topic Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input? in Credit Cards

Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

CBartowski — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 23:53:42 GMT

Hey Everyone - so I'm conisdering getting an AMEX Green just for the SUB and to replace my CSR in the general "travel" category for a while. I am not sure I'll actually keep it past the first year but checking it out.

Does anyone have it? Been able to use the Loungebuddy credit?

I recognize there is a lot of overlap with my collection but wanted to get some thoughts. I could always use and extra 50K MR for 2k spend!

Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

SouthJamaica — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 01:26:41 GMT

@CBartowski wrote:
Hey Everyone - so I'm conisdering getting an AMEX Green just for the SUB and to replace my CSR in the general "travel" category for a while. I am not sure I'll actually keep it past the first year but checking it out.

Does anyone have it? Been able to use the Loungebuddy credit?

I recognize there is a lot of overlap with my collection but wanted to get some thoughts. I could always use and extra 50K MR for 2k spend!

It doesn't seem like a good idea to me

You already have 2 Amex charge cards

Since you value your MR points you should protect your relationship with Amex

Amex frowns on people opening a card for the SUB , then closing it a year later

Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

notmyrealname23 — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 03:30:11 GMT

@CBartowski wrote:
Hey Everyone - so I'm conisdering getting an AMEX Green just for the SUB and to replace my CSR in the general "travel" category for a while. I am not sure I'll actually keep it past the first year but checking it out.

Does anyone have it? Been able to use the Loungebuddy credit?

I recognize there is a lot of overlap with my collection but wanted to get some thoughts. I could always use and extra 50K MR for 2k spend!

The Loungebuddy credit is nearly useless if you have the CS Plat; it gets you into 99+% of the Loungebuddy lounges. Maybe you could use it for a family member (buy access for them). Ditto the CLEAR credit, it's pretty useless if you have an AMEX Platinum, except maybe paying for someone else's CLEAR.

If you're *ditching* the CSR it's a reasonable replacement, since in effect you're reducing the effective annual fee from $250 to $150, and you have the same earning structure, except in AMEX MR instead of Chase UR. I did some retrospective looks at my spending over the last few years and found that IF (big if) I used MR for a value at around 1.7 cpp on airline tickets, I can justify AMEX Green's AF over a vanilla 2% cashback card, by a decent margin, even at a $150 AF (zero value from the Loungebuddy and CLEAR credits, though I find I got some decent AMEX offers on travel over the years). If you are similar that could be the logic you use to justify it for a year or two. Might also help as a way to wait for another CSR/CSP SUB and still rake in points.

Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

NRB525 — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 19:31:22 GMT

Green actually works well to replace CSR, especially if you have a range of hotel brands, parking, rental car, etc. I agree that it should be a two year commitment. The 50k MR goes a long way toward those AF. And if you close the CSR, there's your AF offset anyhow.

Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

MasonK — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 22:13:57 GMT

I don't see it as a good move, even setting aside the part where you close it in a year. The Green is a good alternative to the CSR if you don't have the Platinum or Gold.

The only benefit you're reaping is 50k in MR points, and after Year One, the card becomes worthless since the Platinum/Gold combo have better multipliers. As mentioned, cancelling the card after Year One could land you in Pop-Up Jail.

Green:

3x Dining (4x on Gold)

3x Travel (5x on Air/Hotel on Platinum)

3x Transit (This might be a selling point)

Clear Credit (unless it's for Player 2, you have $179 on the CS Plat)

Lounge Credit (pretty much covered by Platinum and built in)

Trip Delay, FX, Car Rental, Insurance, etc. (all covered by other Amex cards)

Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

CBartowski — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 23:52:32 GMT

@MasonK wrote:
I don't see it as a good move, even setting aside the part where you close it in a year. The Green is a good alternative to the CSR if you don't have the Platinum or Gold.

The only benefit you're reaping is 50k in MR points, and after Year One, the card becomes worthless since the Platinum/Gold combo have better multipliers. As mentioned, cancelling the card after Year One could land you in Pop-Up Jail.

