Pilot/Flying J Loyalty Program

[racerchaser]

Just returned from the Tampa RV show and thought that I might pass on some info concerning the subject program. Many of you may already be aware of this information as I was told it was in the Good Sam email newsletters.
Pilot/FJ have basically turned over their loyalty program to Good Sam. If you renew your Good Sam card this year you should receive a new "Swipe and Save" card that has a magnetic strip on the back. This card looks like a credit card but it is not. You will be able to use it at Pilot/Flying J just like the current P/FJ loyalty card. However, the devil is in the details. P/FJ will cease honoring their current cards (RV Real Value Club and MyRewards card) on Jan 1, 2015. After that date you have to have a Good Same Swipe and Save card to get P/FJ discounts. If your Good Sam renewal is after Jan 1, 2015 I would suggest that you call Good Sam Customer Service (800-234-3450). They may ask you to extend your current membership. I did not have to do that since my membership runs out to 2016 and they are sending me a couple of new Swipe and Save cards.
After 2014 you will not be able to get a fuel discount at P/FJ unless you have a Good Sam card.

[CA_Traveler]

So if I have this right then based on what’s posted for a Good Sam Member and 5% CC cash back:

Truck pumps:
Based on $4.00/gal cash the RV Fuel charge card would cost $3.94 (ie -6 cents). And based on $4.05/gal credit price the Swipe and Save would cost $3.8475 (ie 5% CC cash back). The RV fuel card is more convenient and larger rig access is not a concern.

RV and car pumps:
Since there is no difference in the cash and credit price based on $4.00/gal the RV Fuel charge card cost would be $3.94 (ie -6 cents) diesel, $3.96 (ie -4 cents) gas and the Stripe and Swipe cost would be $3.7715 (ie -3 cents and 5% CC cash back). Since all cards are swiped at the pump convenience is the same.

Paying in dollars:
At any pump $3.94 (ie -6 cents) diesel, $3.96 (ie -4 cents) gas with the RV Fuel card and $3.97/gal (-3 cents) with the Swipe and Save. Prepay inside, pump to the dollar limit or go inside to get your change. Rather inconvenient.

Good Sam Fuel discounts vary on gas/diesel: Good Sam Member 4/6 cents Canada 1/1 cents, Good Sam Life Member 6/8 cents Canada 2/2 cents and Good Sam Elite Member 7/9 cents Canada 2/2 cents. Use your fuel, membership and CC rewards for your comparison.

[BobGed]

Regarding whether or not the Swipe & Save card will start the truck pumps, please take a look at the following thread posted in November by
Good Sam Family (an Administrator)
Good Sam Club Fuel Savings He clearly states that the Swipe & Save card will not start the truck pumps, which is consistent with what I have been told.

I guess it will be news worthy when some one is able to get a truck pump to start by swiping this card. 😉

Also please note his following statement where he says the discount will come off the cash or credit price depending on the form of payment used.

Form of Payment:
Simply use your own form of payment in conjunction with the new Swipe & Save card and receive discounts at the pump! You will receive your 3¢ discount on your fuel when you swipe your Swipe & Save card, and that discount will come off the Cash or Credit price, depending on what form of payment you use.

On edit: Here's another post from "PFJ RV Plus" in the same thread:

PFJ RV Plus wrote:
Good evening!

Just to clarify, the Good Sam Club Swipe & Save Membership card as well as all current and previous versions of the RV loyalty card no longer offer the "start the pump" feature. Unfortunately, this benefit was misused by some and so now, much like the RV and Auto lanes, payment authorization is required before fuel may be pumped.

That being said, the RV Plus Card not only lets you start the truck diesel pumps, but also lets you pay at the pump just like at the RV and Auto lanes, so no need to come inside at all. The RV Plus Card is without a doubt the best way to utilize our facilities, not to mention the major benefit of bigger discounts! Simply swipe your RV Plus Card, fuel, and you're on your way!

If you don't have an RV Plus Card, the best way to apply for one is online at www.rvpluscard.com or call 855-478-7587 to apply over the phone. The RV Plus Card also offers several other great benefits such as:
1 - No single transaction limit, fuel as much as you want with one swipe!
2 - Cash price on diesel fuel all of the time!
3 - Easy fuel at all lanes, simply insert the RV Plus Card and fuel!

I hope this helps and answers some of the questions below. Thanks and keep them coming!

