PC Amex Zync to Green or Gold?

[Anonymous]

Ive only had zync customer service experience through my friend who called when he was over. He was on hold for 21 min to see if they could remove his hard limit of $1500. After the wait they came back with a simple "no".

[afbar1114]

i am wondering if i should just go for green...but when i think of it zync still makes more sense it seems you can get alot more points

[Open123]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I would say it makes the most sense to stay with zync then. Points from gold will be pretty much worthless if you dont travel as you can already redeem for everything else with zync.

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If one doesn't utilize frequent flyer mile programs, there is NO difference between MR and MR Experss points.

In my view, either redeem for vendor gift cards or transfer to frequent flyers.  

Anything else such as statement credit, amazon redemption, Amex Gift Card, or using the points to pay for travel (only possible exception being MR First 20% discount at double the points, which makes it a better deal than Expedia, which is what Amex's travel site uses) is a huge rip off.

[bichonmom]

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@Open123 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I would say it makes the most sense to stay with zync then. Points from gold will be pretty much worthless if you dont travel as you can already redeem for everything else with zync.

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If one doesn't utilize frequent flyer mile programs, there is NO difference between MR and MR Experss points.

In my view, either redeem for vendor gift cards or transfer to frequent flyers.  

Anything else such as statement credit, amazon redemption, Amex Gift Card, or using the points to pay for travel (only possible exception being MR First 20% discount at double the points, which makes it a better deal than Expedia, which is what Amex's travel site uses) is a huge rip off.

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Yeah, I was surprised and disappointed when I calculated the rewards "value" if the points are redeemed for Amex cash card. The only thing that makes sense is to redeem for a merchant gift card, like B&N or a restaurant gift card, etc. That's one thing that I really don't care for with their rewards program.

[jamesdwi]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@pizzadude wrote:
I agree ~ I'll apply for a new charge card before I ever attempt to upgrade my ZYNC. Having the backdated card open is worth the lowly $25 AF, and it will pay for itself anyway with promotions like small biz Saturday, etc....

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Also if you do app and get approved for green and then cancle zync, zync should still report the backdated year for 10 years.

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+1 

[Open123]

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@bichonmom wrote:

Yeah, I was surprised and disappointed when I calculated the rewards "value" if the points are redeemed for Amex cash card. The only thing that makes sense is to redeem for a merchant gift card, like B&N or a restaurant gift card, etc. That's one thing that I really don't care for with their rewards program.

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The only rewards program that I know of which allows for 1 cent/point redemption is Chase UR.  

With AmEx's MR, the value is really when transferring to frequent flyers.  MR points don't expire, transfer instantly, and has more airline partners than any other program. Even then, to get anything of value, you need at least 60k MR points for a business class flight.  The best way to utilize MR points is to have several airlines you use, and move the points to take advantage of special deals.  For instance, ANA has special on a business upgrade to Asia, but you're 15,000 ANA points short.  Instead of buying them, you can make an instant transfer from your MR account to secure the ticket.

Or, last year, when there was a 100% when transferring MR to British Airways.  I moved 30k MR points to get 60k BA miles.  Then, there was a special on a business class flight to London for 60k miles.  So, this seat which retails for about $1,800 was had for 30,000 MR points, which is a much higher conversion than any cash back card could ever match.

There are countless ways to maximize MR points, if redeemed opportunistically for off peak travel.  But, they all ential airlines.  MR points are substandard when it comes to anything else.

[Cdnewmanpac]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@afbar1114 wrote:

yea i dont travel at all and if i do its in the states and i drive.. i would like a BCP but thats in 3/13 if i can hold out on apping

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I would say it makes the most sense to stay with zync then. Points from gold will be pretty much worthless if you dont travel as you can already redeem for everything else with zync.

