@WhiteCollar wrote:
How reliable is the pre-qualify tool? I don't want to pull the trigger then get a denial. I'm not too concerned with having a high SCL, I just want to get my foot in the door with Amex!
The pre-qualify tool isn't the greatest option. I used them about 6 months ago, showed pre-approved for a gold card and got shot down. Granted it was 4.5 years post BK not IIB. But the magic number seems to be 5 years. Anyhow, AMEX told me i was pre-qualified and was not. So just take into account any baddies that you might have. Most important being BK, IIB. Best of luck,
Cheers!
I don't consider Amex prequalifications reliable at all, if your profile isn't "normal/average." Which means for a lot of people on this board, I woudn't consider it reliable. I have been denied for cards for which I was prequalified, and approved for cards for which I was not prequalified. I think prequalification is based on limited/different info than they actually use to approve you, perhaps just your raw credit score and their data about your income and spending. It's probably right most of the time for most people.
That said, these are among the easiest Amex cards to get. I do not think there is any difference in the underwriting between the Delta cards, so I'd suggest getting the one that fits your spending the best. Assuming you fly on Delta at least a couple of times a year, the Gold will pay for itself with checked bags and the Platinum will pay for itself with checked bags + companion certificate. Of course, the Blue doesn't have to pay for itself. It mostly exists as a soft landing if you one day decide to downgrade to a no-AF card.
Let us know how it goes (or how it went, if you already applied). Good luck!
@KJinNC I've got similar questions to the OP, that you've addressed.
I have additional questions too...
I was planning to apply for the Amex Gold Charge Card early February. Then the Platinum Delta in a few months. The complication, I'm flying Delta in a month and want to take advantage of the free checked bags. I'd also take advantage of the companion pass on renewal. The Cold Charge Card just makes so much more sense day to day, neither show in the prequal page. All of the Hilton cards show up and the Delta Gold card.
Fico 8 EX 710
Income without bonus $247,000.
I have a 19 month old BMW loan $17,778. now at $12,262. Never Late
Student loans for 15 years at balance $3500 Never Late
AU Chase Southwest - for 14 years $15,000 SL $0 balance Never Late
Cap 1 - 18 months $1500 SL $0 Balance Never Late
The Bad -
I'm now 24 months without a late, but...
Barclays $3700 limit closed by barclays, 150 days late in 2017, Paid in full January 2018
Chase Ink $4000 limit closed by Chase, 150 days late in 2017, paid in full January 2018
Brooks brothers $1200 limit closed by whomever, 150 days late, paid in settlement July 2017
Luckily I have no charge offs.
I have 2 inquires that are almost 1 year old, 2 falling off in Feb: from Jan 2017, and 3 over 1 year old. I signed up for a saving account with Charles schwab and they did a hard pull on me?
Any advice? Should I apply for the Platinum Delta, take advantage of the checked bags in March? Then maybe in April go for the gold charge card? how long between apps is good to wait with Amex? I was also given great advice on here to apply for the gold charge card build an AmEx relationship and then get a higher SL on the Delta Plat. I'm frankly terrified to be denied. I've had patience, anxious to get back in the point game and couldn't be further from my situation in 2017. I know YMMV and all that.
Thank you for any input. Hopefully it helps the OP too. 
Personally, I'd probably get the Delta card for the immediate need, then get the Gold Card as soon as you see a preapproval when logged into the Amex site. I do not know when that will be. It might be immediate. Your score is plenty good, so it'll come to whatever other factors Amex focuses on. For example, my score is pretty good, but I would be denied for some Amex cards because of my heavy credit-seeking and numerous recent inquiries.
Once you have one Amex personal card, you can check preapproval (not prequalification, preapproval) with a soft pull. You can also apply with a soft pull. If you are approved, it MAY turn into a hard pull, or maybe not. If you are denied, it will remain a soft pull. So, that changes the risk/reward equation in many people's opinions.
One note I will add is that I got my first personal Amex card in many years last summer, a Gold Card on ~July 22. I was not preapproved for anything else until exactly one month later, when I was preapproved for the cobrand cards, and I picked up Delta Gold and Hilton Aspire. Nearly six months later, I tried to get Platinum but was denied; however, exactly six months later to the day, I noticed I was preapproved for Platinum, and was approved for it (ten days after the denial, before I even received the denial letter in the mail). So, in my specific case, I think I had to wait one month after getting Gold to get a cobrand credit card, and I think I had to wait six months after Gold to get another charge card. I do not know if charge vs credit matters for those dates, or if it might be profile-dependent in some way. I mention this IN CASE you have to wait six months after opening your first personal card to get a charge card; I do not know or believe that to be the case, and maybe someone else can disprove it, but it would be my concern if I were in your shoes, and it might push me toward Gold instead of Delta.
Either way, good luck!