Green:
3x Dining (4x on Gold)
3x Travel (5x on Air/Hotel on Platinum)
3x Transit (This might be a selling point)
Clear Credit (unless it's for Player 2, you have $179 on the CS Plat)
Lounge Credit (pretty much covered by Platinum and built in)
Trip Delay, FX, Car Rental, Insurance, etc. (all covered by other Amex cards)

This is the conclusion Im coming to as well. The main selling point for me was the 3x on general travel. BUT I was mainly valuing the MR transfer to AA through BA but now I noticed UR can do the same sooo I'm less interested in the green.

Thanks everyone!

Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

notmyrealname23 — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 00:27:23 GMT

@MasonK wrote:
I don't see it as a good move, even setting aside the part where you close it in a year. The Green is a good alternative to the CSR if you don't have the Platinum or Gold.

The only benefit you're reaping is 50k in MR points, and after Year One, the card becomes worthless since the Platinum/Gold combo have better multipliers. As mentioned, cancelling the card after Year One could land you in Pop-Up Jail.

Green:
3x Dining (4x on Gold)
3x Travel (5x on Air/Hotel on Platinum)
3x Transit (This might be a selling point)
Clear Credit (unless it's for Player 2, you have $179 on the CS Plat)
Lounge Credit (pretty much covered by Platinum and built in)
Trip Delay, FX, Car Rental, Insurance, etc. (all covered by other Amex cards)

5x hotels requires prepaid hotels using the AMEX portal, and for a lot of hotels you are hosed on status benefits unless you use the chain portal. For Marriott/Hilton earning using the portal is FHR only. Earning on Marriott/Hilton/Hyatt/Hotels.com is a significant part of my rebate on spend, using the AMEX portal largely nukes that. Trading 10% Hotels.com rebate or 6.25x Hyatt as an Explorist for 2x MR is a "no sale" for me.

3x travel also means 3x car rental, carshares, rideshares, ferries, cruise lines, trains, parking, and POSTpaid hotels to go with transit (and won't hose you if you use the chain website and pay with a Green). It's a very broad category.

That being said, whether $150 AF beats earning on something like a no AF 2% card (or even just putting it on a Platinum) is a math problem and might not apply to people who don't spend much in travel categories. I still think the Green is a reasonable alternative to a CSR- the extra AF cash outlay for the CSR gets you some useful stuff (primary car rental insurance, Chase "trifectas" with PYB, better travel insurance, PP restaurants).

Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

wasCB14 — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 00:17:09 GMT

@CBartowski wrote:
@MasonK wrote:
I don't see it as a good move, even setting aside the part where you close it in a year. The Green is a good alternative to the CSR if you don't have the Platinum or Gold.

The only benefit you're reaping is 50k in MR points, and after Year One, the card becomes worthless since the Platinum/Gold combo have better multipliers. As mentioned, cancelling the card after Year One could land you in Pop-Up Jail.

Green:
3x Dining (4x on Gold)
3x Travel (5x on Air/Hotel on Platinum)
3x Transit (This might be a selling point)
Clear Credit (unless it's for Player 2, you have $179 on the CS Plat)
Lounge Credit (pretty much covered by Platinum and built in)
Trip Delay, FX, Car Rental, Insurance, etc. (all covered by other Amex cards)
This is the conclusion Im coming to as well. The main selling point for me was the 3x on general travel. BUT I was mainly valuing the MR transfer to AA through BA but now I noticed UR can do the same sooo I'm less interested in the green.

Thanks everyone!

Keep in mind that to get 5x on hotels you need to prepay through Amex Travel, which introduces potentially more restrictive cancellation policies, as well as a potential nonrecognition of elite benefits for some hotel programs (IHG I think has the right to refuse perks if you book through a third party).

UR will transfer to BA, but last I checked Chase doesn't run transfer bonuses as often as Amex does.

