Blue from Amex

[marcforza1]

I saw the basic Blue card that Amex has and I assume that's their most basic starter card. Is that a good card to try to get your foot in the door with Amex for the first time? The card I'm really interested in later this year is the Hilton Honors card, which I saw that most people are able to get it with scores close to 640-650 at least.

[Anonymous]

The Blue Cash Everyday? This is one of their core revolvers. The underwriting on those cards are much more stringent. Typically it is easier to get you foot in the door with a charge card, like the gold or green card, or a cobranded card like the gold delta sky miles.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried the pre-qualification tool on the AMEX website? The pre-qualifications that AMEX lists are *usually* pretty solid.

[Anonymous]

I think OP is talking about the card simply called Blue, not BCE/BCP. It’s on the page, a basic 1x MR revolver that definitely would be positioned below BCE/BCP based on the rewards structure.

OP I agree with what’s stated above - Hilton and Delta cards are easier to get than any core Amex card. I got both of them with an upper 630 score as did a couple other guys, but yet others with 650s were denied, so it’s very much profile-dependent.

As for qualifying for Blue, it will also be more exclusive than a cobranded AmEx. I have the two cards in my sig, and in my account I have preapproval for all Hilton and Delta cards as well as Marriott BonVoy, but not for Blue, BCE, BCP or any other core Amex card.

I would wait until you’re over 640 at least and watch the prequal Page. Of note, I had no preapprovals and cold-apped HH and DG and was approved for both but YMMV.

[Save-n-Invest]

I have Blue for several years. I got it because it was a revolver. Seldom use it as cash back is more compatible wth my use now.  It is (or maybe was) possible to use the convered MR rewards to pay for an item on a current statement if the MR to cash conversion equals the exact amount of the charge to the penny. I have not tried that lately so not certain if American Express still offers that.

[longtimelurker]

Also, reconsider the "foot in the door" approach.   Go for the card you want, when you expect to be able to get it.   There is little real evidence that having a foot in the door makes much difference, and you end up with a card you don't really want.

[marcforza1]

Then I'll wait until I'm ready to app for the Hilton Honors card. No pre-approvals or anything like that on their site for me, so I'll just keep checking it each month. I just never noticed that Blue card until just recently and figured it was probably their most basic card.

[Anonymous]

I've also never noticed the blue card until I checked just now. Weird.

[AverageJoesCredit]

"YOU'RE MY BOY , BLUE! YOU'RE MY BLUE!"

[longtimelurker]

Isn't the Everyday better than the Blue in every way?  Both no AF, Blue earns 1MR per $, Everyday has a bonus category (groceries) and with 20 uses a month, earns 1.2MR per $ everywhere else.

And I remember Blue used to be worse, earning MREs rather than MRs, till MREs went away.