We bring you the news how Amex Platinum changes for the worse, the Hilton Honors new era, how to do online dating for miles, learn of the most popular jet routes, how to smoke weed and make art, how to get more pre-approved offers from banks and more!
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Slim pickings. There used to be a lot more important action in this hobby…
The big news was that Amex is raising the fee for the personal Platinum card to $550. And adding some unimpressive benefits. WTF is wrong with these guys? Chase is beating the crap out of them left and right and this is they way they respond? Anyways, my wife is going to close her personal Platinum before the annual fee hits for sure now. I am keeping the Business Platinum and hope to take advantage of that 50% benefit rebate thingie. Well, I expect them to raise that annual fee soon. Can’t wait to get my hands on a Chase Sapphire Reserve and keep it, so fed up with Amex. What gets me is how they have managed to confuse the hell out of cardholders on the differences between the personal and business versions! You can read what Doctor of Credit wrote: Should You Get The American Express Platinum Now, Before the Annual Fee Increases? At least, you know this guy won’t try to sell you plastic…
Skift has its take on Amex’s move with the Platinum card. What stood out for me was this:
“I’m deeply paranoid about these types of competitive assaults on our customer base,” said Doug Buckminster, head of the global consumer services group at AmEx. Speaking to investors this week, he said the company saw a temporary but notable rise in customers calling to cancel their Platinum Cards after the metal Sapphire Reserve was launched.
Talk to you soon Doug!
Some good stuff to learn about what is upon us with the new Hilton Honors program. I want to comment on this:
The real risk is if / when Hilton starts to increase the redemption caps on the properties. If they go, or are increased sharply, you have moved by a stealth to a pure ‘revenue based redemption’ programme.
I don’t think Hilton wants this, if I’m honest, because when you remove the lure of outsized redemptions Hilton points become a lot less interesting
I think Hilton wants this and it will slowly work it in…I guess time will tell, as always. I have been wrong before. I hope I am wrong again.
Most popular routes for private jets. Interesting! No surprise that Vegas is at the top. Check the last entry, I guess much less Venezuelans coming to Miami lately, wow!
Listen to Oscar, United’s CEO, he may just save your life!
Smoke weed and make art. Wow. The only thing I could draw would be something resembling Doritos!
I have long been against the proliferation of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). There are so many gimmicky ETFs that keep coming because they can find suckers that will buy them. But this latest one is absolutely far out. An ETF is launching based on “biblical values” that excludes investing in companies that support the “LGBT lifestyle”. WTF!!!
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There was a deal involving buying an online dating membership through the British Airways shopping portal. Think match.com and e-harmony. Last thing I need is more British Airways Avios! And bloggers were instructing readers how to structure their purchase how to pay more, WTF! Anyways, when I saw it hit the big commercial blogs I just could not help but wonder if these guys will get screwed or waste hours trying to get their Avios. Well, at least they could get a date. Oh this comment over at DansDeals…
How to check for pre-approval offers from banks.
Warning: Daily Getaways. Coming. Brace yourselves!
Thanks to the reader who got the SPG Business Amex with my links, much appreciated.
And I leave you with this…The face you make when you see the Friday blogger interview at MMS telling us all how they discovered the hobby last year and they decided to tell friends and family travel for free…
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1?
Congrats. botcastle would be proud !
Firstkkkkkkkk
Dataincomplete/hyperlinkblocked/adminkeyrequired
Biting my gold medal
Right now
Meant bronze obviously
I want to be PedroNY with all his miles/points AND Gold medal #respect
Wow, so competitive these days. I had to go for it. Just like going for another Chase card (IHG) and getting an auto approve, rush of endorphins hits me, makes me apply for Alaska Biz and Personal, approved and approved, AAdvantage Aviator via TransUnion near blank report sails by with a $15k CC line. What a day, and its only start of the morning on the East Coast – now off to the waiting line at the local Target and/or ToyRUs to see if we can get us that Nintendo Switch + Zelda combo.
Cheers,
PedroNY
Just go for the NES mini.
Who is in charge of PedroNY fan club? May end up having more members than the ScottCastle fan club lol.
NES mini?
The classic edition with Donkey Kong and Super Mario.
Oh man Donkey Kong, that brings back the memories! May have to look into this
That match.com promo will end badly. I can see half the churning community joining same day. Can you imagine: “Hey, just saw you joined same day as I did! Is it your hobby churning? Are you Scottcastle?”
LOL! And imagine all of us married folks explaining to the spouse “You see, I just signed up for the cheap points purchase aspect…”
There is always a decent percentage chance that these kinds of things end poorly especially when they hit the Titans and the avalanche begins.
