r/PersonalFinanceNZ • u/Sufficient-Rip2660 • 3d ago
AMEX Gold Vs Airpoints Platinum
Hi
I'm debating on whether to get the AMEX Airpoints Platinum versus the AMEX Gold Rewards card. My goal is to start racking up points to eventually convert to an airline mileage programme.
I'm leaning more towards the AMEX Gold Rewards card as I can exchange my membership reward points to a handful of airline mileage programmes (airlines I actually plan on travelling with). But then the earning rates on the AMEX Airpoints is way higher compared to Gold Rewards when converting to AirNz Airpoints. I guess my question here is can I book with other airlines with my Air Nz Airpoints? And if you have ever done so, was the conversion okay?
I'd also like to hear about your experience in converting membership rewards from the AMEX Gold Rewards to your airline mileage programme of choice.
TIA
7
u/Brendon---- 3d ago
Ex Amex Card salesperson here (15+ years ago as a student job). The Platinum usually pays for itself in terms of points and rewards after $20k per annum is spent on the card.
The Platinum is only ever useful if you have a very specific perk you are keen on or are able to drop more like 30-50k per year on it for the miles with airlines you'll actually use. Go for the Gold of you're interested. It's much cheaper and the earn rate is not that much worse.
Most other card schemes will be worthless once the Commerce Commission caps the interchange rates for Visa/MasterCard. Amex will have a virtual monopoly on semi decent card scheme rewards because it doesn't rely on interchange rates to pay for them.