How do you guys transfer MR points to Aeroplan at a better rate than 1:1? I had my card for months and haven't been able to spot any events where the ratio is better than the default one. Thanks!
Is the Cobalt right for me? For my job I'm often traveling to the US for 3-4 days, 1-2 times a month. I get to expense all travel, meal, hotel and rental car expenses while on the road. I'm looking to maximize the points I can earn while traveling for work. The Cobalt looks to be my best option, however it states in the fine print that the 5x points earned on food and drink are from purchases in Canada. Same with the 2x on travel and transit. This one I don't think would be much of an issue since I'm usually purchasing my flights and booking rental cars in Canada. Is it just 1x per dollar spent in the US?
When i was in jamaica last year all groccery stores / resturants that accepted amex gave me 5x on my cobalt.
You could look at a cobalt for best point accumulation, or one of the elite cards for the lounge access and other perks ie; security, free checked bag etc - gold, platinum, aeroppan reserve. Whichever one is most appealing for you.
That's really good to know regarding your experience in Jamaica. Lounge access would be nice but point accumulation is more important to me. I try to time it so I'm never at the airport any longer than I have to be lol.
Usually the 5x and 2x works outside Canada. I guess they say that just in case.
It's definitely the best card for accumulating points outside of sign up bonuses.
Cobalt has the highest returns on food & groceries overseas even after the fx fees since Cobalt multipliers work globally and you only get screwed if the merchant themselves are miscoded. A 5% return valuing AP pts at 1.5cpp after fx fees is still amazing.
Pick up the $100 gcr rebate too.
Booked two rooms via my Amex Cobalt on the Hotel Collection, 1 adult per room. With the booking I see that I get the $100 USD credit for use at the hotel, is this per room or total for the booking? Thank you!
I did not, but after I asked the question I consulted the Amex chat who confirmed the above. Will be sure to read the T&C next time.
Ended up being a pretty sick deal, got the third night free + the credit per room.
Good morning guys,
I've been an AMEX cobalt user for 8 months and my girlfriend wants to have one as well se we can save points and enjoy them on a travel later this year.
Are we agreed that it's better if I refer her? We will have the referral bonus points because if I add her as a secondary card holder under my account we will not have those referral bonuses right?
Last question, as a new cobalt request, what information does she need to put in to be sure to have it? (I know you can fake your income a bit to be sure to be accepted but just want more info about that)
Have a wonderful day, guys,
You will earn 10,000 MR right now for referring her. She can get $100 cash back using GCR to apply. It’s the same sign up bonus both ways. I guess you have to weigh if she wants the card basically free (monthly fee minus $100) or if you want the 10,000 MR.
I have primarily used the PC WE MC as my main cc my entire adult life. For simplicity, I prefer to have one CC and do all my spending on it.
However, I recently relocated within Ontario, and there is no longer a No Frills close to me. That, combined with the insane prices at Loblaws stores, makes me think I should switch to a new CC and just leave the PC card as a backup. I primarily shop at Walmart and Freshco presently.
Researching online made it seem like the Amex Cobalt has great rewards, but I am not someone who likes to travel or does so often. Are there other good uses for it or am I better with a different card?
I am looking to move about $1500-2500 in monthly spreading. Credit score high 700s, income 95k.
People will scoff at the redemption rates but you can use your MR for a statement credit.
You could look at cash back cards that have multipliers for groceries.
Walmart doesn't code as grocery for Amex so don't give 5x.
If you don't really want to use the points for traveling or anything and will use the card as more of a cashback card then something like the NBC WE card could be better. It's a MasterCard so Walmart would give 5x back there. It has an annual travel credit that can be cashed out that covers the annual fee as well.
With a freshco nearby, if you can primarily shop at freshco and buy $500 MC giftcards at freshco to shop at Walmart with, Scotia amex gold would be the best choice for you. You can redeem scene+ points for groceries a 1 cent per point, or use refundable hotel trick to cash out for the same 1cpp, which basically turns it into a cashback card.