Dishing out almost $600 for…more Avios is like another MMS Friday interview 🙂
LMAOOO are you scottcastle…dying
That GIF!! haha!
Interesting watching the “coverage” of the Amex Plat changes – pretty much could predict how each blogger would react. I was a bit surprised by Travel Codex which had a very glowing post about it…usually seems like he’s more level headed. I get that the changes could just hit the sweet spot for some folks but it’s also clear that for many people it’s nothing impressive.
I don’t understand Amex – years ago they were the one to beat and now they’re playing catch up. These changes just have a miserly feel to them. The bit about Amex choosing an Uber partnership because millenials made me laugh out loud! It’s like when you’re young and your parents learn just enough of your lingo to be dangerous. “So you kids like that Katy Bieber music now? Would you like some Xbox floppy discs for your birthday?”
Hilton…I don’t know…I don’t believe for a minute they won’t stealth devalue even further in the future. As for whether they feel the need to keep a carrot of “outsized value”? I don’t think that matters to loyalty programs as much as we (in this mileage crazy world) think it does. Airlines still rely heavily on the “Enough for a free (domestic) round-trip flight!!!!!!!” type of approach for selling co-branded cards for example. I think the majority of consumers have much more basic travel aspirations and just want something easy to understand and use. Time will tell I guess.
I had the same reaction when I read the Travel Codex post on the Platinum changes. I am sure WTF was thrown out a few times 🙂
Amex used to be the best. And had the best phone agents. Now it is a skeleton of its former glory. It is really sad…
This part of your comments is just pure gold:
I don’t think that matters to loyalty programs as much as we (in this mileage crazy world) think it does. Airlines still rely heavily on the “Enough for a free (domestic) round-trip flight!!!!!!!” type of approach for selling co-branded cards for example. I think the majority of consumers have much more basic travel aspirations and just want something easy to understand and use.
Yet another fine post, Buzz.
The Avios deal died quickly – no surprise and I hope the buyers are prepared for the fight to come. My limited experience with portals and outsized deals (looking at you LifeMiles) made me avoid the Avios as well as being alliterative!
I know Hilton gets knocked about quite a bit but I’ve been a happy camper for ages. In the old days I was a “triple Diamond” – qualified on stays, nights AND base points. Those days are gone but I still get good value. And some hotels really are incredibly well run. For example, on Saturday last I booked a one night stay for 20 March at a hotel I’ve never stayed at before. By Monday night I had been upgraded to the best room in the hotel (they don’t have suites). I’m closing in on Lifetime Diamond — probably will make it this year if World of Hurt doesn’t run some kind of decent promo (hint: FFN would be nice). Sure the devals suck the big Donkey Kong, but remember this “hobby” (sic and sick) contributes to those devals — all the pump/pump/pumping runs the “points printing press” and simple economics makes the “fiat” currency less valuable over time.
Hope ScottCastle is somewhere fun. Where do bots go for fun?
Happy Weekend and #TBBon
I think bots go to Japan for fun.
I share your views on the online dating BA “deal”. Good luck to all…just fork over the $500 plus to the bank and then you can show off how you travel for free lol.
I have had wonderful stays at Hiltons over the years. Just the value proposition and “score” potential is being so diminished right in front of our eyes.
Not seeing Hyatt doing FFN again, they just don’t have to, capacity is too high.
If I like watching paint dry, should I pick an ETF or mutual fund?
Lol ETF not only will your paint dry it will decay into oblivion
I love watching my paint dry…it’s a beautiful sight….especially when you step away from it and not looking at it for years…it is amazing, thank you Jack, my hero, I am so honored you posted in my little blog.
Thanks for the links yesterday, George! Dustin did a really good job on that miles and points one and I appreciate you including them! Your check is in the mail…
Love getting checks in the mail. Or, better yet, direct deposited!
Loved the Amex Plat post too, it fits my blog mission 😉
OMAAT says that only Avios from the base match.com subscription are tracking–and not the Avios from the add-ons. Feeling good about not jumping on that promotion. Feeling bad about dropping money on a swingset at samsclub.com last night, but the 8X Avios and 5% Discover bonus lessened the sting a little bit.
I am the world’s worst online shopper I swear…I am allergic to it…But wifey? Mall is her favorite word. Went shopping with her once many years ago, never again #truth
Done with the Plat as well as soon as AF comes up. Will use uber credits til then.
Hilton is so sad. They should partner with Delta. I wonder what that message board troll “DCS” is thinking of now to keep defending Hilton over SPG
I swear Delta ex execs are running the Hilton program!
I remember someone posting once in a while to defend Hilton…that must be the one you are referring to. I always thought that guy was a Hilton employee!
I gave up on Hilton after the last devaluation. What’s the point?