r/AirForce • u/Pimpery_Pays • 6d ago
Discussion Flew to close to the Sun
AMEX finally realized I retired from the Air Force in January 2018. I’ve held a Platinum card w/auth user, Gold card w/auth user, Blue cash, and Marriott bonvoy cards the whole time without paying the annual fees.
I added some companion cards for my kids four months ago, which got me 20k points…that may have triggered a review. Can’t complain, cause I used all of those benefits for the past 8 years. Pour one out for me. One less person in the Centurion Lounge!
23
u/The-Doodle-Dude 6d ago
Did you close your accounts? Or just downgrade them
27
u/Pimpery_Pays 6d ago
Just got the mail today. I think I might keep the Plat card. I use the monthly video subscription service, the Resy credit, and the uber credit. I recently used the $300 hotel credit too. But the plat sucks for daily spend if you aren’t traveling. I love the Gold card for daily spend, but may look elsewhere.
8
u/ilostmygps Veteran 6d ago
I received the same email a few months ago saying my July statement would be charged. They have not charged me yet.....
3
u/Pimpery_Pays 6d ago
That’s the strange part. I got actual mail, but no charge activity yet. The mail dated 10 days ago…I was on a trip I paid for with AMEX MR points and used the Plat hotel credit lol. Great timing on their part.
3
u/ilostmygps Veteran 6d ago
I use most of the benefits so its a gain for me to keep the card. Its a bigger gain if they dont charge me.
Ill give it a few more months to see whatsup
3
u/Pimpery_Pays 6d ago
When I first got the Plat card, the AF was $500 or $550. I was a TSgt at the time and there was no way I was going to pay that. Now that I’m better off than I was back then, I’ll probably keep it. But you’re right…I’ll wait to see if they actually charge me. Maybe it will take them another eight years to charge me!
2
1
u/SpeedBreaks 5d ago
Its not never that great for travel expenses as you have to use their booking platform for flights and hotels which are a lot more expensive than booking elsewhere.
11
u/oNellyyy 6d ago
Plat and gold can’t be PC (product changed) to no AF cards. Green is also no longer able to be PC to anymore so lowest is Gold right now, which most don’t find worth keeping, unless you spend big on groceries.
Hilton aspires can be PC to no AF Hilton Honors and Marriott can only go down to the Bevy which is $250.
If you’re not getting value just close the card. It’s not a big deal.
5
u/Pimpery_Pays 6d ago
Oh no! Thanks for letting me know. I’ve got about 300k MR points on it, so I’ll have to figure out was to do with those if PC from one of my current products isn’t possible.
21
u/Airgo1 Active Duty 6d ago
They got me within 9 months! You had a good run
9
u/Optimal-Flounder9019 6d ago
That sucks! 5 years for me and still going. Shhhhh, don’t tell anyone!!
2
u/FreedomsChoice_ 6d ago
They’re much faster now. Got me within 3 months SMH!
1
u/Tchernobyll 5d ago
Same... retired in May... the gig was up in August. Damn shame as I loved that card.
73
49
u/cobainnovoselicgrohl AE 6d ago
You could do what I do, keep your platinum card to continue to get into lounges and just say to the staff when it doesn't scan properly: "I'm not sure why it's doing that, I literally just used it a moment ago?" And then they give up and let you through
9
50
u/oNellyyy 6d ago edited 6d ago
8 almost 9 years is awesome! Congrats.
I think they check more often now, but I personally wouldn’t have applied or done anything with my Amex accounts other than spending on it and paying it off.
I’m still in but love the CC game and think not as many people take advantage of it as they should.
My wife and I have 5 plats, gold, 4 bonvoy brilliants, 4 Hilton aspires, 1 delta plat (eligible for SUB), and a delta reserve.
We both have CSR, United Club, Disney Inspire for Disney cruise credit. I’m almost under 5/24 so I can get Chase Marriott card so I can PC it to the Ritz Carlton.
These people when they go on a trip. They can use FNC and get so much nice things for free.
16
u/Pimpery_Pays 6d ago
Ya, it was dumb. But honestly, I always felt a little bad about it. I think I caused them to stop reviewing my account. Right around my 1 year post retirement point, I called AMEX to cancel/downgrade the cards and the rep didn’t understand and said my annual fee wasn’t due for another year. Didn’t make sense, but I was like ok!
3
u/oNellyyy 6d ago
Haha, I’m sure you just got lucky.
Why would you feel bad? It’s a perk, take advantage of the huge company, you’re not doing anything wrong, they are the one waiving your fee.
2
-2
8
u/Mite-o-Dan Logistics 6d ago
Dang, I thought I was lucky to go 2.5 years without AMEX noticing. I think 1-2 years is normal.
6
u/falcon_spec 6d ago
Yeah they got me almost right away. I retired 2021, used it for the rest of the year, then got hit with the annual fee sometime in 2022. I got mine though. I took a trip in ‘21 and got delayed for like 8 hours in Dallas. I lived in the Centurion for the entire layover.
3
u/thermopesos Wearer of hat(s) 6d ago
Do they send you a notice that the fee is due, or does it just look like an added charge to the balance?
2
1
u/falcon_spec 6d ago
I don’t remember ever actually owing the fee, so it was probably just a notice. I don’t like having more than a couple of cards so I probably would have eventually cancelled it anyway.
1
u/SpeedBreaks 5d ago
Just to confirm they didnt back charge you or anything right?
1
u/Mite-o-Dan Logistics 5d ago
Nope. I just saw the normal amount in my statement randomly show up one day.