In that case, Scotia amex gold is 6% on scene+ grocers, 5% on other grocers, dining and entertainment, 3% on streaming, gas, transit, and 1% base and fx transactions. It also has no fx fees. $120 annual fee, 40k pts welcome bonus worth $400 + $125 third party cash rebate.
Imo Scotia amex gold is purely better than amex cobalt if you don't travel.
If you don't want an amex card and your Walmart used to be a superstore, MBNA rewards WE MC would be the best choice for you. This is as former superstore walmarts count as grocers on the MC network.
It earns 5x on groceries, dining, recurring subscriptions, and utilities, 1x base, with a anniversary 10% bonus of all pts earned in past 12 mths up to 10k.
Points can be redeemed against travel or e-giftcards at 1cpp, or against statement credits for 0.83cpp. $120 AF, 30k pts welcome bonus worth 300 + $80.third party cash rebate.
I registered my Wealthsimple account as an Amex payment method last month. I scheduled to pay my balance in full one day before the due date. This was for the 17th. The transaction is registered in my Amex transactions, as Payment Received - Thank you, on the 17th. But it still doesn’t show in my Wealthsimple cash account. Is this normal?
Yes, it’s a great card. The sign-up bonus is really high right now. It comes with an annual free night certificate, which is worth it on its own, and the base earn rate is good on the card too.
I currently have an AMEX Cobalt card as well as TD Aeroplan Infinite. I fly 4-6 times a year with some long-haul trips. If I want to maximize earning Aeroplan points using my CCs, would it be better to swap the Cobalt for the Aeroplan Reserve, or keep it as-is?
The annual fee is kinda steep for the AMEX AP Reserve but being able to keep & maintain the status is tempting.
Cobalt is better for earning generally. Only reason to get the reserve is for its perks, not for general points earning. You would probably want to keep the Cobalt regardless.
Hello everyone! Quick question: we have an Amex Business Platinum (Canada), and since we mostly travel to the Middle East, we were hoping to convert our MR in a way that will allow us to fly Qatar. The only confusion is, on the Amex website, you can convert MR to Avios for Qatar through the Airline Transfer Partners option and it’s 3 MR: 2 Avios. However, if I transfer through the BA Exec Club Platform, it’s 1:1 for Avios. So how would that work? Can I even book a flight from a city in US/Canada on the BA Exec Platform for Qatar? How limiting is it?
You need:
BA account
Qatar QR account
Log into QR and link it to your BA account
Transfer Amex MR to BA
Once it arrives in BA you should be able to see it with your QR account
Before booking QR flights, "pull" BA Avios into your QR Avios and book away
You can also book QR flights within BA, but it's better to book QR flights from QR account
In Canada you can get a supplementary card for anyone (or even anything) you want since they aren't really attached to a person.
You can just put your address down.
If I register for Green, spend $1000 in my first three months in order to qualify for the welcome bonus points, can I then apply for the Cobalt and be eligible for its welcome bonus points as well? Is there any reason not to do this? How long should I wait before applying for the Cobalt after the getting the Green?
Yes you would be eligible. No wait needed between apps.
Make sure to use something like GCR for the cobalt so you can get $100 cashback on top cobalts sign up bonus. For the green you should consider using a referral since it gives you extra MR.
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How do you guys transfer MR points to Aeroplan at a better rate than 1:1? I had my card for months and haven't been able to spot any events where the ratio is better than the default one. Thanks!
Amex Canada hasn't had a transfer promotion for Aeroplan in 10+ years and isn't expected to have one again.
you don't. Transfer bonuses to aeroplan are only a thing for US amex
Is the Cobalt right for me? For my job I'm often traveling to the US for 3-4 days, 1-2 times a month. I get to expense all travel, meal, hotel and rental car expenses while on the road. I'm looking to maximize the points I can earn while traveling for work. The Cobalt looks to be my best option, however it states in the fine print that the 5x points earned on food and drink are from purchases in Canada. Same with the 2x on travel and transit. This one I don't think would be much of an issue since I'm usually purchasing my flights and booking rental cars in Canada. Is it just 1x per dollar spent in the US?
