Strategy to obtain US Amex

[timmy1234]

Yes, I recently had a similar experience. This is my 3rd Hilton card via GT. Points and a free night, with spend. Approval was immediate, but when I phoned to have delivery expedited, it was a no-go. It’s coming up to the 10 day mark, but will wait a bit longer to see how things go at MyUS. This card (Surpass), being non-top tier, and being delivered by the USPS, may not pass through the MyUS system.

When you say 3rd card with GT, did you do the onine application and then called Amex or Did the application over the phone. My P2, does not have a SSN like me but has 2 Cards (Marriott Brilliant and Green Card) which are nearly 6 month apart. She has already received her FICO score. Just wanted to know the best way to apply.
PS: Her online application for the 2nd card got declined and she had to call Amex to get it approved.
When you guys are saying Amex to Express post...is to to MyUS or Oz?

 

[DC3]

When you say 3rd card with GT, did you do the onine application and then called Amex or Did the application over the phone …

I have done 3 x GT, all on-line, none by phone:

Early 2020: Aspire
Mid-2021: Hilton Honors
Early 2022: Surpass card

As long as GT continues to work for me, then I will probably stick to that method. I do not have a SSN and am waiting on an ITIN to be processed. I may try for a US charge card at some point.

Also, the issuing of ITINs seems to be all over the place. Some are being processed within a couple of months but a Certified Acceptance Agent has recently informed me that others are taking months longer.

 

[http_x92]

When you say 3rd card with GT, did you do the onine application and then called Amex or Did the application over the phone. My P2, does not have a SSN like me but has 2 Cards (Marriott Brilliant and Green Card) which are nearly 6 month apart. She has already received her FICO score. Just wanted to know the best way to apply.
PS: Her online application for the 2nd card got declined and she had to call Amex to get it approved.
When you guys are saying Amex to Express post...is to to MyUS or Oz?

Going the myUS route. They said the replacement can be sent with priority mail. I know its possible to do with OZ but may require some extra work.

 

[DC3]

There are reports upthread that after waiting 10 days, contact Amex, who will then send a replacement card to an Oz address, by express courier. Reason: “I am holidaying in Oz, currently”.

Edit: See post # 2461/# 2527 for example

 

[http_x92]

The Hilton free night reward certainly has an advantage even if its only limited to standard room rewards. You can redeem it even at Waldorf Astoria and LXR properties where even standard rooms might cost upwards of $1000 USD.

Even the most expensive property (which is the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi) is eligible for it, but there is only a few days with standard room reward availability.

 

[timmy1234]

The Hilton free night reward certainly has an advantage even if its only limited to standard room rewards. You can redeem it even at Waldorf Astoria and LXR properties where even standard rooms might cost upwards of $1000 USD.

Even the most expensive property (which is the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi) is eligible for it, but there is only a few days with standard room reward availability.

I agree with your valuation to an extent. However if you dont have holidays plan where you could use ur certificates, you would be forced to use it at hotels with lower valuation

 

[sudoer]

A bit of info for anyone forwarding from MyUS via Fedex Intl Connect...

The tracking number provided by MyUS doesn't work on the Fedex US homepage, and the MyUS site itself only shows limited tracking info, so I did a bit of digging. Aftership suggested the tracking number was in "P2P TrakPak" format. Google led me to www.trackmytrakpak.com which forwards to fcbtracking.fedex.com and this page does recognise the tracking number from MyUS. This page shows info about the parcel location which is missing from the MyUS tracking page, and also has a "View More Tracking button"...




..which opens another carrier's tracking page with a completely different tracking number. In my case the other carrier is Dai Post. I understood International Connect is supposed to use different "final mile" providers but I'd expected this to mean TNT or another courier after the package reaches Sydney, rather than it being handed off to a cheaper logistics company while still in the US! Anyway the Dai Post site words the tracking events slightly different so it can help to look at both pages to understand where your package is.



Let's see how long it takes to leave ORD... will definitely opt for DHL for my next card..

 

[nj12]

When you say 3rd card with GT, did you do the onine application and then called Amex or Did the application over the phone. My P2, does not have a SSN like me but has 2 Cards (Marriott Brilliant and Green Card) which are nearly 6 month apart. She has already received her FICO score. Just wanted to know the best way to apply.
PS: Her online application for the 2nd card got declined and she had to call Amex to get it approved.
When you guys are saying Amex to Express post...is to to MyUS or Oz?

I have two hilton cards via GT over a 12 month period. The first was an instant approval and second had to call amex. I had both cards (surpass and no annual fee) expedited to Australia and both arrived via DHL. This could be done only after waiting 10 days despite trying both times to have it sent earlier. There appears to be no way around this 10 day period but after that the process is quite easy and card arrived within 7 days. It's also worth noting that Amex doesn't change your myus or other us address on your account after sending it to OZ so no issues there either.

 

[DC3]

… There appears to be no way around this 10 day period but after that the process is quite easy and card arrived within 7 days. It's also worth noting that Amex doesn't change your myus or other us address on your account after sending it to OZ so no issues there either.

I’m at 10 days now, waiting for the Surpass. I’ll wait until next week as MyUS is sometimes pretty slow at updating my suite. I’ve had other non-courier mail sent through without any problems, but I know that there’s no guarantee and it may end up being RTS or possibly trashed.

It seems that a phone call to Amex may be necessary to reissue to Oz, as I haven’t seen how to do this via their web page.

 

[nj12]

I’m at 10 days now, waiting for the Surpass. I’ll wait until next week as MyUS is sometimes pretty slow at updating my suite. I’ve had other non-courier mail sent through without any problems, but I know that there’s no guarantee and it may end up being RTS or possibly trashed.

It seems that a phone call to Amex may be necessary to reissue to Oz, as I haven’t seen how to do this via their web page.

