Strategy to obtain US Amex

[shadowwalker91]

Will Amex still ask for address verification for the 2nd Amex card applied?

Thinking of applying for Marriott Business Card with no ITIN

 

[blacksultan]

Will Amex still ask for address verification for the 2nd Amex card applied?

Thinking of applying for Marriott Business Card with no ITIN

They can ask . Existing Amex cards with same address are not accepted as proof of address .

 

[mrsquare]

Will Amex still ask for address verification for the 2nd Amex card applied?

Thinking of applying for Marriott Business Card with no ITIN

Didn’t think you could apply for a Business card with no ITIN though?

 

[nomad2000]

Didn’t think you could apply for a Business card with no ITIN though?

I don't think you can do it online, however you might be able to call AmEx new accounts team and explain your situation and your business and they might be able to help
I don't recommend it though cause it'd make it more difficult to approve

 

[Igreen]

Has anyone paid for a Qantas Hotels booking using a US Amex which has a multiplier for airline spend?

I recently made a booking on my Aus Amex, and afterwards noticed in my Excel statement that it was classified as Travel & Transport - Airline. It even had a 081 'ticket number' where the Xs were my Qantas Hotels reference.

View attachment 310715

If this works the way I think it might, it could be a good way to generate some serious points (e.g. 3x QFF + 7x Hilton) if you are booking properties that don't participate in loyalty programs, or if you don't need the status nights/elite benefits.

However you wont get a hotel status nights or perks as a tiered member. I only book through Qantas to use my $100 voucher I get as part of the Qantas club Plus

 

[glasszon]

I am heading to the US early next year, is there a checklist on what would be a nice-to-have things to do while in the US to help with the Amex US account?

I am thinking about picking up a local SIM card to replace TextNow and perhaps sign up for a cheque account with a non-HSBC bank in-person.

 

[QF_Flyer]

They only have a PIN facility for ATM withdrawals. None for purchases.

And it is fairly common for Amex USA to lock cards with overseas spend. Yes it won't happen to everyone, but it happens very regularly. Look at any Amex forum — Reddit, FlyerTalk, etc etc.

The only US card issuer that is uniformly worse is Citibank, which is notorious for their fraud locks. Barclays can also be a bit trigger happy. Chase & BoA tend to be pretty good.

Interesting, I actually have a cash limit listed on my statement, but have no idea what my PIN is. Not that I'd use it for cash anyway. But having recently used it in Samoa actually I got chip errors and had to swipe and sign all the time, which is fine, just a bit 2005 haha. Obviously just never noticed in Australia, because I tap or insert and it just approves (or use Apple Pay), and online you don't use a PIN of course.

And yes fair point re the locks, maybe I'll get it eventually and have just been lucky so far. I guess with the absence of chip and PIN they have to be a bit more trigger happy. I thought I had been after my rental car company in Fiji (the same day as paying my hotel bill in Samoa) kept declining, but I've used it again since with no intervention, it was just that one transaction strangely (ironically I got a speeding fine, which the rental company charged to the Amex just fine ).

 

[Igreen]

Interesting, I actually have a cash limit listed on my statement, but have no idea what my PIN is. Not that I'd use it for cash anyway. But having recently used it in Samoa actually I got chip errors and had to swipe and sign all the time, which is fine, just a bit 2005 haha. Obviously just never noticed in Australia, because I tap or insert and it just approves (or use Apple Pay), and online you don't use a PIN of course.

And yes fair point re the locks, maybe I'll get it eventually and have just been lucky so far. I guess with the absence of chip and PIN they have to be a bit more trigger happy. I thought I had been after my rental car company in Fiji (the same day as paying my hotel bill in Samoa) kept declining, but I've used it again since with no intervention, it was just that one transaction strangely (ironically I got a speeding fine, which the rental company charged to the Amex just fine ).

I struggled to use my US CC in Europe to put petrol as most of the gas stations (machines) asked for CC pin. It forced me to go into the Petrol station and prepay the amount. Very frustrating. Called Citi and they sent me the pin after my trip

 

[QF_Flyer]

I struggled to use my US CC in Europe to put petrol as most of the gas stations (machines) asked for CC pin. It forced me to go into the Petrol station and prepay the amount. Very frustrating. Called Citi and they sent me the pin after my trip

Was that pay at pump? I've never used mine at a pay at pump in Europe, and have never come across an Aussie servo with it functional, so haven't had the issue. I have used P@P before though and good point, as there's no other way than PIN, afaik. I wouldn't prepay though, I'd just fill up then pay inside after fuelling (unless there's some issue with that, but I've never had a problem doing that in the UK or Ireland, not sure about the rest of Europe).

 

[mrsquare]

What’s the general approach to retention?

1. Do we have to wait min 12 months before we should ask for a retention offer?
2. Is it better to ask for one before or after the AF posts?
3. Assume we’d then have to keep the card open for another 12 months from retention offer date?
4. Anything else I’m missing?

 

[sudoer]

<removed>

 

[levelnine]

1. Do we have to wait min 12 months before we should ask for a retention offer?
2. Is it better to ask for one before or after the AF posts?
3. Assume we’d then have to keep the card open for another 12 months from retention offer date?
4. Anything else I’m missing?

A few points of sudoer aren't correct in the US context.

You can ask for a retention offer at any time, but the best retention offers are generally given after the annual fee has posted (in the 30 day period after the annual fee posts where you have the option of cancelling for a full refund of the annual fee).

