topic Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards…. in Credit Cards

Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

Thanos316 — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 19:42:50 GMT

I just wanted to get some insight on why some users have more than 2 or 3 amex cards.

I just got approved for my first one, but see some have the Platinum card, gold card, and some others as well.

Wondering if its just different perks or rewards benefits.

thanks !

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

wasCB14 — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 19:58:14 GMT

@Thanos316 wrote:
I just wanted to get some insight on why some users have more than 2 or 3 amex cards.
I just got approved for my first one, but see some have the Platinum card, gold card, and some others as well.
Wondering if its just different perks or rewards benefits.
thanks !

For my 9:

Business Platinum: An excellent card for property managment (1.5x points on most spend, $100k+ spending power, and useful credits). 1.5x may not sound amazing but "construction materials" and "everything $5k or over" up to $2M are not common bonus categories!

Gold: Good for food, though the credits are quirky

Schwab Platinum: Essentially a coupon book these days with Bus Plat covering most of the same perks

EveryDay Preferred and Blue Cash Preferred: Not very useful outside of upgrading them for bonuses and then downgrading again later, then re-upgrading

Lowes AU: 5% discounts are nice. Got it when the primary was spending ~$5k there.

Delta Platinum and "Old SPG" Marriott: travel perks

BBP: 2x points on estimated tax payments and some non-real-estate business expenses.

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

tjs19593 — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 19:53:01 GMT

I have 4 personal AMEX cards and 1 business card. The SUB is usually what draws me in. I then calculate if there are features that make the card useful long term. Example: my AMEX Blue Cash Preferred is a 6% grocery cash back, my Gold card is 3 or 4% of dining, my Platinum is a great travel card, etc.... Hope that helps, at least my logic on it.

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

jcooks — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 20:23:58 GMT

I have...

Business Plat - recently obtained for a big purchase and got the SUB while utilizing the 0% APR PoT feature. Will use for travel and benefits

Personal Gold - use for groceries and dining

Blue Business Plus - use for non category spend

Blue Business Cash - silly for me to apply for this, but I did

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

mkhan1093 — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 20:36:36 GMT

I've opened and closed a lot of Amex cards, some because I was just bonus chasing, some because of the stupid limit for 5 credit cards (doesn't apply to charge cards), etc. The ones that persisted are in my signature:

Platinum - Airfare + travel perks

Gold - Spending card in the same ecosystem as the Platinum

Bonvoy Brilliant - Staying at Marriott + basically a keeper card since the free night you get can be worth more than the $150 effective AF

Bonvoy Business - same as personal Bonvoy

Delta Blue - was a Delta gold that I downgraded to keep the history alive. Might want to re-upgrade one day

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

SoCalGardener — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 21:37:08 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
EveryDay Preferred and Blue Cash Preferred: Not very useful outside of upgrading them for bonuses and then downgrading again later, then re-upgrading

Interesting. I find the BCP indispensable for grocery shopping, what with its 6% cash back and everything!

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

wasCB14 — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 21:55:59 GMT

@SoCalGardener wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
EveryDay Preferred and Blue Cash Preferred: Not very useful outside of upgrading them for bonuses and then downgrading again later, then re-upgrading

Interesting. I find the BCP indispensable for grocery shopping, what with its 6% cash back and everything!

I get 4x MRs with Gold, and Business Platinum gives 35% of MRs back on economy flights with one selected airline. So that works out to a bit over 6% in "Delta Cash" on supermarket spend.

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

SoCalGardener — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 22:01:11 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
@SoCalGardener wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
EveryDay Preferred and Blue Cash Preferred: Not very useful outside of upgrading them for bonuses and then downgrading again later, then re-upgrading

Interesting. I find the BCP indispensable for grocery shopping, what with its 6% cash back and everything!
I get 4x MRs with Gold, and Business Platinum gives 35% of MRs back on economy flights with one selected airline. So that works out to a bit over 6% in "Delta Cash" on supermarket spend.

Thanks for the explanation. That certainly makes sense.

Personally, I've given up on points cards as I realized along the way that I just prefer cash back.

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

Aim_High — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 22:02:17 GMT

@SoCalGardener wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
EveryDay Preferred and Blue Cash Preferred: Not very useful outside of upgrading them for bonuses and then downgrading again later, then re-upgrading
Interesting. I find the BCP indispensable for grocery shopping, what with its 6% cash back and everything!

