Today, Amex officially announced a number of things that we had previously reported, including the $30 monthly PayPal credit that is now available on the consumer Platinum card and the incredible new Amex Offers on consumer Platinum cards, offers for additional points on business Platinum cards, and the statement credits available on the Blue Business Plus. However, a bit of news buried at the bottom of the announcement is that offers are coming on co-branded cards as well.
At the bottom of the Amex announcement, it says:
Up Next: New Cobrand Card Offers
In the coming weeks, American Express and its Cobrand partners will be introducing new limited-time offers for existing Consumer and Business Delta SkyMiles®, Hilton Honors® and Marriott Bonvoy™ Card Members — with more details to come soon.This new value builds on Card Member’s existing benefits as well as the suite of relevant and rich Amex Offers available through the Amex mobile app or online account.
We obviously don’t yet know what those offers will be, but based on recent precedent, I wouldn’t be surprised to see additional points per dollar spent at grocery stores or restaurants. Hopefully there will also be some additional statement credit offers and/or co-branded spending offers. Will the Hilton and Marriott credits on the ultra-premium cards be usable at restaurants again? Time will tell.
Greg should have made one of his predictions for 2021 that incredible side benefits and the ability to use travel credits for things other than travel would continue into 2021. He has previously said many times on Frequent Miler on the Air that he feels like now that issuers have opened the floodgates on using credits for other types of purchases, it will be difficult to put that genie back in the bottle. Given a combination of continued limited travel and as consumers become more accustomed to these offers, I think pressure will be on other issuers to do something in response to these moves from Amex (particularly if and when they expand things beyond the Platinum cards). This much is for sure: the battle for your spend continues, much to the benefit of credit card enthusiasts.
Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
Did anyone get the no AF aspire for the first year in Novemberish 2019, downgrade and get the no AF upgrade to the aspire?
Hey AMEX! Great to see all these exciting wonderful changes, but how about sharing some of your love with us lowly Gold Card holders!!
Does the Paypal offer work on the Morgan Stanley Amex Platinum? I recently made a $25 purchase with Paypal linked to that Amex card and have not received any notice of qualifying for an award or seen reimbursement when checking my account.
Yes it works with that card. Has the Paypal credit appeared yet?
But of course…
For those that recently jumped on the $0AF Aspire train in Dec…“
Fine print states: “Must be an eligible Card Member as of 11/1/20”
Literally cancelled my aspire yesterday. I’m not hating my decision yet if it’s the same as last year 12x on groceries and Hilton $250 statement credit used for food. But if they also add some sort of wireless/streaming/PayPal credits, I’ll be kicking myself.
I haven’t canceled that one yet but have canceled:
Amex Green
one of the Chase business cards
Citi AA Exec
Hyatt Chase
Discover (well they canceled me since I hadn’t used the card in a while and they sent me a letter but it was while I was moving and didn’t get forwarded)
And at least one other card. I did recently get the Freedom Unlimited for the 1.5 pt everywhere category.
I don’t foresee much traveling and in limited traveling it is easier to pay for the perks you need rather than $450 for lounge access on an airline I hadn’t been flying. And it has been 2 yrs since I’ve stayed in a hotel.
I did just open a couple of accounts (bank and a brokerage) to gain the cash bonuses on those.
Why not downgrade to the free Hilton Amex rather than cancel? With one bonus per lifetime, you can not get another SUB, but a downgrade allows for the possibility of an upgrade bonus down the road, or at least of you re-acquire the Aspire card through an upgrade the account history remains.
Part of the reason I cancelled is the once per lifetime rule. I’ve never had the fee free Hilton and I can still get the sub. I’m actually more concerned about the 4 credit card limit. Keeping a card I don’t even want nor intend to use (the no AF version) limits my potential to get another valuable Amex sub. I can always get the no Af later and try to get an upgrade when I’ve exhausted most of Amex’s valuable subs. But I’m not there yet. I’m still religible for a 150k surpass too
Since many of the premium card offers are based on the fact that certain benefits are hard to use at the moment, do you think any of the co-branded offers might be instead of current benefits, such as $100 worth of dining credits instead of the companion certificate on the Delta Plat? Or something similar on hotel cards in lieu of the free night cert?
No, definitely not. Far too much regulatory stuff to worry about in terms of changing benefits you were promised when you signed up / paid your fee and I doubt they make long-term changes like getting rid of a Delta companion cert in response to COVID.