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I received my notification in the mail yesterday.

I wrote a letter to NEA....interestingly, they sent me a letter back asking for advice. My advicewas Don't change the card or risk losing everyone!

If you want to give a helpful piece of your advice to NEA Rewards product managers, their e-mail address is:

Zack Reid, Assistant Product Manager
[email protected]

Robin Jenkins, Product Manager
[email protected]

Thanks for the addresses Wolverine, I just wrote them. I'll let you know what their reply is.

I received my notice today. If I'm reading the rules correctly #10 says that if you redeem points for yourself, Palladian will not charge you a transaction fee. If you redeem points for yourself and a friend you will be charged a transaction fee by Palladian. It just keeps getting worse and worse.

One nice change is that you can earn 100,000 miles a year.

Humble Word of Advice:

I highly urge people to write an e-mail to NEA at the addresses shown in my earlier post--it can make a difference in changing their minds.

If you do write, please don't refer to our community here, since we're always helping each other to get the better of these companies.

I don't want to see them get "smart" and close the valuable bennies that we pass over to one another. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Have 2 NEA MBNA cards. Two letters telling me to read the insert carefully about the changes, but no insert in either envelope. Strange!!

I received a reply from an email I sent regarding the changes:

Quote:

> Dear Mr. Tute84
>
> Thank you for bringing to our attention your concern regarding the NEA
> Travel Rewards Program.
>
> Let me begin by saying that we welcome feedback on NEA Member Benefits'
> (NEA MB) programs and take your concerns very seriously. We sincerely
> care about NEA members and their impressions of these programs.
>
> Mr. Tute84, please let me assure you that we have looked into most every
> possibility to keep the NEA Travel Rewards Program under the current
> configuration. Changes to the NEA Travel Rewards Program were necessary
> because of the unanticipated rise in costs associated with operating a
> program with such generous reward terms. In fact, since the program was
> introduced in 1997, the costs have tripled. NEA Member Benefits was faced
> with a difficult decision: either discontinue the program altogether, or
> modify it in such a way that members would still gain significant benefits
> while ensuring the program could be sustained. We chose the latter
> option.
>
> The new NEA Travel Rewards Program provides members the opportunity to
> participate in an attractive and competitive travel program that is
> exclusive to NEA members. Unlike most other travel rewards programs, the
> NEA Travel Rewards Program has no blackout dates or limited seating for
> reward redemption, and is not restricted to a single airline.
>
> As a current participant, you may continue to earn and redeem Travel
> Rewards points under the current program through December 30, 2001, for
> travel to be taken up to one year subsequent to that date (December 2002).
> For example, if you wish to book your summer 2002 travel, you should make
> the arrangements prior to December 30, 2001. The new Travel Rewards
> Program with the adjusted redemption schedule goes into effect December
> 31, 2001.
>
> In closing, I also want to assure you that the NEA does not benefit
> financially from any of the NEA Member Benefits' Programs. All royalties
> from NEA Member Benefits Programs are used to offset our administrative
> and marketing costs associated with the programs.
>
> Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to address your concerns.
> I want you to know that we value your support of the NEA and NEA-sponsored
> programs and hope that you will reconsider your participation in the NEA
> Travel Rewards Program.
>
> If you have any additional questions, you can reach me at 1-800-637-4636,
> extension 3528.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
> Robin Jenkins
> NEA Financial Services

[This message has been edited by Tute84 (edited 05-29-2001).]

Tute84:
That's a very similar letter I got from NEA--i.e. a canned response.

They're obviously disngenuous.

Since there is a cap on the $ per ticket, prices are capped. Now, redemption is irrelevant for MBNA as this has been built into their business model.

Bottom line: They realized that their product was generous (albeit NOT the most generous) & they're getting greedy. Most likely a new product manager out of business school trying to make a mark for themselves by shaking the tree.

Whereas before the card was shelling out 3-4%, their new reward structure at 1.6% makes it less attractive than ANY mileage card. Plus, they're upping the yearly limit to $45.......talk about non-experience destroying a good product.