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If I did the math right, I think you have to do more than travel to make green/gold worth it vs zync: you need to travel frequently, on multiple airlines and/or internationally. Most people dont do those things enough tomoffset the af. I plan to purchase the restaurant pack and use zync for restaurants and groceries only (both neighborhood grocers are on Eco pack list). Everything else goes on southwest card. >90% of my flights are on sw and any money I could run through green, for example, would be money not run through sw card. Conversion to gift cards is fine with me, as I'm only likely to put 4k or so a year through zync.

[Open123]

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@Cdnewmanpac wrote:
If I did the math right, I think you have to do more than travel to make green/gold worth it vs zync: you need to travel frequently, on multiple airlines and/or internationally. Most people dont do those things enough tomoffset the af. I plan to purchase the restaurant pack and use zync for restaurants and groceries only (both neighborhood grocers are on Eco pack list). Everything else goes on southwest card. >90% of my flights are on sw and any money I could run through green, for example, would be money not run through sw card. Conversion to gift cards is fine with me, as I'm only likely to put 4k or so a year through zync.

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In my view, the ONLY scenario where it makes sense for a non-traveler to app for a Gold and up series is when the first year's fee is waived along with a 25k or more bonus points.  Then, before the next year's fees are due, either cancel or downgrade to a Zync or Green (if they offer the $30/year).

Edit - PS - Without signup bonsues or spending acclerator/bonsues, unless you spend tons of money--at $1 per MR point--it'll take at least $60,000 spent for enough MR points (60k) to get anything of substantial value through the program.  The strength of the MR program isn't really the value of a point per se, but the bonuses involved in amassing those points, such as sign up bonsues, spending bonuses, and threshold bonuses.  Without these bonuses--unless you're a really big spender--the annual fees will just negate whatever points you might earn through 1$ per point spending.

[bichonmom]

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@Open123 wrote:

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@Cdnewmanpac wrote:
If I did the math right, I think you have to do more than travel to make green/gold worth it vs zync: you need to travel frequently, on multiple airlines and/or internationally. Most people dont do those things enough tomoffset the af. I plan to purchase the restaurant pack and use zync for restaurants and groceries only (both neighborhood grocers are on Eco pack list). Everything else goes on southwest card. >90% of my flights are on sw and any money I could run through green, for example, would be money not run through sw card. Conversion to gift cards is fine with me, as I'm only likely to put 4k or so a year through zync.

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In my view, the ONLY scenario where it makes sense for a non-traveler to app for a Gold and up series is when the first year's fee is waived along with a 25k or more bonus points.  Then, before the next year's fees are due, either cancel or downgrade to a Zync or Green (if they offer the $30/year).

Edit - PS - Without signup bonsues or spending acclerator/bonsues, unless you spend tons of money--at $1 per MR point--it'll take at least $60,000 spent for enough MR points (60k) to get anything of substantial value through the program.  The strength of the MR program isn't really the value of a point per se, but the bonuses involved in amassing those points, such as sign up bonsues, spending bonuses, and threshold bonuses.  Without these bonuses--unless you're a really big spender--the annual fees will just negate whatever points you might earn through 1$ per point spending.

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@Anonymous really clarifies it. Actually one of the things that peaked my interest in the gold card was the 25k bonus points! I think that plan makes sense: app when there's a good promo, and then downgrade at the end of the year. And go ahead and keep the Zync @ $25 a year. Hopefully Amex doesn't raise their eyebrows when someone has more than 3 of their cards!

[Open123]

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@bichonmom wrote:

@Anonymous really clarifies it. Actually one of the things that peaked my interest in the gold card was the 25k bonus points! I think that plan makes sense: app when there's a good promo, and then downgrade at the end of the year. And go ahead and keep the Zync @ $25 a year. Hopefully Amex doesn't raise their eyebrows when someone has more than 3 of their cards!

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There you go!

That's maximizing the value of MR points.  Or, wait and see if the 50k sign-up promo comes up.  Unless directly targeted, upgrading will exclude you from the promo bonuses.  With AmEx--all things being equal--it's always better to apply for a new card through a promo link, and then add it to your account profile.