topic Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it? in Credit Cards

Is AMEX PRG worth it?

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 22:02:25 GMT

So myFICO experts i need your opinions.

I'm prequalified for the amex prg charge card with a 50k sub as well. I'm only considering this cause of the sub. So is it a good enough offer to go for it? Can i later PC this card to something with no annual fee? Because i primarily look for "basic" cards to serve as a credit foundation at this point but i can make use of the travel benefits to an extent as well.

Also how do you rate the MR points program? Is it worthy for a person primarily interested in getting airline rewards and not hotels? How does it compare to chase's UR?

Thank you in advance for your input.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 22:18:16 GMT

You cannot PC the PRG to a card with no annual fee. You may only PC the card to the Green (whenever you want), and the Platinum (after one year of having the card open). There are no other PC options available for the PRG at this time.

As an AMEX user (and not a Chase), I can tell you UR points are more valuable. If you want to transfer to Hyatt, Southwest, United, British Airways, IHG, Airfrance, and Virgin... Then UR points cards are for you. If you want to transfer to Delta, Jet Blue, Hilton, Starwood/Marriott, and others, then choose MR's.

Unless you're going to use the card heavily (outside of the sign up bonus), accure $100 in airline incidential fees, and take advantage of AMEX's hotels program (with their perks), the card may not be worth it to you.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 22:20:32 GMT

It proved not to be worth it for me. I just don't travel enough to make it worth the $195 AF.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 22:38:23 GMT

It is worth it the first year. You can get 200 in airline gift cards and 50k MR points could be used to get a 500 dollar gift card. If you fly Delta I would say it might be worth keeping more than 1 year but if not probably better choices. I prefer Citi Thank You Premier as you can book any travel directly for 1.2 cents per point

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

redpat — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 23:26:17 GMT

Worth it.

MR and UR are both great reward programs.

Amex offers will cover the AF and more after the $100 credit.

My sig says it all, MR and UR, one isn't necessarily better than the other, but having both gives some great options.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

patoot10 — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 00:01:00 GMT

This card is not worth it long term.

I got the same signup bonus but will cancel the card once annual fee hits because there is no free downgrade path.

Then I will keep my points in my Amex Everyday card and redeem them whenever I have a trip.

I think the same goes for CSP but the problem here is that with MR point you can use any card to make the best redemption possible but with UR you need to have CSP or CSR so that's why having the chase trifecta and paying $95 a year is better than paying $195 for a card that doesn't offer much other than signup bonus. Also the $100 airline credit sucks. unless you buy gift cards you can't redeem it for tickets or hotel you really need to go out of your way to redeem it. ( eat on flight or pay for baggage) so saying that after $100 credit it has same annual fee as CSP is just not right.

Same thing goes for Green card you just get it for the 25k bonus after spending $1000 and then close it once AF hits. The platinum card is a different story but then again I think CSR is way better than Platinum so technically speaking Amex premium cards don't offer much if you are trying to justify every single dollar you spend on their AF.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 00:11:55 GMT

@patoot10 wrote:
...Also the $100 airline credit sucks. unless you buy gift cards you can't redeem it for tickets or hotel you really need to go out of your way to redeem it. ( eat on flight or pay for baggage) so saying that after $100 credit it has same annual fee as CSP is just not right.

My upgrade from coach to first class on my AA flight was $95 plus tax. Annual fee would have been made up for right there between that and the bonus categories transferred to partners (flights, restaurants, gas, and groceries). The PRG isn't a frequent flyer's card... It's a card for someone who may fly once or twice a year.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

Shadowfactor — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 00:16:46 GMT

It really just depends on your spend and what other cards you have.
It definitely is worth it the first year.

For me, I will be cancelling it after the first year. I spend 8 months a year overseas for work. Amex acceptance is extremely poor in the Caribbean.

If I had been in the US. I most likely would have kept the card and not gotten the Chase CSP

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

redpat — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 00:24:34 GMT

@patoot10 wrote:
This card is not worth it long term.
I got the same signup bonus but will cancel the card once annual fee hits because there is no free downgrade path.
Then I will keep my points in my Amex Everyday card and redeem them whenever I have a trip.