I managed to get the premium+mail subscription for myUS but the no annual fee hilton didn't appear in my suite so after 10 days I called amex and had it reissued to Oz. Can't hurt to wait a little longer to see if it shows up but I think you do have to call if you want it sent to OZ. I also couldn't see another way to do it. Tried live chat but they said to call.

 

[DC3]

I managed to get the premium+mail subscription for myUS …

Probably about 12 months ago, I sent a notarised USPS Form 1583 to MyUS by ordinary mail. I followed up and they confirmed receipt, and it just needs me to activate the Premium+Mail subscription. My hesitation (apart from the cost) was that I’d since heard that my Suite # would be changed (and contain the letter M, for mail), so I’ve held off as I’m not keen on what amounts to changing suites at the same street address, in case that drew any unnecessary attention. Maybe it wouldn’t make a difference to make the change, although I would probably prefer to move from Sarasota if I activated the new subscription.

 

[desafinado74]

Just some general questions about the Hilton Aspire card :

1) What qualifies as eligible purchases ? (Where we need to spend $4000 to get the 150k Hilton points)

2) Do you all use the card often in Australia ? (To buy groceries , pay for petrol etc) I know the card has no foreign transaction fees, but i am not sure if it will be more expensive to use the card for everyday purchases here.

3) How do you all activate the Priority Pass membership which comes with the card ?

4) And do you have to enter a PIN if you spend over a certain amount with the Tap and Go terminals here ?

 

[timmy1234]

Answer inline
1) Literally yes except gamling, cash withdrawal (check the T&C of the card),
2) I have Amex and other cards, I use it as my Australian cards
3) I dont have the Hilton Aspire but the Marriott Bonvoy my Mrs has. Login into your Amex profile, you should see multiple tabs...one of them is benefit section. You just need to press enroll. This is a similar look like the Oz Amex card
4) I have done big purchases online (Like above 5k on my hilton Biz card) but not at Merchant (usually $250 to buy Gift card at Coles/Woolies). I did not have to enter the pin. So Not sure for large purchase

 

[tlam]

Just some general questions about the Hilton Aspire card :

1) What qualifies as eligible purchases ? (Where we need to spend $4000 to get the 150k Hilton points)

2) Do you all use the card often in Australia ? (To buy groceries , pay for petrol etc) I know the card has no foreign transaction fees, but i am not sure if it will be more expensive to use the card for everyday purchases here.

3) How do you all activate the Priority Pass membership which comes with the card ?

4) And do you have to enter a PIN if you spend over a certain amount with the Tap and Go terminals here ?

1. Any transactions in Aus should qualify for the purchase even ATO transactions.
2. No, I use the Green card more often on dinning, hotels, and transport to get 3 points, other purchases will be on my Plat charge.
3. Go to membership tab, to go benefits and activate there.
4. You will never have to enter PIN, but you will have to sign for the invoices/receipts.

 

[blacksultan]

Just some general questions about the Hilton Aspire card :

1) What qualifies as eligible purchases ? (Where we need to spend $4000 to get the 150k Hilton points)

2) Do you all use the card often in Australia ? (To buy groceries , pay for petrol etc) I know the card has no foreign transaction fees, but i am not sure if it will be more expensive to use the card for everyday purchases here.

3) How do you all activate the Priority Pass membership which comes with the card ?

4) And do you have to enter a PIN if you spend over a certain amount with the Tap and Go terminals here ?

2) why would it be more expensive ?

4) can’t use a PIN except at atm . Will need to sign when required .

 

[albyd]

PIN at purchase is a minor inconvenience.

I use my card exclusively with ApplePay at point of sale so haven’t needed to sign.

 

[sudoer]

why would it be more expensive ?

I would assume they are questioning the actual exchange rate Amex use for AUD transactions being converted to USD on the statement.

There is also the very small cost incurred from paying the USD bill with AUD, although with Transferwise I think it works out to about 0.5% depending on exactly how much is being converted. @DC3 could you confirm your lived experience on either?

 

[DC3]

I would assume they are questioning the actual exchange rate Amex use for AUD transactions being converted to USD on the statement.

There is also the very small cost incurred from paying the USD bill with AUD, although with Transferwise I think it works out to about 0.5% depending on exactly how much is being converted. @DC3 could you confirm your lived experience on either?

My recent Wise fee was 0.45% for AUD700 to USD. The Wise currency conversion rate is pretty much spot on.

The Amex statement is in USD, and paid from my Wise USD account.

 

[desafinado74]

Thank you all for the helpful replies.

 

[leyy]

A bit of info for anyone forwarding from MyUS via Fedex Intl Connect...

The tracking number provided by MyUS doesn't work on the Fedex US homepage, and the MyUS site itself only shows limited tracking info, so I did a bit of digging. Aftership suggested the tracking number was in "P2P TrakPak" format. Google led me to www.trackmytrakpak.com which forwards to fcbtracking.fedex.com and this page does recognise the tracking number from MyUS. This page shows info about the parcel location which is missing from the MyUS tracking page, and also has a "View More Tracking button"...


View attachment 271297

..which opens another carrier's tracking page with a completely different tracking number. In my case the other carrier is Dai Post. I understood International Connect is supposed to use different "final mile" providers but I'd expected this to mean TNT or another courier after the package reaches Sydney, rather than it being handed off to a cheaper logistics company while still in the US! Anyway the Dai Post site words the tracking events slightly different so it can help to look at both pages to understand where your package is.

View attachment 271298

Let's see how long it takes to leave ORD... will definitely opt for DHL for my next card..

thanks for the update.

I have similar issue with Fed Intl Connect, will use DHL Express next time.

My card was sent out on 02.02.2022 from MyUS and it is in the same location as your card!!