topic Re: Amex Gold 4x dining will soon be for restaurants worldwide in Credit Cards

AMEX gold restaurant update?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 May 2019 23:40:14 GMT

Just received an email from AMEX - "your personalized guide"

started talking about the next year of membership.....

anyway it says "You're earning 4x points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. Supermarkets...."

the 'worldwide' caught my eye. Everything has always stated U.S. Restaurants and while overseas I made a point of using my Savor card at restaurants..... this has got to be a mistake, right? I would love it if AMEX expanded the category but I can't find any supporting adverts stating 'worldwide'

anybody else have this email or info on the expansion?

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

j615 — Fri, 17 May 2019 00:03:11 GMT

I haven’t received anything regarding this, but I’m interested to know. Even though I rarely travel abroad.

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

mongstradamus — Fri, 17 May 2019 01:53:16 GMT

@j615 wrote:
I haven’t received anything regarding this, but I’m interested to know. Even though I rarely travel abroad.

I am also interested about this as I am going next Jan to Japan and Thailand would like to use Amex gold or Hilton aspire for that matter overseas but right now they only get 1x overseas I don’t get it . Will probably just use my CITI premier if things stay the way they are now .

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

K-in-Boston — Fri, 17 May 2019 02:18:07 GMT

The official product page still states US restaurants. That seems like a very deliberate wording change, so that would be a welcome change for those earning MRs. When I was all about the MRs, it was disappointing to use Chase abroad even when Amex was fairly well accepted due to the lower earnings. I don't think it would change my current restaurant strategy, though (Altitude Reserve if contactless, CSR if chip/swipe/keyed). But again, for those wanting to rack up MRs or those who don't have something with an effectively higher return, that would be a very positive thing!

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

mongstradamus — Fri, 17 May 2019 02:56:22 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
The official product page still states US restaurants. That seems like a very deliberate wording change, so that would be a welcome change for those earning MRs. When I was all about the MRs, it was disappointing to use Chase abroad even when Amex was fairly well accepted due to the lower earnings. I don't think it would change my current restaurant strategy, though (Altitude Reserve if contactless, CSR if chip/swipe/keyed). But again, for those wanting to rack up MRs or those who don't have something with an effectively higher return, that would be a very positive thing!

I hope this amex policy on all cards. It doesn't make sense to me on cards with AF over 200 you can't get bonus spend on restaurants overseas. Whats the use of it being a no FTF card if you can't use it to get bonus spend overseas.

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2019 03:57:59 GMT

"Whats the use of it being a no FTF card if you can't use it to get bonus spend overseas"

It does offer you some purchase protections (but not as good as the platinum, though).

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

imaximous — Fri, 17 May 2019 12:14:37 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
The official product page still states US restaurants. That seems like a very deliberate wording change, so that would be a welcome change for those earning MRs. When I was all about the MRs, it was disappointing to use Chase abroad even when Amex was fairly well accepted due to the lower earnings. I don't think it would change my current restaurant strategy, though (Altitude Reserve if contactless, CSR if chip/swipe/keyed). But again, for those wanting to rack up MRs or those who don't have something with an effectively higher return, that would be a very positive thing!

Are you saying you’re not collecting MRs anymore? 😱

(who are you and what have you done with the real K?)

What are you after nowadays?

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

imaximous — Fri, 17 May 2019 12:20:25 GMT

I never understood the logic either other than the obvious (not wanting to pay you extra points).

Don’t leave home without it — unless you’re traveling abroad...

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

K-in-Boston — Fri, 17 May 2019 12:42:26 GMT

@imaximous wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
The official product page still states US restaurants. That seems like a very deliberate wording change, so that would be a welcome change for those earning MRs. When I was all about the MRs, it was disappointing to use Chase abroad even when Amex was fairly well accepted due to the lower earnings. I don't think it would change my current restaurant strategy, though (Altitude Reserve if contactless, CSR if chip/swipe/keyed). But again, for those wanting to rack up MRs or those who don't have something with an effectively higher return, that would be a very positive thing!
Are you saying you’re not collecting MRs anymore? 😱
(who are you and what have you done with the real K?)
What are you after nowadays?

I still buy airfare with Platinum and I take advantage of Amex Offers on all of the cards (and for the past 2 months I've been racking up MRs through eBates/Rakuten), but since I've mostly been using portal redemptions for airfare to use points this year, the categories that seem to make sense for Gold are actually slightly better served by CSR and USB AR.

