Finland, Finnair, and credit cards - pre 2020 discussion
Feb 11, 2014, 5:22 am
#166
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, BW Plt, AY, M&M, FB G, CX Gold, AX Plat, CC gold, Le Club plt, Scandic 2nd floor
Posts: 126
https://www.americanexpress.com/fi/f...ance,concierge
Accor® Hotels-, Starwood® Hotels- sekä Carlson® Hotels -hotelliketjujen kanta-
asiakasohjelmat
Now we start talking
Any idea whatSPG level they offer?
Accor® Hotels-, Starwood® Hotels- sekä Carlson® Hotels -hotelliketjujen kanta-
asiakasohjelmat
Now we start talking
Any idea whatSPG level they offer?
Feb 11, 2014, 5:23 am
#167
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,789
Did you know about this website www.americanexpress.fi/platinum ?
There you can find out all benefits, and even sign on to the different programs directly. Also under the Platinum events you can register for different events after they have been published.
In Finland the travel benefit is 100€ towards a hotel booking over 500€ booked through PTS.
Definitely the different hotel programs are not value for the 700€!! I appreciate the travel insurance for the whole family, and Priority Pass for 2 (+2) people.
There you can find out all benefits, and even sign on to the different programs directly. Also under the Platinum events you can register for different events after they have been published.
In Finland the travel benefit is 100€ towards a hotel booking over 500€ booked through PTS.
Definitely the different hotel programs are not value for the 700€!! I appreciate the travel insurance for the whole family, and Priority Pass for 2 (+2) people.
100€ for a hotel booking of 50 000 MR? Each time or only once?
Feb 11, 2014, 5:25 am
#168
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, BW Plt, AY, M&M, FB G, CX Gold, AX Plat, CC gold, Le Club plt, Scandic 2nd floor
Posts: 126
Feb 11, 2014, 5:28 am
#169
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,789
Feb 11, 2014, 5:35 am
#170
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, BW Plt, AY, M&M, FB G, CX Gold, AX Plat, CC gold, Le Club plt, Scandic 2nd floor
Posts: 126
In Sweden they offer Highest status in Scandic for the centurion members. Why not giving 3rd floor for Platinum members..
What would be the best benefit you would like to have in Finland for plat card?
Feb 11, 2014, 5:39 am
#171
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,789
If you find a nice competitive rate through PTS, then it is nice to get 100€ back. For example if you find 3rd Night free from FHR hotels, then you can get the fee / Night quite competitive. +upgrade...
In Sweden they offer Highest status in Scandic for the centurion members. Why not giving 3rd floor for Platinum members..
What would be the best benefit you would like to have in Finland for plat card?
In Sweden they offer Highest status in Scandic for the centurion members. Why not giving 3rd floor for Platinum members..
What would be the best benefit you would like to have in Finland for plat card?
In the US the card is $450 (half of what it is here) and you get airline credit. And 2pts / dollar. Go figure...
ps. anyone going to the Tennispalatsi event tomorrow?
Feb 11, 2014, 5:57 am
#172
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, BW Plt, AY, M&M, FB G, CX Gold, AX Plat, CC gold, Le Club plt, Scandic 2nd floor
Posts: 126
In the UK they were giving away Marco Polo Gold (OWS) to Plat members. Now that's a fantastic benefit. Something like that with AY (this being the AY board and all) would seem great value.
In the US the card is $450 (half of what it is here) and you get airline credit. And 2pts / dollar. Go figure...
ps. anyone going to the Tennispalatsi event tomorrow?
In the US the card is $450 (half of what it is here) and you get airline credit. And 2pts / dollar. Go figure...
ps. anyone going to the Tennispalatsi event tomorrow?
Of course, AY gold would be great benefit!! Not seeing that to happen soon...
No movies, as I am babysittering my son...
Feb 11, 2014, 5:59 am
#173
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,789
Lucky you!! (CX Gold
) Didn't know they opened holes like that. Have you found a site to check FHR rates without calling, btw?
Feb 11, 2014, 6:06 am
#174
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, BW Plt, AY, M&M, FB G, CX Gold, AX Plat, CC gold, Le Club plt, Scandic 2nd floor
Posts: 126
No, I haven't found a website for the FHR rates, unfortunately. Usually those Are not so good, but If you find a good deal with free extra nights, then it goes well with The extra benefits.
Feb 11, 2014, 6:55 am
#175
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,789
I think you stay too long - 1 night stays at FHR rates are typically exceptional value! It really depends on stay patterns. Another reason I like FHR is they're elite eligible with most (all?) chains.
