topic Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release? in Credit Cards

Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 15:54:50 GMT

Are you making the switch to Amex and membership reward system with the new PRG release? Why or why not?

My main reasons for not making the switch from Chase...yet!

1. After breaking down my expected yearly expenses, I essentially had no point difference between Amex and Chase.(Chase still came out a little ahead)

2. Majority of my flights are domestic and the Reserves 50% multiplier and Southwest Transfer partner still look like the better option for getting the cheapest flights possible.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

wasCB14 — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 16:21:46 GMT

I'd take 4x MRs on dining over 3x URs, but the marginal value is small...and I had the card from 2014-2016, so no bonus for me. I have very little traditional grocery spend.

If it still looks good in a few years I might get it again, mostly for the bonus.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 16:43:53 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
I'd take 4x MRs on dining over 3x URs, but the marginal value is small...and I had the card from 2014-2016, so no bonus for me. I have very little traditional grocery spend.

If it still looks good in a few years I might get it again, mostly for the bonus.

Yeah as a single guy with no kids, the 4xpoints grocery spend is a lot less useful for me. The 5x bonuses of the freedom and 5x points with amazon (through ink card with office depot gift card purchase) gives the point edge to Chase in my situation.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 16:45:30 GMT

Not necessarily making the switch, but I was in the market for Sapphire Preferred/Reserve prior to the switch. Ended up going with the Gold Card... I'm a foody so it made sense to get that card. Delivery through Grubhub 2-3 times a week, out to eat 1-2 times a week, and always trying new stuff for dinner in the kitchen when time permits. Card just made more sense for my spend.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

iced — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 18:01:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Are you making the switch to Amex and membership reward system with the new PRG release? Why or why not?

My main reasons for not making the switch from Chase...yet!

1. After breaking down my expected yearly expenses, I essentially had no point difference between Amex and Chase.(Chase still came out a little ahead)
2. Majority of my flights are domestic and the Reserves 50% multiplier and Southwest Transfer partner still look like the better option for getting the cheapest flights possible.

I'm still leaning UR, even with the changes.

1. I get more value per UR than I do MR. UR transfers to airline partners that I consistently get good valuation on. MR for me is only useful as a transfer to Delta, and those are called SkyPesos for a reason. 3x UR on dining still goes further for me than 4x dining MR.

2. If I had a Gold, I'd throw one meal a month on the Gold to get the $10 credit then go right back to CSR for dining. Also not a great reason to carry yet another card. The $300 credit on the CSR counts with any travel expense (ferry tickets, for instance) and the excess is getting 3x UR. I'm not diverting excess spend beyond the credit to another card like I would with the Gold.

3. Aside from 4x dining (see above), there isn't much on it that's worth moving to. The airfare I've bought this year averages around $900 per person, and I don't feel like taking 3x MR and/or breaking travel so I only book one person on Gold once per year just to save $100. I'd rather just take the 5x on the Platinum and save the time.

4. I still need a primary that's not American Express. Their acceptance rate internationally is just not on par with Visa.

I'll stick with CSR/Platinum for now. I use the Platinum for airfare (5x), the occasional pre-paid hotel when Marriott/Hilton isn't an option, SkyClub access when I fly solo (which is a lot), Uber credits (but will continue to use CSR for Uber), and Boingo. All other travel and dining goes on the CSR. Non dining/travel currently goes on MP Club, though that might become a FU as my United flying is dropping such that I don't use the UC like I used to.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

QuakerOatmeal — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 18:14:49 GMT

I have the Platinum card, and I had applied and was approved for the Everyday Preferred, to replace my PRG.

But now that they made all these shifts, I kinda want to keep my PRG, and get rid of the Everyday Preferred.

I'm a bit disappointed that I'm going to get hit with the new AF (mine renews in Nov) if I decide to keep the PRG.

I feel like the Platinum for 5x points for airfare, and the PRG are a perfect combo now. Heck, I may even consider just keeping the PRG.

A little sad about the nerf to gas points though.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

fittiger — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 18:46:58 GMT

I'm kinda new to MR, but have been earning UR for a while with Freedom/CSR/Ink but have been questioning which program I would like to focus on.

I have the BBP and recently the PRG which makes me think I may switch over to MR for a while. My biggest reservation is that I haven't figured out a plan of use of MR, except for Delta flights to Europe; that and I have limited use for the dining credit in my area.

From what I can tell, UR has many more options for me, but I'll do some more research to see if I can find additional benefits out of MR.

