Jun 14, 2014, 11:24 am
Last edit by: MDtR-Chicago
This thread is for discussion of the PenFed Premium Travel Rewards Amex Card, described here: https://www.penfed.org/PenFed-Premium-Travel-Rewards-American-Express-Card/
No annual fee
Earn 5 points on airfare purchases
Earn 1 point on all other purchases
20,000 bonus points when you spend $2,500 within the first 3 months of opening the Card account
There are several similarly named PenFed cards. Please see the chart at the top of the
Master Thread: PenFed Family of Cards + Chip & PIN Questions to make sure you post in the correct thread!
No annual fee
Earn 5 points on airfare purchases
Earn 1 point on all other purchases
20,000 bonus points when you spend $2,500 within the first 3 months of opening the Card account
There are several similarly named PenFed cards. Please see the chart at the top of the
Master Thread: PenFed Family of Cards + Chip & PIN Questions to make sure you post in the correct thread!
PenFed Premium Travel Rewards AmEx [5x/3x/1x, $0 fee, 20K bonus]
Jan 4, 2011, 3:47 pm
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,427
I think we've had the card for more than a year, and they haven't billed me an annual fee. Given that experience, and the explicit wording on the website, I think there's now no fee. ^
So it would seem like this is now an excellent card to have just for the 5% airfare points -- which actually works out to more than a 6% rebate because the airline points are worth more than a penny a piece. I've also used the card overseas to avoid the foreign transaction fees.
BTW, does anyone know whether there's still a lucrative sign-up bonus? I got a card for my wife, and use a companion card, but never got around to apply for a separate card for myself.
So it would seem like this is now an excellent card to have just for the 5% airfare points -- which actually works out to more than a 6% rebate because the airline points are worth more than a penny a piece. I've also used the card overseas to avoid the foreign transaction fees.
BTW, does anyone know whether there's still a lucrative sign-up bonus? I got a card for my wife, and use a companion card, but never got around to apply for a separate card for myself.
Jan 4, 2011, 4:21 pm
#93
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Jan 4, 2011, 7:57 pm
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,427
When I briefly looked at using my points a few months ago for interisland Hawaii travel (I ultimately decided to redeem ff miles), it didn't seem like 10,000 points were worth $160.
Jan 5, 2011, 9:29 am
#95
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL, HH, SPG, AMEX
Posts: 61
Thing that makes me most Nervous is that they seem more likely to modify the program vs. Membership Rewards. However so far its been all positive modifications for the card member. Such as No Foreign Trans fees and now apparently no annual fee (although i haven't seen any emails to me directly about this change)
Jan 5, 2011, 9:54 am
#96
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
To be sure there is no misunderstanding, neither the card nor the rewards program is administered by American Express. It's PenFed's program. It appears PenFed has hired Maritz, Inc to operate the program on their behalf.
Jan 5, 2011, 11:25 am
#98
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 90
Update on my "Stay Away" post
Post #85 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/15558560-post85.html) had me recommending not to use the card until they got their act together.
Since then, they have had additional problems funding 2 Certificate of Deposits, so I am not out of the woods with them yet. I spent an hour or two on the phone over that issue. Apparently, they have had some serious issues at end of year and are still working through them.
And just now I spoke with the CSR that did my original application and she says she is going to straighten it all out (Finally, a "buck stops here" person!). I hope that happens and, if it does, I will advise everyone to do their application through her.
For now, fingers are crossed. (I really want to like this card because, as others have pointed out, the large amount of points given out for airfare purchases are promising!)
Since then, they have had additional problems funding 2 Certificate of Deposits, so I am not out of the woods with them yet. I spent an hour or two on the phone over that issue. Apparently, they have had some serious issues at end of year and are still working through them.
And just now I spoke with the CSR that did my original application and she says she is going to straighten it all out (Finally, a "buck stops here" person!). I hope that happens and, if it does, I will advise everyone to do their application through her.
For now, fingers are crossed. (I really want to like this card because, as others have pointed out, the large amount of points given out for airfare purchases are promising!)
Jan 5, 2011, 1:17 pm
#100
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL, HH, SPG, AMEX
Posts: 61
Exact flight on AA Website prices out to: 233.10 USD
~.0157CPP
Jan 8, 2011, 7:14 am
#101
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: EWR Ionosphere Club, LAX Clipper Club, Still Traveling Global, yearly BIS miles
Programs: EAL Silver Wings, I-Club, Flying Colonels DL, WorldPass PLat from the olde Meatball and PE SMARTbank
Posts: 1,988
anybody else having issues with their faud dept. It seems like I get a call from Manila every other day, about airfare, multiple charges, large charges etc. I am not using the card anymore as much as I once did but boy the faud dept is on steroids, I have lost out on many points because of the endless freezes penfed has placed on the card.
I have also learned that the card has a 20 transaction a day limit.
That a large charge from a merchant that you have used in the past, for smaller charges, will usually not go through/and triger fraud alerts.
That multiple airline charges, as those who engage in MR are apt to do, will not go thru unless you request that the "matrix" is raised on airfares. This it seems cannot be done for other types of charges.
