Strategy to obtain US Amex

[http_x92]

Some changes on the Aspire:
$2 x 200 resort credit... not bad, a good excuse to go to the Gold Coast at least twice per year

$4 x 50 flight credit (once per quarter) but you can use it on amextravel.com or directly with an airline. Travel bank method no longer required. YMMV.

No way we can hit $30000 US spend in 2 months tho...

But... AF is increased to $550.

Changes on the Surpass:

$4 x 50 cashback on all Hilton hotels.

AF increased to $150.

Still a way to make up the annual fee for both cards but just needs more clever planning...

 

[Spacetravel]

I am looking to get started to acquire a US Amex. With 299 pages to read through I am not sure where to start. Could someone please point me to page/ post that I can read to get my head around what to do. Also I remember when I popped in here before there was the recommendation of an accountant who can help. Are they still around?

 

[Viridis]

I am looking to get started to acquire a US Amex. With 299 pages to read through I am not sure where to start. Could someone please point me to page/ post that I can read to get my head around what to do. Also I remember when I popped in here before there was the recommendation of an accountant who can help. Are they still around?

Without wishing to sound trite, it would be worth your while starting at page 1.

Much of it is valuable background information and you learn pretty quickly what you can skim over. There were only 135 pages when I started about 18mths ago. I had some specific questions after I’d read the background and the forum was quick help.

I’ve no doubt that once you have read the background and have specific questions people will be happy to point you in the right direction.

One of the reasons that the forum has become so ‘bloated‘ is because the same, or similar, questions get asked repeatedly. And, there is also much discussion on non-Amex US cards which is more for “advanced users” - of which I am not one (but you may be in the fullness of time)

No idea about ’the accountant’ …. news to me

 

[Finale]

I am looking to get started to acquire a US Amex. With 299 pages to read through I am not sure where to start. Could someone please point me to page/ post that I can read to get my head around what to do. Also I remember when I popped in here before there was the recommendation of an accountant who can help. Are they still around?

299 pages won't take more than one week and it will be very beneficial to you reading through them as different people had different experiences getting their first card and you can be prepared for all different scenarios. It will also help you prepare for non amex cards in the future. Even some info on the first page is still valid. Everything you need is in this one thread. When I first started, I did it all on my own for many years reading 100s of websites and took like 2 or 3 years to get my first card. If you want a shortcut, maybe check Getting US Credit Cards for Canadians on Prince of travel. There will be some parts that won't work or work differently in Australia but I think it is a good start.

 

[levelnine]

Aspire is a huge downgrade in my opinion. Higher annual fee, twice as hard to use the resort credits (2x yearly rather than 1x yearly) and airline credit may lost the UA Travel Bank method.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Aspire is a huge downgrade in my opinion. Higher annual fee, twice as hard to use the resort credits (2x yearly rather than 1x yearly) and airline credit may lost the UA Travel Bank method.

Looks like PP is gone as well which I think is a pretty big deval even though I don't use it.

$200 x2 resort credit isn't too bad. I enjoy going to ZQN, HNL and other resort destinations that might be okay. Given that I still have $250 for this year I'm trying to use it before the year ends. Hoping that booking a cancellable rate then asking the hotel to charge me should be sufficient.

$200 flight credit. I personally prefer this over the $250 travel credit. I know many people loved using it for travel bank but as someone who rarely flies UA, it was very difficult to use. Worse thing was that you couldn't even use it to pay taxes and fees for award fees. It doesn't seem like you need to a select an airline but rather any airline works? Good for short trips to MEL/BNE

$100 AF increase is a tough pill to swallow.

New T&Cs:

Terms, Conditions & Disclosures

 

[Daventry]

I heard PP might be gone as well.

Really? They'd need to replace it with something valuable to make these cards worth their annual fee.
In the UK every single PP lounge will refuse you unless you book in advance - which costs £6 as of now, let's see in 12 months...

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Really? They'd need to replace it with something valuable to make these cards worth their annual fee.
In the UK every single PP lounge will refuse you unless you book in advance - which costs £6 as of now, let's see in 12 months...

It's gone

Priority Pass Select - Unlimited​

Effective February 1, 2024, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card will no longer offer a complimentary membership to the Priority Pass™ Select program. Through January 31, 2024, you may still enroll in the benefit by calling the American Express customer service number on the back of your Card. If you enrolled in the Priority Pass Select program on or before January 31, 2023, your Priority Pass membership will continue through January 31, 2024 and will be cancelled as of February 1, 2024. If you enrolled in the Priority Pass Select program between February 1, 2023 and January 31, 2024, your membership will continue through October 31, 2024 and will be cancelled as of November 1, 2024.

 

[albyd]

And that’s with your VPN deactivated for login?

