[PROMOTION] 2,500 Air Miles Sign Up Bonus (expired)
I previously provided an analysis on the American Express AIR MILES Reserve Credit Card. Here are the highlights of the credit card again:
- $299 annual fee
- $50 for supplementary cardholders
- Earn 2,500 sign up bonus points (regular bonus is 1,450 points) when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months (if you sign up before
April 31, 2014) - Earn 1 points for every $10 spent at Air Miles Sponsors, grocery stores, gas stations, and drugstores in Canada
- Earn 1 point for every $15 spent on all other purchases
- Receive 4 complimentary visits per year to Priority Pass Worldwide Lounges
- Receive a Companion Flight Benefit
- Access to FlexFly Redemptions
- Exclusive Air Miles Concierge Service
- Waived Air Miles flight administration fee
- Option to redeem points for business class seats
- Access to the Toronto Pearson Priority Security Lane, Toronto Pearson Priority Limo and Taxi Lanes
Even though the $299 annual fee is quite steep, the 2,500 points is quite generous. If you are looking to top up your Air Miles account, this is a great promotion. In terms on how to get value out of the $299 annual fee, there are several great perks.
Once a year, when you redeem for a round-trip economy flight with the Air Miles Flight Program, up to a maximum of 2,500 points (previously this maximum was 1,450) you can receive a Companion Flight for your companion to travel with you on the same itinerary. This alone can cover your $299 annual fee.
The four complimentary visits per year to Priority Pass Worldwide Lounges definitely has value if you can take advantage of all the passes. The Air Miles FlexFly Redemptions gives you additional access to airlines and destinations, departure times, and economy, business and first class seats on flights not available within the regular Air Miles Flight Program. Get access to Air Miles Concierge service.
If you can take advantage of all of these perks, then your $299 can easily be worth it.
Keep in mind that Air Mile accounts need to be active once every 24 months to a maximum of 5 years. So remember to use your points before they expire within the 5 year absolute limit.
Message to Air Miles: I will continue to talk about how bad of a move implementing the 5 year expiry policy is. I continue to suggest reducing the 24 months rule down to 12 months and then cancelling the 5 year maximum rule.