The Milenomics Podcast Network

Milenomics² Podcast Episode 250: Navigating the Amex System in 2025…

Added 2025-02-13 23:03:31 +0000 UTC

01:04 Heightened Amex Delta Offers

01:41 Amex Bonvoy Business 125k

02:12 Amex Business Platinum 250k

I seem to have lost the ability to refer for 35k on all my cards, which means I can’t generate new 250k links
Luckily, I had an application in the hopper already and just after 90 days since my last Business Platinum called new accounts
Approved on the spot with very little fuss. “Is this for a different business?” No. “OK no worries. I’ll put the application through for review.”
Old referral links still seem to work, but that could vaporize
Still, a good reminder to generate and save links while you can. And to be mindful that great things can go away at any time.

05:01 Schwab Platinum: Keep or Cancel?

Now that 1.1 cent per point cashouts are limited to 1M Membership Rewards/yr is it worth keeping a Schwab open indefinitely?
Annual Fee posted > 1 year ago and I’d been lazy about staying on top of it
Cashed out 1M MRs, used my incidentals up and called to cancel
Offered 50,000 MRs for $4,000 in 3 months
Accepted offer but now I’m wondering whether it’s worth it?
Justin B makes a good point: It seems currently possible to churn Resy 15x, Business Platinum 250k, and Business Gold 100k a little over every 90 days
In that environment slots are precious and perhaps a Schwab should best be opened around year-end for 2 calendar years worth of cashouts and incidental eradication

6:05 Discuss: How to Play Things with “The New Amex Rules” (which really aren’t new at all)

For the longest time we worried about being “in the penalty box” for new Amex cards
Or on the lookout for “no lifetime language” links
For at least the past couple years it seems that when an application is seen by Amex as a duplicate, it gets auto-denied by the computer but the new accounts team can get it reconsidered and the welcome bonus is attached
The duplicate state can be caused by applying for the same card twice in the same session (the so-called “back button” or “new tab” trick) -or- by applying for a card within 90 days of when the same card was previously opened
With a 90 day decline, reps seem to be more willing to submit an application to “the backend team” than with same day applications
If all this remains in place, what is our approach for seeking new welcome bonuses from Amex?
And how does this play out for P2?

18:25 WU Rates increase with No Notice

Without notice these went from about $9.95 for < $2500 14.95 for <$5,000 to $29.99 for <$5,000
Still staggeringly low rates, .6% (sidebar, why is .6 so common like our own Euler’s Numer)
Semi-coincides with Fluz asking us to keep WU below $10k a week
Still earning 1.5% on Fluz, which is nice, so a .9% profit
Supply and Demand finding equilibrium for sure

22:47 BofA Elite Closure Experience

"Can I product change to a customized cash rewards?" No, the computer won't let me.
"Could you please reduce the credit line to $2,000?" The computer won't let me reduce it any lower than $10,000.
"The annual fee posted Nov 30. Would you please request an annual fee refund?" I don't know. It's up to the computer.
Why am I talking to a human if everything is up to the computer?!
Asked for an AF refund, didn’t mention MA anything, computer allowed full refund > 60 days after fee posted, so triple dip was succesful. $550 “annual fee adjustment” posted next day.

27:36 Is There a More Difficult Bank to Pay Than Bank of America?

Pay by Phone w/Debit: Died
PayPal Bill Pay: Immediate refund
Online Bill Pay: Offline in early morning hours
Payment interface being separate from card makes it clunky to discern current balance/due dates/etc
Entire eBill/AutoPay setup insanely complicated
Even when paying with BofA Checking there’s complete lack of connection
Are they trying to make people forget to pay to gin up late fees?

32:53 February Break Hawaii Trip

Business class on Hawaiian both directions
Aulani for the start of the trip (will this look different than Animal Kingdom Lodge?)
Transit to Lanai included with 4S booking
Golf, some tours booked through the hotel.

36:53 Hilton Booking Analysis Paralysis

Need room for college visit, obvious choice is a Hilton Garden Inn practically on campus with few other options around
Standard award availability at 60,000
Cash rate is $347 w/tax
How do you book and pay for it?
60,000 points?
Expiring FNC?
Hilton GCs?
Multiple $50 swipes with an Amex Business Platinum?

41:57 Marriott Booking Analysis Paralysis

A different college visit, obvious choice here is a Courtyard
$209/nt fully loaded or 24,000 points/nt?
Or, should I use my large Hotels.com GC balance from a decade ago with OneKey Rewards?
Refundability weighs on me as well - rate is $178 non-refundable
Makes me think I should just wait until a day or two before and book then, but when the desired hotel is sold out or rates spike I regret that decision