Amex Platinum- 100k sign up bonus

[Anonymous]

Just checked pre-qual on amex and it shows platinum for 100k points, that sure seems like a lot. Has anyone seen higher? Is this better than the southwest card with companion card

[Anonymous]

100k on Amex plat is the highest, it's also a white whale, everyone tries to get it but if you're already with Amex it seems nigh impossible to get. I'd jump on it.

Southwest pass depends on if you'd use the Southwest pass lol. If so then yeah but if not it's a waste or just means forcing yourself to buy flights just to use it

[jdbkiang]

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@Anonymous wrote:
100k on Amex plat is the highest, it's also a white whale, everyone tries to get it but if you're already with Amex it seems nigh impossible to get. I'd jump on it.

Southwest pass depends on if you'd use the Southwest pass lol. If so then yeah but if not it's a waste or just means forcing yourself to buy flights just to use it

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Are there actual DP's for the 100K being harder for existing Amex cardholders than for new Amex members? 

As far as OP's question, I'd take the Amex Plat first. The CP isn't nearly as difficult to get if you're under 5/24. 

[Anonymous]

Well, I can't seem to get it no matter how much I check, but my mom found it in 1 try when I told her to check cardmatch when I heard it was active. I had at least 4 Amex cards at the time, she has 0. Also a lot of people around here with Amex cards can't seem to get it, even though/if they're savvy about this kind of stuff. That said, I don't recall having heard of anyone who is already established with Amex that was able to get it.

[Anonymous]

Appreciate the replies. Yah I feel like if I got the southwest card and got the companion pass I would force flights and sometimes even with companion pass, I wonder if southwest is cheaper.  Platinum is 5x on any airline purchase where southwest is 2x.  $149 vs $550.  Not that it matters but clearly a platinum feels "cooler", but no reason to get the card.  I was surprised by the 100,000 points. I don't know what that equates to, I imagine $1000?  I guess can do platinum and get the $200 airline credit via gift cards then if I don't use it, switch to gold after a year?

[sdsoccerdad]

I don't have the southwest card but have the platinum.  It's totally worth the 100K offer if you travel.  This and the Aspire are probably tthe most useful that I own.

[Shadowfactor]

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@jdbkiang wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:
100k on Amex plat is the highest, it's also a white whale, everyone tries to get it but if you're already with Amex it seems nigh impossible to get. I'd jump on it.

Southwest pass depends on if you'd use the Southwest pass lol. If so then yeah but if not it's a waste or just means forcing yourself to buy flights just to use it

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Are there actual DP's for the 100K being harder for existing Amex cardholders than for new Amex members? 

As far as OP's question, I'd take the Amex Plat first. The CP isn't nearly as difficult to get if you're under 5/24. 

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The 100K offer is normally associated with a prequalified offer. Since Amex knows who their card members are, and many people report not getting as good as welcome offers unless in incognito once a card holder. This leads me to believe it’s harder but not impossible.

OP

How much would you use the SWA companion pass ? 

A good average value for Membership rewards points are 2 Cents per point. So that 100K offer is worth $2,000. Even if you got a statement credit (horrible redemption) it’s worth $600.

[FinStar]

OP, as mentioned above, that is the highest offer available AFAIK. I would personally take that AmEx 100K SUB over SW (unless you want both). If you forego the AmEx SUB, there's no telling when (and if) it can be triggered again. My .02¢.

[Anonymous]

I did not know it was $0.02 per a point. That seems really good. I assume points can be redeemed for free airfare.  We typically fly Delta. We have a trip to Michigan, trip to London (already purchased delta tickets), trip to California, trip to Hawaii, and trip to Tennessee this year. Thats why on first blush the southwest card seemed like a great option for the companion pass, but then again Southwest to Hawaii isn't official and would need it for November.  I would likely add wife as AU on either card.  

I have heard that with the amex platinum you can buy 4 $50 delta gift cards and get statement credit for that.  

[Anonymous]

The value of MR will depends on how you redeem it, and if you transfer it to airline, which airline you use, where are you flying to, and what class ticket you are buying.

Cash redemption is the worst, 0.6cpp. Gift card can be higher, up to 1cpp. Flying economy is better, 1.2 to 1.7cpp. Flying business, international can yield 2+cpp.

If you fly delta, you will be hard pressed to get anything over 1.7cpp. Probably average around 1.3-1.5.