Strategy to obtain US Amex

[cathalm8]

Hi guys, I was wondering what the process is for transferring AU MR points to US MR reward points. How do you initiate this?

I have read upthread this can be done only once per year. Is that once per Jan-Dec period or do you have to wait 12 months to transfer again? thanks

 

[maverick1]

I know a few people have been asking about MS methods in this thread.

So I've been diving down the rabbit hole of MS of US cards over the past 6-9 months. Decided to ramp things up over the past month. Put through $USD55K of spend in the last four weeks, hit all sorts of fraud alerts, triggered a financial review on my wife's account, survived the financial review, earned about ~800K MR/UR & $USD2K in cash profit (ie $AUD15K in tax free money if all the points were cashed out at the lowest 1c/pt valuation). It has been an absolute rollercoaster ride. I do not recommend trying to ramp up at the pace I did! Anyway, still in the midst of it. When it slows down, I will write up a long report with my take away points, but safe to say MS on US cards is well and truly possible sitting from your home in Australia.

Well done! I was looking into it too with BF and upcoming Xmas gifting season there was a huge demand for stuff in past couple of weeks. I'll probably jump in someday....

 

[Franko Costa]

Hi guys, I was wondering what the process is for transferring AU MR points to US MR reward points. How do you initiate this?

I have read upthread this can be done only once per year. Is that once per Jan-Dec period or do you have to wait 12 months to transfer again? thanks

You can do it over chat from your AU account. Have your US details ready. Yes you can do it once per calendar year and the conversion is roughly the AU/US FX rate

 

[blacksultan]

You can do it over chat from your AU account. Have your US details ready. Yes you can do it once per calendar year and the conversion is roughly the AU/US FX rate

I think it’s once per 12 month period .

 

[ithongy]

I know a few people have been asking about MS methods in this thread.

So I've been diving down the rabbit hole of MS of US cards over the past 6-9 months. Decided to ramp things up over the past month. Put through $USD55K of spend in the last four weeks, hit all sorts of fraud alerts, triggered a financial review on my wife's account, survived the financial review, earned about ~800K MR/UR & $USD2K in cash profit (ie $AUD15K in tax free money if all the points were cashed out at the lowest 1c/pt valuation). It has been an absolute rollercoaster ride. I do not recommend trying to ramp up at the pace I did! Anyway, still in the midst of it. When it slows down, I will write up a long report with my take away points, but safe to say MS on US cards is well and truly possible sitting from your home in Australia.

Proceed with caution. Person I knew, said his son did MS on Amex and they halved all credit card limits.

 

[ithongy]

I find the points guy to be too commercialised and focused on churning articles and getting referrals as opposed to actually focusing on points hacking. Sites like Frequent Miler and DoC are much better sources of information for hacking and have actual data points. Just my 2c.

Edit: Frequent Miler does have data points for getting the $10 dining credit by getting a Goldbelly gift card.

Red Ventures bought out The Points Guy.

 

[mrsquare]

Yeah i saw this when I dug a little deeper into their structure. I think Red Venture also owns a few other sites as well don’t they. Looked a while back, could be wrong.

Red Ventures bought out The Points Guy.

 

[maverick1]

Is there a way to add US cards to Apple Pay while you wait for Physical card?
I read that I could link my Amex to Paypal and add paypal as a payment method in Apple Pay but can't seem to make it work...
Any way to use these cards before the Physical card is received?

 

[sudoer]

Is there a way to add US cards to Apple Pay while you wait for Physical card?
I read that I could link my Amex to Paypal and add paypal as a payment method in Apple Pay but can't seem to make it work...
Any way to use these cards before the Physical card is received?

PayPal and Amazon were the only links I could make before the physical card arrived. This was on Android.

 

[maverick1]

PayPal and Amazon were the only links I could make because the physical card arrived. This was on Android.

Thanks...ya...I've it on my Paypal..was hoping to get it on Apple Pay...got big spends coming but the card will only come in like 3 weeks...

 

[BTS_FAN]

Thanks you all!

Update: Amex GT
No ITIN number
1st GT Amex Platinum approved 15 May 2023 (total spent up to date $36,000 and paid off in full, 6 billing cycles)
2nd GT Amex Hilton Surpass approved 22 Nov 2023 ($1,000 CL)

Is this the right credit limit for my 2nd GT? or once I get the card & activate I will see an actual limit?

Thanks you all!

I think I may know why Amex gave me $1k CL on my Hilton Surpass card.
At the time of application I had $20k balance on my Platinum card (the balance are not due until mid December, but I just paid the whole balance off today)

When should I request CLI on the Surpass card? ( I was thinking of requesting once I receive/ activate the card, maybe to 10k? or should I wait)
I like to apply for the Amex Bonvoy Brilliant card, ideally to get the Marriott Platinum status for lounge access suite upgrade 4pm late check out. When should I apply for it? (I was thinking maybe in 3 months time)

Thanks again for all the advise

 

[Tiki]

Is there a way to add US cards to Apple Pay while you wait for Physical card?
I read that I could link my Amex to Paypal and add paypal as a payment method in Apple Pay but can't seem to make it work...
Any way to use these cards before the Physical card is received?

