Do you have an AmEx card?

[sonrisa]

I don't. I couldn't charge a car on one even if I wanted to. I'm wondering if that makes me ML poor. 

[berbles]

I do, but I kinda hate it.

I can't use it everywhere.

This is probably actually a good thing.

[pantsparty]

Yes, I use it for Sky Miles.

[lucky513]

I use my Amex cards all the time, I have the platinum I like their Fine Hotel rewards

[8675309]

I love our Amex. I just booked a 2 night stay at a beach resort in FL with my points. Granted, those points took a year to accumulate but to me it's FREEEEEEEEE!

[amberlyrose]

I use my Amex for everything.

[sonrisa]

May 6, 2014 16:29:22 GMT -5 toledo said:

Wait, is this a rich marker?

I'm being facetious. There was a tongue-in-cheek discussion about charging yachts to AmEx. 

[thebreakfastclub]

DH has one; I don't. He mostly uses it for Candy Crush charges, lol.

[bonquiqui]

May 6, 2014 16:32:30 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

DH has one; I don't. He mostly uses it for Candy Crush charges, lol.

High roller

[eb777888]

Helllz yes. God, do I finally have something MM to brag about? lol

[lucky513]

May 6, 2014 16:30:02 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

May 6, 2014 16:28:15 GMT -5 lucky513 said:

I use my Amex cards all the time, I have the platinum I like their Fine Hotel rewards

If you're staying in AmEx Platinum level hotels, you'll get much more bang for your buck booking most of your trips through a Virtuoso agent rather than AmEx.  No charge for booking through them and I always get MUCH better treatment when I book through my travel agent.  

do you still get the 4pm check out and room upgrade?

[lucky513]

May 6, 2014 16:37:55 GMT -5 pagas said:

May 6, 2014 16:36:00 GMT -5 lucky513 said:

do you still get the 4pm check out and room upgrade?

One level room upgrade, late checkout, free full breakfast and usually a $100 spa or restaurant credit.

Im signing up right now LOL

[Deleted]

Only for business expenses.

[sewpinkgal]

The Starwood Amex is the best card ever! Mostly because it accumulates points to Starwood properties, which IMO, offers the best points trade in for rooms and still has the best customer service I've ever encountered when it comes to the service industry.

[amberlyrose]

May 6, 2014 16:37:55 GMT -5 pagas said:

May 6, 2014 16:36:00 GMT -5 lucky513 said:

do you still get the 4pm check out and room upgrade?

One level room upgrade, late checkout, free full breakfast and usually a $100 spa or restaurant credit.

Please tell me more. 

I usually don't book hotels through Amex, but I need to know what I'm missing out on since I have a platinum card. Should I book all hotels through this other place?

[rex]

yes. we use it for almost everything.

[lucky513]

May 6, 2014 16:54:46 GMT -5 amberlyrose said:

May 6, 2014 16:37:55 GMT -5 pagas said:

One level room upgrade, late checkout, free full breakfast and usually a $100 spa or restaurant credit.

Please tell me more. 

I usually don't book hotels through Amex, but I need to know what I'm missing out on since I have a platinum card. Should I book all hotels through this other place?

when you book through amex fine hotels you get all of the stuff Pagas posted

log into your american express account go under book travel and select the fine hotel 

[Moe]

I live in Delta Land, so yeah, SkyMiles.

Except they FUCKING SUCK, and now everyone and their mother has the card, so Group 1 seating is pretty useless. Everyone has status, and half the plane has boarded by the time Group 1 is called.

(But I guess better than 2 or 3, so Moe, shut up)

[psychmom]

We only get it when we get 0% APR offers and want to buy a big item we'd rather not pay cash for then close it when the 0% runs out.

[Deleted]

Yes, two of them, but they are both no annual fee cards so they don't make me fancy.

And also, @sfgal530 is very wise about travel agents. We got a 12-level room upgrade last time we booked through a travel agent (all the other stuff). No annual fee

(we used pagas's agent!)

[Deleted]

Yes, it's my main credit card. I only use my Mastercard when I am somewhere that doesn't take Amex (generally fast food places)

[Moe]

May 6, 2014 17:05:18 GMT -5 pagas said:

May 6, 2014 16:58:26 GMT -5 Moe said:

I live in Delta Land, so yeah, SkyMiles.

Except they FUCKING SUCK, and now everyone and their mother has the card, so Group 1 seating is pretty useless. Everyone has status, and half the plane has boarded by the time Group 1 is called.

(But I guess better than 2 or 3, so Moe, shut up)

I am Gold on United and in freaking Group 2.  I miss Continental.

I'm pissed that I missed the cut off to get rid of the fucking United VISA (ugh, forgot to track it) and yep, I just paid $60 for a fucking card that offers me NOTHING.  They don't even give me a free bag.  And it's group 5 for me or some injust thing.  

Miles.  I'm a slave for miles, and sometimes I wonder if hotels is a better deal.  Ugh.

But yes, United.  POND SCUM!

[Moe]

@sfgal530 and pagas, OMG, I'll totally do that.

Thanks! Let's see...

[Deleted]

No.

[pantsparty]

What is the secret with these travel agents? Do I need the Platinum Sky Miles card?

[blondemoment123]

Yes but I rarely use it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[amberlyrose]

May 6, 2014 16:31:01 GMT -5 pagas said:

May 6, 2014 16:30:02 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

If you're staying in AmEx Platinum level hotels, you'll get much more bang for your buck booking most of your trips through a Virtuoso agent rather than AmEx.  No charge for booking through them and I always get MUCH better treatment when I book through my travel agent.  

I used David Ourisman as our Virtuoso agent.  I recommend him highly, he is fantastic.
www.ourismantravel.com/

Do you get a credit for referrals? If so, PM me your name. I have a hotel in toronto to book this week. 

[catbus]

Yes, but they're credit cards, not the traditional charge (i.e., "no limit") cards. Never use the Blue because the rewards suck, but I've had it for nine years, so I keep it open. 

Costco AmEx is a bit better, but still I only use it at Costco or when getting gas. Otherwise, my Chase Sapphire Preferred Plus or Discover cards are far better rewards options. All these cards have $15-25k limits, but we are not "rich." My first ever CC, a Capital One, still only has, like, a $750 limit. They've never raised it for me (I've never asked). 

[Norticprincess]

May 6, 2014 17:07:47 GMT -5 Moe said:

May 6, 2014 17:05:18 GMT -5 pagas said:

I am Gold on United and in freaking Group 2.  I miss Continental.

I'm pissed that I missed the cut off to get rid of the fucking United VISA (ugh, forgot to track it) and yep, I just paid $60 for a fucking card that offers me NOTHING.  They don't even give me a free bag.  And it's group 5 for me or some injust thing.  

Miles.  I'm a slave for miles, and sometimes I wonder if hotels is a better deal.  Ugh.

But yes, United.  POND SCUM!

Which United card??!?
The Explorer card ($85/95 I can't remember, the waived it the first year) bag each for the first two on the reservation, two club passes a year, and priority boarding.

PB was group 2 when we flew home from Newark last month. DH missed his status last year with my health and needs one more United segment for this year. (His miles are on international star alliance partners aside from our trip together).

Eta. Hitting 25k on the card waives the United $ requirement for everything but too tier. That requirement also has DH looking at several of the other Star Alliance programs for next year.

[isabel]

I have two, but I don't think that makes me extra special or anything. I love my AmEx and use it for a lot of things, mostly costco and travel. The points are great on the travel card and their customer service is awesome.

eta: Mine are credit cards, not charge cards. Even though we're generally pretty good about paying things off right away, I don't like the lack of flexibility with a charge card.