Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Tiki]

Instant approval for Hilton Surpass while logged into my Amex account!
I got an instant card number and enrolled in Priority Pass so I can use it for next month's trip. it was an automatic thing so the PP card will go to my friend in Orlando. But I think I can activate the app and use that for lounges? How long does it take for the PP app to recognize the new Amex Surpass card number? I was trying to activate the app with the payment card number and got the "Ooops something went wrong: Bank card has failed verification" message.

Credit line only $1000 and I have to do a $2000 spend in 3 months. I take it I can move a couple thousand over from the Delta card?

 

[levelnine]

How long does it take for the PP app to recognize the new Amex Surpass card number? I was trying to activate the app with the payment card number and got the "Ooops something went wrong: Bank card has failed verification" message.

You will get an email from Amex/PP in a week or so with an activation code for the PP phone app.

Post automatically merged: Jul 29, 2022

I take it I can move a couple thousand over from the Delta card?

Yes. Can be done online.

 

[Tiki]

You will get an email from Amex/PP in a week or so with an activation code for the PP phone app.

Post automatically merged: Jul 29, 2022

Yes. Can be done online.

Thanks! I found the online credit transfer. Eagerly awaiting the PP activation code!
Still excited over my first instant approval in years!

 

[QF_Flyer]

Is this the $3/month T-Mobile plan that tlam has recommended? Or another one?

Post automatically merged: Jul 29, 2022

I find this a wild loophole!

250K MR from an Australian Amex gets you 125K KrisFlyer miles in Australia.

But if you convert it to US MR, you get approx 175K MR that can be converted 1:1 to KrisFlyer using your US card.

Once I have $USD3K spend, I'm going to sign up for a US Amex BBP so that I have fee free home for MR in the US forever. Only downside is the FTF for the BBP, so need to have your MSR in USD.

$10 PAYG plan, if there's a $3 I'll look into it.

Yeah there's some epic arbitrage to be had, when Aus was 1:1 I transferred a heap from the UK, when the exchange rate for money was £1:$2. 100k UK MR to 200k AU MR, to 200k KrisFlyer.

Of course that's now dead and also UK now transfers 3:2 MR:SQ, which sucks. So everything goes to my ICC US$ card, still 1:1 to SQ for some reason on that MR program.

 

[blacksultan]

I've activated T-Mobile Prepaid E-Sim in Australia with Wifi calling. I used Mint Mobile's E-Sim here and it was easy to activate and use With Wifi calling too. Mint mobile is basically the same company as Ultra mobile. The difference is Ultra doesn't provide E-Sims and is a bit cheaper.

Thanks

 

[mrsquare]

Yes, I did, I transferred the points in my Amex Aus to the Amex Us, initialed the transfer with chat consultant and it took about 1 week to receive the points in my US account. The exchange rate is the same as the rate for USD/AUD. You can only do that once a year.

Thanks. Assuming no way to confirm the exchange rate prior to transfer, but that it should be around the USD/AUD exchange rate?

 

[blacksultan]

Thanks. Assuming no way to confirm the exchange rate prior to transfer, but that it should be around the USD/AUD exchange rate?

Never knew it could be done via chat . Yes no way to confirm as it will take a week and will mirror exchange on day . Names on both accounts should match and can be done only once in 12 months for each account .

 

[cove]

In the US you really need to use a Visa card or cash to pay at Costco. They don’t take MasterCard nor Amex.Their best products are King Crab legs and Kirkland chocolate Macadamias.
Getting stuck with a phone and or credit card that does not work in the US would be a real concern. I go to a T mobile store to get connected. It is quick and easy.
My US bank branch moved out of Ralphs supermarket in Marina del Rey CA during the pandemic but there was another branch down the street so that was ok.
We get showered with credit card offers including Amex Platinum with a 100,000 point sign on. I have stayed with Amex Gold with autopay Off the US Bank account.
Getting to the US after 2.5 years meant I was swamped with mail about 1 foot high.
To do funds transfers to the US we use Bell FX or Westpac.