Feb 12, 2014, 3:39 am
#176
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: FRA / HEL
Programs: AY+ Platsku, IC Plat. Amb., HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, etc.
Posts: 75
Does the Ålandsbanken Amex include all the same benefits as the "normal" one? The Premium Banking includes Ålandsbanken's own travel insurance (which doesn't require you to pay with their card), concierge service and some kind of hotel and restaurant program. Have the removed the corresponding Amex services or do you basically get twice the bang for your buck?
Feb 12, 2014, 4:27 am
#177
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, BW Plt, AY, M&M, FB G, CX Gold, AX Plat, CC gold, Le Club plt, Scandic 2nd floor
Posts: 126
Does the Ålandsbanken Amex include all the same benefits as the "normal" one? The Premium Banking includes Ålandsbanken's own travel insurance (which doesn't require you to pay with their card), concierge service and some kind of hotel and restaurant program. Have the removed the corresponding Amex services or do you basically get twice the bang for your buck?
Feb 12, 2014, 7:49 am
#178
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: FRA / HEL
Programs: AY+ Platsku, IC Plat. Amb., HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, etc.
Posts: 75
Some notes:
- In 2010 the MasterCard was free only up to a credit limit of 800e
- The Jade program gives you 15% discount in restaurants for six people in Finland and four people in Europe. A list of restaurants participating in Finland in 2009 is included at the back of the magazine. It's not spectacular, but not completely useless either. There seems to be a Jade dining program in the UK managed by Lastminute.com. I couldn't figure out if it's the same program.
- Discount in hotels is 10-60% and the list includes "about 100,000 properties all around the world"
- Car rental is available through Budget
- Tickets to concerts and other events are sometimes offered with a discount. Tickets are offered through the Concierge service similarly to Amex Invites
- According to the thesis, a lot of the customers think that it's easier and cheaper to find hotels, trips and event tickets through other channels (the Internet) than from the Premium banking services. Hopefully Ålandsbanken has learned from the study they commissioned...
- Ålandsbanken's travel insurance is valid even if you haven't paid with their card, so you can use that for the trips when Amex insurance isn't valid (namely, when you pay with miles)
Feb 13, 2014, 4:33 am
#179
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold, BW Plt, AY, M&M, FB G, CX Gold, AX Plat, CC gold, Le Club plt, Scandic 2nd floor
Posts: 126
I did a bit of googling and found an old Premium magazine second), an old Premium bulletin and a thesis that describe the benefits in slightly more detail. There is also a screenshot on Ålandsbanken's webpage that reveals a bit from their Premium online service. The Financial Ombudsman Bureau has just published a study on credit card travel insurances that includes Ålandsbanken's MasterCard. All these materials are unfortunately only available in Finnish.
Some notes:
Some notes:
- In 2010 the MasterCard was free only up to a credit limit of 800e
- The Jade program gives you 15% discount in restaurants for six people in Finland and four people in Europe. A list of restaurants participating in Finland in 2009 is included at the back of the magazine. It's not spectacular, but not completely useless either. There seems to be a Jade dining program in the UK managed by Lastminute.com. I couldn't figure out if it's the same program.
- Discount in hotels is 10-60% and the list includes "about 100,000 properties all around the world"
- Car rental is available through Budget
- Tickets to concerts and other events are sometimes offered with a discount. Tickets are offered through the Concierge service similarly to Amex Invites
- According to the thesis, a lot of the customers think that it's easier and cheaper to find hotels, trips and event tickets through other channels (the Internet) than from the Premium banking services. Hopefully Ålandsbanken has learned from the study they commissioned...
- Ålandsbanken's travel insurance is valid even if you haven't paid with their card, so you can use that for the trips when Amex insurance isn't valid (namely, when you pay with miles)
Great Work mebe!
Will let you know further details after applying this card. Might take until April though..
Feb 13, 2014, 6:21 am
#180
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,602
Just wanted to give heads up for anyone interested, and thought this would fit in here:
AMEX Gold card first year free and 10 000 MR points are currently on offer until end of March. I just got an offer and sadly enough I had applied for one in Dec-2013 which just arrived two weeks ago so I am gonna miss those 10k points
AMEX Gold card first year free and 10 000 MR points are currently on offer until end of March. I just got an offer and sadly enough I had applied for one in Dec-2013 which just arrived two weeks ago so I am gonna miss those 10k points
