Lovin' da AMEX!

[RicHowe]

@oldman87
That's funny right there!

[RicHowe]

One thing I forgot to mention is that by February I'll have accumulated 180k miles with Delta between SUBs and spend.

AMEX FTW!

[SomewhereIn505]

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@RicHowe wrote:

So, I recently applied for some credit cards after shunning them for over 9 years (didn't have one card). I app'd and got the AMEX Delta Platinum and the AMEX Platinum - apparently my scores were okay even after letting my report atrophy for 9 years. Go figure!

@Anonymous I figure I probably need between 3-5 cards according to @Anonymous for optimum scores and I'll probably wait until next April or May before app'ing again to let these new cards age a bit and remove some of the sting of the HPs. I'm thinking of going for the PENFED Gold Visa or Power Cash Rewards VISA Signature® Card. Would these be good ones to get? I'm not a fan of Capital One (although I do have an online checking account with them) or Citibank. JP Morgan Chase would be something I could entertain.

For now i'm loving having the AMEX cards. I'm not sure what the concensus is with everyone around here, but so far AMEX customer service has been nothing short of amazing. I'm taking advantage of all the SUBs and the perks like exclusive offers you can load on the cards. I got credited for $200 in eCerts with Delta, free membership in Priority Pass, free UBER credits, credit for my Global Entry fee. I mean what's not to love about these cards?!

Anyone else share the love of AMEX with me?

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Agreed for you to skip Cap One. I like your idea of PenFed Powed Cash and it should give you a decent SL. Chase would be good too if your under 5/24. I personally wanted a card with each vendor - MC, Visa, Disco, and AmEx. My MC is with Cap One but they’re rebuilder card and I am almost past that point needing them.

[RicHowe]

Yeah not a fan of Capital One.

Didn't they start out years ago as a subprime lender, then cleaned up their act?

[simplynoir]

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@wasCB14 wrote:

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@simplynoir wrote:

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@wasCB14 wrote:

I'll be the dissenting voice.

I really like Platinum for perks (Cent/Delta lounges, concierge, credits), but their limited built-in travel insurance and lack of price protection means I often use a different card.

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+1 I love AMEX but they have some drawbacks that need to be taken into consideration with these being the main ones (other than acceptance which is a given). Still my favorite issuer though.

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I can understand why people like Amex for reimbursable business travel expenses. The customer experience is pretty smooth, and if something goes wrong, it's someone else's money that's lost. All my travel on my own dime, though.

I think they used to offer price protection, but the terms were so flexible they were used in unintended ways and the program ended. I think they also offered travel protection on US-issued Platinums, but stopped including it on new accounts years ago. Not sure if some old cards still have it. Maybe they found travel protection cost them too much, or hoped people would buy not-that-cheap policies for specific trips from them. In other countries, the Platinum AF is higher but travel insurance is often included.

Filing a claim with Citi or Chase isn't always smooth...but at least there's significant protection in place. With Amex, all I've heard of is sympathetic CSRs occasionally issuing a credit for something small if the customer thought it was covered.

It is a bit odd that a company can have such great protections for merchandise problems, but such weak ones for travel problems. By comparison, my $75 Hyatt card comes excellent travel protections and even a renewal night.

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I don't have much experience with reimbursement for business travel except for one time but it was a pleasant experience all around. Think the only complaint that I can recall is how long it took but still refundable travel is money back in the pocket. As for travel protection it's why I finally got the CSR last month for my personal travel (seemed the simplest solution) and debating getting a Citi card for price rewinds. Need to research that more next year.

[Anonymous]

What denominations did you do your delta eCerts

[RicHowe]

4 x $50 for $200 in credits.

[RicHowe]

Update! Still lovin' da AMEX! 

[Gregory1776]

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@RicHowewrote:

Update! Still lovin' da AMEX! 

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What are your credit limits up to ,now?

[HeavenOhio]

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@RicHowewrote:
Yeah not a fan of Capital One.

Didn't they start out years ago as a subprime lender, then cleaned up their act?

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I don't know the history, but I wouldn't equate subprime with the need to clean up one's act. Being subprime doesn't necessarily mean to also be predatory.