topic Re: Help with amex questions in Credit Cards

Help with amex questions

myjourney — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 02:43:18 GMT

I need to get a good explanation of the reward structure of Amex green and gold!

The benefits of each?

I think there's a difference in the point system?

If there is a difference in points which is best?

How much spending needed on each card to offset the AF?

I'm leaning toward green just to get my foot in the door on the first attempt and as you can see its a lot of info needed to help me make the best selection!

I'm stuck which one to app for in June

Thanks family greatly appreciated

Re: Help with amex questions

CreditScholar — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 02:56:24 GMT

* There isn't much of a difference between green and the basic gold, other than access to gold events.

* The green has a $95 AF while the gold is $125

* Both give 1 MR point per dollar spent

* The premier rewards gold (PRG) has a $175 AF, but gives 3x points on airfare, 2x on gas and groceries, and 1x on everything else.

I personally wouldn't get a green unless I was spending at least 15k per year, although others may disagree. However if you're using it as a pathway to get additional Amex cards, then it may be worth it even if you're spending less than that. There's really no reason to get the gold.

Re: Help with amex questions

myjourney — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:01:05 GMT

@CreditScholar wrote:
* There isn't much of a difference between green and the basic gold, other than access to gold events.
* The green has a $95 AF while the gold is $125
* Both give 1 MR point per dollar spent
* The premier rewards gold (PRG) has a $175 AF, but gives 3x points on airfare, 2x on gas and groceries, and 1x on everything else.

I personally wouldn't get a green unless I was spending at least 15k per year, although others may disagree. However if you're using it as a pathway to get additional Amex cards, then it may be worth it even if you're spending less than that. There's really no reason to get the gold.

Thanks Creditscholar duly noted and yes the long term is a pathway now you gave me a 2nd question to that .....can those points be transfered to a revolver

Re: Help with amex questions

CreditScholar — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:09:33 GMT

@myjourney wrote:
@CreditScholar wrote:
* There isn't much of a difference between green and the basic gold, other than access to gold events.
* The green has a $95 AF while the gold is $125
* Both give 1 MR point per dollar spent
* The premier rewards gold (PRG) has a $175 AF, but gives 3x points on airfare, 2x on gas and groceries, and 1x on everything else.

I personally wouldn't get a green unless I was spending at least 15k per year, although others may disagree. However if you're using it as a pathway to get additional Amex cards, then it may be worth it even if you're spending less than that. There's really no reason to get the gold.
Thanks Creditscholar duly noted and yes the long term is a pathway now you gave me a 2nd question to that .....can those points be transfered to a revolver

No they can't, unless you're referring to their MB revolver which also earns MR points. The MB is also their ugliest card by a large margin IMO.

MR points can however be transferred to various airline programs as miles. As a general rule the best use of MR points is for travel redemptions, but most of those require quite a few points to get a decent value.

Re: Help with amex questions

myjourney — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:14:40 GMT

@CreditScholar wrote:
@myjourney wrote:
@CreditScholar wrote:
* There isn't much of a difference between green and the basic gold, other than access to gold events.
* The green has a $95 AF while the gold is $125
* Both give 1 MR point per dollar spent
* The premier rewards gold (PRG) has a $175 AF, but gives 3x points on airfare, 2x on gas and groceries, and 1x on everything else.

I personally wouldn't get a green unless I was spending at least 15k per year, although others may disagree. However if you're using it as a pathway to get additional Amex cards, then it may be worth it even if you're spending less than that. There's really no reason to get the gold.
Thanks Creditscholar duly noted and yes the long term is a pathway now you gave me a 2nd question to that .....can those points be transfered to a revolver
No they can't, unless you're referring to their MB revolver which also earns MR points. The MB is also their ugliest card by a large margin IMO.

MR points can however be transferred to various airline programs as miles. As a general rule the best use of MR points is for travel redemptions, but most of those require quite a few points to get a decent value.

Re: Help with amex questions

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:14:44 GMT

The only way to preserve MR points is to open a plain Blue revolver. The Blue revolver participates in the MRE program (like Amex Zync) and will preserve your MR balance. The downside is that you won't be able to transfer MRE points to FF programs so they are worth very little.

Re: Help with amex questions

myjourney — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:16:34 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The only way to preserve MR points is to open a plain Blue revolver. The Blue revolver participates in the MRE program (like Amex Zync) and will preserve your MR balance. The downside is that you won't be able to transfer MRE points to FF programs so they are worth very little.

