Amex upgrade offer: Take or Pass?

[VGisHere]

Today, I got a message in Amex app for an eligible upgrade from MRCC to Platinum Travel Card!

I went through the details of the same but couldn’t find anything concrete to take up the offer!

Also, I couldn’t find a fee waiver option as spend based benefit unlike MRCC!

Also in 2021, I wasnt able to reach the milestone but Amex waived off fee as goodwill gesture on MRCC!

So, I’m wondering if this really is an upgrade?

My first thoughts, I’ll pass.
But would be great to know some insights on the same!

 

[PiperatGatesofDawn]

For reference

Credit @sleepysurya

Thread 'A List of Indian Hotels with Reward Points & Revenue Price (Work In Progress)' https://www.technofino.in/community...-points-revenue-price-work-in-progress.14215/

Yeah I believe his extremely limited data points illustrate my point exactly. 1 MR = Re. 0.50

I saw this valuation in an TF article on international spends and I don't understand why Amex gets such preferential treatment for calculating rewards. Fees and reward rates is not why anyone should be looking at Amex. And no don't get me started on the 18k/24k & Taj vouchers!

 

[sheru]

How do get this 7%?

I am assuming half of what @TechnoFino has said in airmiles. That's why 7%.

 

[PiperatGatesofDawn]

View attachment 21774

I am assuming half of what @TechnoFino has said in airmiles. That's why 7%.

So to beat my head against the wall again... your basic premise is not correct. Normal reward rate for airmiles is NOT 2%. Also cash/statement credit I think is 0.25% but that really doesn't matter because that's a terrible redemption you should not be doing.

Also if by your logic normal spends airmiles is 2% (lets call it X), how is 3X = 10% (reward multiplier)??? I need to see your education certificates.

2 MR points per Rs. 100 spent converts to 1 airline mile. So the reward rate is 1% assuming 1 airline mile = Re. 1. Similarly 2 MR = 2 MB. But 2 MB = Re. 1. So the same value holds.

I'm not going to bother going over your annual milestone calculations but please assume a similar smack down.

 

[sheru]

So to beat my head against the wall again... your basic premise is not correct. Normal reward rate for airmiles is NOT 2%. Also cash/statement credit I think is 0.25% but that really doesn't matter because that's a terrible redemption you should not be doing.

Also if by your logic normal spends airmiles is 2% (lets call it X), how is 3X = 10% (reward multiplier)??? I need to see your education certificates.

2 MR points per Rs. 100 spent converts to 1 airline mile. So the reward rate is 1% assuming 1 airline mile = Re. 1. Similarly 2 MR = 2 MB. But 2 MB = Re. 1. So the same value holds.

I'm not going to bother going over your annual milestone calculations but please assume a similar smack down.

No need to beat your brilliant head Sir... World needs it... So....

Anyway... Also for calculations you can reach out to @TechnoFino.
The image is grabbed from his video.
I'm leaving a link for that video here.
Please watch it once.

 

[PiperatGatesofDawn]

No need to beat your brilliant head Sir... World needs it... So....

Anyway... Also for calculations you can reach out to @TechnoFino.
The image is grabbed from his video.
I'm leaving a link for that video here.
Please watch it once.

In India we use a very simple, generally accepted guideline for valuation. Re. 1 / mile for airmiles and Re. 0.50 / point for MB and Rs. 1.96 / point for Accor. We use this valuation to arrive at reward rates for Magnus @ 4.8%, Citi Prestige @ 4%, Infinia @ 3.3% etc.

Now when it comes to Amex - you're saying we should change the valuation of MB and make it Rs. 2 / MB? Porque mi amigo?

There is a huge difference between how you do a card's valuation and how much value you're able to extract in a specific redemption. Nobody is denying you can get better than Re. 0.50 / MB. But yes there is a problem if give Amex this special valuation treatment without doubling or tripling the reward rates for other cards because you can get outsized rewards there too. And that is the problem here. Amex has almost NOTHING to do with you being able to score a better Marriott redemption.

As for Sumanta's video obviously he's used an old slide from one of the charge cards 5x calculation and forgotten to update it. So that's just wrong and it even more wrong of you to accept two multiplied by three equals ten by saying "it's in a Technofino Youtube video and therefore is gospel". Also he says things along the line of "if you use it smartly you can get good value of out the card". Which is very true for this card and also for pretty much any miles/points card. Being able to get exponential value from a mile or point - that is the whole game! The problem is that he too very strongly implies especially in the slides that that should be the valuation of the card. Which is not correct. Otherwise he should use the same yardstick to revalue all the other cards. This is sending an incorrect message. Adding @TechnoFino if he want's to comment on this.

 

[sheru]

In India we use a very simple, generally accepted guideline for valuation. Re. 1 / mile for airmiles and Re. 0.50 / point for MB and Rs. 1.96 / point for Accor. We use this valuation to arrive at reward rates for Magnus @ 4.8%, Citi Prestige @ 4%, Infinia @ 3.3% etc.

