American Express-Membership Rewards or Starwood?
Feb 7, 2006, 1:29 pm
#17
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Originally Posted by AvalancheZ71
You all are playing with snakes. Why not just use a debit card with and intrest bearing checking account and buy the miles so you don't have to worry about getting bitten by the snakes.
Uhm, I think you are missing what I do - interest bearing checking account, better interest bearing Credit Union account, SPG Amex, Pay off at the end of the month
Feb 7, 2006, 1:44 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 920
Originally Posted by heathriel
Exactly - I've gotten more than 30,000 bonus points this year on my MR Rewards Gold card due to earnings promos, and my annual fee is $130. So, I've come out $170 ahead on that in addition to the points I've earned, AND there are transfer promos throughout the year as well.
It all depends on what you need, when you need it.
It all depends on what you need, when you need it.
I have a Gold Card, yet no promos?
Thx
Feb 7, 2006, 2:30 pm
#19
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Originally Posted by AvalancheZ71
You all are playing with snakes. Why not just use a debit card with and intrest bearing checking account and buy the miles so you don't have to worry about getting bitten by the snakes.
The debit-card-versus-credit-card debate is a bit off-topic here, since the OP specifically asked for opinions about one specific credit card versus another, but from what I've seen people who use debit cards mostly need the enforced discipline of immediate deduction for one reason or another - usually, to avoid finance charges on a credit card. I pay on time, so I don't have them.
(I'm talking about using debit cards where a credit card would do equally well - not about using debit cards to get cash back at a supermarket instead of making a trip to an ATM, or other situations where credit cards don't work.)
Feb 7, 2006, 3:46 pm
#20
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Usually discussed in the American Express Membership Rewards section. See this thread for the current offer:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=513763
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=513763
Originally Posted by Ken in Phx
Are there any links to these promos?
I have a Gold Card, yet no promos?
Thx
I have a Gold Card, yet no promos?
Thx
Feb 7, 2006, 3:58 pm
#21
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Originally Posted by singlemalt
Not so fast. I've posted this before, so my apologies if this is old news.
Last year, I believe the green and gold MR Amex cards had six months of double points promotions. Supposedly they were targeted, but I was always able to sign up. We're in the middle of a two-month promo right now.
Under these promos, you can get 4 HH points/$CC for any kind of spending. If you wait for the annual 3:2 MR-> Starpoint promo, you end up with 1.33 Starpoints/$CC. No other credit card can top that. Is the annual fee worth the extra points? The math is pretty simple - in my case it's a definite "yes".
I only use my green MR card during such a promotion; for the rest of the time, my Starwood Amex is my primary card.
Last year, I believe the green and gold MR Amex cards had six months of double points promotions. Supposedly they were targeted, but I was always able to sign up. We're in the middle of a two-month promo right now.
Under these promos, you can get 4 HH points/$CC for any kind of spending. If you wait for the annual 3:2 MR-> Starpoint promo, you end up with 1.33 Starpoints/$CC. No other credit card can top that. Is the annual fee worth the extra points? The math is pretty simple - in my case it's a definite "yes".
I only use my green MR card during such a promotion; for the rest of the time, my Starwood Amex is my primary card.
Feb 7, 2006, 4:04 pm
#22
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Originally Posted by AvalancheZ71
You all are playing with snakes. Why not just use a debit card with and intrest bearing checking account and buy the miles so you don't have to worry about getting bitten by the snakes.
IMHO, YMMV, on a scale from "sucks" to "does not suck", free money does not suck. I think I posted this on another thread, but right now Juniper Bank - an outfit I hadn't heard of a year ago - is giddily spewing forth juicy goodness for all who are willing to accept it.
Of course, there are millions of people out there who don't know how to play the game well, which is why the snakes are so eager to let us do it.
Feb 8, 2006, 9:47 am
#26
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 13
Originally Posted by mia
1. Personal cards enrolled in Membership Rewards offer double points for so-called "Everyday spending", such as supermarkets, pharmacies, gasoline, postage and cellular phone. One card also offers 1.5 points for purchases from MR transfer partners, including Starwood. This means you actually earn more points using Gold Rewards Plus than if you pay with Starwood's own card which offers a straight one point for one dollar.
http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif...1,16934,00.asp
Borrow up to 10,000 points a year for airline, hotel, retail, or vacation package rewards.
As long as you are a Rewards Plus Gold Card member in good standing, you may borrow points twice each year when you transfer Membership Rewards points to a frequent flyer/guest account or redeem points for vacation packages or Unique Experiences. There is no time constraint placed on earning back the points advanced. However, American Express reserves the right to charge your account $.02 per outstanding point should you cancel your Card and/or Membership Rewards account. Other terms and conditions apply.
As long as you are a Rewards Plus Gold Card member in good standing, you may borrow points twice each year when you transfer Membership Rewards points to a frequent flyer/guest account or redeem points for vacation packages or Unique Experiences. There is no time constraint placed on earning back the points advanced. However, American Express reserves the right to charge your account $.02 per outstanding point should you cancel your Card and/or Membership Rewards account. Other terms and conditions apply.
Feb 8, 2006, 11:37 am
#28
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Borrowing simply means that American Express will advance points against future purchases so that you can redeem an award before you have earned the full amount required ^ . You pay them back by using the card, not by returning the points from the transfer partner.
Originally Posted by Threepw00d
I was looking at the rewards plus gold card and saw this disclaimer here:
http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif...1,16934,00.asp
What do they mean by "borrow?" Does this mean you can't really transfer your points to any FF program? Because that would REALLY suck. Sure, you could redeem your points for Gift Cards at other major national retailers etc., but I'm sure a lot of people are in this MR program to transfer points to miles.
http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif...1,16934,00.asp
What do they mean by "borrow?" Does this mean you can't really transfer your points to any FF program? Because that would REALLY suck. Sure, you could redeem your points for Gift Cards at other major national retailers etc., but I'm sure a lot of people are in this MR program to transfer points to miles.
Last edited by mia; Feb 8, 2006 at 12:24 pm
Feb 8, 2006, 12:44 pm
#29
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If by "generic use" you mean categories other than supermarket, pharmacy, gasoline, USPS and cellphone and travel providers other than Membership Rewards' 14 airline and 4 hotel chain partners, I almost agree. The better deal for the first $60,000 per household of generic spending would be The Knot and The Nest credit cards. They carry no annual fee, earn 1 MR point per dollar, plus a 10,000 point bonus for $15,000 calendar year spend, effectively 1.6 points per dollar. (Caveat: these cards participate in Membership Rewards Options, a program with a 2:1 airline transfer rate unless linked to a regular Membership Rewards card.) However, with 60+ cardholders the SPG card would be simpler because you don't have to worry about using the "right" card for a specific purchase.
dennis
SPG Amex beats Membership Rewards hands down for generic use.
dennis
Originally Posted by 925
SPG Amex beats Membership Rewards hands down for generic use.
Feb 8, 2006, 1:42 pm
#30
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The SPG card is a "credit" card and the AmEx Platinum with MR is a "charge" card. My guess is that I would not get nearly as high of a credit limit with the SPG card as I apparently now have with the AmEx platinum (AmEx never tells you what your limit is with the Platinum but based on past experience it is very high for me).
Would this tip the scales toward AmEx Platinum and MR even if I don't consider the lounge access benefit?
Would this tip the scales toward AmEx Platinum and MR even if I don't consider the lounge access benefit?