Strategy to obtain US Amex

[djchuckles]

After doing the maths and I wanted to share as well as get some feedback.

The USA Platinum earns 1 MR point per USD and the AUS Platinum earns 2.25 MR points per AUD, the FX rate (presume AUD/USD $0.63) and point conversions make the AUS Platinum is the clear winner. Am I overlooking something here?

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Example of a purchase in Australia for AUD $1,720

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Example of a purchase in the USA for USD $6,800 in the popular State of California:

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Airline and hotel transfer partners are also largely similar...

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If there's nothing wrong w/ my maths, why so much interest in obtaining a US AmEx?

Assuming you are transferring AU MR points to US MR. You’re over complicating it

2.25 pts per dollar in any currency will always beat 1 pts per dollar. Because what you gain/lose in the diffference between USD and AUD you also gain/lose when you transfer AU to USD for your points

 

[Castle]

Your maths are right @Castle, the choice of card is the real question as the real interest here is something like the US Amex Gold that can earn 4 US MRs per USD, along with all the many signup bonuses (SUBs) you can accumulate.

Also essentially all those airline transfer partners are 1:1 transfers in US MRs, so much more valuable even when transferring over your AU MRs after conversion.

Appreciate it mate.

I'll have to look into the point conversion rate(s) from AUS to USA... the now 11,000+ posts and now 595 pages is daunting, however.

 

[djchuckles]

Appreciate it mate.

I'll have to look into the point conversion rate(s) from AUS to USA... the now 11,000+ posts and now 595 pages is daunting, however.

Points convert at the USD/AUD exchange rate.

But you are right to note that most partners in US are 1:1 and 2:1 here.

Personally I will send all the AU MR points I can earn over to US. But you can only do that once a year.

Outside of SUB spend, I’ll use the card that has the highest points multiplier for the purchase I’m making (regardless of country)

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Appreciate it mate.

I'll have to look into the point conversion rate(s) from AUS to USA... the now 11,000+ posts and now 595 pages is daunting, however.

There is a post where I've done some calculations and it suits the use case of most people.

 

[Castle]

There is a post where I've done some calculations and it suits the use case of most people.

Thanks mate, I'll look for it.
Cheers.

 

[DC3]

If there's nothing wrong w/ my maths, why so much interest in obtaining a US AmEx?

My main US cards are the Hilton Aspire and the Green charge. The advantages of these cards is as posted upthread.

The Platinum Charge would not be my pick, anyway, but we all have different reasons for the cards that we choose.

And welcome to AFF.

 

[DC3]

Assuming you are transferring AU MR points to US MR. You’re over complicating it

 

[http_x92]

YMMV but US hotel CCs may be of benefit to you if you stay at Hilton or Marriott chains frequently. Either the instant Diamond status with Hilton Aspire or Elite Night credits + status with Marriott cards.

 

[hill]

Speaking of transferring points from AU AMEX, has anyone tried to transfer MR points from AMEX AU Business plantium to US AMEX? Is it the same process as personal MR cards?

 

[georgie23]

Speaking of transferring points from AU AMEX, has anyone tried to transfer MR points from AMEX AU Business plantium to US AMEX? Is it the same process as personal MR cards?

Not done personally but believe others have done it with no issue. You could always get Amex AU to move your business points to personal and then transfer I believe
I think I I have done that but been a while since I had an AU Buiness Amex

 

[albyd]

don't they just all pool to your "personal" account? That's what my US Amex does. They all pool to the same account esp. since the Amex business cards are personal rather than company liability. What's the case with AU AMEX?

 

[georgie23]

Not the same as US - from memory (and been a while) one of my points was in aspire and the other was in another name scheme - but just transferred them over when closed business account