Thanks bluedog1

All of you are helping in my selection

Re: Help with amex questions

myjourney — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:28:09 GMT

@myjourney wrote:
@CreditScholar wrote:
@myjourney wrote:
@CreditScholar wrote:
* There isn't much of a difference between green and the basic gold, other than access to gold events.
* The green has a $95 AF while the gold is $125
* Both give 1 MR point per dollar spent
* The premier rewards gold (PRG) has a $175 AF, but gives 3x points on airfare, 2x on gas and groceries, and 1x on everything else.

I personally wouldn't get a green unless I was spending at least 15k per year, although others may disagree. However if you're using it as a pathway to get additional Amex cards, then it may be worth it even if you're spending less than that. There's really no reason to get the gold.
Thanks Creditscholar duly noted and yes the long term is a pathway now you gave me a 2nd question to that .....can those points be transfered to a revolver
No they can't, unless you're referring to their MB revolver which also earns MR points. The MB is also their ugliest card by a large margin IMO.

MR points can however be transferred to various airline programs as miles. As a general rule the best use of MR points is for travel redemptions, but most of those require quite a few points to get a decent value.

What is MB revolver?

Re: Help with amex questions

09Lexie — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:32:04 GMT

I was thinking the same thing!

Re: Help with amex questions

myjourney — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:32:57 GMT

Someone will help us

Re: Help with amex questions

CreditScholar — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 03:17:04 GMT

@myjourney wrote:
@myjourney wrote:
@CreditScholar wrote:
@myjourney wrote:
@CreditScholar wrote:
* There isn't much of a difference between green and the basic gold, other than access to gold events.
* The green has a $95 AF while the gold is $125
* Both give 1 MR point per dollar spent
* The premier rewards gold (PRG) has a $175 AF, but gives 3x points on airfare, 2x on gas and groceries, and 1x on everything else.

I personally wouldn't get a green unless I was spending at least 15k per year, although others may disagree. However if you're using it as a pathway to get additional Amex cards, then it may be worth it even if you're spending less than that. There's really no reason to get the gold.
Thanks Creditscholar duly noted and yes the long term is a pathway now you gave me a 2nd question to that .....can those points be transfered to a revolver
No they can't, unless you're referring to their MB revolver which also earns MR points. The MB is also their ugliest card by a large margin IMO.

MR points can however be transferred to various airline programs as miles. As a general rule the best use of MR points is for travel redemptions, but most of those require quite a few points to get a decent value.
What is MB revolver?

MB is the Amex Mercedes Benz revolver. It gives 3x MR points on gas, 2x on groceries and 1x on everything else. $95 AF. It's not a very well-known card, but it's earning structure is decent. It's also really ugly though, a bluish colour with a huge Mercedes logo on the front.

Re: Help with amex questions

09Lexie — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 03:23:48 GMT

Oh no! Can't do a MB card.

Re: Help with amex questions

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 03:33:14 GMT

Do you think you would get approved for the bce if you applied for it? If can wouldn't it make sense just to get the bce or the bcp depending if you spend enough to make it worth the AF,

Instead of having to worry about transferring points

Re: Help with amex questions

myjourney — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:51:58 GMT

@09Lexie wrote:
Oh no! Can't do a MB card.

Re: Help with amex questions

Open123 — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:54:27 GMT

@myjourney wrote:
@09Lexie wrote:
Oh no! Can't do a MB card.
+1

Because it looks atrocious?

Re: Help with amex questions

myjourney — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:54:31 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Do you think you would get approved for the bce if you applied for it? If can wouldn't it make sense just to get the bce or the bcp depending if you spend enough to make it worth the AF,

Instead of having to worry about transferring points

@I don't want to take chances on my first attempt @ AMEX so im thinking charge card and if approved immediately app revolver which is BCE

Re: Help with amex questions

myjourney — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:55:27 GMT

@Open123 wrote:
@myjourney wrote:
@09Lexie wrote:
Oh no! Can't do a MB card.
+1
Because it looks atrocious?

It needs a facelift for sure..lol

Re: Help with amex questions

09Lexie — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:57:32 GMT

Exactly!

Re: Help with amex questions

Open123 — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:00:53 GMT

@myjourney wrote:
@Open123 wrote:
@myjourney wrote:
@09Lexie wrote:
Oh no! Can't do a MB card.
+1
Because it looks atrocious?
It needs a facelift for sure..lol

LOL...they'd be hard pressed to come up a "weirder" looking card.

Re: Help with amex questions

HiLine — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:15:43 GMT

I would much rather apply for the Premier Rewards Gold: same underwriting standard, much better reward structure, waived first year's annual fee, and 50,000 Membership Rewards bonus. Before the anniversary hit you can request a product change to a cheaper charge card if you find that the extra rewards are not worth the difference in annual fees.