Now when it comes to Amex - you're saying we should change the valuation of MB and make it Rs. 2 / MB? Porque mi amigo?

There is a huge difference between how you do a card's valuation and how much value you're able to extract in a specific redemption. Nobody is denying you can get better than Re. 0.50 / MB. But yes there is a problem if give Amex this special valuation treatment without doubling or tripling the reward rates for other cards because you can get outsized rewards there too. And that is the problem here. Amex has almost NOTHING to do with you being able to score a better Marriott redemption.

As for Sumanta's video obviously he's used an old slide from one of the charge cards 5x calculation and forgotten to update it. So that's just wrong and it even more wrong of you to accept two multiplied by three equals ten by saying "it's in a Technofino Youtube video and therefore is gospel". Also he says things along the line of "if you use it smartly you can get good value of out the card". Which is very true for this card and also for pretty much any miles/points card. Being able to get exponential value from a mile or point - that is the whole game! The problem is that he too very strongly implies especially in the slides that that should be the valuation of the card. Which is not correct. Otherwise he should use the same yardstick to revalue all the other cards. This is sending an incorrect message. Adding @TechnoFino if he want's to comment on this.

Okay sir

 

[ayman]

No u can still use mrcc until u ask them to close else it will be active. Amex will provide one person 2 credit cards and 1 charge card. I have two card smart earn and I recived upgrade to plat travel both working and both will have separate limits.

I have also got an option to upgrade with 10k bonus points. Just want to confirm if we get 10k + 10k Or only 10k bonus is 10k upgrade bonus points & 10k bonus points on fee payment is same or both are different? Also as per above if i upgrade to platinum travel from MRCC i can still keep my MRCC if i dont ask them to close or it gets automatically closed if i use platinum travel? I want to keep my MRCC as it is FYF & I still have about 6 more months as free. Maybe after 6 months i can ask them to make it companion? Dont want to apply fresh card as i dont want my cibil to get hit had few cibil enquiry recently idfc rejected vistara, sbi cashback got rejected & axis vistara also got rejected.

 

[ALOAK]

I have also got an option to upgrade with 10k bonus points. Just want to confirm if we get 10k + 10k Or only 10k bonus is 10k upgrade bonus points & 10k bonus points on fee payment is same or both are different? Also as per above if i upgrade to platinum travel from MRCC i can still keep my MRCC if i dont ask them to close or it gets automatically closed if i use platinum travel? I want to keep my MRCC as it is FYF & I still have about 6 more months as free. Maybe after 6 months i can ask them to make it companion? Dont want to apply fresh card as i dont want my cibil to get hit had few cibil enquiry recently idfc rejected vistara, sbi cashback got rejected & axis vistara also got rejected.

On payment of fee u get 10k bonus plus spend 50k something within 90 days . U r mrcc will be active u can still use it. Even I had recived upgrade offer with 10k bonus points when I had smart earn now I use both. When I upgrades the rep said we can still use it and credit limit is independent of both cards and not shared. I just checked my cibil I only have one amex enquiry in Jan 2021 when I first applied for smart earn I don't see any cibil enquiry made by amex for the upgrade offer in 2022 but in Dec 2022 it is reported as new account which was my plat travel. Today just finished my milestone of 4lkhs. So I would be getting another milestone bonus points too.

 

[ALOAK]

I have also got an option to upgrade with 10k bonus points. Just want to confirm if we get 10k + 10k Or only 10k bonus is 10k upgrade bonus points & 10k bonus points on fee payment is same or both are different? Also as per above if i upgrade to platinum travel from MRCC i can still keep my MRCC if i dont ask them to close or it gets automatically closed if i use platinum travel? I want to keep my MRCC as it is FYF & I still have about 6 more months as free. Maybe after 6 months i can ask them to make it companion? Dont want to apply fresh card as i dont want my cibil to get hit had few cibil enquiry recently idfc rejected vistara, sbi cashback got rejected & axis vistara also got rejected.

Other cards do check cibil even if u upgrade it .

 

[kafeel]

Yeah that's not how you calculate average value of a MR point.

You cannot calculate value of a MR by saying that to get that value you have to take a peak season flight to the Maldives during a specific Lithuanian festival date, then a $1500 boat ride to the Ritz Carlton Maldives and then order 3 glasses of lassi there and then drink the first two and in the third one throw some of your own hair in there when no one is looking and then create a big scene and then get a $100 discount on your massage vouchers and that's how you can get Rs. 2/MB!

You have to be able to in a significantly vast majority of cases be able to redeem for a particular average value to say that that's the value of a MR point. After that you certainly can have outsized redemption or even losses.

