That's fine. It's a free card anyways. Cash back is nice...but with a 40k sign-up you can get some good value. 2 nights at the Best Western Bowery in NYC...not the fanciest hotel by any stretch, but for a weekend getaway where you plan on spending most of your time outside of the hotel, it's just fine. Well located too.

And I'm sure Best Western points are pretty useful for U.S. road trips.

Or...if you're desperate for airline miles, it converts to 8k miles.

You forgot about the BA devaluation too.

Milesbuzz: Canada
 

The 40K welcome points is underwhelming when compared to the MBNA BWR promos in the past (2012, 2013) where we saw 50K promos twice, and there was one time that a promo ran for 60K (after $2K spending). However, in those older promos we were required to spend $1K/$2K. This 40K promo doesn't mentioned a minimum, so should be awarded after your first purchase.

Spend $3333 with the card (earns at 1.5x) and boost your total to 45K points. There are many US and European BW hotels at the 15K redemption level. We find these hotels are GREAT value for our long road/driving trips.

Don't hold your breath waiting for GCR to match the current 40K offer. They didn't budge from their 20K offering in the past promos, and unlikely to do so again during this promo. But, we'll wait and see...and hope and wish.

Convert to airline miles (Aeroplan)? gg, I would never do that with my hotel points, but I suppose if someone is short of miles for an Aero redemption, it can make sense. Pretty hard to imagine that scenario, with so many other sources of quick free points.

Which is why I said "if you're desperate"...the best use of points is what gets you what you want or need, not necessarily what is the "optimal extraction of value". So if you need 8,000 AA points to top up your account to fly CX F...then why not?

Not so many sources to get Alaska, AA, Singapore or Korean though.

I wouldn't hesitate to use SPG/Marriott to convert to miles to close the gap.

Thank You mahasamatman, jerryhung, keitherson and crimsona for the answers! I am surprised that TD and RBC allow product changes and Amex doesn't I've actually kept and used TD and RBC no AF cards. I've been with Amex for 10+ years and had nothing but positive experience, so this is surprising.

Thanks!

Not surprising really, until relatively recently, Amex would use your member since date for reporting new cards. In terms of average age of accounts using a member since date on a new application or keeping the old date on a product transfer is pretty similar.

This is now prohibited by the credit bureaus in Canada, Amex all the way high up the food chain would very much still like to do it in order to show a customer has been with them since many years and they know their customer.

It has a good and a bad impact on customer retention. A customer is less likely to cancel a card which they held for a long time, and at the same time, there is incentive to cancel new cards after the signup bonus as quickly as possible since new cards have an average age of account negative impact until they're past 2 years, sort of.

Anyway, back to the point, Amex might end up having to accept product transfers in the future if they want to keep their customer base and not just become a sign up and cancel company. If enough people ask and complain it might happen. Oh wait, we're in Canada, so this won't happen. Just my 2 cents in stratosphere.

Delta will probably relaunch a new Skymiles card sometime. I got a survey about it. They're looking at mostly RBC or AMEX. I'd imagine they'll do AMEX to match the US side but you never know with these things, like Costco.

so back in 2012/2013 GCR also only offer 20K points?

I checked MBNA website also only 20K points ;) thinking of wait but don't know when the 40K promo ends :p

best western is very useful in US small cities, since normally there are only Choice/Wyndham/Best Western is available, and none of them is easy to get points in Canada CC.

Might seem logical, when you think about it ...
*A too many direct and indirect options to list
OW Amex & RBC OK
ST only Amex nah conversions from MR & SPG cards.

Thinking of it, we need a US-chaseorcity-type broad MC/VISA conversion card in CA.

RBC Avion is the closest thing we have... Points transferable to Westjet, AA, Asia miles, BA, Esso and shoppers optimum

Milesbuzz: Canada
 

Yes, even during the past 3 promos (2012/2013) when the 50K/60K welcome points were offered, the straight MBNA and/or GCR-affiliated offer concurrently at the same time was only for 20K points.

So, based on minimal past history there probably won't be any matching elevated offer from GCR. But, if enough of us mention it to GCR, maybe they'll reconsider? Otherwise, just sign up with the current promo above, and give the commission to Rewards Canada. Or lobby one of the other bloggers and see if they can negotiate with MBNA/BW for a better signup deal. ;)

In addition to the ones in the US, I also found the BW hotels in Denmark and UK were very good value for 15K redemptions, especially when considering the hotel rates there are NOT cheap to come by.

Looking at churning MBNA cards - specifically doing Alaska, World Elite (10,00 points FYF) and Best Western. Is it best to just apply for all these cards all on the same day thereby only getting hit with a credit check once? Or will I get hit three times?

Hey guys,

I just got declined an Alaska card by MBNA for "too many credit inquiries on my credit file". However, their letter says I can call them for "reconsideration" if I have some other piece of information I can share with them.

What kind of "information" can help me?

Thanks!

If you've been applying for credit cards at a much higher than usual rate this is likely the reason. If you already have a MBNA card they may allow you to move some of that credit over and approve you for the card. It's worth the call if you really want the card.