[koda55]

You can only shop at Pilotflyingj with the rv plus card. You cannot get cash off this card. You only have a certain limit.

[racerchaser]

Concerning PenFed credit cards there are a number of moving parts. There are Rewards Signature Visa cards and Cash Rewards Visa cards. There are two Cash Rewards cards; Standard (3% rebate) and Plus (5% rebate). After the first year the Standard cost $25, the Plus is free forever. With the Signature card you can redeem points for merchandise or debit cards. With the Cash Rewards card the rebate is applied to your account monthly. HOWEVER, those are the current rules. I have had a Cash Rewards card for several years. It has no annual fee and a 5% fuel rebate that is converted to points that I can redeem. It would appear that most of the rules that apply when you get your card remain because my Cash Rewards card has attributes of both of the current cards.
Concerning P/FJ RV Plus charge card, in my experience it is the only one that allows pump start in the truck lanes. That is why I have one. Those rules started when they brought out that charge card. Also, if you use the truck lanes and use another credit card for fuel inside most of them will not give you a gas rebate since, as was stated, you need to swipe at the pump. That even applies to the RV lanes.
Lastly, P/FJ is installing receipt kiosks inside the building for those who only want a receipt. Somewhat like checking in to the airlines for a boarding pass.
This whole discussion is similar to when Pilot and Flying J merged. It takes time for everyone involved to get the correct information and for the system to settle down.

[CA_Traveler]

dons2346 wrote:
With the RV charge card, you have to put in a pin number for the card to work.

Good to know. I was thinking in terms of fraud like we're seeing in retail stores. But it seems doubtful to me that this card would have as much value for fraud as other cards.

[CA_Traveler]

BobGed, For whatever reasons we got different input on the Swipe and Save card so time will tell what does/does not start the truck pump. GS did not know about the truck pump start and 2 calls to Pilot both said the card would start the truck pump. Otherwise I think we agree. The remainder of this post is clarification and new information.

I use the PenFed Visa Platinum Cash Rewards card for all fuel purchases for both cars and MH except for the truck pumps and I get 5% cash back. At fuel stations like Safeway and Kroger the rewards are first subtracted from the pump cash price before the CC billing. The cash back is subtracted from the next monthly bill.

At the Loves and Pilot I use the rewards card to reduce the cash price and then pay inside with my Amex card and get 5% cash back. Amex cash back is paid yearly.

There are no other rewards/cash back on the PenFed Visa Platinum Cash Rewards card as you stated. My Amex gives me 2% cash back on dining and travel which includes CGs. My Capitol One Visa gives me 1 1/2% cash back on any purchase.

My Safeway and Frys rewards cards both provide 10 cents/gallon discount for every $100 of groceries. Frys is part of Kroger and the card works at all Kroger stations like Fred Myers. Safeway has a limit of 25 gallons and Kroger 35 gallons for this discount. Typically their stations become more limited with larger rigs just like some RV lanes at truck stops.

My PenFed card also has no foreign transaction fees and I also got fuel cash back in the western Providences of Canada on our trip to Alaska this summer. Amex does charge transaction fees.

Like others I cannot justify going to the cheapest station in town for unknown fuel quality, distance and access.

[dons2346]

CA Traveler wrote:
I've never really understood the attraction to the RV Charge card. It's nice to swipe, fuel and go in the truck lanes while I have to swipe, fuel and go inside to pay. But I get 5% cash back on my CC while the RV Charge card gives 6 cents/gal.

Plus it sounds like someone with your RV Charge card can drain your account like a CC.

With the RV charge card, you have to put in a pin number for the card to work.

Most CC's now days require you to put in your zip code for them to work.

[Kidoo]

Well, here in Quebec, diesel vary from 5.30 to 5.90 a US gallon, we have the highest price in North America with the Northwest Territory. Nobody will get MY Loyalty, give me a price and I will go.

Main reason not to travel in Quebec, going south this winter! Even with our depreciating dollar, it's easily a $1.00 to $1.50 less in the US.

