AMEX Rewards Card 5x category?

[burn'em]

Hi all,

I'm new to Singapore and wondering whether the AMEX rewards card's 5x points categories and selections work out to a better deal than the PremierMiles or KF AMEX cards?

From the reading here, it's 1.6 KF miles for every S$1, whereas from my calculations it's 3.125 KF miles for every S$1 (5 MR pts for every S$1, 1000 KF for 1600 MR pts). Since you can choose 5 categories to earn on, I'm tempted to push most of my spend to this card if my math is right.

The kicker for me is the top-up. According to the site:

"IF I DON’T HAVE QUITE ENOUGH POINTS FOR A REWARD, IS IT POSSIBLE TO BUY THEM?
Yes. You can top up your points at just S$30 for 1,000 Membership Rewards points. Each purchase top-up has to accompanied by a reward redemption. Terms and conditions apply."

So by my reckoning, you can purchase pts at 33.3... to S$1. I'm really curious to see what those terms are and if they keep that up for long.

Anyone else come to this conclusion?

Cheers!

[vsepr]

Yes, if you add the 5x merchants to your fav 5, $1=5.5 MR points= 3.4375 miles . But in 2013, the merchants list does not include Cold Storage/MarketPlace/Jasons.

http://offers.amexnetwork.com/sg/xo-weekends

Yes, u can buy 1000 MR points for S$30 up to 20000 MR points for S$600. Thats 12500 miles for S$600. S$1 gets you 20.83 miles. Can top up points for mileage transfer/redeem voucher or items. But have to call the hotline to redeem and top up at the same time. Top up of points cannot be done online and no charge for calling the hotline to redeem the points PLUS top up. If call hotline for redemption, there will be a 800 MR points charge.

[vsepr]

BAD NEWS!!!

WEF 01 May 2013, the mileage conversion rate has increased to 1.8MR point = 1 mile. I called up AMEX to confirm. Now is 1.6MR point = 1 mile. AMEX getting worse in 2013. Their points requirement for vouchers increase in 2013 and now mileage also increase....

[SQueeze]

Yes, if you add the 5x merchants to your fav 5, $1=5.5 MR points= 3.4375 miles . But in 2013, the merchants list does not include Cold Storage/MarketPlace/Jasons.

http://offers.amexnetwork.com/sg/xo-weekends

Yes, u can buy 1000 MR points for S$30 up to 20000 MR points for S$600. Thats 12500 miles for S$600. S$1 gets you 20.83 miles. Can top up points for mileage transfer/redeem voucher or items. But have to call the hotline to redeem and top up at the same time. Top up of points cannot be done online and no charge for calling the hotline to redeem the points PLUS top up. If call hotline for redemption, there will be a 800 MR points charge.

I just went to their website and Cold Storage/Jason's/Market Place is in that list of 5x points

http://www.americanexpress.com/sg/pe...ivetimes.shtml

[vsepr]

I called up AMEX customer service. They say CS/MP/Jasons still gives 5x points for Fri-Sun in 2013. The only difference is that there is no more discounts for AMEX cards like it used to be, hence it is removed from the "Selects" website.
http://offers.amexnetwork.com/sg/xo-weekends

That's why it was not removed in the 5x merchant list here:
http://www.americanexpress.com/sg/pe...ivetimes.shtml

Quick!! 2 more weekends in April 2013 to earn 5x points and transfer to miles at 1.6MR = 1 mile!!

[vsepr]

AMEX miles transfer to KrisFlyer is very fast. I did the transfer online at around 10.30am on 22 April 2013.

Today 23 April 2013 at 10.50am I check my KrisFlyer account online and the miles are in!!

22 Apr 2013 American Express Credit MEMBERSHIP MILES TRANSFER

For Maybank Singapore, the miles transfer are done once a week. It reaches KrisFlyer every Tuesday.

[KC*]

I am a bit confused. From the website, it appears that all Amex cards qualify for the 5x promotion. Hence it should include the KF card, right?

I was previously told that that card was calculated differently but can't remember how.

Anyone knows how the Krisflyer Amex Card's calculation works on this? I suppose the 50%+50% will not be applicable anymore when used in this way? Would it be more beneficial to use the Amex Gold or Plat card versus the Krisflyer Gold Amex?

[vsepr]

No...read the T&C at the bottom: http://www.americanexpress.com/sg/pe...ivetimes.shtml

"Applicable only to American Express Cards issued in Singapore by American Express International, Inc. (excluding American Express Corporate Cards, Gold Credit Cards on cashback option, Singapore Airlines Credit Cards, and American Express Cards issued by DBS or UOB)."

[KC*]

No...read the T&C at the bottom: http://www.americanexpress.com/sg/pe...ivetimes.shtml

"Applicable only to American Express Cards issued in Singapore by American Express International, Inc. (excluding American Express Corporate Cards, Gold Credit Cards on cashback option, Singapore Airlines Credit Cards, and American Express Cards issued by DBS or UOB)."

Oooo.... thanks. Time for me to get new glasses. Haha...

[vsepr]

AMEX has updated their Membership Rewards points to Frequent Flyer miles website today 01 May 2013. The previous rate of 1.6MR to 1 mile is for high tier cards only!!

https://global.americanexpress.com/m...Id=11&pageNo=1

If you log in online to do a redemption, you will see this message:

Important Notice on Frequent Flyer Conversion Rates:

1. American Express Centurion and Platinum Charge Cardmembers can enjoy a preferential conversion rate of 400 points to 250 air miles at participating Frequent Flyer Partners. Please select the correct redemption option.
2. All other American Express Cardmembers enrolled under the Membership Rewards Traveller Option programme can transfer based on the conversion rate of 450 points to 250 air miles at participating Frequent Flyer Partners.

American Express Rewards Cardmembers will be charged a transfer fee of S$20 (GST inclusive) per conversion of points to Frequent Flyer or Frequent Guest Partners.

[vsepr]

AMEX is really stingy. I charged >S$5000 in the past year and they refuse to waive off the S$53.50 annual fee for my Rewards Card and yet the CSO can tell me how good their benefits are etc etc etc and I told her so many unwelcome changes to AMEX in 2013 like increase in mileage rate, redemption points for vouchers, charge GST in annual fee etc...
she only offer to credit 5000 points if I pay the annual fee, so outcome: CANCEL THE CARD!!

[inix]

Spending $5K PA does not get you anything onto AMEX good books unfortunately. AFAIK, the people whom they would give some look would be those who at least do 20-50K PA.

[s2s]

Quite disappointed with Amex when I was trying to transfer my Amex reward points to KrisFlyer.

1. Earned reward points is much lesser than expected. Then I just realized my card is no longer to able to have 10+10 rewards. I am holding Amex Reserve Card for many years, don't know when they took it out.

2. Converted KF points is much lesser than expected. Then I realized again the ratio now becomes to 1.8, I remember it was 1.6 since always? Don't know when it was changed.

[polarbear]

Agree to that. AMEX is really stingy. I am dumping their AMEX-SIA Ascend card after the first 3 months spent of 5X KF miles.