This may be old news to some (most?), but it looks like the Gold Points program isn't changing, it's going away! From an e-mail we received today 1/3/08 just after midnight, the Gold Points program is being closed and you will not be able to earn points after March 31, 08. You will still be able to redeem points, but just what does that mean, and for how long? Does anyone know more about this? Are points transferrable to the goldpoints plus Carlson Hotels program?

Here is the e-mail I got, and the FAQs it pointed to:

This is what’s at “Learn More”:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Question - What will happen to GPRN members and their Gold Points?
Answer - Gold Points Reward Network members still will be able to redeem their Gold Points for great merchandise and gift cards.
Question - When will you stop issuing Gold Points?
Answer - The last day to earn Gold Points at network partner locations or by shopping at goldpoints.com is March 31, 2008. Any purchases or qualifying transactions occurring by this time will still be eligible for point earnings.
Members who are Gold Points Visa® credit card holders will continue to earn Gold Points on purchases made with their card through the closing date of their March 2008 statement. Bank of America will contact these members with information about converting to another point-earning credit card.
Question - How long do members have to redeem their Gold Points?
Answer - Gold Points do not expire. But if you see something you want at goldpoints.com you should act quickly as some quantities may be limited and reward offerings change over time.
Question - What level of customer support will remain in place as members continue to redeem their Gold Points?
Answer - Gold Points Reward Network will remain open for redemptions. Please visit our website (goldpoints.com) or call our call center (800.508.9000).
Question - Tell me about the new T.G.I. Friday's program.
Answer - T.G.I. Friday's is working hard on an exciting new frequent guest program for early 2008 which will be more relevant and focused on their most loyal guests. To ensure that you are receiving the most accurate information on the new program, we encourage you to visit fridays.com.
Question - What happens to my Gold Points Visa credit card? Will I still be able to earn points?
Answer - You will continue to earn Gold Points on purchases made with your Gold Points Visa® credit card through the closing date of your March 2008 billing statement. Bank of America will contact you with information on converting your account to another point-earning credit card.
Question - Is there a replacement program?
Answer - No, there is no replacement program for Gold Points Reward Network. However, those who are frequent travelers or interested in a travel program are encouraged to join Carlson Hotels' goldpoints plus program. Visit goldpointsplus.com for more details.
Also, T.G.I. Friday's is working hard on an exciting new frequent guest program for early 2008 which will be more relevant and focused on their most loyal guests. To ensure that you are receiving the most accurate information on the new program, we encourage you to visit fridays.com.
Question - If I redeem for an item in the catalog and something is wrong with it when I get it, will I still be able to exchange it?
Answer - Absolutely. The Help section of the Gold Points Award Catalog offers support for returning a defective item and other such order questions.

This sucks! I got the email last night too. I at least get in 1 more Regent cruise and earn goldpoints before the end of March but like you I wonder how much longer we will be able to redeem any Goldpoints with certain partners.....like Regent. I bet the exchange rate at points.com will be terrible and only used as a last resort.
Pat

Terrible News! We have LOTS of G.P's. If (when) they do away with redeeming on Regent, I guess We'll be buying lots of TGIFriday gift cards!!

The word is that you will be able to redeem until you run out, at Regent anyway. Things can change but this is the intent right now. If they cannot "redeem" the gold points the normal way (not been able to do that for about 3 months already) they will give you Future Cruise credit of like value. They may offer some enhanced redemptions to get rid of them faster too, I would anticipate that.

So it will be a thing of the past eventually but any points you have I believe you will be able to use.

I just read on the website that the Goldpoints credit card is being discontinued as well. Not that I ever used it very often but this is the first time that I have had a credit card that died.

I think we'll be eating at TGI Fridays to use up our Gold Points since we have no cruises planned. From the checking I've done we'll get a better value this way than by redeeming for Best Buy or Amazon or any of the many others that we regularly purchase from.

