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Amex is 0.833 cents a point and Visa/MasterCard are 0.48 cents so they are 75% out of my Game (if you get a real point per dollar on Visa/MasterCard and a point and a half on Amex)
You can make 100,480 points for $480 today on Visa/MasterCard versus about 100,833 points for $833 on the best point and a half Amex cards.
Now let me think which one would one use.........??...
The answer depends on how many points you have access to.
As I am able to claim tax deduction on the fees, the ~ costs per point are:
| Visa/Mastercard 1 pp$ | 0.3¢ & |
| Amex 1½ pp$ | 0.5¢ |
Since I do not have the turnover of others, I might put no more than $50,000 through the ATO to generate 50K points per year at a cost of $150 against $325 for 75K.
Now it comes down to what a point may be worth. In my opinion, the more one has up until, say, 300K, the greater their individual worth as part of the collective.
Consider Qantas FF points.
If one has:
1 point: it's not worth a 'brass razoo'!
25,000 points: may be able to redeem them for $300 worth of airfare. (3 x MEL-SYD economy)
50,000 points then $2000 value (MEL-BNE return in Business)
75,000 points then $3200 (MEL-DRW return in business)
150,000 points then $7100 (CBR-LAX return in Business)
200,000 points then $9200 (ADL-LAX return Business)
300,000 points then $17200 (MEL-LAX return in First class)
The trend is there and while there can a few be other examples that buck it there are a lot more that support it.
So, in my circumstance it is likely that those additional 25K points can be worth well more than 10¢ each since they effectivly increase any overall redemption value I may get. This makes the Amex a better proposition for me.
Of course, if one has access to that 300K+ points per year, the Visa/Mastercard would generally be better value.
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