Right, @SoCalGardener, except that @wasCB14 reported having the Gold charge card for food. In some respects, it may be a lot better than the Blue Cash Preferred or Everyday Preferred, depending on spending and how you value MRs. If MRs are worth 1 cpp to 2 cpp roughly, the 4x MR on Gold is worth somewhere between 4% and 8% return on up to $25K in grocery spending. Purely from the grocery angle (and discounting some incremental gains from 6% on streaming), the Blue Cash Preferred earns (at best) 4.4% on $6K in groceries after subtracting the AF, and that is only when you spend exactly $6K. Spend less and you're trying to overcome the burden of the AF; spend more and you lose with only 1% cash back. If someone is able to maximize the available $240 in credits on Gold, the effective AF on it is only $10 whereas BCP has no credits to overcome the $95 AF. So valuation can be quite different based on use of credits, valuation of MRs, and annual grocery spending. Meanwhile, if someone has high spend on dining out, the Gold also delivers well there with 4x MR on dining, uncapped.

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

wasCB14 — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 22:11:05 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
@SoCalGardener wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
EveryDay Preferred and Blue Cash Preferred: Not very useful outside of upgrading them for bonuses and then downgrading again later, then re-upgrading
Interesting. I find the BCP indispensable for grocery shopping, what with its 6% cash back and everything!
Right, @SoCalGardener, except that @wasCB14 reported having the Gold charge card for food. In some respects, it may be a lot better than the Blue Cash Preferred or Everyday Preferred, depending on spending and how you value MRs. If MRs are worth 1 cpp to 2 cpp roughly, the 4x MR on Gold is worth somewhere between 4% and 8% return on up to $25K in grocery spending. Purely from the grocery angle (and discounting some incremental gains from 6% on streaming), the Blue Cash Preferred earns (at best) 4.4% on $6K in groceries after subtracting the AF, and that is only when you spend exactly $6K. Spend less and you're trying to overcome the burden of the AF; spend more and you lose with only 1% cash back. If someone is able to maximize the available $240 in credits on Gold, the effective AF on it is only $10 whereas BCP has no credits to overcome the $95 AF. So valuation can be quite different based on use of credits, valuation of MRs, and annual grocery spending. Meanwhile, if someone has high spend on dining out, the Gold also delivers well there with 4x MR on dining, uncapped.

Actually $320 (for me). Uber thinks my Gold is a Platinum.

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

Aim_High — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 22:09:22 GMT

@Thanos316 wrote:
I just wanted to get some insight on why some users have more than 2 or 3 amex cards.
I just got approved for my first one, but see some have the Platinum card, gold card, and some others as well.
Wondering if its just different perks or rewards benefits.

Welcome to My Fico Forums, @Thanos316.

As you can see from the above postings, the various AMEX cards have their strong points in rewards and perks and AMEX has designed them to "play well" together for someone acquiring Member Rewards points. Of course, they also hope you'll get as many as possible so you'll keep adding on those annual fees! If you are evaluating whether that strategy is right for you, make sure you consider how much additional reward value you'll achieve and what the effective annual fee would be after applying useful credits. Also consider what value you place on the perks a card offers such as airport lounge access or hotel elite status. The drain on rewards from that remaining effective AF will tell you whether it's worth adding a card.

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

KJinNC — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 02:43:17 GMT

@Thanos316 wrote:
I just wanted to get some insight on why some users have more than 2 or 3 amex cards.
I just got approved for my first one, but see some have the Platinum card, gold card, and some others as well.
Wondering if its just different perks or rewards benefits.
thanks !

Two reasons.

1 - The cards offer different and often complementary rewards and benefits. For example, Gold lets you accumulate points that can be used for travel, Platinum offers status and lounge access for travel. If you fly Delta, you may also want a Delta Gold to get a free checked bag, or a Delta Platinum to also get a companion certificate. If you stay in Hilton, you may want one of those cards as well.

2 - Once you have one Amex personal card, you can check preapproval (not just prequalification) any time, and, if you apply, there is usually no hard pull ever, though this is not a guarantee.