LoungeBuddy when you already have Schwab is pretty useless.

- Few lounges accept it

- Most that do take Platinum and include a free guest for Platinum

- Even if it gets you a free guest somewhere Platinum doesn't, the amenities will often be primitive

CSR's inclusion of Priority Pass restaurants (which Amex excludes) is more likely to be useful than LoungeBuddy.

Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

batsy71 — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 01:59:31 GMT

my spouse recently got an amex green corporate card.

i know that the amex green card offers annual satement credit for the CLEAR airport security. Does the corporate amex green offer the same benefit too?

Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

NRB525 — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 04:37:21 GMT

@batsy71 wrote:
my spouse recently got an amex green corporate card.

i know that the amex green card offers annual satement credit for the CLEAR airport security. Does the corporate amex green offer the same benefit too?

No, the Corporate Green is just a payments processing card for your employer. Since you are not paying the AF, there's no similar lounge and Clear credit as with personal Green.

Now, if you get promoted, or can convince your employer to get Corporat Platinum, that should raise your travel status substantially, and you aren't paying the AF

Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

FinStar — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 04:42:22 GMT

@batsy71 wrote:
my spouse recently got an amex green corporate card.

i know that the amex green card offers annual satement credit for the CLEAR airport security. Does the corporate amex green offer the same benefit too?

It does not, unfortunately. Since a variety of corporate programs may offer different customized benefit solutions, you may need to check the benefits that came with your spouse's Green Corp card.

IIRC, it offers Hilton Silver Status and the Uber Corp benefit (if enrolled). The Corporate Gold Card, though, has the Global Entry or TSA Pre-check benefit.

Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

Citylights18 — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 07:53:28 GMT

I liked the AMEX Green as a transit card much more than what I care for the AMEX Gold as a dining/grocery card as an add on to the Chase ecosystem. The Green AF is not that high and you do get access to AMEX offers and Rakuten as MR for it.

The calculus to me has really changed with Chase moving its entire personal card lineup to 3x dining. You can downgrade a CSR to a CSP if you aren't putting a lot of travel spend on it and get the same earning rates. Prior to this I was using an AMEX Green as my transit and dining card with 3x with just spot use of the CSP to be able to move my ultimate rewards around.

Now I'm using my CFF as a daily driver & keeping CSP in the background for food delivery. I like that I have my CSP in the sock drawer in case my wallet is stolen or identity theft occurs that I'm not out of a decent credit card.

The extra earning argument of the 4x using the Gold is kind of weak since the travel partners are limited unless you are a Delta guy.You can get value out of the Uber Eats credit but food delivery is expensive compared to just buying at the grocery store. Citi Premier has 3x grocery store benefit but the AF is only $95 dollars. Citi is 1:2 with Choice and AMEX is only 1:1. Thus Citi Premier can give you 6x value in Choice at the grocery store compared to 4x AMEX.

Re: Debating adding AMEX Green? Anyone have input?

notmyrealname23 — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 16:24:49 GMT

@Citylights18 wrote:

The extra earning argument of the 4x using the Gold is kind of weak since the travel partners are limited unless you are a Delta guy.

Whaaaaa? A lot of the MR/UR partners overlap. AMEX has Hilton/Delta/ANA as exclusive partners, Chase has IHG/Hyatt/United/Southwest.

Frankly unless you're a Hyatt/Southwest guy (and even there you should probably use Chase UR to BUY Southwest flights most of the time instead of redeeming them), AMEX MR and Chase UR have pretty much the same access to US domestic airlines as long as you use partnerships. Frankly I've been getting good value out of transfer partners Chase DOES NOT support like Cathay Pacific and Avianca while flying American and various Star Alliance airlines, so the whole "AMEX has limited travel partners" while having MORE transfer partners than Chase is a bit confusing to me.

(That being said, Chase->Hyatt is probably the best hotel transfer out there.)