Strategy to obtain US Amex

[thilan88]

Guess what everyone?

So I applied through a referal link on the Platinum Charge card with a SUB of 150,000 points.

I put in a dummy SSN on the application.

Amex emailed me to say that my application was declined. I called Amex and spoke to the new accounts department and provided my reference number.

They verified my identity and address and I told them I was an existing card account holder. She asked for my SSN which I said I do not have one as I have just relocated.

They accepted my Passport details as "Foreign ID".

She said your card application has been approved and I received an email confirming this.


View attachment 356667

Guess what everyone?

So I applied through a referal link on the Platinum Charge card with a SUB of 150,000 points.

I put in a dummy SSN on the application.

Amex emailed me to say that my application was declined. I called Amex and spoke to the new accounts department and provided my reference number.

They verified my identity and address and I told them I was an existing card account holder. She asked for my SSN which I said I do not have one as I have just relocated.

They accepted my Passport details as "Foreign ID".

She said your card application has been approved and I received an email confirming this.


View attachment 356667

Were you in US at the time you provide information to them? or Aus ?

 

[sudoer]

Late to the party, but another data point on buying Qantas grape juice with the Aspire.

 

[Baymax]

Recently, I got approved for Chase Marriott and have requested card to be shipped to Oz as some suggested previously. Everything went perfectly until it arrived lately and I tried to activate it on the phone (couldn’t do it on the web / app). I was transferred to Fraud team and they needed to verify me by doing a callback. Unfortunately, none of my $3 T-mobile on file / GV were accepted even though I could receive Chase code on my T-mobile. The fraud team said that it’s the only option available on the system as my relationship with Chase is so new. Any thoughts on how could I proceed? Thanks in advance

 

[Franko Costa]

Does anyone know if the ink biz cash gives 5x in AU office stores like officeworks? I would try but don't have the card (chase doesn't like me yet)

 

[blacksultan]

Recently, I got approved for Chase Marriott and have requested card to be shipped to Oz as some suggested previously. Everything went perfectly until it arrived lately and I tried to activate it on the phone (couldn’t do it on the web / app). I was transferred to Fraud team and they needed to verify me by doing a callback. Unfortunately, none of my $3 T-mobile on file / GV were accepted even though I could receive Chase code on my T-mobile. The fraud team said that it’s the only option available on the system as my relationship with Chase is so new. Any thoughts on how could I proceed? Thanks in advance

From my experience Keep calling multiple times.
Eventually I got someone who could authenticate me by asking random questions to which the answer is always no / never .

 

[levelnine]

Anyone have a recent DP on the current conversion rate for Amex AU MR to Amex US MR? About .66?

My 18 month wait period is up on the Amex AU side and debating whether to go the Qantas Ultimate (100K QF) or Plat card (200K MR). Anyone in a similar position?

Most of the AU Plat benefits are useless as I get them already with my US Plats, so it seems to be a case of whether I think I can get enough out of the Plat's credits ($450 travel + $400 dining + $400 Accor plus some minor ones like Prime, etc) to justify the AF uplift over the Qantas Ultimate ($450 Qantas). Would also get an extra ~33K QFF points if I decided to convert 200K MR to the US and transfer back to Qantas.

P2 is also up for another AU Amex and referral bonus on the Plat seems higher, which is another point in its favour.

 

[thedamon]

Yup Japan was also pretty negligible. Aus and SEA properties have been much nicer to me. I’m waiting for the points sub rather than FNAs to come back before applying for the business card.

My recent experience was 2-5 days for the verification team to complete their checks. If I called in before the 5th day the agent will tell me to wait. When I called in on the 5th day the agent got the documents verified and approved on the phone

Just wanted to say this was spot on. Approval came in at 5 days without me needing to do anything.

 

[Franko Costa]

Anyone have a recent DP on the current conversion rate for Amex AU MR to Amex US MR? About .66?

My 18 month wait period is up on the Amex AU side and debating whether to go the Qantas Ultimate (100K QF) or Plat card (200K MR). Anyone in a similar position?

Most of the AU Plat benefits are useless as I get them already with my US Plats, so it seems to be a case of whether I think I can get enough out of the Plat's credits ($450 travel + $400 dining + $400 Accor plus some minor ones like Prime, etc) to justify the AF uplift over the Qantas Ultimate ($450 Qantas). Would also get an extra ~33K QFF points if I decided to convert 200K MR to the US and transfer back to Qantas.

P2 is also up for another AU Amex and referral bonus on the Plat seems higher, which is another point in its favour.

AU plat is much better. There is a 275k bonus around too. Plat have diff credits that are much easier to use vs the US plat credits, can transfer the MR for even more points (but I don't think you're lacking), and Qantas is rubbish

 

[cathalm8]

Anyone have a recent DP on the current conversion rate for Amex AU MR to Amex US MR? About .66?

My 18 month wait period is up on the Amex AU side and debating whether to go the Qantas Ultimate (100K QF) or Plat card (200K MR). Anyone in a similar position?

Most of the AU Plat benefits are useless as I get them already with my US Plats, so it seems to be a case of whether I think I can get enough out of the Plat's credits ($450 travel + $400 dining + $400 Accor plus some minor ones like Prime, etc) to justify the AF uplift over the Qantas Ultimate ($450 Qantas). Would also get an extra ~33K QFF points if I decided to convert 200K MR to the US and transfer back to Qantas.

P2 is also up for another AU Amex and referral bonus on the Plat seems higher, which is another point in its favour.

I just sent over 254,150 aus MR points and I got 171k MR USA so it was about 0.67.

The Plat seems like the better option. That's what I went for but I don't yet hold the USA Plat. The Amex Qantas card only allows you to spend the 450 on Qantas flights I believe where as the Plat travel credit can be spent on hotels etc.

