topic Re: Which AMEX is best? in Credit Cards

Which AMEX is best...for YOU?

Repairman — Tue, 05 May 2015 13:20:54 GMT

I was a AMEX Gold card holder for many years, and want to get back in good with AMEX before the year's end, but I don't think I want to go for the Gold again. My question is what do you consider to be the best AMEX to have and why? I'm looking for a Rewards card, and want the best reward structure. I'm not interested in a Platinum card, nor an airline card.

I'd like a No Annual Fee recommendation as well as one with a fee, if you think that card is best.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Anonymous — Sun, 03 May 2015 18:30:21 GMT

Fidelity Amex is the best.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Anonymous — Sun, 03 May 2015 18:30:21 GMT

"Best" is a very subjective answer. This all depends on the person's spending and what rewards you are looking for. For instance, I didn't want to go with a charge card so I got the ED and BCE cards. This way I had one with points and one with cash back.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Anonymous — Sun, 03 May 2015 18:31:45 GMT

There aren't many no annual fee AMEXes but... Everyday card is solid (can transfer to airline partners)

For annual fee cards...

If you want 1 solid card (as opposed to having many different cards/mixing/matching for maximizing rewards), PRG is solid

EDP is also solid (for no mixing/matching). Along the same vein, BCE is solid (if you just want cash back)

Overall, I would recommend just picking up an ED if you want an Amex. Go get some annual fee cards from other CCCs like Chase. Freedom + CSP + ED can be awesome (Freedom for rotating and transfer to CSP, CSP for dining/travel, ED for everything inbetween).

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Anonymous — Sun, 03 May 2015 18:34:15 GMT

@Repairman wrote:
I was a AMEX Gold card holder for many years, and want to get back in good with AMEX before the year's end, but I don't think I want to go for the Gold again. My question is what do you consider to be the best AMEX to have and why? I'm looking for a Rewards card, and want the best reward structure. I'm not interested in a Platinum card, nor an airline card.

I'd like a No Annual Fee recommendation as well as one with a fee, if you think that card is best.

'Best' like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. What you should do is go to the Amex site and look at the various cards and determine what is best for you and not what others think. You need to decide if you're looking for cash back or points rewards and go from there. They don't have that many cards that you can't narrow it down fairly quickly. Far too often people come here and ask others to tell them what's' best' for the poster. That is an impossible task and something you shouldn't delegate to others.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Anonymous — Sun, 03 May 2015 18:34:13 GMT

I went for BCP because we always will buy at least $6k in groceries. So the difference between what I can earn on the BCE and BCP is $180, so the annual fee is worthwhile. ETA: We paired it with a SM for the overflow.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Anonymous — Sun, 03 May 2015 18:58:11 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I went for BCP because we always will buy at least $6k in groceries. So the difference between what I can earn on the BCE and BCP is $180, so the annual fee is worthwhile. ETA: We paired it with a SM for the overflow.

That's a good combo

Re: Which AMEX is best?

NRB525 — Sun, 03 May 2015 19:03:45 GMT

@Repairman wrote:
I was a AMEX Gold card holder for many years, and want to get back in good with AMEX before the year's end, but I don't think I want to go for the Gold again. My question is what do you consider to be the best AMEX to have and why? I'm looking for a Rewards card, and want the best reward structure. I'm not interested in a Platinum card, nor an airline card.

I'd like a No Annual Fee recommendation as well as one with a fee, if you think that card is best.

Based on your criteria, the choices would be:

EveryDay - MR points, no AF, does have FTF.

EveryDay Preferred - More MR points, AF, so keep swiping! Now stop when you reach the groceries limit! (same with ED, BC and BCP) Does have FTF.

Hilton HHonors no AF - Hotel points, more points for gas, groceries, and dining, even more points for Hilton stays. Does have FTF.

Hilton Surpass, AF. Slightly better hotel points, but not really. Does have FTF.

Blue Cash - Straight cash back, no worries. Does have FTF, no AF.

Blue Cash Preferred - More cash back, AF, keep swiping! Now stop! Does have FTF.

Mercedes Benz basic card - MR points for gas and groceris, AF, does have FTF.

There's a theme here: if you plan on foreign travel, none of these cards is No FTF. To avoid the FTF, you have to go to the Delta Gold or Delta Platinum card, or regular Platinum, or PRG after mid-year, which were already boxed out.

