Canadian SPG American Express
#1981
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: YXT
Programs: AC*E50, SPG Plat,
Posts: 575
The maddening part for me is that there's clearly an attempt to align the Canadian SPG Amex with the (non-luxury) US SPG Amex, but still insist on shortchanging the Canadian version. The earn rate on Marriott hotels is lower, but at least that's explainable with the CAD/USD differences. But basically everything else is the same except not giving cardholders 15 elite nights. Yes, one can point to Canada and US being different markets for credit card offerings and benefits available, but it's galling if they match the US card save the elite nights benefit.
#1982
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 227
No nights credit — is that a sure thing?
this would be the key feature for me, even more important than the points per dollar spend .
i am not sure if it is a sure thing. I have looked at all of their marketing, and there certainly is no mention
of nights credit, and there is mention of silver elite.
i do however notice that the us chase cards give more prominence to mentioning silver elite than
mentioning the night credits in their marketing.
so maybe they will grant the credits, maybe it is not seen as an important feature to them or to most cardholders.
i think that it is the case that it is crucially important to their top spenders .
in the meantime I am running my card through plastiq as often as possible, to get enough points to make platinum next year and the year after with luck.
i am not sure if it is a sure thing. I have looked at all of their marketing, and there certainly is no mention
of nights credit, and there is mention of silver elite.
i do however notice that the us chase cards give more prominence to mentioning silver elite than
mentioning the night credits in their marketing.
so maybe they will grant the credits, maybe it is not seen as an important feature to them or to most cardholders.
i think that it is the case that it is crucially important to their top spenders .
in the meantime I am running my card through plastiq as often as possible, to get enough points to make platinum next year and the year after with luck.
#1983
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YYZ
Posts: 379
if my anniversary date is in July and the new program for for marriott/spg starts in Aug (the email from AMEX even states from August). Would i receive my anniversary free night this year after August 2018?
#1984
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: BC, Canada
Programs: Marriott LTP
Posts: 138
No parity is unacceptable
I urge my fellow Canadians to voice your displeasure with AMEX and Marriott regarding their poor treatment of Canadian members.
Extra offensive to me is the perpetual adds for the American card products on Marriott.com during login and logout processes. Marriott should have the basic IT competency to identify when a member is Canadian, and/or their web session is originating from Canada.
If I don’t see any amendment to the benefits set for this card, I will be taking my $500k annual spend on the card elsewhere...
Extra offensive to me is the perpetual adds for the American card products on Marriott.com during login and logout processes. Marriott should have the basic IT competency to identify when a member is Canadian, and/or their web session is originating from Canada.
If I don’t see any amendment to the benefits set for this card, I will be taking my $500k annual spend on the card elsewhere...
#1985
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 336
I'm only 7 nights away from Platinum (challenge), and I was hoping a new card would help make this jump with elite night credits. I am looking for a new card anyway. I will be travelling and can stay 3 nights in July, up to possibly 5... but 7 is a stretch.
Ideas anyone?
Ideas anyone?
#1986
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: BC, Canada
Programs: Marriott LTP
Posts: 138
Elite night credits from a credit card wouldn’t have helped you anyway. They are excluded from the Platinum challenges. The only option will be to stay the nights; find the most affordable property close to you and weigh the cost vs the benefits...
I'm only 7 nights away from Platinum (challenge), and I was hoping a new card would help make this jump with elite night credits. I am looking for a new card anyway. I will be travelling and can stay 3 nights in July, up to possibly 5... but 7 is a stretch.
Ideas anyone?
Ideas anyone?
#1987
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 336
Ah ha - thanks! I take it meetings don't count for the challenge either?
The best I can come up with is separately invoicing a few days, then pay/redeem for the cheapest room I can at that place, but not actually use it (leave the region).
#1988
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: YVR
Programs: I'm a nobody everywhere
Posts: 424
Not having Zero-FX really stings with the loss of the Marriott Visa in the market. Sad this has worst of both previous cards.
Having the free night added back to the SPG is an interesting development. Does anyone know which tier and conditions this would likely come with?
Silver elite given away is basically all but useless and costs them absolutely nothing.
Having the free night added back to the SPG is an interesting development. Does anyone know which tier and conditions this would likely come with?
Silver elite given away is basically all but useless and costs them absolutely nothing.
#1989
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
Not having Zero-FX really stings with the loss of the Marriott Visa in the market. Sad this has worst of both previous cards.
Having the free night added back to the SPG is an interesting development. Does anyone know which tier and conditions this would likely come with?
Silver elite given away is basically all but useless and costs them absolutely nothing.
Having the free night added back to the SPG is an interesting development. Does anyone know which tier and conditions this would likely come with?
Silver elite given away is basically all but useless and costs them absolutely nothing.
#1990
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: YVR
Posts: 1,847
It's a certificate that can be used on a hotel costing up to 35,000 points or night per https://www.newswire.ca/news-release...686796011.html
Instead, we need to spend 30K a year to reach Gold? Gold status isn't much better than Silver - so not worth all that extra spend.
So what IS the Amex card REALLY worth then? We've lost our 15 nights and No Forex, which were the real benefits beyond the free night cert - so I am not sure if it's worth holding anymore.I'll have Plat for 2019 anyway, so I just have to see Aug. 1st if the free night will be worth more than the annual fee. If not - CANCELLED!
#1991
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,139
https://points-redemption.marriott.com/category-change
Last edited by mahasamatman; Jul 2, 2018 at 9:59 pm Reason: Added link to new award chart
#1992
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
Well, looks like the free night is usable in some hotels in downtown NY or Paris or some other desirable places... I may keep the card, after all...
However 15 nights instead of free silver would have been nice.
However 15 nights instead of free silver would have been nice.
#1993
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 395
This is from a letter I just received from Amex in regards to the changes:
Coming Soon - Elite Nights
American Express will be announcing a new annual credit for nights towards Elite status by the new year.
#1994
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: Aeroplan Diamond, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, Marriott
Posts: 1,839
Great! Hopefully 15 nights credit.
#1995
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 227
By the new year is a very long time to wait, in my opinion
Did the letter say anything else?
wondering if that annual credit is the automatic and free 15 night credits that they have us begging for, or some small number of night credits based on large spend , such as one elite night credit for say five thousand dollars of spend.
i hope they won’t makes us wait for six months why would they make us wait more than perhaps another week or so more?