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Rumor Update2: Is Amex’s announcement the TIER ONE?

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Rumor Update2: Is Amex’s announcement the TIER ONE?

Tier One…this is rumor people. Unlike Doctor of Credit who has some inside sources at Amex, I’m just doing some good ole’ digging and trying to connect some speculative dots. I originally saw the rumors posted on Reddit and thought it would be fun just to speculate its veracity. Some of those same contributors who posted have said it’s silly to speculate from a random post. Guys…This is fun! I certainly am not guaranteeing anything nor substantiating any rumors, but I first posted because I’m a geek for this stuff and it’s fun. For goodness sakes I write with Miles.

After seeing the post pop up on DoC it occurred to me that this thing could actually be real. So I started thinking about the series of steps Chase took to release their Reserve. They, too, surreptitiously leaked their card online through Reddit and Flyertalk. Coincidence? Maybe. But, one of the big things that validated the leaks was the revelation that Chase had registered a trademark: Sapphire Reserve. Well, American Express has just registered a trademark under the same classifications as the Reserve named Tier One. So will Amex release a new card named the American Express Tier One?

American Express Tier One has a nice ring to it.

Here are the trademark registration details. The status has also been updated as of yesterday – ironic since that’s when the gossip started. Whereas when you look at the Reserve status it was updated September 5th. American Express Tier One Amex Tier One
American Express Tier One Amex Tier One

And here
American Express Tier One Amex Tier One

and hereAmerican Express Tier One Amex Tier One

These registrations look strikingly similar to Chase’s registration of Reserve:

screen-shot-2016-09-28-at-5-37-14-pm

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase Sapphire Reserve

I have no idea if this is true or not, but the speculation is SUPER fun

I mean, the credit card landscape has tremendously changed in just the last year or so. With the introduction of Prestige and Reserve, Amex NEEDS to do something to bolster their position in the market. Not to mention the fact that they lost Costco…Now there is BIG TIME buzz about an announcement in October. I MEAN CAHMON – this is amazing for us point geeks.

Certainly American Express registering the TIER ONE trademark doesn’t mean this is a new card or that they are even releasing a new card. But, you have to admit…it makes it a wee bit more fun =)

Maybe this October announcement is the TIER ONE, maybe it’s just added benefits. Who knows…it could be nothing or there could be no announcement. But then again…Maybe someone reading this already knows about the TIER ONE and can rule it out or in. If so…lemme know.

Let the speculation begin

 

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14 Comments

  • […] Link:   Monkey Miles […]

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  • […] it could be completely unrelated, Monkey Miles pointed out that American Express recently registered a trademark for “Tier One.” […]

  • […] rumor about how American Express would be introducing a new product to compete with the CSR card. Monkey Miles then followed up DoC’s post by discovering American Express had filed for a trademark […]

  • […] Link:   Monkey Miles […]

  • […] $0.02 amex travel redemption value fantasy kick all week. I posted the trademark registration for Tier One and a couple Rumors  of something big being released on October 5th. Well, it’s October 5th […]

  • jediwho September 30, 2016

    This makes a case for a new card than just a rehash of Platinum. While clearly there is a solid argument for Amex not having two $450 cards and also giving out 100K bonuses twice for no reason, my thinking as well is that Amex will more likely introduce a new card.

    I also think that the two cards will be very different. This is mostly based on a survey I got from Amex a few months ago (posted a little bit more details about this on a FT thread as well as DOC), but basically I think this could end up being a no annual fee card similar to Amex Explorer in Australia.

    So say an AF of $400 with $400 airline or hotel credit for booking through Amex Travel. The two killer features could be significantly more points earnings than Amex Platinum and more likely a combo of Everyday Preferred 1.5x after 30 transaction and Premier Gold and maybe throw in quarterly revolving bonus up to $1,500.

    Another solid feature (again my guess): select all the benefits you want for a price. So, ability to add hotel/car rental status for $x, access to Priority Pass, Centurion Lounge and maybe even Delta for a certain price, best travel insurance any CC has to offer (in the US) again for an extra annual fee.

    This makes so much sense for many of us as we already have other premium cards with overlapping benefits of Priority Pass, travel insurance, hotel status that we are already paying for to Amex Platinum, etc. Even for those who do not have another higher end card, this mix and match approach might make more sense.

    For instance, let’s just assume that the entire $250 of net Amex Platinum fees is what we pay for Priority Pass, Centurion lounges, FHR, and status with hotels and car rentals. For whatever reason, you don’t care for lounge access or hotel status and only cared for FHR. This new card would make perfect sense. Even if you mix and matched every feature to replicate Amex Platinum, it probably would not cost significantly more than Amex Platinum with a strong possibility that you might be able to get best of most premium cards (excluding United Club and AA lounges) by paying maybe around $450 (net AF) a year,

    This could end up being the killer card we have all been waiting for. The modular design will help scale benefits and perks and the credit card focuses on fantastic rewards that mans 90% of my spending will be on this card.

  • […] Monkey Miles 细心的发现,AmEx 刚刚提交了“Tier One”的商标申请。他还指出,CSR […]

  • Shaun September 29, 2016

    I would think it would be easier and cheaper just to revamp the platinum card. A card with superior benifits will caniableize Plat cardholders. To compete with the reserve they need to up their game and improve their customer service back to 5-10 years ago.

    I’d be shocked if tier one is a new card….but thinking a level of the Plat card…maybe similar to Visa Infiniti

    • c00mtg September 30, 2016

      Hi Shaun, in my opinion, I don’t think it will be a new card, but you never know. The lady told me not to get rid of it, so that makes me think AMEX will add benefits. A new card would mean something between the Platinum and the Black card….or perhaps a Platinum Reserved? Which we would be eligible to upgrade or apply for.

  • c00mtg September 28, 2016

    I can confirm that a big change is coming very very soon!

    I called the AMEX number behind my Platinum because I was curious to know.

    I partially described the CSR card to the lady and asked if AMEX would come up with some better rewards/benefits…long story short, she said that a BIG announcement is coming and to NOT get rid of my Platinum card.

    I can’t wait!!!

    • Miles September 28, 2016

      Thanks c00mtg! Exciting stuff!

      • c00mtg September 30, 2016

        You’re welcome, can’t sleep thinking about it lol

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