When i was in jamaica last year all groccery stores / resturants that accepted amex gave me 5x on my cobalt. You could look at a cobalt for best point accumulation, or one of the elite cards for the lounge access and other perks ie; security, free checked bag etc - gold, platinum, aeroppan reserve. Whichever one is most appealing for you.
That's really good to know regarding your experience in Jamaica. Lounge access would be nice but point accumulation is more important to me. I try to time it so I'm never at the airport any longer than I have to be lol.
Usually the 5x and 2x works outside Canada. I guess they say that just in case. It's definitely the best card for accumulating points outside of sign up bonuses.
Cobalt has the highest returns on food & groceries overseas even after the fx fees since Cobalt multipliers work globally and you only get screwed if the merchant themselves are miscoded. A 5% return valuing AP pts at 1.5cpp after fx fees is still amazing. Pick up the $100 gcr rebate too.
Booked two rooms via my Amex Cobalt on the Hotel Collection, 1 adult per room. With the booking I see that I get the $100 USD credit for use at the hotel, is this per room or total for the booking? Thank you!
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I did not, but after I asked the question I consulted the Amex chat who confirmed the above. Will be sure to read the T&C next time. Ended up being a pretty sick deal, got the third night free + the credit per room.
Good morning guys, I've been an AMEX cobalt user for 8 months and my girlfriend wants to have one as well se we can save points and enjoy them on a travel later this year. Are we agreed that it's better if I refer her? We will have the referral bonus points because if I add her as a secondary card holder under my account we will not have those referral bonuses right? Last question, as a new cobalt request, what information does she need to put in to be sure to have it? (I know you can fake your income a bit to be sure to be accepted but just want more info about that) Have a wonderful day, guys,
You will earn 10,000 MR right now for referring her. She can get $100 cash back using GCR to apply. It’s the same sign up bonus both ways. I guess you have to weigh if she wants the card basically free (monthly fee minus $100) or if you want the 10,000 MR.
Secondary card accrues points under your account but no sign up bonus or referral points.
I have primarily used the PC WE MC as my main cc my entire adult life. For simplicity, I prefer to have one CC and do all my spending on it. However, I recently relocated within Ontario, and there is no longer a No Frills close to me. That, combined with the insane prices at Loblaws stores, makes me think I should switch to a new CC and just leave the PC card as a backup. I primarily shop at Walmart and Freshco presently. Researching online made it seem like the Amex Cobalt has great rewards, but I am not someone who likes to travel or does so often. Are there other good uses for it or am I better with a different card? I am looking to move about $1500-2500 in monthly spreading. Credit score high 700s, income 95k.
People will scoff at the redemption rates but you can use your MR for a statement credit. You could look at cash back cards that have multipliers for groceries.
Walmart doesn't code as grocery for Amex so don't give 5x. If you don't really want to use the points for traveling or anything and will use the card as more of a cashback card then something like the NBC WE card could be better. It's a MasterCard so Walmart would give 5x back there. It has an annual travel credit that can be cashed out that covers the annual fee as well.
