New to Amex - Next Steps

[Anonymous]

Hi all.

First post, but I've been browsing myfico for CC info for about a year. 

I was approved for the HH no AF card (1st Amex) in Jan. 2020 with CL - $1k.

My goal is to get the Gold and to do Sebby's Hilton Card strategy, so I'd like to get the Surpass ASAP too and start the 1 yr clock for upgrade points.

Then I saw the 50k/2k SUB for the gold about a week after I got the HH, so I applied for that before the Surpass. Couldn't resist. Was denied because I'm too new with Amex I guess. Now I see that's pretty common. 

I'm going to wait 90 days from the gold denial before I apply again. My question is, should I apply for the gold & surpass at the same time, or pick one and space it out?

Both would benefit me, and I ultimately want both. I can hit the minimum spend for both cards at the same time too, so that wouldn't be an issue. Just need to know if I can/should app for both. Any Amex rules I'm missing? Might that spook them? I dunno.

[Girlzilla88]

Wish I knew what to tell you about apping for 2 but I do know they get scared on new ppl in general lol.    They haven't even bumped my CLI yet so I stopped checking middle/end of last year to give it a good bit of time before harassing them again LOLOL.    But I do see that is common for them to be sticklers on new profiles with them.      I would say app for the one you want more first and see what they say and if it's a no maybe then app for the other but if it's a yes I would still personally wait a bit (maybe 3 months or so before apping for the other)  You may be able to ask for two (MOD or someone please chime in) LOL But I personally get nervous apping for several cards from the same ppl at the same time.

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

$1k starting limits usually indicate you'll be waiting about a year before they give you any increases or a new approval.

[Anonymous]

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I got my first card with AMEX April 2019 applied cold didn't do pre approval link for $1k.   Kept looking at pre approval link for the "You're pre approved" nothing until last month Feb 2020.  Was approved for all cards at that time.   Keep in mind I'm looking at the pre approved link several times a week from the time I got my first card.   I did try applying without being pre approved one of those months.....DENIED!   My advice is to wait until you get the "Pre Approved" message 1st before applying.  Slim chance you will get approved if the message says "Looking to Expand" or was the case for me.   

[Anonymous]

My 1st card had a worse SL than yours -- 500. In 5 months got an auto-CLI to 1000 & I added a HH, also 1000. Six months later the 3rd card with a 2000 SL & 5 more months for the 4th card @ 9000. Also, HH has gotten two 2x CLI to 4000. 

Without knowing your credit profile, I'd say go for both cards if you want them bad enough.

I 

[Anonymous]

Personally if I was approved for a $1K CC, I'd be looking inward at why. Not apping for another one the next day or within the week/month.

If that's all a person is used to being approved for, then I guess there's no expectation of getting a higher limit. However, that's how a person winds up with a  lot of low limit cards. Taking forever to get out of low limit purgatory. 

This should be the time when you look at your CR to find out where it can be improved, and maybe even gardening time. If everything it just fine, then it may only be as simple as being new to them. That said, this board is full of significant higher SL from Amex.

[PullingMeSoftly]

There's maximizing Sebby-style and there is enjoying life immediately. Setting aside your SL and what that may indicate as to your eligibility for additional cards for a moment, think about going for the Aspire. I have found that by going for this card first, I have been enjoying the diamond status and the hefty 14x multiplier on Hilton stays.

Just recently, during a stay at the DoubleTree in Sonoma, CA, I racked up the 14x on the stay, 14x on the in-house restaurant, an upgraded room, bonus points from the hotel, bonus points from the current hilton promotion, and got the $250 resort statement credit. In one weekend I basically made up the annual fee. (And on top of that came close to meeting my minimum spend for the 150,000 point sub)

So you can pursue the lower-to-higher tier bonus chasing if you want, but I say go for the Aspire (now, or when you are credit-eligible) as soon as possible if you're travel goal is to spend some time in the Hilton portfolio for a while.

[Anonymous]

I Like the way Janus put this:

"This should be the time when you look at your CR to find out where it can be improved, and maybe even gardening time"

Others have made simuliar statements. Amex will let you know when they think you are ready through their "pre-approval" answer,  on the current member "apply button".

Personally I was deneid or an Everyday and Lucky enough to approved for the green card. My take away from what Amex is telling me is.

Your good enough to get a lower tier card but slow down. Take care of your last card balance, spend some time as a new Amex member.

As difficult and as frustrating as it is. I want the Gold card. I want the 4x points I want to get the welcome bonus.

But I am not ready to use it for traveling and the rest of it's benifits. because I need to pay-off one last balance.

I am not ready to spend 4k to get the welcome bonus. I need to use it to pay-off my last card balance.

There will be a time when it's paid off and I can truely take advantage of the Gold card and then the Platinum.

But for now I will take care of my balance, tend my garden, and  I will keep clicking the preapproval-link and let Amex tell me when I'm ready.