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

babygirl1256 — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 03:08:29 GMT

@Thanos316 . . . Welcom to the forum . . . I have 3 Amex cards (2 personal and 1 business). My first card was the Amex Blue Cash Preferred that I obtained for the rewards . . . My second Amex card was the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant that I obtained for travel and to earn the 15 nights credits per year (I have only 30 nights remaining for my life-time membership) as I've been a member since 1997 . . . my third card is the Amex Business Platinum that I obtained for my business but the jury is still out on that card . . . I will soon decide if I will keep it!!!

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

notmyrealname23 — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 04:25:01 GMT

I have fairly high expenses in rental cars, car shares, and non-luxury hotels that make a Green's 3x work well for me. It essentially becomes a lower priced Chase Sapphire Reserve as far as earning goes.

Dining and grocery + Uber Eats and Uber make a Gold at 4x work. Right now I am in the middle of upgrade/downgrade games with it until late this year, to the tune of 100K MR.

The Schwab Platinum's credits + 5x airfare make it work.

The Hilton Aspire's credits are an easy slam dunk for me: what ends up being $250 in airfare, $250 in Vegas or Phoenix resort charges, a free night, all for $450, plus 14x Hilton and Diamond status.

The Delta Gold AMEX and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AMEX are probably temporary, acquired during all time high SUBs. The 70k Skymiles have paired well with some temporary Delta Gold Medallion status from late 2020 to early 2023, and the 125k Bonvoy points and Marriott Platinum status (plus a free room night) will work out during an extended European trip this summer, but I don't think I can really use the cards to best effect long term. I may keep the Delta card as a Delta Blue to have Pay With Miles available, or to play upgrade/downgrade games.

I'll re-evaluate where I want to pay annual fees in 2023 (and how much) once I get access to Chase and Citi after I cool down from a hot 2020/2021 for card acquisition. I could see going with a less AMEX-y setup, say something like spending 2023 meeting spend for a CSP AND Citi Premier, keeping my VentureX, and figuring out which of Green/Gold/CS Platinum makes sense to keep (or milking retention offers on the Gold and Platinum).

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

wasCB14 — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 05:22:57 GMT

@notmyrealname23 wrote:
I have fairly high expenses in rental cars, car shares, and non-luxury hotels that make a Green's 3x work well for me. It essentially becomes a lower priced Chase Sapphire Reserve as far as earning goes.

Dining and grocery + Uber Eats and Uber make a Gold at 4x work. Right now I am in the middle of upgrade/downgrade games with it until late this year, to the tune of 100K MR.

The Schwab Platinum's credits + 5x airfare make it work.

The Hilton Aspire's credits are an easy slam dunk for me: what ends up being $250 in airfare, $250 in Vegas or Phoenix resort charges, a free night, all for $450, plus 14x Hilton and Diamond status.

The Delta Gold AMEX and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AMEX are probably temporary, acquired during all time high SUBs. The 70k Skymiles have paired well with some temporary Delta Gold Medallion status from late 2020 to early 2023, and the 125k Bonvoy points and Marriott Platinum status (plus a free room night) will work out during an extended European trip this summer, but I don't think I can really use the cards to best effect long term. I may keep the Delta card as a Delta Blue to have Pay With Miles available, or to play upgrade/downgrade games.

I'll re-evaluate where I want to pay annual fees in 2023 (and how much) once I get access to Chase and Citi after I cool down from a hot 2020/2021 for card acquisition. I could see going with a less AMEX-y setup, say something like spending 2023 meeting spend for a CSP AND Citi Premier, keeping my VentureX, and figuring out which of Green/Gold/CS Platinum makes sense to keep (or milking retention offers on the Gold and Platinum).

I could see the value of CSP/CSR for a frequent car renter! Are you currently paying per-rental with Amex for primary coverage?

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

notmyrealname23 — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 05:24:50 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
@notmyrealname23 wrote:
I have fairly high expenses in rental cars, car shares, and non-luxury hotels that make a Green's 3x work well for me. It essentially becomes a lower priced Chase Sapphire Reserve as far as earning goes.

Dining and grocery + Uber Eats and Uber make a Gold at 4x work. Right now I am in the middle of upgrade/downgrade games with it until late this year, to the tune of 100K MR.

The Schwab Platinum's credits + 5x airfare make it work.

The Hilton Aspire's credits are an easy slam dunk for me: what ends up being $250 in airfare, $250 in Vegas or Phoenix resort charges, a free night, all for $450, plus 14x Hilton and Diamond status.

