topic Re: AMEX Platinum in Credit Cards

AMEX Platinum

Anonymous — Mon, 06 May 2019 01:20:26 GMT

I recently checked the AMEX prequalification page and had an offer for the 100k SUB. I will have some expenses later this summer that would easily take care of the minimum spend. I am not, however, someone who would see much value at all from the card itself (live in a small city with a very small airport, travel maybe 2-3 times per year). I can use the Uber credits, but other than that, I would absolutely not get $550 of value from this card. My question is, *if* the 100k SUB offer is still available to me the next time I check it, would it be worth it to get the card just for that and then downgrade to the Gold in a year? I do have a lot of dining/grocery expenses. Or should I just get the Gold and save myself the extra $300 in annual fees?

Re: AMEX Platinum

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Mon, 06 May 2019 02:08:58 GMT

Check to see if there's anywhere you want to fly and what it would cost to use points. I mentioned this in another thread, MR points are currently transferring to Virgin at 1:1 and they're running a special to Asia. You could fly roundtrip, first class to Tokyo for 90k or less depending on which coast you're on. A $6000 flight for $550 if you hit spend organically.

Re: AMEX Platinum

Anonymous — Mon, 06 May 2019 02:18:57 GMT

There are other perks of the card besides Uber. But like you said uber credits ($200) takes the “cost” down $550 to $350.

If you apply before July you can get Saks credit $50 in pre July and $50 post July. That’s $100. Plus if you use cashback portal like TopCashBack or ebates you’ll end up making even more money.

I know you don’t travel much but $100 for global entry good for 4/5 years is always a good thing to have.

$200 flight credit, I just bought a $200 southwest gift card. All these things alone basically made it a net $0.

The Points Guy values MR points two cents a mile so 100k is like $2,000. What the other poster said about 90k first class to Tokyo is awesome! Illnhave to check that out.

Re: AMEX Platinum

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Mon, 06 May 2019 02:41:58 GMT

@Anonymous my apologies, I found the article. They're giving a 30% boost to MR transfers.

https://www.godsavethepoints.com/2019/05/01/american-express-virgin-atlantic-transfer-bonus/

Re: AMEX Platinum

Anonymous — Mon, 06 May 2019 05:06:58 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
There are other perks of the card besides Uber. But like you said uber credits ($200) takes the “cost” down $550 to $350.

If you apply before July you can get Saks credit $50 in pre July and $50 post July. That’s $100. Plus if you use cashback portal like TopCashBack or ebates you’ll end up making even more money.

I know you don’t travel much but $100 for global entry good for 4/5 years is always a good thing to have.

$200 flight credit, I just bought a $200 southwest gift card. All these things alone basically made it a net $0.

The Points Guy values MR points two cents a mile so 100k is like $2,000. What the other poster said about 90k first class to Tokyo is awesome! Illnhave to check that out.

Dont forget you can order 2 times in 1 calendar year. so total $400 GC. Ting!!!!

Re: AMEX Platinum

Anonymous — Mon, 06 May 2019 05:18:24 GMT

No. Makes no sense to get considering you already understand you won’t get your $550 af worth.

Re: AMEX Platinum

kudosalert — Mon, 06 May 2019 20:18:51 GMT

must have missed this somehow but how do you get the 200 travel credit twice per year?

Re: AMEX Platinum

jdbkiang — Mon, 06 May 2019 23:02:38 GMT

@kudosalert wrote:
must have missed this somehow but how do you get the 200 travel credit twice per year?

You get it once per calendar year. So if you get the card now, you can it once before the end of 2019 and once again at the beginning of 2020. You can then cancel the card, if you so choose.

Re: AMEX Platinum

Credit-hoarder — Tue, 07 May 2019 01:22:27 GMT

Platinum is not a card I'd really have much use for b/c after the Uber, travel, and other non-common credit perks it's nothing more than a 1% card just lke AMEX Green. However if I ever got the 100k MR pt. offer--I'd take the offer and get use of as many credits as I could--and then cancel it after one year (can't downgrade b/c I already have Green and Gold). Because you figure after the $550 AF you still have at least 50k MRs banked (including the ones earned from spending $5k to meet the SUB requirement) even if you don't use the credits or the card itself.

Re: AMEX Platinum

wasCB14 — Tue, 07 May 2019 02:05:50 GMT

@Credit-hoarder wrote:
Platinum is not a card I'd really have much use for b/c after the Uber, travel, and other non-common credit perks it's nothing more than a 1% card just lke AMEX Green. However if I ever got the 100k MR pt. offer--I'd take the offer and get use of as many credits as I could--and then cancel it after one year (can't downgrade b/c I already have Green and Gold). Because you figure after the $550 AF you still have at least 50k MRs banked (including the ones earned from spending $5k to meet the SUB requirement) even if you don't use the credits or the card itself.

I don't really think of mine as a credit product. It's more a travel-focused perks membership with good return/warranty/dispute protection for anything I run through it.

Funny how you see it as a dressed-up Green card, while I see it as a perks program incidentally bundled with a credit product!

Re: AMEX Platinum

jdbkiang — Tue, 07 May 2019 03:54:59 GMT

Is there actually a rule that you can't have a second Gold/Green card? Not that I'd recommend getting one--just curious.

Re: AMEX Platinum

GeorgiaBulldog — Tue, 07 May 2019 03:59:14 GMT

You can have more than one gold or green. Some people who have a lot of grocery spend (for reasons that aren't supposed to be talked about here) get multiple golds.

Re: AMEX Platinum

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2019 04:19:51 GMT

@jdbkiang wrote:
@kudosalert wrote:
must have missed this somehow but how do you get the 200 travel credit twice per year?
You get it once per calendar year. So if you get the card now, you can it once before the end of 2019 and once again at the beginning of 2020. You can then cancel the card, if you so choose.

Exactly. So you get total 2x$200 = $400 travel credit before you pay the 2nd year AF.

Re: AMEX Platinum

kudosalert — Tue, 07 May 2019 05:26:39 GMT

yeah for me the Amex Platinum would be worth keeping for the travel perks and 5x MR points on plane tickets.