American Express Membership Rewards - Please help me find the perfect AMEX Card

I am looking for a new credit card. I know that AMEX offers some wonderful advantages when traveling or booking through a AMEX travel site. Do all the AMEX cards offer this benefit or just some? I also want to be able to earn points that I can turn into airline miles. We do have some nights accrued on SPG, but I wasn't sure this card had the same benefits. Do the SPG nights expire? We will not have trouble qualifying and will charge at least 12k per year.

Thanks for the help.

CSBM

... AMEX offers some wonderful advantages when traveling or booking through a AMEX travel site.

I think you are referring to the Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) program, which is explained here:

http://americanexpress.com/fhr

FHR is available only to Centurion and Platinum Card accounts. Platinum annual fee $450 (in USA). No other card which may be platinum colored or include the term "platinum" in its name will qualify. Learn about the Platinum Card here:

http://americanexpress.com/platinum

No other card which may be platinum colored or include the term "platinum" in its name will qualify. Learn about the Platinum http://americanexpress.com/platinum

mia, does that mean the morgan stanley and mercedes dont apply?

mia, does that mean the morgan stanley and mercedes dont apply?

They do qualify because they are co-branded versions of the same charge card with substantially similar fees. I believe there is also a Goldman Sachs version.

The cards which do not qualify are credit cards, including the Delta Platinum card, and various platinum colored business cards such as Simply Cash and the Business Membership Rewards card. Confusion arises because these cards were previously issued under names which included the word "platinum".

if you want to earn airline miles (or have the ability to earn something that could transfer) and you already have SPG nights accrued why don't you apply for the SPG amex? Will keep your nights from expiring, as well as earn you points you could transfer to airlines in blocks of 20k.

if you want to maximize the points I would say get the PRG though instead.
if you charge 30K you also get a 15k points bonus, so not too shabby. and the yearly is much less (waived first year)

If you're going to charge more than 60,000$ a year on a card, might as well do the SPG Amex instead of PRG. You get the same bonus (if not more), but way more options (granted, transfers aren't instantaneous).

You should be aiming to do well north of 60,000$ if you want to eventually get invited for a Cent.

Go get 'em tiger.:rolleyes:

Here is a quick summary of the main options:

Preferred Rewards Gold: $175 fee (waived first year), 3X airfare 2x gas/groceries, 15K bonus if you charge $30K per year, normal Membership Rewards transfer partners, usually 25K signup bonus.

Platinum: $450 fee (not waived), no bonus categories or threshold bonus, $200/year airline fee waiver, Fine Hotels and Resorts program, airport lounge access, concierge.

Starwood Preferred Guest: $65 fee (waived first year), 25K signup bonus (but a significant spend required), benefits for Starwood hotels, transfer to most major airlines (but bad transfer ratio for United), 25% bonus on airline transfers of 20K (i.e. use 20K points, get 25K).

Given your spend, I suggest SPG over PRG. The bonus categories will not be worth that much and you won't get the threshold bonus, and you already have some tie to Starwood. And the fee is lower.

Plat is probably worthwhile only if you would use the lounge access and FHR benefits.

Mia's point was to be careful, as some other cards have "Platinum" in the name, but aren't really the same card.

You guys are awesome! Thanks...

CSBM