topic Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express in Credit Cards

Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

sammyfire2001 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:23:08 GMT

Does anyone know the main differences between the 2?

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Creditaddict — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:31:23 GMT

membership rewards you get into after adding a charge card to the mix, your credit cards than qualify to be upgraded to membership rewards instead of express... the difference, don't know exact % but you get more with regular membership rewards vs. express, I want to say 2?? someone else?

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

MidnightVoice — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:43:58 GMT

I have a boring blue and it says I am in the Membership Rewards® Program

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Creditaddict — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:47:59 GMT

To find out if you're eligible to participate in the Membership Rewards program, just look for your American Express® Card below.

If you see your Card below, you are eligible to enroll in Membership Rewards Express.

Blue from
American Express Platinum Business Card
from American Express The Nest Card
from American Express® The Knot Card
from American Express® Blue for Business
from American Express Optima Platinum Card
from American Express Business Management
Account

If you see your Card below, you are eligible to enroll in Membership Rewards.

Green

American Express® Green Card

Preferred Rewards Green Card

Gold

American Express® Gold Card

Preferred Rewards Gold Card

Rewards Plus Gold Card

Business Green

Business Green Rewards Card

Business Gold

Business Gold Rewards Card

American Express® Corporate Card
American Express® Executive Gold Corporate Card
Business Gold Card
Business Membership Rewards Card
Business Purchase Account
Costco Business Card
Executive Business Card

If you see your card below, you are eligible to enroll in Membership Rewards First.

. The Platinum Card
from American Express Business Platinum Card®
from American Express Corporate Platinum Card®
from American Express

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

haulingthescoreup — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:51:11 GMT

Try this. A new member once posted this link to a press release explaining the differences:

http://home3.americanexpress.com/corp/pc/2007/mrtier.asp

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Creditaddict — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:54:47 GMT

oh so when it comes to points, unless your traveling you don't actually earn more.

but if you travel and hotel a lot then the higher up you are in point program the better.

I still can't figure out what I'm earning on my gold business card, because my points make it look like about 5% but I thought it was just 1 point, not complaining but would be nice to be able to calculate

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

haulingthescoreup — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:56:21 GMT

@Creditaddict wrote:

oh so when it comes to points, unless your traveling you don't actually earn more.
but if you travel and hotel a lot then the higher up you are in point program the better.
I still can't figure out what I'm earning on my gold business card, because my points make it look like about 5% but I thought it was just 1 point, not complaining but would be nice to be able to calculate

AmEx rewards point calculations make FICO scoring look like 2th grade arthmetic.

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Creditaddict — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:58:39 GMT

last month, charged $5657.82

Statement shows points awarded as soon as I pay 39,500

I traded ALL my points in last month for statement credit, so these are all new this month.

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:59:32 GMT

Creditaddict wrote:

I traded ALL my points in last month for statement credit, so these are all new this month.

What is the redemption rate for a statement credit?

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Creditaddict — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:01:37 GMT

10,000=$50

I think that's pretty **bleep** good

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:10:30 GMT

Creditaddict wrote:

10,000=$50

I think that's pretty **bleep** good

Eh. At one point per dollar in spending that's 0.5%.

Although if you're getting much more than one point per dollar, as you've observed, then it's a much better rate. I'd be interested to know why you're getting so many points.

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Creditaddict — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:13:49 GMT

in addition to my membership rewards I get 5% back on fedex and I charge about 2k a month in fedex so that's a nice bonus too.

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Creditaddict — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:19:50 GMT

now if I could JUST get the Plum card and get ANOTHER 2% I would be maxing out points and % all over the place! lol

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

sammyfire2001 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:28:52 GMT

Not to sound totally obtuse but I still don't quite understand. I originally asked the question because i was just approved for a green card and the rep said that I could link my current blue card with my new green card for membership rewards. I know that with my blue card and membership rewards express i got 1 point for every dollar spent. Does that increase once I get my green card and switch to just plain membership rewards?

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Creditaddict — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:31:11 GMT

from what I read it looks like no, but for some reason I think yes. I know that was a big deal when I got to link all my cards together and I thought it was because of more points. I think at min. you have the oppurtunity for more bonus points based on where you charge.

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

athensguy — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:09:22 GMT

It's not that you get more points necessarily, it's just that you can do more with the regular program versus the less useful points on the express program.

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:18:13 GMT

Maybe I've misunderstood, but by my reading of it the MR and MR Express programs earn the same number of points per $1 spent. The Rewards Plus Gold Card earns extra points on travel expenses, but that's a function of the card, not the rewards program per se. My regular Gold earns points at the same rate as my Blue - 1 pt/$.

The main difference to me is the ability to transfer points into a frequent flyer/guest program at a 1/1 rate. I can link my MR account to my Priority Club for reward nights and to help maintain my platinum status.

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:04:25 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Creditaddict wrote:
10,000=$50
I think that's pretty **bleep** good
Eh. At one point per dollar in spending that's 0.5%.

Although if you're getting much more than one point per dollar, as you've observed, then it's a much better rate. I'd be interested to know why you're getting so many points.

2 things: (1) If you just get a gift card(s) with the points at places you'd spend money at anyway (there are quite a few merchants and restaurants), it's a 1% return. (2) Gold Rewards Plus gives you 2 pts for each dollar on the travel/hotel partners for the first year, and 1.5 thereafter, so that would be a 2% or 1.5% return respectively.

Message Edited by thevariable on 06-04-2008 11:04 PM

Re: Amex Membership rewards vs. Membership rewards express

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:51:25 GMT

thevariable wrote:

cheddar wrote:

Creditaddict wrote:
10,000=$50

I think that's pretty **bleep** good

Eh. At one point per dollar in spending that's 0.5%.

Although if you're getting much more than one point per dollar, as you've observed, then it's a much better rate. I'd be interested to know why you're getting so many points.

2 things: (1) If you just get a gift card(s) with the points at places you'd spend money at anyway (there are quite a few merchants and restaurants), it's a 1% return. (2) Gold Rewards Plus gives you 2 pts for each dollar on the travel/hotel partners for the first year, and 1.5 thereafter, so that would be a 2% or 1.5% return respectively.

Message Edited by thevariable on 06-04-2008 11:04 PM

Thanks. Yes, I was aware of the redemption rates for gift cards as well as the bonus offered by Gold Rewards Plus. I was specifically asking about the cashback redemption rate because, frankly, I wasn't aware that was even an option with MR points.