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

redpat — Fri, 17 May 2019 13:35:57 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
@imaximous wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
The official product page still states US restaurants. That seems like a very deliberate wording change, so that would be a welcome change for those earning MRs. When I was all about the MRs, it was disappointing to use Chase abroad even when Amex was fairly well accepted due to the lower earnings. I don't think it would change my current restaurant strategy, though (Altitude Reserve if contactless, CSR if chip/swipe/keyed). But again, for those wanting to rack up MRs or those who don't have something with an effectively higher return, that would be a very positive thing!
Are you saying you’re not collecting MRs anymore? 😱
(who are you and what have you done with the real K?)
What are you after nowadays?
I still buy airfare with Platinum and I take advantage of Amex Offers on all of the cards (and for the past 2 months I've been racking up MRs through eBates/Rakuten), but since I've mostly been using portal redemptions for airfare to use points this year, the categories that seem to make sense for Gold are actually slightly better served by CSR and USB AR.

K, are you saying that you dining is on CSR because you redeem travel on the Chase's portal, for instance?

I thought of other ways to swipe my CSR but I can't find one. I've used eBates in store and online, pared my gold card to delta dining program and use my biz plat for the 35% rebate getting 1.54 value on airline redemptions, CSR is 1.50x.

Help me Dr. K find a use for my CSR other than for international travel.......

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

mongstradamus — Fri, 17 May 2019 14:41:44 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
@imaximous wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
The official product page still states US restaurants. That seems like a very deliberate wording change, so that would be a welcome change for those earning MRs. When I was all about the MRs, it was disappointing to use Chase abroad even when Amex was fairly well accepted due to the lower earnings. I don't think it would change my current restaurant strategy, though (Altitude Reserve if contactless, CSR if chip/swipe/keyed). But again, for those wanting to rack up MRs or those who don't have something with an effectively higher return, that would be a very positive thing!
Are you saying you’re not collecting MRs anymore? 😱
(who are you and what have you done with the real K?)
What are you after nowadays?
I still buy airfare with Platinum and I take advantage of Amex Offers on all of the cards (and for the past 2 months I've been racking up MRs through eBates/Rakuten), but since I've mostly been using portal redemptions for airfare to use points this year, the categories that seem to make sense for Gold are actually slightly better served by CSR and USB AR.

a bit off topic but how do you use ebates with MR cards I am kind of curious how to maximize MR points that way. When i had CSR I liked it but I never really took advantage of the 1.5 UR redemption, i would use it for hyatt redemptions so for me CIP was actually a better fit for me. I still get 3x from travel and have been using the Cell phone insurance through that card. I use gold for restaurants for 4x domestically. Groceries is actually a pretty big amount of spend I would be missing out with a UR card compared to an any of the MR cards. Not every card fits perfectly for each person.

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

K-in-Boston — Fri, 17 May 2019 14:58:24 GMT

@redpat wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
@imaximous wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
The official product page still states US restaurants. That seems like a very deliberate wording change, so that would be a welcome change for those earning MRs. When I was all about the MRs, it was disappointing to use Chase abroad even when Amex was fairly well accepted due to the lower earnings. I don't think it would change my current restaurant strategy, though (Altitude Reserve if contactless, CSR if chip/swipe/keyed). But again, for those wanting to rack up MRs or those who don't have something with an effectively higher return, that would be a very positive thing!
Are you saying you’re not collecting MRs anymore? 😱
(who are you and what have you done with the real K?)
What are you after nowadays?
I still buy airfare with Platinum and I take advantage of Amex Offers on all of the cards (and for the past 2 months I've been racking up MRs through eBates/Rakuten), but since I've mostly been using portal redemptions for airfare to use points this year, the categories that seem to make sense for Gold are actually slightly better served by CSR and USB AR.
K, are you saying that you dining is on CSR because you redeem travel on the Chase's portal, for instance?

I thought of other ways to swipe my CSR but I can't find one. I've used eBates in store and online, pared my gold card to delta dining program and use my biz plat for the 35% rebate getting 1.54 value on airline redemptions, CSR is 1.50x.

Help me Dr. K find a use for my CSR other than for international travel.......