I only have Chase cards on Apple Pay. First the UA card, when I got the CSP there was some kind of link to attach it.

 

[Franko Costa]

I'm having an issue with chase in getting my first card. I've had amex gold and Hilton card since March. I have an ITIN, but chase say that they cannot locate my credit score on their system. I can log into Equifax and see if. I can see it on awardwallet too. On chase's letter it has my credit score.

Question is, is there I can do anything except for wait? I know I can send a letter to Experian but not sure if that will help as I think they will only send back my score. If anyone has had ilthis issue I would love to hear it.

I don't want to apply for C1 (I have a checking account with them) as I am already at 3/24

 

[albyd]

Hi Team,

I'm considering "upgrading" my Bonvoy "Basic" card to the Brilliant as I have some travel coming up and staying at predominantly Marriotts in Fiji and Japan. Thinking the upgrade experience might be "better" if I'm platinum to non-existent as a "gold". Do you guys have any recent DPs on how that might have gone in these jurisdictions?

Still need to get my head around the cost of the Brilliant (effectively $A1,000 at current exchange rates with no SUB). How long does it take for the status to flow through? When I asked Amex, they gave me the standard reply of "8-12 weeks" which if it transpires won't be of any help in my upcoming travels.

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[mattr00]

Hi Team,

I'm considering "upgrading" my Bonvoy "Basic" card to the Brilliant as I have some travel coming up and staying at predominantly Marriotts in Fiji and Japan. Thinking the upgrade experience might be "better" if I'm platinum to non-existent as a "gold". Do you guys have any recent DPs on how that might have gone in these jurisdictions?

Still need to get my head around the cost of the Brilliant (effectively $A1,000 at current exchange rates with no SUB). How long does it take for the status to flow through? When I asked Amex, they gave me the standard reply of "8-12 weeks" which if it transpires won't be of any help in my upcoming travels.

Thanks in advance for your help

Can’t comment on the card upgrade experience, but my account showed Platinum within 24-48hours after approval.

FWIW my room upgrade experience as a Platinum/Titanium in Japan/South Korea in select/“standard” full service hotels have been…lacking

 

[albyd]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll give it some thought. I'm sure I can use the "dining credits" to cover some $$ I would've spent on dining out anyway. Might give this some thought before jumping at it if there aren't likely to be much in the way of upgrades given Platinum sounds almost as plentiful as Gold.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Is there a way to add US cards to Apple Pay while you wait for Physical card?
I read that I could link my Amex to Paypal and add paypal as a payment method in Apple Pay but can't seem to make it work...
Any way to use these cards before the Physical card is received?

Based on this comment I'm guessing you got your Gold Bus approved? I just applied and have been asked to call in. When I check the verification tool online it said:

"Have the following information ready when you call:
HOME ADDRESS"

Just a simple address verification?

Applied for the 150k bonus with 10K spend in 3 months. Unsure whether I'll be able to hit but lets give it a go...

 

[levelnine]

Based on this comment I'm guessing you got your Gold Bus approved? I just applied and have been asked to call in. When I check the verification tool online it said:

"Have the following information ready when you call:
HOME ADDRESS"

Just a simple address verification?

Applied for the 150k bonus with 10K spend in 3 months. Unsure whether I'll be able to hit but lets give it a go...

If you manage to get approved and don't mind juggling a few extra cards, apply for two $0 (not the $50) employee cards using this link: Offer Incentive | American Express US

Each employee card earns 15K MR after $4K spend. It stacks with the sign-up bonus. So put $2K on your main card, $4K on employee 1's card, $4K on employee 2's card & you'll earn 180KMR in total.

You can put yourself down as an employee.

 

[Franko Costa]

If you manage to get approved and don't mind juggling a few extra cards, apply for two $0 (not the $50) employee cards using this link: Offer Incentive | American Express US

Each employee card earns 15K MR after $4K spend. It stacks with the sign-up bonus. So put $2K on your main card, $4K on employee 1's card, $4K on employee 2's card & you'll earn 180KMR in total.

You can put yourself down as an employee.

You are awesome! I will be using this.

I need to find where you find all this stuff

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Based on this comment I'm guessing you got your Gold Bus approved? I just applied and have been asked to call in. When I check the verification tool online it said:

"Have the following information ready when you call:
HOME ADDRESS"

Just a simple address verification?

Applied for the 150k bonus with 10K spend in 3 months. Unsure whether I'll be able to hit but lets give it a go...

An Update: Needed to submit my ITIN and ID for them to review.