Episode 52: Q2 5x Categories, Transfer Bonuses, and Heightened Welcome Offers

We’ve got a full show today. Let’s get right into it…

0:25 Q2 2021 5x Categories

  • Chase Freedom
  • Gas Stations
  • Home Improvement Stores
  • Discover
  • Gas Stations
  • Wholesale Clubs
  • Select Streaming Services
  • Citi Dividend
  • Supermarkets
  • Drugstores

3:15 Amex 40% Transfer Bonuses to Hilton/Marriott

  • 1,000 MRs become 2,800 Hilton
  • 1,000 MRs become 1,400 Marriott
  • One use model: Marriott to “high value” foreign carrier programs
  • More on that in the paid show

7:10 Amex Bonvoy Heightened Offers

  • Amex Bonvoy Business 100k
  • $5,000 min spend in 3 months
  • $125 AF
  • $150 statement credit
  • Available through referral
  • 35k cert on renewal
  • Amex Bonvoy Brilliant 125k
  • $5,000 in 3 months
  • $450 AF
  • $200 back at restaurants
  • $300 Marriott credit
  • Not seeing it available through referral as of yet (affiliate and public only)
  • 50k cert on renewal

21:10 Amex Delta Gold 90,000 Offer (HT Brian at FM)

  • Seen while making a booking on Delta.com
  • Referral a better option if you have 30k + 70,000 + $200 credit
  • But… (see next item)

11:45 Amex Removing Referral Capability for Some (DoC)

  • Seems to be some new kind of penalty box
  • Used to be that certain cards were unable to refer from, but other cards (especially new ones) were able to
  • Now it seems to apply to all cards if affected
  • Even squirreled away links don’t work any more saying: Sorry this referral link is no longer valid and you will not receive the referral bonus.
  • Thought to be related to self-referral but I really don’t think that’s the case
  • Same household referral for sure, but I really don’t think I self-referred
  • A troubling shot over the bow for sure…

15:30 Buy Aeroplan Miles for as Little as 1.2 cpp (Direct Link)

  • Through April 2, 2021
  • A good example of how cashing out bank points isn’t giving up on travel

If you want to hear more, subscribe at patreon.com/milenomics. This week we go deeper into a few of the topics we discussed here as well as:

  • Waiting on Amex
  • Citi Shenanigans
  • Retention Offers and more…

About the author

– Written by Robert Dwyer, contributor at Milenomics. Connect with me on Twitter @RobertDwyer

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