Just closing the loop on this one. When I deactivated VPN and logged in from "AU", it asked for txt verification. I followed suggestion to get the C1 App on my iPhone - I can now use that to generate a code so I no longer need to choose the SMS option. Thanks again for the suggestion.

Also figured out how to confirm the activation deposits to my HSBC account - now just having some issues transferring cash from HSBC to C1 - I'll try again tonight I think.

 

[levelnine]

$200 x2 resort credit isn't too bad.

Shame there are so few resorts in our region. Only one in Australia. Makes it very hard to use twice per year in my opinion.

The airline fee credit is an improvement insofar as it can be used on Qantas, Virgin, etc now I believe. Loss of $50 compared to the old credit.

Plus loss of Priority Pass.

Definitely not getting $100 more in value to offset the increased AF.

 

[Daventry]

Shame there are so few resorts in our region. Only one in Australia. Makes it very hard to use twice per year in my opinion.

The airline fee credit is an improvement insofar as it can be used on Qantas, Virgin, etc now I believe. Loss of $50 compared to the old credit.

Plus loss of Priority Pass.

Definitely not getting $100 more in value to offset the increased AF.

Indeed. This is a perfect example of 'scamflation'.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Just closing the loop on this one. When I deactivated VPN and logged in from "AU", it asked for txt verification. I followed suggestion to get the C1 App on my iPhone - I can now use that to generate a code so I no longer need to choose the SMS option. Thanks again for the suggestion.

Also figured out how to confirm the activation deposits to my HSBC account - now just having some issues transferring cash from HSBC to C1 - I'll try again tonight I think.

Is there a specific way to turn on the code generation option?

 

[albyd]

It just offered it as one of two alternatives (SMS code or authentication via the app) - I think from memory, you just get a push notification through the app which asks you to verify it was you logging onto the main site.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

It just offered it as one of two alternatives (SMS code or authentication via the app) - I think from memory, you just get a push notification through the app which asks you to verify it was you logging onto the main site.

I guess this must be an iphone thing. That is never an option on android .

Edit: looks like maybe only for login purposes and not anything else?

 

[http_x92]

I guess another way is to see if we could use the 4 x $50 on airline gift cards/vouchers. Have to check it quarterly though. Will wait for DPs on that.

 

[timmy1234]

I guess another way is to see if we could use the 4 x $50 on airline gift cards/vouchers. Have to check it quarterly though. Will wait for DPs on that.

Amex codes Qantas wines as airline points earning. This could be tested next year.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

For those using PlanetExpress, their Gardena address is shutting down so that means if you've used the address it'll need to be updated.

Edit: In the context of your credit files, my understanding is that you'll need to update your address on your accounts e.g. (amex/chase/c1) and give it a month or 2 for it to report correctly.

 

[Sora]

Just closing the loop on this one. When I deactivated VPN and logged in from "AU", it asked for txt verification. I followed suggestion to get the C1 App on my iPhone - I can now use that to generate a code so I no longer need to choose the SMS option. Thanks again for the suggestion.

Also figured out how to confirm the activation deposits to my HSBC account - now just having some issues transferring cash from HSBC to C1 - I'll try again tonight I think.

Let me know if you want me to get you a SIM card from the USA, as I’m here until December I could try and help you. Might be ways get a cheap sim, or sure. I’m getting my Verizon new
device delivered today, will have a sim/number I probably won’t use but won’t hold that number too long.

Im also using Google Voice when opening up bank accounts here, seems to work for the most part, I did have issues with Bank of America though and using it with Zelle.

Maybe there is an ESIM option you could also consider for this? And just apply it to your current device? Not sure it’s the only work around options I know.

 

[Tiki]

The Surpass loss of PP visits is basically the only reason I was keeping it. I've been using my points on cheaper brands within Hilton like Hampton Inn and they usually give free breakfast to everyone so gold status is of minimal use. So I will have to ditch this card when it comes up for renewal in July. And I was already in pop up jail so this will probably make it worse so I hope they offer the Green with 60k again in the next 8 months.

 

[levelnine]

Recently approved for the Citi Biz AA 65K/$0AF/$4K/4 months (now up to 75K/$0 AF/$6K/6 months — sadly Citi don't match) & Barclays AA Red 60K+15K AU/$99 AF/no spend/4 months.

Citi is fairly awful to deal with. Need to receive a code in the mail to be approved for the card. Unable to add to Apple Pay — fraud blocked and letter with code takes ages to come, so gave up and just use physical card. You get random fraud warnings, but funnily enough they don't stop you from using the card if you wait 24 hours for them to disappear. Phone app mostly works. Website rarely works, but can do most functions on the phone app.

Barclays much easier, though I got passed on the phone to 8(!) different people to find the right person to verify (you're looking for the security team). But very simple — able to verify on the phone unlike with Citi. As I only need to make one purchase on the card and AU card to get the bonus, won't have to worry about fraud blocks — will be two purchases then into the drawer.