Best Revolving Amex CC????

[daytrade5]

Currently I am gardening, but would like to upgrade my Amex Zync in about 8-12 months to a revolving CC with Amex. My question is which CC do you guys think is the best? I was thinking about applying for the Amex Blue Cash, Clear, or the Starwoods. Any suggestions based on experience (cli’s, rewards, credit score upon approval, etc..)? Also, I would probably close my Zync account if approved for a revolving CC, would Amex have a fuss about that?

[Walt_K]

What kind of rewards are you interested in and how much money do you run through the card? 

If you like to travel and value staying in nicer hotels, the Starwood card is great.  The cash and points redemption for hotels is one of the better values for the card.  You can also use it to top off airline miles programs that you don't fly frequently enough to earn an award. For example, say you have 19000 AA miles.  They're fairly useless.  But you could transfer your starpoints to get up to 25K so you can redeem a roundtrip domestic ticket (although it's a better value when you transfer starpoints in 20K increments because you then get a 5K bonus on the transfer).

If you don't travel that much, you're probably better off with Blue Cash or Clear.

Also, if you have a lot of MR Express points in your Zync account, if you upgrade to a Green or Gold card, they become regular MR points which can be transferred to frequent flier miles.  I believe Gold card still waives fee for first year, so you might want to look at that option if you have a lot of points saved up.

Finally, you said upgrade your Zync to a revolver.  I think you were using upgrade in a general sense, but just to be sure, you can't upgrade (i.e., product change) from a charge product to a CC.  You'll have to fill out a new app.  I don't think Amex will care if you close down your Zync after you get a revolving product.

[daytrade5]

---

@Walt_K wrote:

What kind of rewards are you interested in and how much money do you run through the card? 

If you like to travel and value staying in nicer hotels, the Starwood card is great.  The cash and points redemption for hotels is one of the better values for the card.  You can also use it to top off airline miles programs that you don't fly frequently enough to earn an award. For example, say you have 19000 AA miles.  They're fairly useless.  But you could transfer your starpoints to get up to 25K so you can redeem a roundtrip domestic ticket (although it's a better value when you transfer starpoints in 20K increments because you then get a 5K bonus on the transfer).

If you don't travel that much, you're probably better off with Blue Cash or Clear.

Also, if you have a lot of MR Express points in your Zync account, if you upgrade to a Green or Gold card, they become regular MR points which can be transferred to frequent flier miles.  I believe Gold card still waives fee for first year, so you might want to look at that option if you have a lot of points saved up.

Finally, you said upgrade your Zync to a revolver.  I think you were using upgrade in a general sense, but just to be sure, you can't upgrade (i.e., product change) from a charge product to a CC.  You'll have to fill out a new app.  I don't think Amex will care if you close down your Zync after you get a revolving product.

---

Thanks walt_k.... Honestly i'm looking for the best card that offers great rewards on common purchases (gas, dining, shopping) with a great points system. I'll probably run about 1k-2k a month thru my card. I don't get a chance to travel much, so I guess the Starwoods card is out. Looks like i'll probably go with the Blue Cash, no annual fee & it offers rewards. I understand that I will actually have to apply for this card, do you think Amex will hard pull me for that if i'm already an Amex cardholder?

[jefftca925]

Amex will hard pull for the new card on EX.  From what you spend per month, the Blue Cash would be the best card for you.  Good luck!

[cdtotten]

Yes, they will usually pull hard. You are applying for a new card, not a product change.

[daytrade5]

---

@jefftca925 wrote:

Amex will hard pull for the new card on EX.  From what you spend per month, the Blue Cash would be the best card for you.  Good luck!

---

Darn, I was hoping they would only soft pull me....Lol. This brings up another question (if you don't mind), would it be better to just keep my Zync then? What advantages would I have with the Blue Cash over the Zync (other than the obvious rewards points)?  

[Anonymous]

Look at Costco TrueEarnings Amex.

Cash backs:

3% on restaurants

3% on gas up to $3000/yr, then 1%

2% on travel

1% on everything else

[daytrade5]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Look at Costco TrueEarnings Amex.

Cash backs:

3% on restaurants

3% on gas up to $3000/yr, then 1%

2% on travel

1% on everything else

---

Thanks, note taken. I’m not really a Costco shopper though, is this like a Super Target or Sam’s Club? Will I get great discounts as a card member there? That 3% on restaurants would be ideal!

[Walt_K]

---

@daytrade5 wrote:

---

@jefftca925 wrote:

Amex will hard pull for the new card on EX.  From what you spend per month, the Blue Cash would be the best card for you.  Good luck!

---

Darn, I was hoping they would only soft pull me....Lol. This brings up another question (if you don't mind), would it be better to just keep my Zync then? What advantages would I have with the Blue Cash over the Zync (other than the obvious rewards points)?  

---

I don't have either card, but my impression is Blue Cash has the better cash redemption option and no annual fee. 

[Anonymous]

It's a-la Sam's club. You get 1% cash back from Costco purchases and Costco's annual fee ($50) is waived.

You can get 5% rewards for restaurants from Citi Forward, but it's pretty much 1% for everything else.