Amex & BA Master Thread
Sep 18, 2012, 10:01 am
#2102
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: London
Programs: BA Blue, Virgin Red
Posts: 16
I received an expensive-looking brochure from Amex yesterday, outlining the travel benefits of Amex and highlighting the bonuses for transferring to BA, Virgin etc. When I checked online, it's still showing at 1:1 but I spoke with an Amex agent who said that it is BA who will provide the 40% additional Avios, so the transfer rate will show as 1:1 and that as long as I received the mailing directly, I would receive the bonus Avios, when BA get around to awarding them at the end of Oct (not quite her exact words
).
I didn't get the bonus last time and was mightily peeved, particularly as I needed to transfer some rewards then - I agree with the comments on here - everyone is paying the same card fee so why is everyone not treated equally. Last time the bonus came around I had around 50k miles, I had to transfer 35k at the time and have 48k at the minute so guess I'm not a huge collector, which is why I may have been targeted, although that doesn't really explain why I got it this time and not the last.
).I didn't get the bonus last time and was mightily peeved, particularly as I needed to transfer some rewards then - I agree with the comments on here - everyone is paying the same card fee so why is everyone not treated equally. Last time the bonus came around I had around 50k miles, I had to transfer 35k at the time and have 48k at the minute so guess I'm not a huge collector, which is why I may have been targeted, although that doesn't really explain why I got it this time and not the last.
Sep 18, 2012, 10:51 am
#2103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
Amex is correct. They go across at 1:1 and at some point in the random future (weeks, not days) BA will add the extra.
Sep 18, 2012, 12:15 pm
#2104
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: London, UK
Programs: Marriott Platinum, BA
Posts: 293
For anyone interested in the London Restaurant Festival 2012 from 1-15 October there is a 15% off promotional code (Code: ESLRF) Festival Tickets in today's ES food magazine supplement and there are double Avios / MR points on offer as well.
Even though it says the promotional code can be used online in the magazine I cannot see how to enter the code on Ticketmaster but maybe try phoning Ticketmaster instead.
Even though it says the promotional code can be used online in the magazine I cannot see how to enter the code on Ticketmaster but maybe try phoning Ticketmaster instead.
Last edited by heggers03; Sep 18, 2012 at 1:11 pm Reason: added double Avios on offer
Sep 18, 2012, 1:50 pm
#2105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,216
I cancelled my Amex Gold MR card about 1.5 months ago as I didn't want to pay the renewal fee. This was my only MR card. Prior to closing it, I recommended my wife for the Amex Gold card, which she took out, and I transferred the balance of my MR account to her (paying £15 fee) in order that we could take advantage of one of these BAEC transfer bonuses in the future.
Typically, she hasn't been targeted with this bonus, and I get home from work today to find that I've been sent the pamphlet in which I have been targeted with this offer.
I don't suppose my MR account is still active on Amex's systems, and I could pay the £15 to transfer all my wife's MR point to me, and then I transfer the points into BAEC? I've seen mention that MR members have a grace period of a few months after cancelling their only MR card. Probably wishful thinking though...
Typically, she hasn't been targeted with this bonus, and I get home from work today to find that I've been sent the pamphlet in which I have been targeted with this offer.
I don't suppose my MR account is still active on Amex's systems, and I could pay the £15 to transfer all my wife's MR point to me, and then I transfer the points into BAEC? I've seen mention that MR members have a grace period of a few months after cancelling their only MR card. Probably wishful thinking though...
Sep 18, 2012, 2:16 pm
#2106
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA - Gold for Life, CCR & GGL; IC Spire Elite Ambassador; Diamond Hilton Honors; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 6,720
Any update on whether inflight purchases count as BA purchases whilst using the BA Amex card and therefore x3 for Avios?
I have not received this for recent purchases and thought I had read something that suggested that the bonus Avios arrangement was being re-introduced?
I have not received this for recent purchases and thought I had read something that suggested that the bonus Avios arrangement was being re-introduced?
Sep 18, 2012, 3:57 pm
#2107
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Programs: BA S, VS S, SQ G, HH D, IHG D/A, Marriott G, Radisson G, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,945
Wow - rather impressed with the speed there - on the transaction that took me over the £3k spend target on my BAPP it showed:
No issues re. billing cycles, incorrect bonus, not posting at all - I wasn't prepared for it to work this well! 
(now to see whether the pro-rata fee refund on a/c cancellation works just as well!)
- Additional bonus (equalling 40k total) 0 22,000
- 18,000 bonus Avios 0 18,000
- 18,000 bonus Avios 0 18,000
(now to see whether the pro-rata fee refund on a/c cancellation works just as well!)
Last edited by EDIflyer; Sep 18, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Sep 19, 2012, 9:37 am
#2108
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Manchester, UK
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, HH Diamond
Posts: 947
Has anyone relied on the Platinum car insurance when booking a US fly drive holiday with Virgin?
The holiday comes with "basic insurance" (ie. 3rd party liability, $1 million liability cover).
It comes with no CDW, Airport Fees, Pre payable state taxes etc.
When you add these, Virgin whack on £286 for a fortnight holiday in the US.
This seems a lot for CDW and a few taxes!!
If I just went with the basic car hire, I assume Amex Plat would cover me if we paid part of the holiday with it?
The holiday comes with "basic insurance" (ie. 3rd party liability, $1 million liability cover).
It comes with no CDW, Airport Fees, Pre payable state taxes etc.
When you add these, Virgin whack on £286 for a fortnight holiday in the US.
This seems a lot for CDW and a few taxes!!
If I just went with the basic car hire, I assume Amex Plat would cover me if we paid part of the holiday with it?
Sep 19, 2012, 9:53 am
#2109
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,252
Has anyone relied on the Platinum car insurance when booking a US fly drive holiday with Virgin?
The holiday comes with "basic insurance" (ie. 3rd party liability, $1 million liability cover).
It comes with no CDW, Airport Fees, Pre payable state taxes etc.
When you add these, Virgin whack on £286 for a fortnight holiday in the US.
This seems a lot for CDW and a few taxes!!
If I just went with the basic car hire, I assume Amex Plat would cover me if we paid part of the holiday with it?
The holiday comes with "basic insurance" (ie. 3rd party liability, $1 million liability cover).
It comes with no CDW, Airport Fees, Pre payable state taxes etc.
When you add these, Virgin whack on £286 for a fortnight holiday in the US.
This seems a lot for CDW and a few taxes!!
If I just went with the basic car hire, I assume Amex Plat would cover me if we paid part of the holiday with it?
Sep 19, 2012, 2:48 pm
#2110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,216
I got some random offer about double Avios for eating at some restaurants between 1-15 October today.
Sep 19, 2012, 2:53 pm
#2111
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Her Majesty's United Kingdom
Programs: BA Gold, BA Lounge Rats, BA Audit Survivors, CW Kitchen Defender, CX Noodle Connoisseurs Club
Posts: 5,955
Sep 19, 2012, 3:03 pm
#2112
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,216
Came in the post with the statement. All details at www.londonrestaurantfestival.com/amex. Does not appear to have any registration requirement, although I can't rule out it being targeted.
Sep 19, 2012, 7:10 pm
#2113
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,330
Sep 20, 2012, 12:36 am
#2114
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,216
Sep 20, 2012, 3:17 am
#2115
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 973
poor forex conversion rates by Amex :(
Recently we purchased US Airways miles using BA Amex card. The rate used by Amex to convert US$ to £ seemed to be very poor (1.5745 - compared to average 1.61 by others). Has anyone noticed the poor FX rates used by Amex?