I think the same goes for CSP but the problem here is that with MR point you can use any card to make the best redemption possible but with UR you need to have CSP or CSR so that's why having the chase trifecta and paying $95 a year is better than paying $195 for a card that doesn't offer much other than signup bonus. Also the $100 airline credit sucks. unless you buy gift cards you can't redeem it for tickets or hotel you really need to go out of your way to redeem it. ( eat on flight or pay for baggage) so saying that after $100 credit it has same annual fee as CSP is just not right.

Same thing goes for Green card you just get it for the 25k bonus after spending $1000 and then close it once AF hits. The platinum card is a different story but then again I think CSR is way better than Platinum so technically speaking Amex premium cards don't offer much if you are trying to justify every single dollar you spend on their AF.

Yep, another amex hater......

Let's be honest, if you travel a lot for business and personal both cards are a must have IMO. Plat for perks and 5x and CSR for dining, hotels and rental cars. If I had to pick one card it would be Biz plat (35% rebate on redemptions takes it, plus perks) over CSR.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

BronzeTrader — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 00:36:26 GMT

I figure this discussion can keep going going. It all depends on your spending pattern, particularly travel.

For me, since I'm heavily loaded, this card is on my chopping block. It is not being used much. For this year, I used it for J Crew offer ($20 off), Hilton GC ($20 off) and airline credit. With the AmEx offers, I'm still on top. But I just have so many other cards to use for all other spendings. I can't find a single category this card stands out.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

wasCB14 — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 00:49:50 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
You cannot PC the PRG to a card with no annual fee. You may only PC the card to the Green (whenever you want), and the Platinum (after one year of having the card open). There are no other PC options available for the PRG at this time.

As an AMEX user (and not a Chase), I can tell you UR points are more valuable. If you want to transfer to Hyatt, Southwest, United, British Airways, IHG, Airfrance, and Virgin... Then UR points cards are for you. If you want to transfer to Delta, Jet Blue, Hilton, Starwood/Marriott, and others, then choose MR's.

Unless you're going to use the card heavily (outside of the sign up bonus), accure $100 in airline incidential fees, and take advantage of AMEX's hotels program (with their perks), the card may not be worth it to you.

British Airways, Air France (Flying Blue) and Virgin Atlantic are also MR transfer partners.

Amex even does promos, including:

Summer/Fall 2017: BA 40% (1:1.4 after the 1:1 base was restored) I enjoyed this one.

Fall 2015: 30% on Flying Blue (targeted)

Fall 2017: Virgin Atlantic 30%

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

BronzeTrader — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 00:51:18 GMT

@patoot10 wrote:
Same thing goes for Green card you just get it for the 25k bonus after spending $1000 and then close it once AF hits. The platinum card is a different story but then again I think CSR is way better than Platinum so technically speaking Amex premium cards don't offer much if you are trying to justify every single dollar you spend on their AF.

IMO, if you get to the AmEx Platinum level, you do not count each dollar you spend on the card. Platinum is not for bean counters.

When I manage my card portfolio, I do not count all card profits I'm going to make out of the cards. I focus on the benefits I can get out of the cards, which should be more than the AFs I pay each year. I'll close any card that does not generate enough benefits. I enjoy the benefits more than the $$ I can make out of the cards.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 00:57:15 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@patoot10 wrote:
...Also the $100 airline credit sucks. unless you buy gift cards you can't redeem it for tickets or hotel you really need to go out of your way to redeem it. ( eat on flight or pay for baggage) so saying that after $100 credit it has same annual fee as CSP is just not right.

My upgrade from coach to first class on my AA flight was $95 plus tax. Annual fee would have been made up for right there between that and the bonus categories transferred to partners (flights, restaurants, gas, and groceries). The PRG isn't a frequent flyer's card... It's a card for someone who may fly once or twice a year.

IF they know ahead of time what airline they’ll use. Otherwise, pffft.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 01:00:11 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@patoot10 wrote:
...Also the $100 airline credit sucks. unless you buy gift cards you can't redeem it for tickets or hotel you really need to go out of your way to redeem it. ( eat on flight or pay for baggage) so saying that after $100 credit it has same annual fee as CSP is just not right.

