The audience rewards Amex card

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/1/14 at 3:54pm

Is this a new card? Anyone have it? I'm tempted to apply for it, it seems like a great way to earn points. I'm curious to hear more from those who may have it.

https://www.audiencerewards.com/infopage.cfm?id=105

Updated On: 9/1/14 at 03:54 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/1/14 at 4:00pm

Looks like it's brand new

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/audience-rewards-partners-with-first-bankcard-to-launch-audience-rewards-american-express-card-2014-08-27

[ArtMan]

Posted: 9/1/14 at 4:50pm

Ljay, I don' want to discourage you from opening this card. However, I love to open new cards, if the reward is worth the trouble. With this card, from what I read, you get 3000 show points if you spend $1000 within the first three months. I recently opened the American Express JetBlue card, where after spending the same $1000 within the first three months, I will receive 2 free roundtrip plane tickets. For me, that's two roundtrip tickets to NYC. Travel depends on the amount of points. I thinks it 12,000 free points. That equals to two roundtrip tickets from Florida to NYC. Make sure before opening that the annual fee is free for the first year. (almost all American Express cards charge a fee). I usually close it out after the first year. I'm not paying a $100 fee to have a card. If the points are easy to accumulate on the JetBlue card the fee is only $40 after the first year. I may choose to keep this one open. Anyway, what I'm trying to say, that 3,000 show points doesn't seem to be enough of an enticement for me to open.

Updated On: 9/1/14 at 04:50 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/1/14 at 4:57pm

There is no annual fee. Probably because it's an Amex card provided by "first bankcard."

[dtzumbrunnen]

Posted: 9/1/14 at 8:14pm

Opening a credit card and closing it within a year (and doing this repeatedly) doesn't seem like the best move for your credit. In the end, that's going to be more important than a few audience reward points!

[ArtMan]

Posted: 9/1/14 at 9:40pm

It hasn't affected my credit as yet. I have an almost perfect credit score. That is why I get weekly credit card offers. Not paying your bills and not on time affects it more.



Updated On: 9/1/14 at 09:40 PM

[dev101]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 10:04pm

Im a student and I have never had a credit card. would i be able to get this card? id only use it for theater tickets. I know AMEX are hard cards to get

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 10:13pm

Don't do it student!

[dev101]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 10:17pm

Namo- Why not? lol I'm a conservative spender!

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 11:15pm

I got approved for one...now let's see if it is as good as advertised! lol Thanks for sharing on this thread!!

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 3/14/15 at 11:26pm

One of the bonuses for this card was that it supposedly earns extra points for theater and entertainment purchases, but the Amex coding was so screwed up that I never got the points for such things as: Seth Rudetsky and Laura Benanti (different shows) at Feinsteins SF cabaret, Goldstar tickets for a Chicago tour, and many other charges that should have qualified. Add to that, the card is issued by a small bank with limited online support and that although it's Amex, it's not issued by them so many of the Amex benefits don't apply.

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 11:33am

I am a longtime Amex holder and I picked up this card a couple months ago for the bonus points. I've gotten the 2x and 3x points on spending and expect to get the bonus offer. It has none of the standard Amex customer service and I expect to use it only for entertainment purchases.

I'll probably continue using it for tickets but at the end of the day Audience Rewards isn't amazing because the bonuses are always for the highest priced tickets. For a free program I can handle that, but I don't expect too much.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/15/15 at 4:21pm

I've had mixed success on redeeming points on the AR program. There do seem to be restrictions, probably based on the show, on what kind of seats you'll be offered. Compared to what I've seen on TC or TM when I have their site open, sometimes you'll get truly best available, but more likely it looks like they've been allocated certain parts of house, and priority's been given to people actually paying full price, much like a discount code.

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 7/24/16 at 3:52pm

Just opened an account with this card. They're running a promotion for 2 free tickets after your first purchase, and the rewards are better than my current rewards card. I can confirm that FNB, not Amex, manages the card, but they have been excellent so far.

 

 Has anyone else used this offer or redeemed AR vouchers (as opposed to points) in the past? I'm wondering if they restrict dates or seat locations for the vouchers, as I would redeem them for performances during the holidays, and I'd like more seating options than rear mezz.

 

[sassylash3s]

Posted: 7/24/16 at 9:44pm

Voucher redemptions work the same way as point redemptions, so there shouldn't be any special restrictions on what you can redeem for.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/25/16 at 4:41pm

I like the card and use it for all my ticket purchases. The points add up quickly and I have never had any issues with Audience Rewards. I've gotten free tickets to hot shows like I'll Eat You Last, Elephant Man, Misery and others as well as some nice signed memorabilia. AR has always been great. I also have been able to "scam" my way into privileged Amex presales by googling the first five numbers of an Amex Gold Card (they are out there) or "ingold" works often too. I then pay with my AudiencesRewards Amex. Never had an issue. 

Updated On: 7/25/16 at 04:41 PM

[orlikethecolorpurple]

Posted: 8/8/16 at 11:21pm

I'm awaiting my free ticket vouchers! I assume you can only use them on shows currently available for points redemption, right?

[hanabana]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 8:13pm

I just received my free ticket vouchers and am super excited about this!  Does anyone have any experience redeeming tickets with these free vouchers?  I called Audience Rewards for some general information, and from what it sounds like, if you see seats open on a particular date, they can just grab them for you.  Does this mean that there is no restriction on what section you use the vouchers on?  (Based on sassylash3s' response, it seems that there is no restriction).  It would be amazing if I can use them to redeem for premium seats as well as rear mezzanine seats.  Just curious if anyone has actually gotten any orchestra seats with these vouchers.  Now I just have to pick a show to use them for - such a tough choice, we got a great season this year!

[broadfan327]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 6:55pm

I am awaiting the start of Dear Evan Hansen sitting center orchestra 4th row via one of the vouchers from the card.  My ticket says $159.50 on it.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 7:31pm

As someone who scoffed earlier on this card, i took advantage of the two free vouchers after one purchase.  I immediately received my vouchers in my account.  However, when redeeming, you have to wait for the available dates.  I want to use one for Great Comet, but available dates are only through end of April.  My trip is in May.  I was able to get a fantastic seat (10th row) for Miss Saigon.  You just have to check the site regularly.  Today, they added a couple of new shows, but nothing i was interested in seeing.  Am waiting for a ticket extension of Comet or The Little Foxes.

[sassylash3s]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 10:50pm

hanabana, to clarify what I wrote earlier, there are no special restrictions when it comes to redeeming your vouchers that do not apply when redeeming your points,  I don't believe they are able to offer premium seats for redemption for most shows, but from what I understand they should be able to get more or less any regular price orchestra/front mezz seat available for general sale.

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 12/15/16 at 10:50pm

Glad you guys got your vouchers. I signed up for the card when the voucher was being advertised, but I don't think FirstBankCard had updated their terms, so I never received my vouchers. After literally hours spent on the phone with Audience Rewards and FirstBankCard, both of whom blamed each other, I gave up and took the (I think) 3,000 bonus points that were in my offer instead. I still use the card periodically, as the rewards are solid for a no annual fee card, but I've returned to predominately using my Chase card, as the customer service and online interface are much better there. Sigh...