AmEx Platinum Travels Card | Redemption Options Changed | Milestone Devalued

American Express Travels Platinum Card


Lately, American Express has made a couple of changes and updated the redemption options on your American Express Travels Platinum Credit Card. Not only this, after the changes come into effect, the Welcome Gift and Milestone Rewards will also get depreciated.  In this article, we will elaborate on the changes and the devaluation that will come into effect from 22nd January 2021. Read on to find out.



    What Exactly Has Changed?


    The redemption procedure has changed, and so the Reward Rate. As a result, beginning 22nd January 2021, American Express Domestic Travel eGift Cards will not be available as a redemption option for Membership Rewards Points. In its place, you can use Membership Rewards points for booking your Domestic and International travel and hotels on Amex Travel Portal

    Amex Milestone Rewards


    Below is the detailed illustration regarding Welcome Gift, 1.9L Milestone, and 4L Milestone.

    Welcome Gift (Bonus Points)


    • Earlier, The cardholder was entitled to a Welcome Gift of 5,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points that were redeemable for Travel Vouchers worth Rs. 3,500.
    • Post 22nd January 2021, Cardholders will still get the threshold of 5,000 MR Points. Additionally, on request, American Express will credit another 5,000 Bonus MR Points.
    • Each MR Point will yield a value of INR 0.30 that would facilitate a booking worth INR 3,000. 10,000 × 0.3 = 3000
    • Alternatively, cardholders can also opt to redeem these 10,000 MR Points against Flipkart Voucher worth INR 3,000.
    • The Reward in this scenario has come down to INR 3,000 from INR 3,500.

    First Milestone (on 1.9L Spends)


    • Earlier, on spending 1.9L, the cardholder was entitled to 7,500 Bonus Membership Rewards Points redeemable for Travel Vouchers worth Rs. 5,000.
    • Post 22nd January 2021, Cardholders will continue to get the threshold of 7,500 MR Points. Additionally, on request, American Express will credit another 7,500 Bonus MR Points.
    • Each MR Point will yield a value of INR 0.30 that would facilitate a booking worth INR 4,500. 15,000 × 0.3 = 4,500
    • Alternatively, cardholders can also opt to redeem these 15,000 MR Points against Flipkart Voucher worth INR 4,500.
    • The Reward in this scenario has come down to INR 4,500 from INR 5,000.

    Second Milestone (on 4L Spends)


    • Earlier, on spending 4L, the cardholder was entitled to 10,000 Bonus Membership Rewards Points redeemable for Travel Vouchers worth Rs. 8,000.
    • Post 22nd January 2021, Cardholders will still get the threshold of 10,000 MR Points. Additionally, on request, American Express will credit another 15,000 Bonus MR Points.
    • Each MR Point will yield a value of INR 0.30 that would facilitate a booking worth INR 7,500. 25,000 × 0.3 = 7,500
    • Alternatively, cardholders can also opt to redeem these 25,000 MR Points against Flipkart Voucher worth INR 7,500.
    • The Reward in this scenario has also deflates and come down to INR 7,500 from INR 8,000.

    What to do with unused Travel Vouchers?

    • If you are holding American Express Travel eGift Cards, you may want to redeem them by 21 January 2021.
    • If your American Express Domestic Travel eGift Card is not redeemed by 21 January 2021, American Express will cancel your eGift Card and reinstate the Membership Reward points against which the eGift Card was issued. The reinstated points will appear in your account by 28 February 2021.
    • For example, if you are holding Travel eGift Card worth INR 8,000, you had redeemed against 10,000 MR Points (receivable after spending 4 Lakhs on your card), and you did not redeem it by 21 January 2021. American Express will cancel this Travel eGift Card, and you would see 10,000 MR Points in your account by 28 February 2021. On request, you would now get another 15,000 Bonus MR Point, and then you can redeem a total of 25,000 MR Points against a booking worth INR 7,500 or a Flipkart Voucher of the same denomination.
    • Do note that you will lose out INR 500 if you fail to redeem the Travel eGift Card by the deadline.

    Bottomline


    We are not happy with this change. A change that benefits a user is always welcome, but every time we encounter a change in American Express Card, a devaluation mechanism comes bundled with it. 

    Last August, when American Express discontinued the SpiceJet Vouchers, the Milestone Rewards dropped significantly from Rs 6,000 to Rs 5,000 for 1.9L and from Rs 10,000 to Rs 8,000 for 4L spends. You might want to read about it by clicking here. If you have read the above changes correctly, you will notice that the welcome gift and each milestone have been further devalued by INR 500. 

    On a brighter note, now you need not stick to a particular airline to redeem your travel vouchers and can opt to book your travel with any airline of your preference. Moreover, there is no obligation on redeeming your MR Points against travel bookings only as you can redeem your points against Flipkart Voucher of the same denomination until 31st December 2021.

    If we have missed anything, or if you have got a question to shoot, please drop us a line in the comments section below, and we will be happy to get back.

    Feedbacks are appreciated. 

    Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to drop us a line in the comment section below. Alternatively, you can also write to us at admin@chargeplate.in.

    Thanks for reading!




    American Express
    AmEx Platinum Travels Card | Redemption Options Changed | Milestone Devalued AmEx Platinum Travels Card | Redemption Options Changed | Milestone Devalued Reviewed by Rahmat on December 27, 2020 Rating: 5

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