Strategy to obtain US Amex

[maverick1]

Yes. Amex frequently distributes application links for business cards (especially the Plat, Gold, BBP & BBC) that allow you to apply again and again and again and again, but you can't apply for the same card more than once every 90 days.

How do you get these links? Are your referring to No Lifetime Language Targeted offers?

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Do you need to cancel a US Biz Plat before reapplying or can you apply for multiple cards with different LLCs without closing?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Did someone post this on reddit?

Keep calling until you get someone willing to help!

 

[Franko Costa]

Do you need to cancel a US Biz Plat before reapplying or can you apply for multiple cards with different LLCs without closing?

No. Many of these cards coke with NLL hence can apply after 90 days for same card and receive the SuB

 

[albyd]

I was reading the wording and they can at their discretion determine if you’re trying to game the system and you can forfeit the SUB.

Does anyone have a DP on how extreme that behaviour is in order for Amex to do that? Eg for those of us transferring AU MR would be putting our MR at risk of confiscation as well as these SUB’s? $US695 & $US15k are quite hefty requirements given where the Aussie Peso is trading at.

 

[levelnine]

How do you get these links? Are your referring to No Lifetime Language Targeted offers?

Doctor of Credit & the churning sub-Reddit often post them.

Does anyone have a DP on how extreme that behaviour is in order for Amex to do that?

The big thing to avoid with Amex is open-loop gift cards. That'll result in denial of the SUB.

 

[albyd]

I’m sure I’m going to regret asking - what are open loop GCs?

 

[levelnine]

I’m sure I’m going to regret asking - what are open loop GCs?

Open loop: can be used anywhere (eg Visa/Mastercard GCs)
Closed loop: can only be used at select retailers (eg WW/Coles GCs)

 

[albyd]

Thanks for clarifying.

I'll need to give it some thought as the AF is getting a bit rich for me.

 

[prozac]

Thanks for clarifying.

I'll need to give it some thought as the AF is getting a bit rich for me.

AF?

 

[albyd]

Annual Fee - $US695 if I read it correctly = $A1,046 at current exchange rate I guess that works out to $A0.67c (ie 2/3rds of an AU cent - thought I'd better clarify as a mate misinterpreted me last night) per point for the current 150K SUB offer I saw last night of 150K US MR points. that's not wholly terrible - though costs are rising.

 

[levelnine]

Annual Fee - $US695 if I read it correctly = $A1,046 at current exchange rate I guess that works out to $A0.67c (ie 2/3rds of an AU cent - thought I'd better clarify as a mate misinterpreted me last night) per point for the current 150K SUB offer I saw last night of 150K US MR points. that's not wholly terrible - though costs are rising.

That's right.

Whether there's value for a person depends on a number of individual circumstances:
1. Can you use the card's credits in a way that effectively cashes them out and reduces your effective AF? As I showed above, with the triple dip on the Biz Plat you can probably get about $1400USD back in credits if you have a way of getting Dell merchandise to you and you occasionally buy United fares with cash.
2. What redemption partners are you using them for? If, for example, you're using them for Air Canada, you're getting better value because their redemptions tend to be cheaper than Australian points programs (eg 87.5K Australia to US compared to 100K+ for Qantas/Velocity).
3. Do you have alternative ways of generating the same points for less? If Qantas/Velocity, probably yes. If other programs, probably no.

 

[nthd_nthd]

Open loop: can be used anywhere (eg Visa/Mastercard GCs)
Closed loop: can only be used at select retailers (eg WW/Coles GCs)

Are you saying, we cant use US Amex cards to buy any open loop GCs at all. Not huge amount of GCs but like for using, say $1 or $2K a month? I occasionally buy Master/Visa GC to pay my bills.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Are you saying, we cant use US Amex cards to buy any open loop GCs at all. Not huge amount of GCs but like for using, say $1 or $2K a month? I occasionally buy Master/Visa GC to pay my bills.

In the US L3 data is provided to banks so they can see specifically what you're buying. So the banks will see that you're "Manufacturing Spend" to meet targets.

Less of an issue if you're buying GCs in Oz since that isn't provided to them.

 

[levelnine]

Less of an issue if you're buying GCs in Oz since that isn't provided to them.

Yes, not sure of the level of risk in Australia as I've never tried.

One thing to be aware of is that particular purchase amounts should be avoided. In the US, $505.95 should be avoided even at retailers that don't pass on L3 data because that looks like a $500 gift card + Visa/MC activation fee to Amex.

So mix it in with a regular grocery spend if you're going to do it.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Yes, not sure of the level of risk in Australia as I've never tried.

One thing to be aware of is that particular purchase amounts should be avoided. In the US, $505.95 should be avoided even at retailers that don't pass on L3 data because that looks like a $500 gift card + Visa/MC activation fee to Amex.

So mix it in with a regular grocery spend if you're going to do it.

I would assume that by default buying GCs in Australia looks a bit irregular unless they look at the underlying foreign spend .

 

[levelnine]

I would assume that by default buying GCs in Australia looks a bit irregular unless they look at the underlying foreign spend .

I honestly have no idea. The only relevant DP I have is that the only time Amex has locked my account on suspected fraud was when I bought a large amount of gift cards (closed loop) at WW. Never had a lock for far bigger purchases from other retailers. So they definitely watch spend at grocery stores closely.

 

[Franko Costa]

That's right.

Whether there's value for a person depends on a number of individual circumstances:
1. Can you use the card's credits in a way that effectively cashes them out and reduces your effective AF? As I showed above, with the triple dip on the Biz Plat you can probably get about $1400USD back in credits if you have a way of getting Dell merchandise to you and you occasionally buy United fares with cash.
2. What redemption partners are you using them for? If, for example, you're using them for Air Canada, you're getting better value because their redemptions tend to be cheaper than Australian points programs (eg 87.5K Australia to US compared to 100K+ for Qantas/Velocity).
3. Do you have alternative ways of generating the same points for less? If Qantas/Velocity, probably yes. If other programs, probably no.

Another point to add:
4. Some people who have lots of points and can't find good value (especially those with large families) cash their points out at US$0.01 per point. In theory, you could transfer this back to Australia (but might be for tax clarification depending on the amount) or just book travel with your US amex card and use the cash (from these points) to pay off the card

 

[Franko Costa]

Annual Fee - $US695 if I read it correctly = $A1,046 at current exchange rate I guess that works out to $A0.67c (ie 2/3rds of an AU cent - thought I'd better clarify as a mate misinterpreted me last night) per point for the current 150K SUB offer I saw last night of 150K US MR points. that's not wholly terrible - though costs are rising.

Plus if you have an offer to use employee cards for $15k points for $4k while you're doing the SUB, then it improves the points too (for biz cards)

 

[nthd_nthd]

Plus if you have an offer to use employee cards for $15k points for $4k while you're doing the SUB, then it improves the points too (for biz cards)

Does employee card offer come regularly? How can we time them to hit that together?