[BobGed]

There has been a few confusing, if not contradictory, statements made in this thread. Here's my two cents FWIW:

1. Regarding points and cash back credit cards provided by PenFed, this is what is available, as I posted two days ago:

BobGed wrote:
When the reward points card first came out, each point was equal to $.01, which was the same as 1%, and you were earning 5 points, or $.05, on fuel purchases. However that has now been diluted when it comes time to redeem those points for cash cards. At that time you could purchase, for an example, a $50.00 Visa Prepaid Cash card for 5,000 points, or $.01 per point. That same card today requires 5,900 points, so a point now is only worth something like $.0085. The math wizards can correct my calculation if I'm wrong, but it is something else than $.01.

Now after 4/4/14 you will only be earning 3 points on fuel purchases. So comparing the Points to the Cash Rewards card that gives, and will continue to give, 5% off on fuel purchases, it would appear at first blush to be a no brainer that the Cash Rewards card would be the way to go.

But wait. The Cash Rewards card is fuel only. The Points card also awards points for supermarket purchases (now 3 points, after 4/4/14, 2 points), and 1 point for all other purchases (no change after 4/4/14).

So some one like me that only uses their coach for part of the year (I average about 6,000 miles per year with some fuel purchases being made at truck pumps where I can't use the card), purchases groceries at a supermarket, and earns the 1 point on everything else, the Points program, even after 4/4/14, still might work out to be the best deal for me.

This of course could be much different for some one that puts a lot of miles on their coach and possibly purchases the majority of their groceries at something like a military commissary.

I guess it's to each his own to figure out. Just about as much fun as the PFJ/GS programs. 🙂

2. In order to get the PenFed cash or points rewards, the card MUST be swiped AT THE PUMP. Regardless of which card you're using, you will not qualify for either reward if the card is swiped inside.

3. I have spoken to supervisors at both PFJ and GS who both confirmed that the GS Swipe & Save card will NOT start the truck island pumps. If you use the RV lanes then of course the pump will start, but that would happen whether or not you used the Swipe & Save card as it is simply a discount card, and you're actually starting the pump with your credit card.

Okay I'm done. 😉

[Sez_Hoo_]

I've been fueling at Pilot and Flying J for 4 yrs now. Compared to the other truckstops in their area the cost is about the same. I drive a 40' dp with a car on a towdolly, I refuse to jump off the hwy and go price shopping at mom & pop shops to save .10 cents on a gallon of fuel. Who knows how long that fuel has been in their tanks or what is growing in their tanks or how much water or crud is in there. I know that when I pull into a Pilot or Flying J that there is always a turnover of fuel and that I have the best chance for clean, water free fuel going into my tank. I also have peace of mind knowing that I can safely get in and out without having any problems. Mom and pop shops are fine for rv'ers with trailers but for class A's or even Class C's towing a car, backing up is not an option.

[Racefan1]

For the little you save, is it worth putting up with the filthy washrooms, greasy pump islands that cause you to track all over your carpets, dirty rude staff, and over inflated merchandise prices. I am surprised that Good Sam would agree to an association with this company. They are far from impressive. You can keep your loyalty card. My last visit cost me over $150.00 in carpet cleaning charges. It will be my LAST VISIT!

[Trap]

CA Traveler wrote:
I've never really understood the attraction to the RV Charge card. It's nice to swipe, fuel and go in the truck lanes while I have to swipe, fuel and go inside to pay. But I get 5% cash back on my CC while the RV Charge card gives 6 cents/gal.

Plus it sounds like someone with your RV Charge card can drain your account like a CC.

I believe it's 8 cents of a gallon, and that's off of the cash price, so when diesel is hanging around $4:00 I'd say that makes it pretty close in what you save.

[CA_Traveler]

TexasH wrote:
Another word on the Pen Fed Card...
The "5%" rebate is a little misleading. You get 5 points for each gallon, but not 5% cash back. The rewards are in Visa prepaid cards (or other cards or merchandise), but it takes 11,800 points to get $100. That makes the actual rebate a touch under 4.25% - still a pretty good deal. When I got mine, it was 10000 points for a $100 card. They changed last year. just a way to reduce the reward without changing your points earned.

PenFed has different cards. My PenFed Visa Platinum Cash Rewards card gives me 5% cash back every month off of my fuel purchases. There are no other cash back or rewards that I'm aware of.

[CA_Traveler]

I've never really understood the attraction to the RV Charge card. It's nice to swipe, fuel and go in the truck lanes while I have to swipe, fuel and go inside to pay. But I get 5% cash back on my CC while the RV Charge card gives 6 cents/gal.

Plus it sounds like someone with your RV Charge card can drain your account like a CC.