The Delta Gold AMEX and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AMEX are probably temporary, acquired during all time high SUBs. The 70k Skymiles have paired well with some temporary Delta Gold Medallion status from late 2020 to early 2023, and the 125k Bonvoy points and Marriott Platinum status (plus a free room night) will work out during an extended European trip this summer, but I don't think I can really use the cards to best effect long term. I may keep the Delta card as a Delta Blue to have Pay With Miles available, or to play upgrade/downgrade games.

I'll re-evaluate where I want to pay annual fees in 2023 (and how much) once I get access to Chase and Citi after I cool down from a hot 2020/2021 for card acquisition. I could see going with a less AMEX-y setup, say something like spending 2023 meeting spend for a CSP AND Citi Premier, keeping my VentureX, and figuring out which of Green/Gold/CS Platinum makes sense to keep (or milking retention offers on the Gold and Platinum).
I could see the value of CSP/CSR for a frequent car renter! Are you currently paying per-rental with Amex for primary coverage?

I don't own a car. This makes all credit card coverage primary.

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

5KRunner — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 10:55:56 GMT

I currently hold 4 of them (3 personal and one corporate):

- Blue Cash Preferred: 6% on groceries for the first $6000 per year, 6% for all streaming services

- Hilton Honors Surpass: Hilton Honors Gold status, 12x Hilton, 6x Groceries/Gas/Dining, 3x on everything else; this is the card my daughter uses to pay for everday expenses while in college

- AmEx Gold: earnining a 90K MR SUB, which I intend to use to offset an expensive vacation some time next year; 4x on groceries above $6000, 4x dining, 3x on flights booked with airlines/through AmEx travel

- Corporate Green: for all work-related travel expenses

I'm considering a 4th personal card - either the Delta SkyMiles Gold (75K SkyMiles SUB) or Platinum (90K SkyMiles + 10K MQM SUB).

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

EAJuggalo — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 21:46:16 GMT

I have 5 cards, one of which I'm probably going to let die.

Gold- 4xMR dining and groceries, AMEX Offers for more MR to use for flights and an occasional top up of Hilton Points.

BCE- 1.5% CB, probably going to let this one die, I've got better cards both CB and points. Only check for Offers occasionally.

Hilton No Fee- Only used for Hilton stays, now that I'm Diamond through nights I might consider upgrading this one if I lose that.

Delta Blue- Started as a Delta Gold when I had a family trip planned to Disney, downgraded to keep the history and may upgrade again when I have another trip planned

Blue Business Plus- 2xMR on everything, doesn't show up on my credit report. All of my non-cat spend goes here.

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

wasCB14 — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 21:51:59 GMT

@EAJuggalo wrote:
I have 5 cards, one of which I'm probably going to let die.
Gold- 4xMR dining and groceries, AMEX Offers for more MR to use for flights and an occasional top up of Hilton Points.
BCE- 1.5% CB, probably going to let this one die, I've got better cards both CB and points. Only check for Offers occasionally.
Hilton No Fee- Only used for Hilton stays, now that I'm Diamond through nights I might consider upgrading this one if I lose that.
Delta Blue- Started as a Delta Gold when I had a family trip planned to Disney, downgraded to keep the history and may upgrade again when I have another trip planned
Blue Business Plus- 2xMR on everything, doesn't show up on my credit report. All of my non-cat spend goes here.

I'm confused as to whether you have Blue Cash Everyday or the Cash Magnet card. The former (and I'm not sure about the latter) can be used for upgrade/downgrade games.

Re: Question for those with multiple AMEX cards….

difringe — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 00:57:43 GMT

Welcome to the forums!

For me, I got the American Express EveryDay card because, at the time, it offered a nice 0% APR period for both purchases and balance transfers, and a nice little sign-up bonus that was easy to obtain. They offered me another bonus for upgrading to the EveryDay Preferred, so I took that offer and will keep the card open, although I will note that they were the only lender who lowered my limit when my overall usage spiked (it has since been increased since I got my usage down).

I got the Gold Card because I really wanted that Rose Gold card, and Resy was offering a nice sign-up bonus for spend...I also eat out a lot, so the restaurant category (plus that Resy 20% cash back offer) makes it really worth it. I wish they'd partner with GrubHub completely instead of working with Uber tho.