I have called and asked for a benefits package for this year. I have not received one yet. When I get it I will post the info for all.

Boy how things have changed in a little over a year.

2007 terms and conditions are now online...

https://cards.ml.com/MLRewardsCenter...Conditions.htm

I am glad they finally updated it. I wish they would do this prior to the last day of the year, so we know what to expect in the next year.

I know there are some real heavy users of credit cards on here and there is plenty of information on the card on here. However, just reading the information does not seem to provide just the right answers to determine the value of the card. I would like those that have experience to post things that are good about the card and strategies that can be used to maximize the value of the card. What makes it better than say a DL SM AX card or a CC PPE card? How do you get the most benefit from the worldpoints or do you just spend for the extra benefits of +3? Here is a good format, list the level and what you recommend for that level and any value or strategy that you have received from it.

+ = Offers worldpoints and a 1.9% b/t with a 3% $75.00 max fee for 12 months.

+2 = Airline status match on AA.

+3 = Admirals club membership for one year (my favorite)

Merrill+2 AA status match is the most important benefit to me. I travel heavily on DL, but on occasion I travel on AA. The status match gives me AA Platinum and double miles on all of my AA flights. This adds up to around 5,000 bonus miles per year. I can also purchase upgrades on AA (and use them given my Platinum status) which is important. (I am too tall and wide for coach.)

This benefit easily offsets the fact that I am only getting 1pt per $ vs. 2pts per $ on other cards (for my first $20k spend)

If I only spend $50k per year, then Merrill+3 would be valuable to me. I would earn 1pt for every $ plus a DL Crown Room Membership (i.e. worth $250 for a DL Platinum).

However, if I spend $20k on Merrill+3 and then $40k on Chairman, I will earn 2 pts per $ for the $40k (instead of 1pt per $ on Merrill). This pays for the Chairman Card (which includes Priority Pass). This is my currently preferred model.

Priority Pass works well for me since it includes all DL Crown Rooms. However, an AA passenger may see more benefit in spending $50k on Merrill+ to get the Admiral's Club benefit. Then switching to a card with a higher point yield. OOPS--This statement about AA does not make sense. If you fly enough to get AA status or travel in AA First Class, it does not make sense to spend $50k to get an Admirals Club membership. You could spend that $50k on a cashback card and earn more value per dollar spent.

The Merrill+ card does not offer WorldPoints. It has its own rewards program. Points can be pooled for redemption with other Merrill cards.

The card does have some decent credit features:

1. Low (relatively fixed) rate
2. Cash advances have the same rate as purchases, but there is a cash advance fee
3. 1.9% rate on balance transfers for 12 months
4. High credit limit (compared to my other cards)

I have not used the concierge for anything complex. However, the Merrill+ marketing materials indicate that they are willing to go above and beyond, e.g. wedding assistance, etc. Does anyone have any experiences to share?

That is a good analogy. If someone were to only fly say 10k-20k per year on AA then would the AC benefit at +3 be worth the purchase volume to achieve it or would a cash back card net you more benefits than a +3 and just buy the AC membership. Considering all of the other benefits of +3, how does that stack up? I really thought mia would have jumped in on this one by now. To my knowledge you are the two most avid M+ users on here. Any others are welcome to speak up.

If you spend $50,000 you would earn 50,000 points plus the AAdmirals club membersip. The membership costs $250 to $450 depending on status. If we assume the typical Merrill+ user will have at least Gold status (due to status match), the value is $400 (first year) or 0.8%, but the 50,000 points are worth at least another $500 or 50,000 BA Miles which can be redeemed for travel on AA.

I only use Merrill+ only for foreign transactions because my account still has no currency fee. The AA status match is no benefit to me. The AAdmirals Club membership would be nice, but there is a hidden cost of forgoing spending on Diners Club which is better for BA miles (although Merill+ did also offer a BA promotion in 2006.) Also, I do not like Merill's refusal to offer customer service by email, and their failure to publish new terms and conditions BEFORE the start of the calendar year.

According to MIA the minimum benefit value is $900 for $50k in spending. A Fidelity Investment Rewards card would give $750 in deposits for $50k in spending. MIA is correct.

Beyond the $50k, you earn better value on another card that offers greater than 1pt per $.

Also remember this cards goes at 1:1 ratio in BA. So this card in my option is better than Chase BA card as Chase card has annual fee of $75 and Chase never runs any type of bonus like Diners or Merrill. So spending $50K on Chase = 50K BA miles while if you spent $50K last year on Merrill you got 60K BA miles and +3 benfits to boot. While Diners would have gotten you 75K BA miles but no +3 benfits for $85 annual.

So as you can see Merrill is better than Chase's own BA card and it is a toss up between Diners and Merrill in my option depending on what is more important to you the miles or free lounge access.

Centurion concierge for free = amazing value

Admiral's Club would also work well for me. between it and Plat, you could fly anything but UA/US (or LCC) and have lounge access.

IMO Merrill has 2 GREAT awards
-RC stays (much lower redemption rate than AMEX)
-MarquisJet (cheaper charters than Bombardier (AMEX's partner), and Merrill also has occasional promos, where redemption rates drop)

so for me, Merrill is the best backup card to AMEX (SPG and Plat)

i like the benefits of Saks WEMC and Lexus VI Sig, but they dont have good awards. (ill probably get them, but not carry them)

Has anyone actually used the Merrill+ concierge for a complicated request?

How to get the 1.9% rate? My rate is 5.9%

Merrill+2:

- AA status match is difficult to value.
- Of course this has no value if (a) you never fly AA or (b) you already have AA status
- I fly AA occassionally, so this has value to me.


Merrill+3: Frankly I am impressed by the value (after doing the math)

- If you spend $50k on Merrill+ your benefits are 50,000 points plus $250 to $500 for the AA or DL club membership.
- This equates to a minimum of benefit of 1.5% to 2.0% per $. If you get some value out of the other benefits, this is higher.
- If you focus on the incremental value between Merrill+2 and Merrill+3, you earn 1.83% to 2.67% including just the 30,000 points and club membership. If you get other value from Merrill+3, this is higher.
- This may be devalued if: (a) you have a Priority Pass Membership and fly DL/CO/NW, (b) you have a AMEX Platinum Card and fly DL/CO/NW (c) you travel on airlines that make DL or AA club access useless, (d) you always fly first class, etc.


Beyond Merrill+3:
- Other cards can beat the 1pt per $ offered by Merrill+ hands down.

BTW...Merrill is running a promotion. Open a CD with $25k AND a new Merrill+ account, they with give you 15,000 points. See the link for terms and conditions:

http://askmerrill.ml.com/pp3/cd_land...s&cpag=149x106