 

[tlam]

In the US you really need to use a Visa card or cash to pay at Costco. They don’t take MasterCard nor Amex.Their best products are King Crab legs and Kirkland chocolate Macadamias.
Getting stuck with a phone and or credit card that does not work in the US would be a real concern. I go to a T mobile store to get connected. It is quick and easy.
My US bank branch moved out of Ralphs supermarket in Marina del Rey CA during the pandemic but there was another branch down the street so that was ok.
We get showered with credit card offers including Amex Platinum with a 100,000 point sign on. I have stayed with Amex Gold with autopay Off the US Bank account.
Getting to the US after 2.5 years meant I was swamped with mail about 1 foot high.
To do funds transfers to the US we use Bell FX or Westpac.

Sign up the Plat card to get SUB and then upgrade your gold to Plat card, so you will get both SUB offers. I did that back in March and will cancel the Plat and downgrade back to the gold next year.

 

[blacksultan]

Seems like the T-Mobile PayGo option is the best given it is the cheapest. Have you had any troubles with it?

I think this option is branded as ultra mobile . Can you use this number with google voice so it is permanent and at no cost ?

 

[blacksultan]

Data point for those who can get Chase to send a card to Australia:
19 July Card approved and I called to get it expedited to Australia (being a prior customer of Chase)
21 July Card arrives in Botany NSW UPS office and sits around for 3 days.
24 July Card is sent to Brisbane
25 July Card is delivered in the afternoon

Are you a prior checking account customer ? Is there anyway to avoid paying the monthly charges ?

 

[blacksultan]

$10 PAYG plan, if there's a $3 I'll look into it.

Yeah there's some epic arbitrage to be had, when Aus was 1:1 I transferred a heap from the UK, when the exchange rate for money was £1:$2. 100k UK MR to 200k AU MR, to 200k KrisFlyer.

Of course that's now dead and also UK now transfers 3:2 MR:SQ, which sucks. So everything goes to my ICC US$ card, still 1:1 to SQ for some reason on that MR program.

Can you please share info on signing up For $10 payg plan ? Can you use an esim ?

 

[Tiki]

Are you a prior checking account customer ? Is there anyway to avoid paying the monthly charges ?

Not checking. I have the IHG Premier and a Chase Freedom from like 10 years ago, I kept them because the Freedom has no annual fee and the IHG $49 is easily covered by the free annual night. I use B of A for checking. It has a $12 fee unless you make a deposit of at least $250 monthly or maintain $1500 (I think) balance. But I have had that account for 20 years and I was in the USA when I set it up.

 

[levelnine]

We get showered with credit card offers including Amex Platinum with a 100,000 point sign on.

To further add to tlam's comments, there's no way anyone should be accepting a 100K plat offer. There are plenty of 125K + 10x restaurants for 6 months and even higher offers around.

 

[tlam]

To further add to tlam's comments, there's no way anyone should be accepting a 100K plat offer. There are plenty of 125K + 10x restaurants for 6 months and even higher offers around.

What I meant is you can get both 125k SUB + 100k upgrade offer, I got 2 slots of points, I used the Resy link (125k) and the upgrade offer in my email (100k)

 

[levelnine]

What I meant is you can get both 125k SUB + 100k upgrade offer, I got 2 slots of points, I used the Resy link (125k) and the upgrade offer in my email (100k)

Yes, all I meant is one shouldn't be accepting a 100K SUB for a new card. People should definitely be doing both new & upgrade if they can meet the MSR.

 

[tlam]

Yes, all I meant is one shouldn't be accepting a 100K SUB for a new card. People should definitely be doing both new & upgrade if they can meet the MSR.

yup, I've seen 150k SUB on new Plat card.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Can you please share info on signing up For $10 payg plan ? Can you use an esim ?

Yes mate, I downloaded the T-Mobile eSIM app from the iOS app store and set everything up using that!

 

[Tiki]

Has anyone ever had fraud alerts on Amex cards when adding it to Apple pay? I have the detail of my new Surpass card and it worked to pay Foxtel so I was considering making an Apple Pay so I can use it at supermarkets. To be honest, I don't normally use mobile wallets but just to get a jump on the minimum spending. I can't buy gift cards online, it will trigger a claw back according to people on Flyertalk.

 

[levelnine]

Has anyone ever had fraud alerts on Amex cards when adding it to Apple pay?

No. Chase blocked my Apple Pay when I started using it in Australia until I called in, but never had that problem with Amex.