That to talk to a rep u now have to go thru a pin validation system for some pin that you may have /or/ have not remembered setting up. If not, then you have to wait for you your new pin to arrive at your billing address, even if its an emergency call!
Now that the dbl pts is over its back to FIA/schwab and starwood. What a relief...
The redemption program is great but the adminstration of the card is... well idiotic.
I have also learned that the card has a 20 transaction a day limit.
That a large charge from a merchant that you have used in the past, for smaller charges, will usually not go through/and triger fraud alerts.
That multiple airline charges, as those who engage in MR are apt to do, will not go thru unless you request that the "matrix" is raised on airfares. This it seems cannot be done for other types of charges.
That to talk to a rep u now have to go thru a pin validation system for some pin that you may have /or/ have not remembered setting up. If not, then you have to wait for you your new pin to arrive at your billing address, even if its an emergency call!
Now that the dbl pts is over its back to FIA/schwab and starwood. What a relief...
The redemption program is great but the adminstration of the card is... well idiotic.
Jan 8, 2011, 11:20 am
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,427
anybody else having issues with their faud dept. It seems like I get a call from Manila every other day, about airfare, multiple charges, large charges etc. I am not using the card anymore as much as I once did but boy the faud dept is on steroids, I have lost out on many points because of the endless freezes penfed has placed on the card.
I received a letter from them 2 days ago saying that someone had hacked into their database and probably stole everyone's card number, ss number, etc. (I suppose if I were a hacker, I'd also target the less-sophisticated financial institutions). They're issuing everybody new credit cards. They're also providing card holders with some sort of free fraud protection service. I haven't read the details yet.
Annoying, but what are you going to do? Everyone has so much data "on line" these days that I guess you've got to assume some of that will be stolen somewhere, sometime. It obviously doesn't make me "trust" PenFed much, but if they're giving me an 8% credit card rebate on airline tickets with no annual fee, I'm not going to stop doing business with them over this.
Jan 8, 2011, 1:28 pm
#103
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL, HH, SPG, AMEX
Posts: 61
They have stopped calling me about international charges finally but for the first few months it was an issue. I mostly only use the card international.
As far as the unauthorized account information access, everyone effected gets a 2 year membership with IDTheftSmart Credit monitoring service. I just received the details in the mail today and logged on without a problem.
As far as the unauthorized account information access, everyone effected gets a 2 year membership with IDTheftSmart Credit monitoring service. I just received the details in the mail today and logged on without a problem.
Last edited by aduncan; Jan 8, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Jan 8, 2011, 1:43 pm
#104
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: DL, HH, SPG, AMEX
Posts: 61
My two cents on this card and the administration:
I completely agree they leave a lot to be desired. Given fact that it comes at no annual fee, one of the best points redemption programs for Airline tickets (non-award), no ForeEx fees, Concierge service, and Priority Pass with 2 free visits (15k annual spend). I guess something has to give and in this case its the card administration.
My experience has been that this is a very self serve program. If you want to dispute a charge you walk your a$$ over to the company in question and work it out. Otherwise use your Amex Administered by Amex
I completely agree they leave a lot to be desired. Given fact that it comes at no annual fee, one of the best points redemption programs for Airline tickets (non-award), no ForeEx fees, Concierge service, and Priority Pass with 2 free visits (15k annual spend). I guess something has to give and in this case its the card administration.
My experience has been that this is a very self serve program. If you want to dispute a charge you walk your a$$ over to the company in question and work it out. Otherwise use your Amex Administered by Amex
Feb 8, 2011, 9:43 pm
#105
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 90
Finally, a resolution
Post #85 (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/15558560-post85.html) had me recommending not to use the card until they got their act together.
Since then, they have had additional problems funding 2 Certificate of Deposits, so I am not out of the woods with them yet. I spent an hour or two on the phone over that issue. Apparently, they have had some serious issues at end of year and are still working through them.
And just now I spoke with the CSR that did my original application and she says she is going to straighten it all out (Finally, a "buck stops here" person!). I hope that happens and, if it does, I will advise everyone to do their application through her.
For now, fingers are crossed. (I really want to like this card because, as others have pointed out, the large amount of points given out for airfare purchases are promising!)
Since then, they have had additional problems funding 2 Certificate of Deposits, so I am not out of the woods with them yet. I spent an hour or two on the phone over that issue. Apparently, they have had some serious issues at end of year and are still working through them.
And just now I spoke with the CSR that did my original application and she says she is going to straighten it all out (Finally, a "buck stops here" person!). I hope that happens and, if it does, I will advise everyone to do their application through her.
For now, fingers are crossed. (I really want to like this card because, as others have pointed out, the large amount of points given out for airfare purchases are promising!)
This took too much time but I now have my 35K points (10K signup + 25K for hitting my spend target). It is very hard to recommend a card so poorly administered but, if you do want a card that gives great points for flights (10 pts per dollar spent), I'd suggest the CSR I used (ask for Jill , ext 7665 at the main number). She was the only person at the organization that gave a hoo-haw.