I created a spreadsheet to figure out my rate of return for both based off average yearly spend on Dining/Travel/Groceries, and just the Gold vs CSR I get 10% back on gold and 5.3% back from CSR (based on TPG values of 1.9c/2.0c respectively).....thats a huge difference, but I'm not sure MR are as practical for me.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

mongstradamus — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 19:19:22 GMT

The main reasons I have even thought about this card is the way chase has been gutting the UR system. Losing KE is a pretty big deal to me , so with Amex there are much more partners to choose from . With that being said I am not totally 100% into Amex , i will probably split between MR and UR , i have freedom unlimited, ink , CSP and regular freedom to split between the two

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

redpat — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 20:58:34 GMT

Well I moved all my AA purchases (biz & personal) to plat for 5x and now I'll move all my dining (biz & personal) for 4x from CSR.

That's about 39k more points on the same spend, no brainer.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

kerplunk — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 22:16:29 GMT

@redpat wrote:
Well I moved all my AA purchases (biz & personal) to plat for 5x and now I'll move all my dining (biz & personal) for 4x from CSR.

That's about 39k more points on the same spend, no brainer.

Isn't it 3x from the CSR for dining?

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

Vegas4Play — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 22:26:34 GMT

I won't be..... I'm gardening, however the Rose is making it difficult to stay in there.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

mongstradamus — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 00:12:02 GMT

I honestly don't feel as comfortable going all in on one reward program. I mean look what chase did to UR amex could do something similar with MR without any prior notice. I think if i were to get the PRG i would do only dining travel and groceries with prg and split with UR that can do everyday spend gasoline, and anything else that doesn't take amex.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

redpat — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 00:59:06 GMT

@kerplunk wrote:
@redpat wrote:
Well I moved all my AA purchases (biz & personal) to plat for 5x and now I'll move all my dining (biz & personal) for 4x from CSR.

That's about 39k more points on the same spend, no brainer.
Isn't it 3x from the CSR for dining?

Yes I’m moving to go 4x vs. 3x on CSR

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

Shadowfactor — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 00:59:19 GMT

Chase has recently been nerfing a lot of things on their cards, While Amex has been adding things. Any point system can have a devaluation at any time but when card issuers are adding more and more things to their cards it’s always a good sign that a devaluation isn’t likely.

I see the value in UR but I won’t be renewing my CSP this year. It will be changed to a freedom and since I’m out of the country 9 months a year it will be sockdrawered after January.

While Amex’s acceptance overseas isn’t really existent where I am. I have enough obligations and a fiancé to more then make up for those annual fees.

My most used card is US Bank when I’m overseas. They cover **bleep** near any category. Especially with contactless expanding down here. I don’t really see a need for chase.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

UpperNwGuy — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 01:07:01 GMT

I will not be getting the new Amex Gold. I live in a United hub city, and United is the only US carrier that flies nonstop from here to European destinations. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, I can easily transfer URs to United. I can't transfer MRs to United, so that's a deal breaker for me.

Additionally, Amex's airline incidentals credit and dining credit are useless to me, so my cost to hold the Amex Gold would be higher than the cost would be for other forum members.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 01:26:14 GMT

I was considering the old PRG, but won't get the new Gold card. Savor & Cash+ will take care of dinning, and I don't have enough grocery spend the make the extra 1.6 MR offset the annual fee. Everyday Preferred is still looking like an upgrade point wise (If I do not end up switching to cash back via Blue Cash cards.)

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 03:28:26 GMT

I'm over 5/24 and I only has CSP. I was offered 50K on the new Gold card so I went a head and got it. So now I'm more Amex than Chase lol.

Re: Who is making the switch to Amex with new PRG release?

Revelate — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 03:33:42 GMT

I honestly sort of suck with point systems; have something like 300k UR accrued (and that was missing the CSR bonus too) and barely have used any... just started using them for short hop Delta flights through the UR portal for my commute between LA and SFO but now that I've switched my travel days, not so sure straight cash with SW isn't cheaper. I seriously need to get better at point valuations.

The new PRG is really a pretty sweet card for people in my demographic: like others I eat out nearly 100% of the time, and most other things except gas (every 2 months or so these days) count as travel under Chase's reward system. That plus tax and HOA payments on the FU, and I'm basically done, and as a result no real interest in picking up this new Amex. Also since I'm going to be wandering down to a branch tomorrow to double-down on the Sapphire Banking and the reported 60k UR offer, well... nothing like that in Amex land.

That said, other than the absolutely valid point made above on international acceptance, if I were starting fresh, I'd seriously be looking at Amex over the CSR.

I'm not one for style, and I do really like the CSR's styling in particular... but that Rose PRG is a really good looking card imo.