Gold Points is also a partner in www.points.com. You can move your points to another program if you like (for a price, of course.) That's what I will probably do, since don't think we have enough miles to use on a cruise.

Karen--I have that card too. Is the card going to not work, or is it just not going to accrue points?

My balance went from 67K to zero. Once I find the points, I need to figure out what to do with them as I don't think the Friday's cards will work for TGI Fridays in Tokyo. I had hoped that Regent would continue with the program. Not being able to redeem Goldpoints amounts to a $400 per person additional increas in cruise fare on top of the already high rates and lack of SSS discount on most sailings. I have gotten to the stage that I "almost" hope for very negative reaction to these rate increases in the various ratings of Regent; maybe kick some wind out of their "sales." I know we will never have the $1500 combination cruise credit or the $100 per person shipboard credit like we did just five years ago, I would just like to see the bleeding stopped somewhere.

Diane, I read that they will be contacting the Goldpoints CC users and offering them other points card options.

I've been using the Goldpoints credit card for years and love saving up my points for cruises. It does look like they are dropping the card, Diane, but say on their website.....

Question - What happens to my Gold Points Visa credit card? Will I still be able to earn points?

Answer - You will continue to earn Gold Points on purchases made with your Gold Points Visa® credit card through the closing date of your March 2008 billing statement. Bank of America will contact you with information on converting your account to another point-earning credit card.

Gee if we only had a TGI Friday's in Montana

Thanks Beth and Karen;

we have one and I can count on one hand the number of times I've been there.

I believe that gold points WERE credited AFTER a Regent cruise. Since we sail on April 30th. we will not get points. Correct ?
We each have only about 16,000, and nothing in the catalogue is needed, so what do we do when we visit our local Fridays ? Do we show our points card, or what ?

Boy, I guess it is good to be "King of the World." I just got the Seaborn brochure regarding there new ship sailing in 2009. Larger (over 30,000 tons) with suites almost identical to Regent. Nice itineraries. Priced similar to Regent even in the inaugural season. Regent is pushing the price envelope and offering less to encourage customer loyalty.

I moved a few AA miles to our Gold Points to get our balance up to the 50K points required for the $200 FCC. Hope that works. Didn't see anything in the catalogue we wanted either.

I love the Regent product, but these rates are starting to get a bit crazy, all-inclusive is great. I mean Regent was all-inclusive basically except for drinks in the bars, and the laundry rooms. That is the only real difference I saw on Voyager Dec 7th. They are really cleaning up with these continious hike in fares. There is no justification for such a rate hike for all-inclusive, because people who go on Regent are not people who go on Carnival, I do not begrudge any compnay making money, but its gets to a point of ok, enough is enough. Oh well there is a lot of money out there in this world and if people are going to keep filling up these ships at these rates can we blame them.

Just a few thoughts.
Frank

I just got a letter from the Bank of America Goldpoints card people, they are discontinuing the Goldpoints card and now its a Worldpoints. I don't really know what Worldpoints are so I guess I should look and see ;)

Editing to add the Worldpoints link.

I've been looking at some online luggage dealers who offer Worldpoints" if you buy from them....

Status report: Regent has apparently cracked the code on Gold Points redemption since I'm now down to 478 points after successfully applying 150k to upcoming cruises. I guess I'll have to eat the 478 points (worth, by my calculation $1.91). :rolleyes:

Nevil - I'm sorry that I didn't check back here and see your question earlier.

We could not even find my husband's Gold Points card so I just printed the page from his account summary statement at www.goldpoints.com and took that into TGI Friday's. The hostess did not know what to do but she found the people there who did know how to handle them.

The certificates you can purchase with your Goldpoints can only be used towards food and not towards tax or tip. They do not give change or leave unused money on the certificate like a gift card would do. So, if you spend $21.98 on food for two on a visit, your best bet would be to turn in one $15 certificate and pay the remaining part of your bill and tip in cash.