Just noticed that GCR pulled the MBNA alaska card link.. :-(

Oops, I just saw that this has already been mentioned on the Alaska Airlines forum in the thread Alaska Airlines Canadian MasterCard. Sorry.

Can anybody confirm that they will actually pull another credit check if you already have an active AMEX?

yes, they've been pulling for each new card app for me, even tho i put down my existing amex/account

This was posted in the "Churning Amex in Canada" thread, but Amex is now offering their Amex Business Gold card ($250/year, FYF, 30K MR after $5000 spending (or 40K via referrafl). Perhaps it's worth adding to the Wiki?

Done...added.

Wee, here goes the business card gravy train. I'm tempted to get a few but I'm terrified to book travel on anything other than my Platinum card... I want my ridiculous insurance, after getting burned a few times.

I edited the Churning AMEX Wiki

Not sure if we need 2 AMEX threads/discussions (this one and that AMEX)
but no harm, since I'm sure not many people even read the Wiki at the top

I called RBC today and asked about this promo. I have a CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite and she checked some list and said yes, that this promo was still on and that my card was one of the qualifying cards. She said I'd get one year free, 15k points BUT it is another credit pull and I'm trying to be careful about which ones I do for the next year. Apparently the TD Aeroplan Infinite does NOT qualify but the TD First Class Infinite does qualify. That's all I know so far.

So just to update, the promo for RBC to waive the first year fee on their Visa Infinite Avion is still on.

What are the main benefits of the platinum insurance vs the business card insurance?

Hmmmm....I just may do this. I've been considering getting the Avion card to replace my CIBC Aeroplan Visa, and getting the FYF is cool! Do you know if there is an expiry for this promo? I still have several months without a fee on my CIBC Aeroplan Visa and I may wait a bit...

The RBC branch manager said it's an ongoing offer but I don't know for how long. I'd think til the end of the year, but who knows
I still have until March 31 on my CIBC Aerogold Infinite too but it's a card that I do not plan to let go of as it's the only card I have that covers Aeroplan reward tickets. I've had it for a long time to so don't want to get rid of it. I just want the Avion points. I was told I could switch my US Dollars Gold Visa at RBC to their Infinite to avoid a credit hit, if approved. However, to make up for that, I want to open up a RBC US account stateside (I have a US savings at RBC Canada but will close it and open one stateside) and then get the free Visa Signature Black Stateside which has excellent benefits and still gives me a US card. They use your Canadian credit for this. The manager at my branch said that it can all be done with one credit hit because the Stateside RBC will require a credit hit but they won't do another one in Canada to switch my cards, if that makes sense.
I am going to wait as I want to get the Amex Biz Gold, Amex Airmiles Plat and Chase Marriott cards now. I'm hoping if I do all 3 applications at one, the Amex will both hit TU credit bureau and the Chase Marriott the Equifax and it will look like one or 2 hits max. Apparently, charge cards make less of a dent on credit scores than credit cards so the Chase and RBC would effect my credit more.

I think you'll like the Air Miles Plat. With the referral, you'll get 2100 AM which will get you over $200 in GC. I'm using some of my Keg GC next week in YYZ! Don't waste your time on flight redemptions. Too complicated, and little value. Let Amex pay for your baseball steak instead!

I'm gonna have to sit out the Amex Biz Gold promo. $5K is too steep for me.

Really? I'd hoped that Airmiles had decent flight redemptions. There are no sweet spots? What about for hotels? I've never used it before but have about 4k airmiles already that I wanted to boost up to actually use for something good. Maybe I should forgo the Amex Airmiles Plat and just use up the miles I have and concentrate on better programs.
I'd even considered getting the BMO Airmiles card for the bonus and 25% less airmles redemption despite the $99 fee when I actually went to use them. I thought the Amex Airmiles plat was only 1500 miles, 2000 is even better and 2100 with referral.
If the program is that bad, then I don't think I'll do it.
I have to spend 5k on the Amex Biz Plat and then $500 on the Airmiles and forget what o the Chase. This will be a hard churn, maybe too hard.

Sweet spot on Air Miles is remote communities with ridiculously high regular airfares.