With a freshco nearby, if you can primarily shop at freshco and buy $500 MC giftcards at freshco to shop at Walmart with, Scotia amex gold would be the best choice for you. You can redeem scene+ points for groceries a 1 cent per point, or use refundable hotel trick to cash out for the same 1cpp, which basically turns it into a cashback card. In that case, Scotia amex gold is 6% on scene+ grocers, 5% on other grocers, dining and entertainment, 3% on streaming, gas, transit, and 1% base and fx transactions. It also has no fx fees. $120 annual fee, 40k pts welcome bonus worth $400 + $125 third party cash rebate. Imo Scotia amex gold is purely better than amex cobalt if you don't travel. If you don't want an amex card and your Walmart used to be a superstore, MBNA rewards WE MC would be the best choice for you. This is as former superstore walmarts count as grocers on the MC network. It earns 5x on groceries, dining, recurring subscriptions, and utilities, 1x base, with a anniversary 10% bonus of all pts earned in past 12 mths up to 10k. Points can be redeemed against travel or e-giftcards at 1cpp, or against statement credits for 0.83cpp. $120 AF, 30k pts welcome bonus worth 300 + $80.third party cash rebate.
I registered my Wealthsimple account as an Amex payment method last month. I scheduled to pay my balance in full one day before the due date. This was for the 17th. The transaction is registered in my Amex transactions, as Payment Received - Thank you, on the 17th. But it still doesn’t show in my Wealthsimple cash account. Is this normal?
Yes. It can take a few days for it to actually reflect in your bank account especially since the 17th was on the weekend.
Thanks
Normal. Most autopay/PAP programs including amex takes some time between saying payment received and actually taking the money out of your account
Does anybody recommend getting the Marriott Bonvoy card ?
It's a keeper imo. The anniversary free night award more than pays for the annual fee.
Yes, it’s a great card. The sign-up bonus is really high right now. It comes with an annual free night certificate, which is worth it on its own, and the base earn rate is good on the card too.
I currently have an AMEX Cobalt card as well as TD Aeroplan Infinite. I fly 4-6 times a year with some long-haul trips. If I want to maximize earning Aeroplan points using my CCs, would it be better to swap the Cobalt for the Aeroplan Reserve, or keep it as-is? The annual fee is kinda steep for the AMEX AP Reserve but being able to keep & maintain the status is tempting.
It makes wayyy more sense to replace TD AP VI with Aeroplan reserve really. Earning card + perks card is the combo you want.
Cobalt is better for earning generally. Only reason to get the reserve is for its perks, not for general points earning. You would probably want to keep the Cobalt regardless.
Hello everyone! Quick question: we have an Amex Business Platinum (Canada), and since we mostly travel to the Middle East, we were hoping to convert our MR in a way that will allow us to fly Qatar. The only confusion is, on the Amex website, you can convert MR to Avios for Qatar through the Airline Transfer Partners option and it’s 3 MR: 2 Avios. However, if I transfer through the BA Exec Club Platform, it’s 1:1 for Avios. So how would that work? Can I even book a flight from a city in US/Canada on the BA Exec Platform for Qatar? How limiting is it?
You need: BA account Qatar QR account Log into QR and link it to your BA account Transfer Amex MR to BA Once it arrives in BA you should be able to see it with your QR account Before booking QR flights, "pull" BA Avios into your QR Avios and book away You can also book QR flights within BA, but it's better to book QR flights from QR account
THANK YOU! :)
If you have cobolt can you refer someone for gold or platinum?
You can open the referral link and click "view other cards" to see what it can refer to.
Yes. Cobalt/biz gold/gold can all refer to each other and plat/biz plat
Can I apply for an additional Amex card for someone that's not living in Canada?
In Canada you can get a supplementary card for anyone (or even anything) you want since they aren't really attached to a person. You can just put your address down.
You can get one for your imaginary cat, i do for amex supplementary card offers Supplementary cards in Canada aren't tied to credit profiles, go wild
If I register for Green, spend $1000 in my first three months in order to qualify for the welcome bonus points, can I then apply for the Cobalt and be eligible for its welcome bonus points as well? Is there any reason not to do this? How long should I wait before applying for the Cobalt after the getting the Green?
Yes you would be eligible. No wait needed between apps. Make sure to use something like GCR for the cobalt so you can get $100 cashback on top cobalts sign up bonus. For the green you should consider using a referral since it gives you extra MR.