"Best reward structure" is the BCP, the cash earning rate on spend up to $6k groceries is quite good, just don't stop before you reach $6k for the year. The EDP is the points earning winner, again, don't stop swiping until you reach 30 every month, and don't quit buying groceries until you pass $6k for the year.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

icyhot — Sun, 03 May 2015 19:29:43 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Fidelity Amex is the best.

The Fidelity Amex is issued by Bank of America, not AmEx, so that card wouldn't help OP get in good with them

Re: Which AMEX is best?

B335is — Sun, 03 May 2015 20:07:13 GMT

@Repairman wrote:
I was a AMEX Gold card holder for many years, and want to get back in good with AMEX before the year's end, but I don't think I want to go for the Gold again. My question is what do you consider to be the best AMEX to have and why? I'm looking for a Rewards card, and want the best reward structure. I'm not interested in a Platinum card, nor an airline card.

I'd like a No Annual Fee recommendation as well as one with a fee, if you think that card is best.

When I wanted to get back in with Amex I still had one fairly old negative on my CR, so I went for PRG. I chose a charge card because it supposedly has looser underwriting than their revolving cards like Everyday and SPG. It had a good bonus (which I might add was never given to me because they said they didn't recognize the creditcards.com offer), waived first year Annual Fee, 3x points on airfare, 2x on gas/restaurants, 1x on everything else. I built about a year of history and got approved for Delta Gold. None of this may apply to your situation, but it was just my whole perspective on it.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Anonymous — Sun, 03 May 2015 20:24:08 GMT

I'd guess that SPG is the "best" card, in that you end up getting around 10% back at hotels. Overall, I'd guess at BCP.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

MissCredit9 — Sun, 03 May 2015 21:07:47 GMT

The Preffered Rewards Gold is great. They just changed their rewards structure. 3 points for airlines, 2 points for groceries, gas,and dining and 100 dollar airline credit each year

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Anonymous — Sun, 03 May 2015 21:10:47 GMT

@MissCredit9 wrote:
The Preffered Rewards Gold is great. They just changed their rewards structure. 3 points for airlines, 2 points for groceries, gas,and dining and 100 dollar airline credit each year

Yeah I just picked mine up last month and am looking forward to using it as my main card. The changes take effect in less than a month.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Anonymous — Sun, 03 May 2015 21:14:47 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I'd guess that SPG is the "best" card, in that you end up getting around 10% back at hotels. Overall, I'd guess at BCP.

+1000000. SPG is one of the best rewards cards on the market.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

taxi818 — Sun, 03 May 2015 21:57:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
"Best" is a very subjective answer. This all depends on the person's spending and what rewards you are looking for. For instance, I didn't want to go with a charge card so I got the ED and BCE cards. This way I had one with points and one with cash back.

+1 best depends on what is best for the users needs. The only difference between 1 amex and the other are the benefits for your needs. Example. my friend just got the mercedes amex.

What a waste. even he has 24k limit. it is useless. he has to spend 5k a year to get a 500 dollar certificate for a new mercedes. it will take a lot of those certificates to be usefull. as will my Delta. i already have 60k miles. which i can use pretty much on any flight. even if i must pay cash in addtion on international flights. but hey. that is what is best for me. again. Best is in eye of beholder.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Repairman — Sun, 03 May 2015 22:06:35 GMT

Unlike my former Gold card, I don't think I want a card that has to be Paid In Full each month again. DO you find the point structure of your card good, compared to other cards out there?

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Repairman — Sun, 03 May 2015 22:10:46 GMT

I've already done that. But with 21 cards to chose from I was hoping to narrow my search down. Additionally, Im specifically looking for people's opinions (who currently have them) on the American Express Rewards points structure, as it's been a while since I've used it. Back then, I thought it was great, but after using a card like the Quicksilver, I feel like I never racked up points in a useful manner as quickly as I do with the Cap 1, but I could be wrong. Any advice and personal opinions are always welcome.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Repairman — Sun, 03 May 2015 22:16:40 GMT

I really do want the SPG card, but was looking into the possibility of others, also.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Repairman — Sun, 03 May 2015 22:49:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
"Best" is a very subjective answer.

I guess I'm looking for the card that gives you the most bang for your buck, and that can include sign up bonus offers...excluding any card that is SOLELY for airline miles.

Re: Which AMEX is best?

Repairman — Sun, 03 May 2015 22:56:09 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

PRG is solid

What card is PRG?