If I had the Business Platinum (well I do technically have one, but it's my employer's so no points for me), the conversation would be very different due to the 35% back. Yes, my 2019 rewards strategy has been redeeming for revenue airfare through Amex Travel (1cpp + 5% back), the portals for Chase (1.5cpp) and Citi (1.25cpp + 10% back), and the instant mobile redemption from US Bank (1.5cpp + 4.5% back). 2017 and 2018 were all about amassing SPG and Marriott points with huge Marriott redemptions, so getting MRs was more of a priority.

So yes, CSR I use for dining these days (unless Apple Pay is an option) because it's the biggest return for my current strategy. CSR would also be great for other travel categories not covered by Amex Platinum/Gold.

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

K-in-Boston — Fri, 17 May 2019 15:01:09 GMT

@mongstradamus wrote:
a bit off topic but how do you use ebates with MR cards I am kind of curious how to maximize MR points that way.

https://www.rakuten.com/help/article/earning-american-express-membership-rewards-points-on-rakuten-360017609253

There are some dining options, so not totally off-topic.

Re: AMEX gold restaurant update?

imaximous — Fri, 17 May 2019 15:50:15 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
@imaximous wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
The official product page still states US restaurants. That seems like a very deliberate wording change, so that would be a welcome change for those earning MRs. When I was all about the MRs, it was disappointing to use Chase abroad even when Amex was fairly well accepted due to the lower earnings. I don't think it would change my current restaurant strategy, though (Altitude Reserve if contactless, CSR if chip/swipe/keyed). But again, for those wanting to rack up MRs or those who don't have something with an effectively higher return, that would be a very positive thing!
Are you saying you’re not collecting MRs anymore? 😱
(who are you and what have you done with the real K?)
What are you after nowadays?
I still buy airfare with Platinum and I take advantage of Amex Offers on all of the cards (and for the past 2 months I've been racking up MRs through eBates/Rakuten), but since I've mostly been using portal redemptions for airfare to use points this year, the categories that seem to make sense for Gold are actually slightly better served by CSR and USB AR.

I kinda changed the bulk of my spending after I got the Prestige. Now all travel and dining go on it for 5x, and wherever I can swipe, I typically use the USB AR. I recently discovered Ebates/MR so I use the BBP whenever I catch something I like on Ebates.

CSR is now used only for travel not covered by the current set up. I've got the URs I need for upcoming travel, which is mostly transfer to Hyatt only. I also need about 4k Alaska miles, so I'm reluctantly using my AS card to get there at a measly 1x for everyday spend. I cry with every swipe

Amex Gold 4x dining will soon be for restaurants worldwide

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 20:57:39 GMT

cf. TPG https://thepointsguy.com/news/amex-gold-4x-points-dining-worldwide/

It appears revised terms and conditions are being sent out through account statements, effective June 6th (that's two days from now) the 4x dining will not only be US restaurants. 4x supermarkets will still be US supermarkets and capped at the first $25k annual spends.

Looks like a very promising change for me. Hopefully this also means they've done better in categorizing the 4x restaurants, because from what I have seen in the past some restaurants didn't get the 4x even if they showed as restaurant category in the online account.

Amex Gold 4x Restaurants - Now International!

FicoGuy2019 — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 23:31:47 GMT

This is great news.

Re: Amex Gold 4x dining will soon be for restaurants worldwide

Anonymous — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 23:52:20 GMT

great finds PlyrStar93 and Ficoguy2019!

really awesome news.

Re: Amex Gold 4x dining will soon be for restaurants worldwide

mongstradamus — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 00:48:21 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
great finds PlyrStar93 and Ficoguy2019!

really awesome news.

While this is really good news , I would always complain to CSR when I called Amex about why world wide restaurant aren’t covered for a card with that high of an AF, heck CSP and premier have AF less than 100 and they can make it work. Now onto the complaining part why is this not standard across all Amex cards not use the Gold. I know its a co branded card but hilton aspire has a 450 AF and you can’t get bonus for restaurants over seas. Thats really weird to me

Re: Amex Gold 4x dining will soon be for restaurants worldwide

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 01:11:14 GMT

Very glad to hear this - I’m currently working on my Gold SUB and may be in Toronto in July - nice to know I can keep working the Gold for the MRs on a getaway across the border

Re: Amex Gold 4x dining will soon be for restaurants worldwide

NRB525 — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 01:28:03 GMT

The AMEX Gold continues to improve.
Good info, thanks for sharing.