Sick as a Pig

I would just like to highlight my frustration and may even contemplate a move to Airmiles I just ordered and paid for a new kitchen from Ikea at a cost of £5300 and had to use my MasterCard as you know they don’t accept Amex so as a Silver member I wonder how many airmiles Virgin Atlantic have caused me to lose.
I really feel like dumping my FC 90,000 points and starting again with Airmiles, I have talked to MBNA and Virgin about this and asked if they could extend the period you can earn miles on the mastecard, its the same answer from both "we understand the situation and working really hard to get more retail outlets onboard" They wont as amex merchant fees are to expensive and Virgin are now more concerned about their Business traveler than us mere leisure mortals.So they dont understand in fact they couldnt care less
Is anyone else as frustrated as me or am I being a bit OTT.

[preiffer]

Umm... You're considering ditching an entire airline's product because IKEA won't take Amex?

While I can see you're frustrated over the MBNA/Amex issue - to take the whole issue of retailers accepting Amex out on Virgin Atlantic themselves (and therefore presumably switching to another airline entirely to travel with), I'd say is a little OTT, yes.


For reference, since this topic relates specifically to the Credit Card issue, I'll move it to that forum to ensure people are looking at it in the right frame of mind...

I understand where your coming from but I had no option, VA changed the service, My wife and I work really hard and used the mastercard whenever we can to get the extras like our first time in UC last Aug to San Francisco which was fantastic and PE whenever we fly. So I feel its not the retailers or Amex its Virgin who have made us all change and in turn cut the avalibility of us to fly with them. At 6ft 3 I cannot and will not fly econ so as I said maybe I should look elsewhere.

[RichardMannion]

This is Ikea that charges a 70p card fee regardless?

I think Paul is right, it is a bit OTT. Yes there are some places that don't take AmEx (I know I have spent an absolute fortune at Ikea in my time) but then there are benefits to using the AmEx platform that the other issuers can't match, benefits being the relatively low level of spend needed to get a companion voucher, level of spend to get the upgrade vouchers, the points earning ratio. It's a bit chicken and egg, yes they do charge retailers a higher commission rate, but that enables more of it can be passed back to you as the customer as benefits.

I am quite fortunate that the places I typically use do take AmEx, but for those places that don't Sarah and I each have BMI mastercards so we can slowly but surely build up BMI miles for a trip with them. Every scheme has it's advantages and disadvantages, just like credit/charge cards. We can't pick and choose the best benefits from each program. And if you want to have something really drive you mad, try paying for a car on any credit card, they hate that. The amount of miles passed up!

Thanks,
Richard

[Scrooge]

As Richard says, each program has advantages and disadvantages, being in the US I dont even get a VS creditcard, so have to rely on a normal Amex to rack up points, if we were offered the same package that is offered in the UK I would have a couple of UC tickets with my spend last year, oh well.

Originally posted by Krissw
I would just like to highlight my frustration and may even contemplate a move to Airmiles I just ordered and paid for a new kitchen from Ikea at a cost of £5300 and had to use my MasterCard as you know they donÕt accept Amex so as a Silver member I wonder how many airmiles Virgin Atlantic have caused me to lose.
I really feel like dumping my FC 90,000 points and starting again with Airmiles, I have talked to MBNA and Virgin about this and asked if they could extend the period you can earn miles on the mastecard, its the same answer from both "we understand the situation and working really hard to get more retail outlets onboard" They wont as amex merchant fees are to expensive and Virgin are now more concerned about their Business traveler than us mere leisure mortals.So they dont understand in fact they couldnt care less
Is anyone else as frustrated as me or am I being a bit OTT.

Had a similar situation recently Kriss - we had new soffits and stuff fitted and specifically asked if they took Amex, thinking of the miles. They said yes, we handed over the card, and a couple of days later they called to say they didn't take it! Like you, had to use an alternative card. The amount involved was similar, which means the miles I 'lost' were also similar.

I really, really don't like this Amex card....

I really dont have any problems with my AMEX card and Ive been having fun adding the miles - if a retailer doesnt take it then I can make a choice but OI dont get that upset!!

And I do not use my AMEX card abroad, I use a Nationwide Visa because there are no Visa charges and it gives me the best rate!!!

Anyway - isnt it "as sick as a parrot" [:$]

So yeah, sorry Kriss, you are being OTT!

As I don't actually know the answer to this question perhaps someone could chip in. If you took a cash advance from your Amex card would that give you miles? And if you could do that then I suppose that would be an option.

Neiman Marcus in the US only take their own card and Amex, for the last 3 years I have been going to the nearest concierge in the malls they were in and buying gift certificates with my Virgin Credit card and paying for goods in Neiman Marcus with those instead.

If you think constructively enough there is usually a way round a lot of obstacles.

Paul

Following on from Pauls idea about getting vouchers this is the way around for the John Lewis/Waitrose situation I have mentioned. Near me JL do not accept AmEx but the Waitrose next door does, so go there, buy vouchers and pay for your shopping in JL using the vouchers!