Once you accept a retention offer, you will not be granted another one for 13 months. The 13-month limitation is designed to stop you attaining two for a single annual fee, but there are some data points of people being told they can get a second retention offer precisely 12 months after accepting the first one, so YMMV.

Once you accept a retention offer, you must keep the card open for another 12 months otherwise they will claw back the retention offer. US Amex is very aggressive in clawing back both sign-up and retention offers if you close before the 12 month mark. No exceptions.

 

[sudoer]

Very sorry I thought this was the (Aus) retention thread - didn't realise it was the US Strategy thread

 

[mrsquare]

Thanks for the insights @levelnine. All good sudoer.

Just some queries leading on from what you mentioned levelnine.

If only asking for retention offers after AF posting, and the next earliest being 13 months before next retention offer, does that that take away the option to cancel with AF refund?

On opening a card, can you ask for a retention before 12 months, or is the minimum 12 months from card opening?

 

[Viridis]

I have the Hilton Aspire

Contemplating seeking a ‘product swap’

Looking at the Bonvoy Brilliant. Does anybody have any experience with this? Can I do it online?

Separately, does anybody know what happened to the US Gold Card. Doesn’t seem to be offered anymore. Last review I read of it was dated July 22

 

[mrsquare]

I have the Hilton Aspire

Contemplating seeking a ‘product swap’

Looking at the Bonvoy Brilliant. Does anybody have any experience with this? Can I do it online?

Separately, does anybody know what happened to the US Gold Card. Doesn’t seem to be offered anymore. Last review I read of it was dated July 22

Not sure if you can go from Hilton to Marriott products. Think you can upgrade / downgrade within the same family of cards (I.e., MR charge / credit, Hilton, Marriott etc.).

I’ve noticed that as well, not appearing to show up on the Amex US website, but you can try going via the Resy site which still has the Gold card for 75,000 and 20% back at restaurants as statement credit up to $250 (AF amount) within 12 months. Else, happy to give you a referral for 90k points no statement credit included though unfortunately.

 

[Viridis]

Not sure if you can go from Hilton to Marriott products. Think you can upgrade / downgrade within the same family of cards (I.e., MR charge / credit, Hilton, Marriott etc.).

I’ve noticed that as well, not appearing to show up on the Amex US website, but you can try going via the Resy site which still has the Gold card for 75,000 and 20% back at restaurants as statement credit up to $250 (AF amount) within 12 months. Else, happy to give you a referral for 90k points no statement credit included though unfortunately.

Bummer. Have been a bit disappointed with the product and had a less than stellar experience in Melbourne recently. Notice that the Bonvoy Card now offers Lounge Access and I spend more time in Bonvoy and IHG than I do in Hilton anyway

I subsequently signed in to my account on the laptop (looking on the iPad previously and not signed in) and the Gold Card does appear there.

Now wondering if it is a Charge Card or Credit Card - it comes up when I click on show all Credit Cards but then so does the Platinum.

Thinking that if I can't swap to Bonvoy (or Gold) I may just do another GT and get Gold and close my Hilton

 

[Finale]

What’s the general approach to retention?

1. Do we have to wait min 12 months before we should ask for a retention offer?
2. Is it better to ask for one before or after the AF posts?
3. Assume we’d then have to keep the card open for another 12 months from retention offer date?
4. Anything else I’m missing?

If it's the first year, you should wait 12 months. If it's not the first year and no retention bonus the year before, you can do it earlier so you get the retention bonus 2 or more years in a row. ie Your anniversary date is June. You ask for a retention bonus in early April. The next year you ask in Late May or June whatever makes it over 13 months. Then there might be a chance for the third one the year after. I successfully got it 2 years in a row and going to try again next year after the annual fee posts. Quite curious if I will score this 3 years in a row.

 

[mrsquare]

Bummer. Have been a bit disappointed with the product and had a less than stellar experience in Melbourne recently. Notice that the Bonvoy Card now offers Lounge Access and I spend more time in Bonvoy and IHG than I do in Hilton anyway

I subsequently signed in to my account on the laptop (looking on the iPad previously and not signed in) and the Gold Card does appear there.

Now wondering if it is a Charge Card or Credit Card - it comes up when I click on show all Credit Cards but then so does the Platinum.

Thinking that if I can't swap to Bonvoy (or Gold) I may just do another GT and get Gold and close my Hilton

Was this the Little Queen Street Hilton? I’ve heard some good things about it. Yes, the Brilliant gives Platinum status now, which comes with lounge access. The AF has gone up though and is higher than the Aspire.

Oh that’s good. It is a Charge card. Their public offer come with 90k points too?

 

[Viridis]

Bummer. Have been a bit disappointed with the product and had a less than stellar experience in Melbourne recently. Notice that the Bonvoy Card now offers Lounge Access and I spend more time in Bonvoy and IHG than I do in Hilton anyway

I subsequently signed in to my account on the laptop (looking on the iPad previously and not signed in) and the Gold Card does appear there.

Now wondering if it is a Charge Card or Credit Card - it comes up when I click on show all Credit Cards but then so does the Platinum.

Thinking that if I can't swap to Bonvoy (or Gold) I may just do another GT and get Gold and close my Hilton

Answering my own questions ...

Did a bit of 'Googling' ..... (although nothing on the Amex website)

The Gold Card is a card "with no preset spending limit" so a product swap is not possible

You cannot swap between brands as mrsquare correctly noted.

So, this is going to be more work than I thought