American Express Membership Rewards - Confused!

I am appealing to your knowledge out the on the following question:

I need a new card (have tons now, and want to consolidate to maximize)

I spend about 100k - 150k on my cards combined per year
I have never used my Amex Rewards points for anything else than air travel (tix)
I fly on Delta and Air France almost exclusively (as my company has deals with both)

What card should I get to get the most of out the $$$ spent?!?

Much appreciated :cool:

I am appealing to your knowledge out the on the following question:

I need a new card (have tons now, and want to consolidate to maximize)

I spend about 100k - 150k on my cards combined per year
I have never used my Amex Rewards points for anything else than air travel (tix)
I fly on Delta and Air France almost exclusively (as my company has deals with both)

What card should I get to get the most of out the $$$ spent?!?

Much appreciated :cool:

Welcome to Flyertalk, Dugongberbulu! As for what card to get -- I would reccomend AMEX Plat if you DO NOT CURRENTLY have access to CRC. If you do, however, go for SPG card. Just my 0.2cts

I would also say that it depends on what type of charging/paying system you would like to use this new card for.
If you are looking for a card with no pre-set monthly spending limit in which you will charge everything and pay it in full at the end of the billing cycle, I would second the recommendation of the Platinum Card because you will earn MR and be able to to take advantage of some travel perks which sounds to me like you could use in your everyday travels such as Delta Crown Room Club membership.
If you are looking for a regular credit card, which it sounds to me like you are since you mentioned balance transfers, the Starwood card tends to be everyone's favourite in the USA.

Yes, I will be paying everything off at the end of the cycles.

Quick clarification CRC and SPG, what do they stand for?

Cheers

CRC = Delta Airlines Crown Room Club (airport lounges)

SPG = Starwood Preferred Guest (hotel company loyalty program)

Thanks Mia!

OK: so, based on my status with the airlines (basically, I live in their planes for business), I already get all the lounges and such.

My primary use of these systems (in my past experiences in Asia, where I used to be based) was for airline tix for my gf. I used to get Singapore Airlines points through their SQ Platimum Card (X3). Thats all I did with it.

Today I'm looking at flying more Delta, as they seem to go to the destinations I need, but it would on the other hand be nice not to be tied to 1 airline... which is a pain.

There are four credit card programs that earn Delta Skymiles:

Delta Skymiles credit cards, issued by American Express. All rewards automatically credited to Delta, but can be redeemed for awards on all Skyteam carriers. There are several different cards which differ primarily in benefits, not rewards. Base earnings are $1 = 1 Skymile, but there are "Always Double Miles" categories which will raise the average, depending on your spending pattern. The Platinum versions also allow you to earn Elite Qualify Miles to help earn or retain Delta status faster.

Membership Rewards, Green, Gold, Platinum or Centurion charge cards issued by American Express. $1 = 1 point = 1 mile on 19 airlines. Periodic bonus offers for transfers to Delta, typically 25%. Membership Rewards has several SkyTeam and Star Alliance partners, but no OneWorld carrier.

Starwood Preferred Guest credit card, issued by American Express. $20,000 = 25,000 miles on nearly 30 airlines, including Delta, but lower rate on transfers to Continental and United.

Diners Club Rewards. In USA Diners is a Mastercard, issued by Citibank. $1 = 1 point = 1 mile on 20 airlines. In my estimation Diners is the most flexible program with partners from all three airline alliances, plus more hotel transfer options than any other card program. The tradeoff is that you can usually earn more miles or points per dollar for any specific partner with another card.

I like the combination of Starwood (primary) plus Diners (where American Express is not accepted).

OK, sounds like I need to start by upgrading my Business AMEX directly to Plat.

Next question: is there a maximum on the points earned? ie, is there a point at which its better to also have another card, to keep maxing out the multiplication effect of the cards (as I could get a personal AMEX plat or Centurion).

This would mean that I would use AMEX Rewards as the pool of points, from which to draw upon for all use (including Delta), + buy all tix on Delta and other airlines with these cards, to "double-dip"

Or, am I loosing it... :confused:

sounds like I need to start by upgrading my Business AMEX directly to Plat.


The term "platinum" is ambiguous because American Express offers "platinum" versions of the Delta Skymiles credit card, platinum versions of several other credit cards, as well as The Platinum Card, a charge card which participates in Membership Rewards.

If you mean Delta Skymiles Platinum to earn Elite Qualify Miles I understand. If you mean The Platinum charge card I don't agree because this card is not the highest earning Membership Rewards card.

There is no limit to the number of points you can earn, but diversification is useful because circumstances do change.

Be sure to read about the best available bonus offers for the Delta and Starwood cards on the Free Cards page of the Credit Card section of my website below. Also take a look at the bonus 25,000 points American Express card offer near the bottom of the Annual Fee Cards page.

The Starwood card is good for most uses, as 20,000 points transfer to 25,000 miles on Dela and many other airlines (except United and Continental). But the Delta cards give 2 miles/$1 on certain purchases. I see no reason why you can't get all of them.

Look closely at the Starwood card - the fee is very low compared to traditional Amex cards, and the points are transferable to a much broader range of travel providers (with a bonus as noted above).