topic What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup in Credit Cards

What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

AyaMai — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 02:54:44 GMT

Mine:

Blue Cash Preferred

Blue Cash Everyday

Hilton Honors

Marriot Bonvoy Brilliant

Undecided

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

Remedios — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 03:13:40 GMT

That really isn't a "set up", other than maybe BCE/BCP.

Hilton and Marriott don't compliment each other in any way, and "undecided" is ... I'm guessing something you don't have

Are you asking how many Amex cards some may have?

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

AyaMai — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 03:16:49 GMT

@Remedios wrote:

Are you asking how many Amex cards some may have?

Yes Amex credit cards

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

Saleen099 — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 03:43:56 GMT

@Remedios wrote:
That really isn't a "set up", other than maybe BCE/BCP.
Hilton and Marriott don't compliment each other in any way, and "undecided" is ... I'm guessing something you don't have
Are you asking how many Amex cards some may have?

@Remedios
Yes, How many Amex Cards do you have?

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

wasCB14 — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 03:48:39 GMT

FWIW, my personal revolvers get hardly any spend at all. I mostly just use them for Delta/Marriott perks and to play upgrade/downgrade games. The spend is almost all on business cards and personal charge cards.

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

Remedios — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 03:49:01 GMT

@Saleen099 wrote:
@Remedios wrote:
That really isn't a "set up", other than maybe BCE/BCP.
Hilton and Marriott don't compliment each other in any way, and "undecided" is ... I'm guessing something you don't have
Are you asking how many Amex cards some may have?
@Remedios
Yes, How many Amex Cards do you have?

Two.

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

redpat — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 13:40:19 GMT

Sorry only 3 personal, why 5?

Lol, 5 is all my personal cards.

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

NoMoreDebt — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 14:05:41 GMT

This is very much a loaded question and will vary no doubt based on individuals spend in categories and goals whether points or cash back. Personally I like cash back and I like investing and saving. We spend the majority of our spend on groceries then utilities and then gas.

The Amex cards I intend to try for this year will compliment our Schwab account. I want he Gold first because it has the best rewards points for those that spend where and how we do. After that one I will try for the Schwab platinum which will allow me to convert the MR points to cash into our Schwab account.

I would only go for the Amex Investor card offered maybe for the intro SUB so thats only 3 Amex cards that would make up our "setup" ymmv

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

Bill77 — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 15:50:12 GMT

My current Amex 5 card setup is 1 BCE card. Looking to potentially add the Amazon Business Prime (ABP?) card in the near term.

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

Rogue46 — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 17:29:00 GMT

My setup is in my signature. I more or less chose those cards for the subs but in everyday spending each has its place depending on the situation so I think they compliment each other nicely.

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

OmarGB9 — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 19:52:28 GMT

I don't have/plan to have 5 Amex cards. I only have the BCP for grocers and streaming and I got a Plat for the sub and perks, but I may close or downgrade to a Gold.

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

h2oeng — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 20:45:19 GMT

Platinum for flights and rooms if booked thru the portal, Gold for groceries and dinning out, BBP for most everything else, BCE but it doesn't see much use. Green will probably be my next for the x3 on misc travel and airbnb.

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

Aim_High — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 21:53:36 GMT

@Remedios wrote:
That really isn't a "set up", other than maybe BCE/BCP.
Hilton and Marriott don't compliment each other in any way, and "undecided" is ... I'm guessing something you don't have
Are you asking how many Amex cards some may have?

I think what started @AyaMai's topic was an assumption that the five-card personal limit still applies on AMEX (it doesn't) and that many in our community would apply for additional cards up to that limit. Data points from the past couple of years including this article on TPG website among others confirmed that AMEX lowered the number of personal REVOLVERS to four from five, but the number of CHARGE cards is still ten. So five cards doesn't mean anything anymore, whether in terms of revolvers or total cards.

I repeat the advice I saw by a wise My-Fico'er once that suggested most consumers are best sticking with either a cash-back or MR strategy from AMEX, independent of any selected airline or hotel cards that are appropriate. The reasoning is that if MRs are valuable enough, there's no need to dilute spending with cash back since accruing enough travel points for meaningful redemption often takes patience and lot of spend. And if MRs aren't valuable enough after taking into account annual fees, credits, perks, and redemption method, a cash back only strategy would be superior.

Personally, I don't find AMEX cash back cards very compelling. Cash Magnet gives 1.5% on everything. Meh. Blue Cash Everyday/Preferred both have spending caps and/or annual fees which add complications to optimzing return. And some competitors pay as well or higher in some categories like gas, transit, or streaming without an AF. IMO, Blue Cash Preferred can be a competitive offering for the right person, but mainly if you're willing and able to spend right up to the $6K grocery cap without exceeding it.