My upgrade from coach to first class on my AA flight was $95 plus tax. Annual fee would have been made up for right there between that and the bonus categories transferred to partners (flights, restaurants, gas, and groceries). The PRG isn't a frequent flyer's card... It's a card for someone who may fly once or twice a year.
IF they know ahead of time what airline they’ll use. Otherwise, pffft.

I do agree with that - it's pretty stupid how you have to pick an airline once a year and can't change it.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 02:27:47 GMT

This isn’t entirely true. If you have not used the airline credit yet in a year, you can get on chat with an Amex rep and they will change it for you. The last few years I’ve changed my travel credit airline in the summer or fall without a problem even though you are “supposed” to pick the airline in january.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

UpperNwGuy — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 02:45:04 GMT

If Amex and Charles Schwab would issue a Schwab variant of the PRG with the ability to redeem MR into a Schwab brokerage account, I'd go for it. But I won't get the regular Amex PRG because, when I collected MR a few years ago, I could never find a way to use them.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

wasCB14 — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 03:34:44 GMT

@UpperNwGuy wrote:
If Amex and Charles Schwab would issue a Schwab variant of the PRG with the ability to redeem MR into a Schwab brokerage account, I'd go for it. But I won't get the regular Amex PRG because, when I collected MR a few years ago, I could never find a way to use them.

What cpp value would you want? Schwab Platinum gives 1.25 cpp.

At that value, with PRG:

Flights give 3.75% (with limited travel insurance)

Dining, gas, and groceries give 2.5%

Other gives 1.25%

It would take a lot of gas and grocery spend to get much value at those earn rates. You might be better off with a BCP.

Or are you thinking of dropping the CSR?

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 13:18:19 GMT

I think it's totally worth it. I'm not exactly a big time traveler or spender but I have easily found ways to get my annual fee's worth from this card. For you, right off the bat you're getting the 50k points that's amazing. I only got 25k when I signed up. Within a year-and-a-half I had 90k and I don't use this card for everything. Here's what I do to make sure I get my fees worth. There are ways to ensure that you get your Airline credit without incurring incidentals. I make sure I get my hundred dollars no matter what. I won't get into it here but there's plenty of threads where you can figure out how to get your hundred dollars. Whenever I go somewhere on vacation (annual trip) or if I have to go somewhere for the weekend, I try to make use of the choice hotels program. Some are very pricey but some are average like 150-200 a night. If you stay at a choice hotel once a year ....and get your $75 credit... right away you're at 175 off your 195 fee. Do it twice and boom. Throw in a couple of Amex offers and you're good to go. Again I'm not some luxurious world traveler. I'm just a single mom with regular spending I have found the $195 fee with this card to be well worth it.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 17:15:22 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
@UpperNwGuy wrote:
If Amex and Charles Schwab would issue a Schwab variant of the PRG with the ability to redeem MR into a Schwab brokerage account, I'd go for it. But I won't get the regular Amex PRG because, when I collected MR a few years ago, I could never find a way to use them.
What cpp value would you want? Schwab Platinum gives 1.25 cpp.

At that value, with PRG:
Flights give 3.75% (with limited travel insurance)
Dining, gas, and groceries give 2.5%
Other gives 1.25%

It would take a lot of gas and grocery spend to get much value at those earn rates. You might be better off with a BCP.

Schwab could play around with it a little. Example: No annual fee if you hold $250,000 in Schwab checking, savings, and investment accounts. The other reason to get a card in this case is to avoid the hurdles the Blue Cash cards throw at you.

Re: Is AMEX PRG worth it?

Trikoret — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 17:33:59 GMT

I've had this card since 93 when it was a green card and the I moved up to the gold card. I used to put all my expenses on it but now a days there are lots of cards that give you more points for your dollar. I really can't justify using it. Now I put all my charges on Chase and BofA Premium card. My average earning is 2.625-5 between BofA and Chase. I have other older cards in the 90s should I decide the cancel the prg card. Last year retention gave $100 credit but not sure if they'll do the same thing this year. I probably only put 2k on it. What you guys think? Should I just keep it or cancel?