You should be aware that this is a really, really, (really, really, really) difficult card to get.
If you want to get in with AmEx, and your history is kind of short, and you don't have a burning need to carry balances, take a look at one of their charge cards. I have the Gold Rewards Plus, no fee the first year. They have a chance to get familiar with you and have group hugs all around. They offered me the option to carry balances after 3 months (ummm, no thanks), so they apparently trust me a little.
With AmEx, you can apply for additional cards in subsequent years, and (if you get them) they will show the month that you applied, but the year that you got your very first AmEx. So if you got a Gold (or Green) card now, app'd for Blue or whatever next January and got it, it would show an opening date of January 2008 instead of Jan 2009, saving you the new account ding. Then cancel the charge card before you have to pay a fee.
That's my plan --Blue and/or HHonors in January, then cancel the Gold in late Feb before the membership fee hits.
* Credit is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. * Who's the boss --you or your credit?
FICO's: EQ 781 - TU 793 - EX 779 (from PSECU) - Done credit hunting; having fun with credit gardening. - EQ 590 on 5/14/2007