MR cards work well for many of our members, but it's strictly a YMMV scenario. If I were dedicated to MRs, I would assemble multiple MR cards and concentrate spend on them. That would probably include Platinum (but only if I were able to use the credits organically, traveled by air often, and valued airport lounges), Gold (for all dining and groceries, but again mainly if the credits could be used organically), and Blue Business Blue for 2x MR on everything else. The Green card might be a good alternative to the Platinum for non-frequent air travelers to get some lounge/CLEAR benefits while earning a higher return on generic travel and transit.

Since I've decided that MRs are also not as valuable to me as Chase URs, I've recently closed my GOLD card and opened a Blue Business Plus primarly to park my MRs until I either use them or transfer them to partners.

Where I find the most value with AMEX personally is in their cobranded revolvers. In my case, I really appreciate the entire package I get from my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. Between the $300 dining credit and annual 85K free night, the AF is completely and easily reimbursed with credits much more simple than some of the charge cards. The card grants me automatic Platinum elite status with 25 free elite nights; higher in-hotel earnings; gift of additional points or complimentary breakfast; Priority Pass Select; TSA Global Entry fee credit; extensive shopping protections (Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Return Protection); and travel insurances (trip delay/cancellation, lost baggage, rental car CDW); and access to AMEX offers like other cards. Hands-down, I think it's the best card that AMEX offers, but that's my personal opinion. Their Delta airlines and Hilton cards offer similar value to consumers who prefer those brands.

The nice thing is that there is something for everyone, whether that is cash back, MRs, cobrands like Marriott-Hilton-Delta, charge cards with NPSL and a suite of coupon perks, or some combination. But there's no magic, "tri-fecta" or in this case "quint-fecta" of five cards with AMEX.

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

okurosetta — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 01:24:55 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
I think what started @AyaMai's topic was an assumption that the five-card personal limit still applies on AMEX (it doesn't) and that many in our community would apply for additional cards up to that limit. Data points from the past couple of years including this article on TPG website among others confirmed that AMEX lowered the number of personal REVOLVERS to four from five, but the number of CHARGE cards is still ten. So five cards doesn't mean anything anymore, whether in terms of revolvers or total cards.

I can say that I was denied for a fifth Amex revolver right around ~~the time of~~ a year after that TPG article, with the stated reason for denial being that I had the maximum number of Amex cards, but I tried for a fifth revolver again in January of ~~2021~~ 2022 and was approved. Just my personal experience.

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

okurosetta — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:26:02 GMT

Not really a "Setup", just a mix of cards, but this is what I have right now:

BCP
Hilton Surpass
Hilton Business
Marriott Business
Blue Business Plus

I plan to downgrade the Surpass to the no AF personal card, downgrade BCP to BCE, and close the Hilton Business. Then I will open Hilton Aspire, which will be the last of the Hilton cards to have opened (already had and closed no AF card). Then I'll hope for an upgrade offer from the no AF card (that was Surpass) to Aspire.

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

Aim_High — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:48:00 GMT

@okurosetta wrote:
@Aim_High wrote:
I think what started @AyaMai's topic was an assumption that the five-card personal limit still applies on AMEX (it doesn't) and that many in our community would apply for additional cards up to that limit. Data points from the past couple of years including this article on TPG website among others confirmed that AMEX lowered the number of personal REVOLVERS to four from five, but the number of CHARGE cards is still ten. So five cards doesn't mean anything anymore, whether in terms of revolvers or total cards.
I can say that I was denied for a fifth Amex revolver right around the time of that TPG article, with the stated reason for denial being that I had the maximum number of Amex cards, but I tried for a fifth revolver again in January of 2021 and was approved. Just my personal experience.

Thanks for that data point, @okurosetta, but were all five of those personal cards? The rule seems to be personal revolvers (not including business) and your cards appear to only have two personal revolvers at the moment.

@okurosettawrote: "... this is what I have right now:

BCP
Hilton Surpass
Hilton Business
Marriott Business
Blue Business Plus"

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

okurosetta — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 01:17:47 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:

Thanks for that data point, @okurosetta, but were all five of those personal cards? The rule seems to be personal revolvers (not including business) and your cards appear to only have two personal revolvers at the moment.

@okurosettawrote: "... this is what I have right now:
BCP
Hilton Surpass
Hilton Business
Marriott Business
Blue Business Plus"

That's interesting. The only other personal revolver I have had was the no AF Hilton card. I have not had any other business revolvers.

I found an old reddit comment with more info. For starters I'll have to edit my last post, as it was January 2022, not 2021, when I was approved for Hilton Business. Still figuring out it's 2023...

