AMEX Platinum Charge offering double rewards points till 20 July

With the current restrictions on travel and dining out, many premium cardholders have started to question the logic of continuing to pay annual fees for benefits that can’t be used. This is especially the case for AMEX Platinum Charge members, who pay a hefty S$1,712 annual fee.

It seems like American Express is trying to pre-empt those questions, because they’ve just launched a rather large promotion. From now till 20 July 2020, all Platinum Charge cardholders will enjoy double points on all spending, and double the value when redeeming points for statement credit.

No registration is required, and both principal and supplementary cards are automatically enrolled.

Double Points

From now till 20 July 2020, AMEX Platinum Charge cardholders will earn double the usual points on all transactions, with no minimum spending or caps (except for Platinum EXTRA merchants).

This means a general spending earn rate of 1.56 mpd, which would make the AMEX Platinum Charge the second best general spending card in the market, slightly behind the UOB Reserve, DBS Insignia, Citi ULTIMA and OCBC Premier & Private Banking VOYAGE cards at 1.6 mpd.

A 1.56 mpd rate also makes the AMEX Platinum Charge a potential candidate for paying your income taxes, rent, insurance, or other bills via CardUp. CardUp charges a 2.6% admin fee for AMEX cards, which means a 1.62 cents per mile figure

Likewise, the usual 1.95 mpd earn rate on Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, and Scoot tickets is doubled to 3.9 mpd, and the 7.8 mpd earn rate on Platinum EXTRA merchants is doubled to an incredible 15.6 mpd. Revenge spending, anyone?

Do remember that the bonus points on Platinum EXTRA merchants are capped at S$16,000 per calendar year. Any spending after that will earn 20X points until 20 July 2020, and 10X after that.

Double Value

Charges on your AMEX statement can normally be offset with Membership Rewards points, at a rate of 1,000 points= S$4.80.

The regular rate is a very poor deal. 1,000 points are worth 625 miles, so it’s like you’re implicitly cashing in your miles for 0.77 cents each.

From now till 20 July 2020, this rate will be doubled to 1,000 points = S$9.60. That’s like taking 1.54 cents per mile, less than what you’d get when redeeming premium cabin tickets, but still equivalent to earning 2.4% cashback on everything (other general spending cashback cards max out at 1.6%).

If you’re spending at Platinum EXTRA merchants, AMEX Platinum Charge cardholders would effectively get 24% off on the first S$16,000 spent. Put that way, it doesn’t sound so bad forgoing miles for cashback.

Enhanced rate for paying annual fee with points

Perhaps realising that the annual fee will be a major pain point for customers with renewals due in the next couple of months,  AMEX is offering a special rate of 1,000 points= S$11 when using points to offset the fee. 

A full fee waiver would cost 155,636 points. 

What programs can I transfer Membership Rewards points to?

MR points never expire, and members can transfer them to eight different frequent flyer programs and two hotel partners at the following ratios (no conversion fees apply):

	Transfer Ratio (MR Points: Partner Miles/Points)
	400: 250
	400:250
	400:250
	400:250
	400:250
	400:250
	400:250
	400:250
	1000:1250
	1000:1000

Conclusion

This is no doubt going to be an expensive promotion for American Express, but it’s also a necessary one. If the Covid-19 situation doesn’t improve, many of the Platinum Charge’s benefits can’t be used, and that’s not going to play well among customers with upcoming renewals.

My renewal isn’t due until September, so I don’t have that decision on my hands yet. I am, however, going to start using the AMEX Platinum Charge as my general spending card for the duration of the promotion.