American Express Membership Rewards - AMEX Cards issued from Banks

Just curious what others may have heard about the benefits of AMEX cards issued by banks. I've been a loyal Platinum card holder for a number of years, find the card beneficial and plan to maintain it. However, recently I learned that USAA is offering its members AMEX cards -- that include $1 million flight insurance, only 1% transaction fee for foreign currency purchases (instead of 2%) and a cash rewards program (in lieu of membership rewards). This new fee free card seems for me to be an interesting addition to the mix of benefits. I figure I might as well use my new card for airline ticket purchases (as AMEX charges extra for $1 million insurance). In those cases where I use AMEX Plat Travel to help issue a multi-airline business class itinerary, I figure the cash rebate for the ticket will likely cover the PTS service fee.

I'm interested whether other banks that are now starting to issue AMEX cards are offering some interesting cardholder benefits that are absent in the mainline AMEX Plat/Gold/Green.

In those cases where I use AMEX Plat Travel to help issue a multi-airline business class itinerary, I figure the cash rebate for the ticket will likely cover the PTS service fee.
And I'm sure PTS will be thrilled when you try to use something other than your Platinum Card to pay for your ticket.

And I'm sure PTS will be thrilled when you try to use something other than your Platinum Card to pay for your ticket.

My experience with PTS and all these programs is that as long as you are a current Platinum Card holder, they will allow you to place your charge on any AMEX product-- whether Plat, Starwood, Optima, etc., as long as it is AMEX.

Just as you said, I know from experience that PTS loves to charge travel to an AMEX card and they don't care whether or not it is Platinum.

USAA is a great company with customer service that rivals anybody. They offer Master Card, Visa, and American Express cards that are all tied to their reward programs. Total Rewards and Cash Rewards. It doesn't matter what card you get i.e. MC, VISA, AMEX you still get the same reward program. Their banking products are also some of the best out there as well as their insurance and investment products.

Hi this is my first post... I know that I recently just got approved for a Bank of America Rewards Amex Card, and so far sounds good. Here is a link to the website for the card... http://www.bankofamerica.com/creditcards/?template=amexrewards_visa_clear&adlink=000302005k660000e456 Does anybody else out there have this card? One thing that drew me to it was the MyConcierge® service that they offer.

When I talked to the international cell rental company that AMEX partners with, they said I had to put the charges on my Plat.

And I thought I've asked PTS about putting it on my Starwood and they said no. Could be remembering wrong though..

I'll have to check on that again.

On a related note, does anyone know if the AMEX cards issued from other banks (i.e. the Citibank AAdvantage Amex) use Amex's rental car collision insurance?

When I talked to the international cell rental company that AMEX partners with, they said I had to put the charges on my Plat.

And I thought I've asked PTS about putting it on my Starwood and they said no. Could be remembering wrong though..

I'll have to check on that again.

You were advised wrong or you are rembembering wrong