Anyways, the denial came in May 2021. I had 4 Amex revolvers at the time - 3 personal, 1 business. This was in the denial letter: "According to our records, you currently have the maximum number and type of American Express Card accounts that we allow."

imgur link

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

AyaMai — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 02:14:20 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
@Remedios wrote:
That really isn't a "set up", other than maybe BCE/BCP.
Hilton and Marriott don't compliment each other in any way, and "undecided" is ... I'm guessing something you don't have
Are you asking how many Amex cards some may have?
I think what started @AyaMai's topic was an assumption that the five-card personal limit still applies on AMEX (it doesn't) and that many in our community would apply for additional cards up to that limit.   Data points from the past couple of years including this article on TPG website among others confirmed that AMEX lowered the number of personal REVOLVERS to four from five, but the number of CHARGE cards is still ten. So five cards doesn't mean anything anymore, whether in terms of revolvers or total cards.

I repeat the advice I saw by a wise My-Fico'er once that suggested most consumers are best sticking with either a cash-back or MR strategy from AMEX, independent of any selected airline or hotel cards that are appropriate. The reasoning is that if MRs are valuable enough, there's no need to dilute spending with cash back since accruing enough travel points for meaningful redemption often takes patience and lot of spend. And if MRs aren't valuable enough after taking into account annual fees, credits, perks, and redemption method, a cash back only strategy would be superior.

Personally, I don't find AMEX cash back cards very compelling. Cash Magnet gives 1.5% on everything. Meh. Blue Cash Everyday/Preferred both have spending caps and/or annual fees which add complications to optimzing return. And some competitors pay as well or higher in some categories like gas, transit, or streaming without an AF.   IMO, Blue Cash Preferred can be a competitive offering for the right person, but mainly if you're willing and able to spend right up to the $6K grocery cap without exceeding it.

MR cards work well for many of our members, but it's strictly a YMMV scenario. If I were dedicated to MRs, I would assemble multiple MR cards and concentrate spend on them. That would probably include Platinum (but only if I were able to use the credits organically, traveled by air often, and valued airport lounges), Gold (for all dining and groceries, but again mainly if the credits could be used organically), and Blue Business Blue for 2x MR on everything else. The Green card might be a good alternative to the Platinum for non-frequent air travelers to get some lounge/CLEAR benefits while earning a higher return on generic travel and transit.

Since I've decided that MRs are also not as valuable to me as Chase URs, I've recently closed my GOLD card and opened a Blue Business Plus primarly to park my MRs until I either use them or transfer them to partners.

Where I find the most value with AMEX personally is in their cobranded revolvers. In my case, I really appreciate the entire package I get from my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.   Between the $300 dining credit and annual 85K free night, the AF is completely and easily reimbursed with credits much more simple than some of the charge cards. The card grants me automatic Platinum elite status with 25 free elite nights; higher in-hotel earnings; gift of additional points or complimentary breakfast; Priority Pass Select; TSA Global Entry fee credit; extensive shopping protections (Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Return Protection); and travel insurances (trip delay/cancellation, lost baggage, rental car CDW); and access to AMEX offers like other cards. Hands-down, I think it's the best card that AMEX offers, but that's my personal opinion.    Their Delta airlines and Hilton cards offer similar value to consumers who prefer those brands.

The nice thing is that there is something for everyone, whether that is cash back, MRs, cobrands like Marriott-Hilton-Delta, charge cards with NPSL and a suite of coupon perks, or some combination. But there's no magic, "tri-fecta" or in this case "quint-fecta" of five cards with AMEX.

Thank you for the response.

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

DONZI — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 03:44:08 GMT

I like the platiunum + gold combination, the BCE found a niche in the online retail for some things... however I am inclined to use the charge card(s) for a variety of retail without bonus points for the extended warranty etc. and kind of suspect if ever using that benefit it may go smoothest with amex than what visa/mc options I have. I really should test the waters on the visa/mc or disco though. I have price protection on some of them which could have been useful last month.

I created overlapping cards by paying more attention to which CRA the issuer typically HP since I was thinking it would benefit my short term credit seeking. In hindsight, I may gravitate to the MR more, but it's really not because of MR vs Cashback preference.

Sometimes the card I use is a ridiculous fit. Last night I used my 2% cash back instead of a 3% dining at a local joint that only took visa/mc. Literally $0.10 though on a $12 bill so **bleep**... I still feel sort of stupid afterwards.

Re: What are your 5 Amex Personal Credit Cards Setup

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 19:39:36 GMT

My "setup" is BCE/ED/OBC, AU on wife's OBC (and she has an old Gold Card, which she keeps for age, I think AF is $95)

I used the BCE for upgrade/downgrade, except now I am using it for its 3% on online orders. Nothing else sees any charge, so not exactly an active setup!