I have done SQ F redemption Re. 5+ and error SQ J redemption at Re. 4+. But that's not what I value my other cards points at. Neither would I calculate the value of a CC point based on a very particular outsized SQ Spontaneous Escapes or AF Promo Awards redemption or a huge loss making DL dynamic award redemption that priced an award 5x more than what it could be got for from say VS. All that would be absurd.

MB on average returns Re. 0.5 for MR. Which is right at par with the rest of the MR to airline miles redemption (except UK).

Agree with this..Calculating average value of a MR point should be based on typical, real-world redemption scenarios, not extreme outlier..

 

[ayman]

Other cards do check cibil even if u upgrade it .

I got upgrade on my hdfc twice their was no cibil hit on both the occasion.

 

[ALOAK]

I got upgrade on my hdfc twice their was no cibil hit on both the occasion.

Good

 

[ALOAK]

Do you use your plat travel for wallet reloads?

Yes can be used for wallet load

 

[kshitij_0]

Which one is a better deal for me? Upgrade or apply through referral?
Also what about limit, credit enquiry and verification in both the cases?
I am holding MRCC so they'll give MRCC as companion also.
@amit @S S V @pprakash11 @Wealth is my birth right!

 

[SSV]

Which one is a better deal for me? Upgrade or apply through referral?
Also what about limit, credit enquiry and verification in both the cases?
I am holding MRCC so they'll give MRCC as companion also.
@amit @S S V @pprakash11 @Wealth is my birth right!
View attachment 32497

Both are similar, except for playing cards offer .
Comparision:
Referral: 3,500 (free )+ 2k MR + playing cards
Upgrade: 10K MR + 1k GV

It seems companion concept is not available now with may be some exceptions.

As far as others, it is indifferent .
My view , if you want playing cards go for referral otherwise upgrade

 

[shutapdiya]

Which one is a better deal for me? Upgrade or apply through referral?
Also what about limit, credit enquiry and verification in both the cases?
I am holding MRCC so they'll give MRCC as companion also.
@amit @S S V @pprakash11 @Wealth is my birth right!
View attachment 32497

Have a look at below threads to make a mind about upgrade or new application through referral (I applied new through referral when i was also getting upgrade emails)

Upgrade Card or get it through referral? Please advise

Hi, I’ve been using Amex MRCC card for about 8 months now & recently got the Gold Charge card as well. My total accumulated points are around 50k. I’ve received an upgrade offer to Amex Plat travel card & wanted your suggestions if I should upgrade MRCC to plat travel or get plat travel through...

www.technofino.in

Upgrade offer Amex from mrcc to platinum travel

Amex offered me upgrade from mrcc to platinum travel but customer service informed me that mrcc will be discontinued Is it the policy of amex as I confirmed by chatting also. They told the same thing

www.technofino.in

AMEX Plat travel fee not charged

I upgraded my AMEX MRCC to Platinum travel last month and have also paid the bill of first statement. But the joining fee was not charged. Since my MRCC was FYF was from referral, I’m not sure when do they usually charge joining fee. But in my experience almost all cards charge joining fees...

www.technofino.in

If you upgrade, your existing MRCC will be closed (above threads says so) in that case your limit will be same as before (my guess)

Credit Inquiry: depends on your application, In my case even on new application there was not any CIBIL inquiry

Verification: If you have done vkyc for Amex in last 6 months, there wont be any vkyc requirement (Physical verification: not sure as never encountered)

@BestBanker have told Amex has stopped giving companion cards (untill you get specifically in writing from Amex, dont assure your MRCC will become companion card with Plat. travel)

 

[vaibhav111vaibhav111 is verified member.]

Which one is a better deal for me? Upgrade or apply through referral?
Also what about limit, credit enquiry and verification in both the cases?
I am holding MRCC so they'll give MRCC as companion also.
@amit @S S V @pprakash11 @Wealth is my birth right!
View attachment 32497

yeah received same.. the catch is i have 12k MR point in mrcc.. and this 10k will go to plantium or mrcc.. cause i prefer amazon pay gv against 18k/24k MR for 7k/9k .. plus 3.5k + GST.. so i rather apply for plantium travel and exchange referral if that make sense.

 

[vaibhav111vaibhav111 is verified member.]

if anyone have mrcc and have applied mrcc.. through referral.. 8k bonus MR will be given to the refer right?

 

[coolguy1]

Which one is a better deal for me? Upgrade or apply through referral?
Also what about limit, credit enquiry and verification in both the cases?
I am holding MRCC so they'll give MRCC as companion also.
@amit @S S V @pprakash11 @Wealth is my birth right!
View attachment 32497

If you apply using referral from the right people, you can get the deck of limited edition cards + save ₹3,500 + 2K MR Points + additional voucher/gift.
Someone was offering two decks of cards in a post last night on joining from his referral.

 

[ALOAK]

If you apply using referral from the right people, you can get the deck of limited edition cards + save ₹3,500 + 2K MR Points + additional voucher/gift.
Someone was offering two decks of cards in a post last night on

Just apply through referral if u want a card