What is Membership Rewards First? Are good things coming?

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If you’ve recently signed up for the new Blue Business Plus Amex card, and you have a Platinum or Centurion card, you probably received a notice telling you that since you already have at least one eligible card enrolled in the Membership Rewards First program, they have automatically enrolled your new card in that program “as a special thank you.”

a close up of a card

When I first saw this, I thought the memo was about the ability to transfer points to loyalty programs.  There’s a basic version of Membership Rewards that comes with some cards (although Amex seems to be phasing these out) where you can’t do those transfers unless you also have a regular Membership Rewards card.  I knew that the Blue Business Plus card has the ability to make these transfers, but the card it replaced (Blue for Business) did not.  I figured that the notice was an errant leftover from the old card.  But that wasn’t the case.

The Membership Rewards Terms for US cardholders (found here) lists cards that don’t inherently have the ability to transfer to airline programs, but it never uses the term “Membership Rewards First” to describe the cards that do have this ability.  It’s clear that this is something else entirely.

Benefits of Membership Rewards First (according to the document)

The document shown above says that Membership Rewards First offers the following benefits:

  • More options for redemption
  • Better point accumulation ability
  • Often a better redemption rate

Those things sound great, but when I log in, I don’t see any more options for redemption, nor do I see any better redemption rates.  And, yes, the Blue Business Plus card offers better point accumulation ability (2X everywhere, up to $50K per year), but that’s a function of the card not the Membership Rewards First program.  In fact, the document specifically states that if you cancel your Membership Rewards First cards (presumably Platinum and/or Centurion cards), you will be downgraded to the regular Membership Rewards program.  That won’t change the fact that the Blue Business Plus has better point accumulation ability.

It’s interesting that these letters were sent out only recently.  I never received a notice like this when I signed up for other Membership Rewards cards in the past.  This makes me think that maybe… just maybe… something good is in the works.  Maybe Amex is planning to roll out more options for redemption, better point accumulation ability, and better redemption rates.  Depending upon the details, this could be huge.

Benefits of Membership Rewards First (according to Google searches)

After Googling the quoted text “Membership Rewards First”, I found a number of foreign mentions and old mentions.

Candadians seem to have something.  This is from the Candadian Business Platinum page:

Membership Rewards First™ Tier

You have instant access to the Membership Rewards First™ Tier of the Membership Rewards program which includes an accelerated earn rate of 1.25 Membership Rewards points for every dollar in purchases charged to the Card1 enables you to enjoy these rewards much faster. And there is no limit to the points you can earn. This tier also gives you access to the entire Membership Rewards Catalogue, including the exclusive First Collection Rewards portfolio, containing an array of premium brands designed specifically for Business Platinum Cardmembers.

So, at least the Canadian version of the program tells us something.  They earn 1.25 points per dollar and get to use points to buy overpriced stuff.

Back in the USA, a very old Points Guy post says the following about Membership Rewards First:

  1. 25% bonus on Pay with Points redemptions for travel. Instead of 1 point= 1 cent, 1 point = 1.25 cents
  2. Fine Hotels and Resorts program. When you book paid hotel stays with your Platinum/Centurion cards, you get room upgrades, free breakfast, late checkout and other premium benefits.
  3. Free gifts from high-end retailers. In 2010 select Platinum card members got free Tumi bags. Centurion cardholders received $500 Salvatore Ferragamo gift cards.
  4. Free companion ticket when you buy an international full-fare business or first class ticket.
  5. Cruise booking discounts and perks

Most of the above seem to be Platinum and Centurion benefits (some of which no longer exist, or have since changed in form).

Meanwhile, Ask Mr. Credit Card says:

The Membership Rewards First is identical as well except that it has got a couple of more features. The first additional feature is the First Collection. It is a catalog of high end goods (like Mikimoto pearls, Lamboginhi Car) which you can exchange reward points for. It also has the international companion airfare feature, cruise privileges and also exclusive events for card holders.

To me, none of these old posts indicate any real current benefit to the program other than what we already knew: if you have multiple Membership Rewards cards your points pool together, and you get the best benefits from the best card you have.  For example, the Business Platinum card currently has the best pay with points for airfare feature (a 35% rebate on your selected airline or business/first class on any airline), you will get that rebate regardless of which Amex Membership Rewards card you use to pay with points, as long as you have a Business Platinum card open and in good standing.

Benefits of Membership Rewards First (according to Amex)

I tried to ask about this via Amex online chat, but the chat rep just quoted stuff from the Membership Rewards terms document rather than giving me any useful information at all.

I then called the number on the back of my card and was transferred to the Membership Rewards department.  They simply confirmed that when using the new card I get benefits associated with my Platinum card: better redemption rates for travel, concierge access, sometimes better value for points used to buy gift cards.

In other words, if the Amex rep was correct, Membership Rewards First seems to be simply a branding of a collection of premium features available to Platinum and Centurion cardholders.  Nothing more.

Summary

The optimist in me wanted to believe that there was something new and exciting going on here, but I’m now convinced otherwise.  The “upgrade” to Membership Rewards First simply means that you’ll continue to get the Platinum or Centurion perks that you were already getting.

Thanks Amex for that meaningless “special thank you”.

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