AmEx Rewards-just signed up-any tips?

[mickey'sbud]

Just signed up for AmEx Rewards. Didn't know I could get enrolled for free until today. So does anyone have any tips on how to make the most of them? I hope one day they will pay for a WDW ticket or something. We're in GA so we don't need to fly to WDW(heard you get double points). Will I have to wait a lifetime to get enough points to get a ticket? I know it's several thousand. ugh! But can I double up anywhere etc? Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[NancyIL]

AMEX Membership Rewards points are great! You COULD use them for WDW tickets, but they have a greater monetary value when used for gift certificates (worth about one cent per point) and when transferred to hotel frequent guest programs. We transferred points to Marriott Rewards a few years ago to make up the points needed for a free week's stay at a Marriott hotel in London. I just ordered Marriott Platinum Anytime certificates to be used for 2 free nights at a Boston Marriott with breakfast for 2 people.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I agree with NancyIL, use them for hotels. We have used them several times for trips, most recently for the Easter break. We stayed two nights at Portofino Bay and needed two rooms.We had deluxe rooms, so it saved us over $1000.00. We love Amex points!

 

[cindyfan]

They are also a great value if used for airfair.
We have in the past transferred AMEX points to Continental in order to fly for free.
If you reserve early enough you can get a flight just using 25000 pts. We have done this when the cheapest airfare for that time was $288 round trip.

Also, for rental cars!

 

[Eeyore1954]

I just signed up a few months ago for this. I thought I saw an ad that offered double points between April and June this year (but I could be wrong). My current balance doesn't show that.

I am lucky because I use my AMEX for both business trips and pleasure, so I can rack up points fast. However, if you don't do that (pleasure only), I would use it for purchases that you make. For example, I use it for things like groceries, gas, etc. We charged our WDW vacation on it.

Using the points: I like the gift certificates, especially for hotel getaways (weekend escapes) and rental car certificates. We got what was basically a free rental last December for a 4-day period.

You can save for a Disney vacation, but with fewer points you can get a b'fast certificate too.

 

[bwvmary]

We use Amex for things we would otherwise pay for with cash or check - like groceries and gas. Recently, we were getting double points for those, but I'm not sure when that ends/ended. We transferred points to Delta for 5 international airline tickets that would have been over $600 per ticket. I kept looking at prices to our destination, and the tickets never got cheaper. That was a great savings and allowed us to actually take a trip that we would never have been able to afford otherwise.

 

[FergieTCat]

The only good thing about my root canals (!) and crowns was that my dentist took AMEX!

BTW, I believe the annual fee for the Membership Rewards Program is $75. If someone is getting it for free, please let me know so I can call Amex.

 

[mickey'sbud]

I am getting mine for free. I have a blue card. There were 3 types to choose from. I took the free one. Even if you card is different, call and see what they will do for you. You won't know w/out trying. Good luck.

 

[kleibo]

Annual Fees
1. There is a $40 annual fee for participation in the Program, except as otherwise provided below. There is no fee for the Program for Rewards Plus Gold, Centurion Card, Platinum Card, Business Platinum Card, and Fidelity American Express Platinum Card members. The annual fee is $75 for Business CMs who enroll only their Business Card in the Program or for Business Cards with a Lending Card linked to the MR account. There is an additional $10 annual fee for each Business Charge Card and for each Business Charge Card or Business Credit Card linked to a Membership Rewards account with other enrolled charge cards, unless you have a Platinum Card, a Business Platinum Card, an Additional Business Platinum Card, a Business Platinum Card from OPEN: The Small Business Network, any Additional Card of a Business Platinum Card from OPEN: The Small Business Network, an Executive Business Card from OPEN: The Small Business Network, any Additional Card of an Executive Business Card from OPEN: The Small Business Network, or a Fidelity American Express Platinum Card linked to the same Membership Rewards account.

 

[the Legend]

I have AmEx Blue and they are running a program here called Turbo which double points on all purchases until May 2003. So guess how I am paying for my September trip this year?

- Paid DC membership
- Paid deposits on WDW and DLR legs of the trip (entitles us to White glove treatment)
- Converting reward points to air points to fly New Zealand to LA
- Converting points for brother 6 day Park Hopper Plus at WDW
- Converting points for National rental car $200 certificate
- Have been considering converting points for Portofino bay stay

You gotta love double points and AmEx rewards!

 

[mickey'sbud]

I called AmEx and asked them about the Turbo double points. They couldn't find it. Did you get this thru the Turbo Tax system or something? I can't find this promotion anywhere.

 

[the Legend]

I called AmEx and asked them about the Turbo double points. They couldn't find it. Did you get this thru the Turbo Tax system or something? I can't find this promotion anywhere.

Apologies mickey'sbud, I should have mention that my AmEx Blue is through AmEx Australia and this is a promtion running in Australia and New Zealand through to May 2003.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

I am new to this offer also....think i saw something mentioned on mousesaver...about the double offer (thur Apr and Jun) but you have to spend $$$ or use the card in the Orlando area..check it out......Anyway if I'm flying out of O'hara on an airline (rd trip to Orlando ) i will need approx. 25,000 pts for one air-line ticket???? Is this correct?Thanks