American Express devalues Membership Rewards in India

It is old news that Amex in India has been devaluing the Membership Rewards. A year back, Amex reduced the number of MR one could earn on a few types of payments and even imposed a Rs. 250 fee for redeeming on airline miles.

While the website has no indication of this devaluation, members are being individually informed via their statements. Here are the transfer partners who are now changed from 1.6 MR = 1 FFP to 2 MR = 1 FFP, with effect from 16 January 2013:

  • British Airways
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Etihad Airways
  • Finnair
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Thai Airways
  • Virgin Atlantic

These are all of the airline transfer partners that American Express India has in India, apart from Jet Airways and Air India. Jet Airways miles are still continuing at 1.6 MR = 1 FFP.

While  I am speculating, in the common scheme of things, Jet Airways miles are priced at the same exchange price as these other airlines. However, seems like Jet’s co-branded Amex has something to do with this arrangement, where Jet Airways miles are now being made to look more attractive than the other transfer partners on the airline front. This could have either been done with making a cheaper pricing on JP miles because of their newfound partnership, or could be a move from Amex/Jet to try and flank away redemptions to other partner airlines.

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About Ajay

Ajay Awtaney is the Founder and Editor of Live From A Lounge (LFAL), a pioneering digital platform renowned for publishing news and views about aviation, hotels, passenger experience, loyalty programs, travel trends and frequent travel tips for the Global Indian. He is considered the Indian authority on business travel, luxury travel, frequent flyer miles, loyalty credit cards and travel for Indians around the globe. Ajay is a frequent contributor and commentator on the media as well, including ET Now, BBC, CNBC TV18, NDTV, Conde Nast Traveller and many other outlets.

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