 

[Tiki]

Does anyone know if the ink biz cash gives 5x in AU office stores like officeworks? I would try but don't have the card (chase doesn't like me yet)

I can't say for that particular Ink card but back in 2014 I had the Ink that got 5x in office supply stores and it worked for Officeworks. I used it to buy gift cards for Coles and do my shopping. I don't think Chase discriminates against overseas category spending like Amex does.

 

[levelnine]

I can't say for that particular Ink card but back in 2014 I had the Ink that got 5x in office supply stores and it worked for Officeworks. I used it to buy gift cards for Coles and do my shopping. I don't think Chase discriminates against overseas category spending like Amex does.

Nice! Do they still sell Coles GCs? That would tilt me towards the Cash over the Unlimited for my next Ink.

And thanks for the input on the Plat vs Qantas Ultimate. I am also leaning towards the Plat. I hate the Amex coupon book — I'm already juggling way too many coupons on my US cards. But if it yields a better return on spend, it seems like the better option. I have some time to decide, so will mull it over for a week or two.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Nice! Do they still sell Coles GCs? That would tilt me towards the Cash over the Unlimited for my next Ink.

Last time I went they did! More worthwhile?

5% - 3% still something to be earned!

 

[levelnine]

Last time I went they did! More worthwhile?

5% - 3% still something to be earned!

Really interesting. Will have to go have a look. Haven't set foot in an Officeworks in a decade.

For me, it is more that it gives me a boost when meeting the min spend for the SUB. I'll take 5x over 1.5x while working towards the SUB.

Once I have hit the min spend, the card goes in the drawer and it's on to the next card, so ongoing spend isn't as important to me, but it could be reasonable value if you aren't churning. Very easy to get USD2c+ per point transferring UR to Hyatt.

 

[Franko Costa]

Nice! Do they still sell Coles GCs? That would tilt me towards the Cash over the Unlimited for my next Ink.

And thanks for the input on the Plat vs Qantas Ultimate. I am also leaning towards the Plat. I hate the Amex coupon book — I'm already juggling way too many coupons on my US cards. But if it yields a better return on spend, it seems like the better option. I have some time to decide, so will mull it over for a week or two.

Plus add in all the extra AU for the 15k additional points makes it very hard

 

[Spazmos]

For those who don't live in Gold Coast (or planning to travel), how are ppl planning to make use of the $400 ($200 semi-annual) Hilton Resort credit from their Hilton Aspire card?
Also has anyone had their card long enough that it's expired? Will they send a new card via UPS/FEDEX or by standard mail to MyUS address, or do you ask to ship it to Australia?

 

[Franko Costa]

For those who don't live in Gold Coast (or planning to travel), how are ppl planning to make use of the $400 ($200 semi-annual) Hilton Resort credit from their Hilton Aspire card?
Also has anyone had their card long enough that it's expired? Will they send a new card via UPS/FEDEX or by standard mail to MyUS address, or do you ask to ship it to Australia?

I'm off to Queenstown in 2 weeks so I will use the credit there and then in Bora Bora in July so I'll use the credits.

I assume you can ask them to send to Australia even before it expires

 

[sudoer]

For those who don't live in Gold Coast (or planning to travel), how are ppl planning to make use of the $400 ($200 semi-annual) Hilton Resort credit from their Hilton Aspire card?

I used last year's $250 credit in late December at the newly opened Hilton Miyako Okinawa. It was pretty good, there are other Hilton resorts on mainland Okinawa also I believe and staying in June/July would be a good time (if you like your resorts with tropical heat) to straddle credits across two periods.

I'll write up the stay and post some photos in the Hilton elite thread soon. The weak JPY right now makes it a more compelling option at the moment.

 

[Franko Costa]

I used last year's $250 credit in late December at the newly opened Hilton Miyako Okinawa. It was pretty good, there are other Hilton resorts on mainland Okinawa also I believe and staying in June/July would be a good time (if you like your resorts with tropical heat) to straddle credits across two periods.

I'll write up the stay and post some photos in the Hilton elite thread soon. The weak JPY right now makes it a more compelling option at the moment.

I actually booked for the fam to go to Tokyo just after Christmas so hopefully the JPY holds here for another year!

 

[Spazmos]

I used last year's $250 credit in late December at the newly opened Hilton Miyako Okinawa. It was pretty good, there are other Hilton resorts on mainland Okinawa also I believe and staying in June/July would be a good time (if you like your resorts with tropical heat) to straddle credits across two periods.

I'll write up the stay and post some photos in the Hilton elite thread soon. The weak JPY right now makes it a more compelling option at the moment.

Yeh, I managed to use last year's $250 credit at the Hilton Sesoko Okinawa in November, a bit of advice is definitely get a hire car if you plan to stay at that particular hotel. Nice hotel although I found it weird that even though it was ~30 degrees C, they close their outdoor pool during that time. June/July would be nice time to visit.

I was hoping there would be some neat way to trigger the credit without travelling, like the Qantas wine method...

 

[leyy]

For those who don't live in Gold Coast (or planning to travel), how are ppl planning to make use of the $400 ($200 semi-annual) Hilton Resort credit from their Hilton Aspire card?
Also has anyone had their card long enough that it's expired? Will they send a new card via UPS/FEDEX or by standard mail to MyUS address, or do you ask to ship it to Australia?

used mine at the Hilton Queenstown between 26/12-31/12. The charge went through on 31/12 on my Amex statement so hopefully that is good for the $250 credit last year.

One possible loophole that could work for the $400 travel bi-annual credit is if you stay at an eligible resort. Once you have made a reservation, call the hotel and ask reception/reservation to make a prepayment for say 1-2 nights accommodation so you get the credit and pay the balance on check out to get the other bi-annual credit. In theory this should work but YMMV.