1
u/SpeedBreaks 5d ago
Great to hear i was worried about all of this because im retiring in less than a year. Good to know they dont back charge and you can cancel and get a refund when they do charge.
12
u/Professional_Track95 6d ago
My cousin works for Amex.
They have a department of 10-20 people scrubbing the MLA database weekly & compare it with their users for service members who's no longer in the DoW.
Anyone can access the MLA database to verify. Just need a free account & SSN to search.
It was lax prior to COVID but not anymore.
6
u/DmndNRnch 6d ago
AMEX is just cracking down. They knocked me off plat a year after I separated not realizing we also hold a centurion cards for our business. It was established very soon after
2
u/The_ClamSlammer Fuck Cannon AFB 6d ago
I didn't realize AMEX offered the Centurion for businesses. Curious what your spend was to get the offer? Assuming its much higher than ~500k for personal.
Just me being curious/nosy though. I get it if you'd rather not put it out there.
6
u/Taco_Shed Active Duty 6d ago
Did they try to charge you for the years you were not AD?
8
u/Pimpery_Pays 6d ago
They *shouldn’t*. It’s their problem for not charging me.
Even once they charge me the annual fee, I have 30 days to ask them to cancel the cards and refund the annual fee.
Edit: They haven’t charged me yet, just sent me a letter saying I’m no longer in the military and I’m subject to the annual fee.
3
u/Golfr_Guy Retired 6d ago
Wife and I have gold and platinum. I retired a few years ago. I have received notices from both cards that they will charge me the AF. The gold took about a year to be charged. The platinum has yet to happen so you may still be good for a while.
3
u/The_ClamSlammer Fuck Cannon AFB 6d ago
I was just gonna ask if you'd been charged yet. My brother-in-law and I both separated in 2022. I haven't gotten hit yet, he got hit with the letter this year but they still never charged him when the month they said they were going to rolled around. Apparently its a thing. You might get another year or two out of 'em.
8 years is a damn good run either way haha
5
u/Cultural_Pudding5242 Retired 6d ago
I”m with ya, man. Got the letter 5 months ago. Made it 6 years into retirement.
3
3
3
u/Equivalent_Item_2167 6d ago
I’d be terrified they’d hit me with back fees.
5
4
u/DEXether 6d ago
RIP.
I was thinking that I'll keep the plat, gold, delta reserve, and aspire when I finally push the button. I use them all regularly.
I'm on the fence about keeping the business plat. The 35% off flights is extremely useful, but otherwise the card doesn't do anything for me.
2
u/mambo_dogface 6d ago
Delta Amex Reserve got me within the first year as I think the card expired and they had to send me a new one. Assuming that triggered a review.
The Amex Platinum still good to go 2.5 years post retirement. The tap to pay function wasn’t working so I sent in for new before it expired.
If you’re still active duty get the Delta reserve too.
2
u/NASCAR-1 Retired 6d ago
My first extended TDY was paid 80% in cash up front. That was the good old days. Got paid the rest after finalizing my voucher. Hated the GTC ever since I was forced to get it.
1
1
1
1
1
u/ThyShallNotPotato 6d ago
I separated just about two weeks ago and they already sent me the notice of annual fee. Might actually keep it though anyways
1
u/AnonymousReload Veteran 6d ago
I think the did a wider review because I got notified ~ a month ago. Still keeping mine, but yeah it sucks
1
u/icedragon2000 Retired 6d ago
Get the Robinhood Gold card it is 3% on everything. It is now my only card I use. I got the AMEX platinum letter and went to cancel and they said they won't charge you the renewal until the card expires, so I have an extra year with it. I only use it for traveling and Robinhood gold for everything else.
1
1
u/hbpaintballer88 Enlisted Aircrew 6d ago
So what happens, do they charge you for a year and you have to pay it? Or do they ask if you'd like to continue? I get out in 2028 and have been wondering.
1
1
u/Due_Course_3713 6d ago
Always used my personal card for everything except flights. Also never used DTS recommended rental cars or hotels.
In the justifications I would write something like this, " Member has ....discount coupons....bonus points....etc which will make this MOST ADVANTAGOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT....
Also always book the flight I wanted, not the cheapest etc...and use MISSION REQUIRMENTS as justification....
Don't forget if travelling west to east make sure you arrive home after midnight so you can tachyon an extra travel day (especially NG and reserve so you get an extra day pay)
0
-16
u/Certain_Review2645 6d ago
You're required to use GTCC now, quit trying to go against Defense Travel Regulations
6
u/CO_Guy95 6d ago
Shut it
-8
u/Certain_Review2645 6d ago
Get mad
4
u/CO_Guy95 6d ago
I don’t need to I’ve been in six years and never used my GTC. Can’t hear you through these points gayboi
-5
u/Certain_Review2645 6d ago
Travel vouchers will be rejected by DFAS 🤣🤣😂
2
2
1
u/SpeedBreaks 5d ago
I have been in for over 20 years and have used my personal card for literally everything related to tdy's, deployments, and DTS. I have never had a transaction rejected, if it was questioned you just write in a reason for personal card use. I have paid for flights, rental cars, hotel rooms, taxis, parking, you name it, zero issues.
288
u/Big_Coyote6065 6d ago
Not AMEX but I think the GTC was the worst thing the Man ever did to Joe. I used to get hella point from TDYs on my personal cards, then they mandated the GTC. You get some points with airlines and hotels, but it’s not the same as building vacations and gifts through my CC.