I have been looking for the best backup card and do fly BMI quite regularly. So I might apply for one today, it will save me the BMI booking fee if nothing else.

I did initially get wound up by the AmEx not being accepted, but now am used to it!!

G.

I'm the opposite now. For a few months everywhere I went accepted the Amex and I didn't have an issue. Recently however most places I gone (different places) won't take it, and several large purchases I have made which would have earn't me some serious miles, have had to go on my One Account Visa.

My wife has already dropped the Amex as its just not worth saving the miles for the little benefits its gives compared the hassle she has with the Amex. I still use mine for petrol but thats about it, no where else takes it

[preiffer]

But there's a difference here, Andy.

You're talking about dropping the AMEX because of lack of acceptance at retailers.
Krissw is talking about dropping VIRGIN ATLANTIC as an airline because of it [:0]

THAT's the OTT bit in my mind.
(Especially since Scaremiles is hardly the best FFP in the world... [:w] )

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by p17blo
As I don't actually know the answer to this question perhaps someone could chip in. If you took a cash advance from your Amex card would that give you miles? And if you could do that then I suppose that would be an option.

Sadly not, cash transactions, balance transfers and payments by credit card cheques do not earn miles.

I am frustrated that many smaller retailers do not take AmEx, especially as i do believe in helping the little guy, though for the purchases i have made i have racked up a nice amount of miles (especially with VS and VH) and im also earning miles with Bmi for a rainy day.

The scheme isnt without its faults, but it is relatively easy to earn a decent set of miles, and more than using any of the current alternatives. I'll stick with it till the accelerated earning ceases, then switch to Bmi permanently i think.

Thanks,
Sarah

Thanks for all the replies guys, I think the bottom line for me anyway is, I cannot use the Amex card at the wholesalers I like be it for plumbing fittings or booze for the club I help run or retailers I choose to use therefore im unable to gain further miles.
As for dropping Virgin if I can gain for instance BA airmiles for using another card which is accepted at the places I like using then im going for that. After all I just want to get to my destination in as comfortable way possible be it with VA or another airline.

For a BA credit card you would have to go down the Amex route again, although at least it is not with MBNA([y][y]). I am afraid that the really good rewards tend to go with Amex cards, and Amex can afford to do this because they charge retailers more, but that means less retailers accept Amex.

I was just looking on the net for best credit cards and Airmiles themselves have a card which is Mastercard not read all the details yet.

I wonder if VA will change their card in the near future?

Be careful with airmiles - I find the flight discounts I get with miles are not much cheaper than normally bought flights. There is a reason why so many cards give airmiles - They are cheap for the card companies to buy because they are not worth much.

VS just changed their card, so I doubt they will do so again soon.

[honey lamb]

Think yourself lucky that you can at least get some VS miles with your card. I am not eligible for the VS card and Amex only has a very dumbed down version here so I cannot get miles that way. In fact the only card available to me is a Ryanair one! [:0]

Airmiles themselves have a card which is Mastercard not read all the details yet.

Airmiles are nothing to do with BA miles as sailor99 said they are not good value,you can earn BA miles with a Tesco Visa/Mastercard by crediting clubcard vouchers to BAEC(very easy fast online transaction),although tesco did withdraw the best earning rate cards last year.

Originally posted by RichardMannion
I am quite fortunate that the places I typically use do take AmEx,
Thanks,
Richard

Yep, I've seen him use it in McDonalds

Originally posted by Scrooge
[if we were offered the same package that is offered in the UK I would have a couple of UC tickets with my spend last year, oh well.

Ah, but only if they have availabilty, which they never have, on the routes you want:D

Iain

Originally posted by honey lamb
In fact the only card available to me is a Ryanair one! [:0]

And your problem is.......?

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by iforres1

Originally posted by RichardMannion
I am quite fortunate that the places I typically use do take AmEx,
Thanks,
Richard

Yep, I've seen him use it in McDonalds

- I earned my 4 FC points for that transaction.

If you'd have bought me a big mac you'd have earned 6 [:(]

[preiffer]

Originally posted by RichardMannion

Originally posted by iforres1
Yep, I've seen him use it in McDonalds

- I earned my 4 FC points for that transaction.

But lost 80 from his "style & credibility points" bank at the same time. [ii][:(]

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by iforres1

Originally posted by Scrooge
[if we were offered the same package that is offered in the UK I would have a couple of UC tickets with my spend last year, oh well.

Ah, but only if they have availabilty, which they never have, on the routes you want:D

Iain

I figured out a way around that..my secret.. oh but over a few beers I may tell [:I]

Originally posted by preiffer

Originally posted by RichardMannion

Originally posted by iforres1
Yep, I've seen him use it in McDonalds

- I earned my 4 FC points for that transaction.

But lost 80 from his "style & credibility points" bank at the same time. [ii][:(]

You mean LRoM is now negative 80 in both style and credibility [:0]