Linens ‘n ThingsŪ, L’Occitane, PBteenŪ, Pottery BarnŪ, Pottery Barn KidsŪ, Red Door Spas, Restoration Hardware, Saks Fifth Avenue, Smith & Hawken, Smithsonian Institution, Spa FinderŪ, Talbots, The Home DepotŪ, The Sharper ImageŪ, Tourneau, and 800wine.com.
* Sports and Adventure: Abercrombie & Kent, American Skiing Company, Aspen/Snowmass, Butterfield & Robinson, Epiculinary, ESPN Golf Schools Presented by Lexus, Golf, Academy of Hilton Head Island at Sea Pines, Intrawest Mountain Resorts, Lake Austin Spa, Mountain Travel Sobek, Mizuno Golf, Moorings, NauticBlue, O.A.R.S, Richard Petty Driving Experience™, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Adventure Parks, Skip Barber Racing School, Smithsonian Journeys, Space Adventures Ltd., Tauck World Discovery, Troon Golf, Universal Golf Ticket™, Universal Ski Ticket™, USGA, Vail Resorts, and Van Der Meer Tennis.

About The Membership Rewards Program

The Membership Rewards program from American Express has more than 140 redemption partners. The program allows Cardmembers to earn one point for virtually every dollar charged on eligible, enrolled American Express Cards4.

Membership Rewards points are redeemable in a wide selection of reward categories, including travel, retail merchandise, entertainment, shopping and recreation gift certificates, experiences, financial services and charity rewards. Enrollees may also customize their own redemption experiences through the program’s Create Your Reward and Experiences options and use points for just about anything they can imagine. Points have no expiration date, and there is no limit on the number of points a Cardmember can earn.

For more information about the Membership Rewards program, or to apply for an American Express Card, consumers can call 1-800-THE-CARD or visit 800TheCard.com.

About American Express

American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) (NYSE:AXP) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

1
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply.

2
Cardmembers will be charged for points not earned back within that time period at the rate applicable to point purchase transactions.

3
Partners vary by program level

4
Some Cards require enrollment and the payment of an annual program fee. Terms and conditions apply.

Steve M

Wow - this looks big. I can't wait to see this thread in a day or two!

Two things that stand out to me are:

1. Credit card customers apparently no longer able to transfer MR points to airlines.

2. Ability to borrow MR points from future charges.

mia

I think everything in the press release has been mentioned piecemeal over the past several months, but it's good to have all the changes summarized in one place.

Not sure why they renamed Membership Rewards Options to Membership Rewards Express. Need to verify that credit cards linked to a charge card will still earn full Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to other programs.

It's apparently a good marketing decision to give the Points Advance feature a new name. Few seem to realize that the Gold card had this feature for at least two decades. Here is a mention from 1999...

http://flyertalk.com/forum/archive/i.../t-139929.html

The footnotes listing the 2007 partners are confusing because it is not possible to transfer to all of the listed airlines or hotel chains. Many of them offer only redemptions for specific awards, typically economy class flights .

Triple points year-round on purchases made through BonusPointsMall.com may make it worth using for some merchants who offer only one mile per dollar at airline online shopping portals.

alect

Yeah what if you have more than one type of card? Which level are you in? Eg I have a Blue credit card and a green charge card?

writetorich

Airlines: Aeromexico, Aeroplan, Air France/KLM, Air Jamaica, AirTran Airways, Alitalia, All Nippon Air-ways (ANA), Cathay Pacific Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EL AL Israel Airlines, Frontier Airlines, GlobalPassŪ, Hawaiian AirlinesŪ, JetBlue Airways, MexicanaŪ Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Southwest AirlinesŪ, SWISS, Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Anyway certainly no additions as promised.

mia

Under the previous system, points earned with your Blue card were commingled with points earned with your Green card and all were redeemable under the terms of the full Membership Rewards program. I do not think this has changed, but have not seen any explicit confirmation. I will inquire.

mia

If I were American Express I would point out that the additions were made during the soft rollout: Alitalia, FlyingBlue, Singapore.

Paolo01

I really wish that AMEX would start cooperating to any degree with United. I know that the problem is that Case has infused United with LOTS of money, but couldn't there be ANY sort of symbiotic relationship?

mia

While I think UA's relationship with Chase is an obstacle today there must be more to it. To the best of my recollection UA has never participated in Membership Rewards even going back to the predecessor program called Membership Miles. It may simply be that the (then) first tier domestic carriers, AA and UA, had much less to gain from this type of program than the smaller domestic carriers and foreign carriers.

Paolo01

Mia, you may be correct. I just wish that at least for the elite levels of AMEX, that there would be some cooperation between the programs. To me, and I believe, many others, that would be a true "enhancement" to the program. You have the worlds second largest airline, and the largest rewards program, it seems to me that some sort of cooperation would really benefit both.

I wish that I new the full story and the histories of the two programs. The Chase angle is the only thing I have heard and it makes sense.

USAFAN

Posted by MrAOK:

Thanks for posting this! No word/announcement from AMEX regarding this ... at least not to my knowledge.

Good job that MrAOK, mia, others keep me posted.

BTW, I have some "problems" with the "new" Membership Rewards website. I believe the "old" one was better, more information.... and my "pending points" are missing ("0") .. I'll wait 'til the new billing cycle and see if they post.

mia

No change. You will continue to be enrolled in Membership Rewards and accrue points on all eligible purchases. The communication recently sent does not apply to you, since you have your Nest Card linked to your Rewards Plus Gold Card. If you were to just have the Nest Card you would then be enrolled in the fee free Membership Rewards Express program.

I take this opportunity to remind that if you do not have a Nest (or Knot) credit card linked to your USA-issued Green, Gold or Platinum charge card you are missing an effortless 10,000 bonus Membership Rewards points each calendar year.

jcherney

For the uninformed (ie me), what is a "Nest or Knot" card?

mia

The Knot and The Nest are American Express credit cards, targetted at engaged and newlywed couples, that offer a 10,000 point bonus for $15,000 calendar year spend. The cards are available to anyone, no annual fee. If linked to a charge card the points are credited as standard Membership Rewards earnings.

http://www201.americanexpress.com/ap...gmID=undefined

http://www201.americanexpress.com/ap...gmID=undefined

jcherney

Never heard of those, thanks.