American Express Membership Rewards - Best AMEX card

I have a Delta Skymiles card that I get miles for but what other Amex card can I use to bank milles, points and mqm's??

I have a Delta Skymiles card that I get miles for but what other Amex card can I use to bank milles, points and mqm's??

I have a Delta Skymiles too, a good card. I am going to get a Starwood AMEX because it is way better -- clearly one of the best credit cards for most people. Research it on FT and you will see!

I have a Delta Skymiles card that I get miles for but what other Amex card can I use to bank milles, points and mqm's??

You could use the Starwood AMEX with the benefit that you get 5000 bonus miles with each 20K you transfer from SPG to any Airline. Only thing is right now you only get 10k signup bonus and there were promotions in the past that will get you more.

I wasnt interested in the lower signup bonus right now and Delta didnt seems to fit either, so I just selected a regular branded AMEX Card for MR points. If there is another promotion for SPG I might consider to switch but then I would lose the lounge access too. Bummer...

SPG Amex is the best card imo. I try and use it for all my purchases. My problem is finding a card worthy of having as my backup for those unfortunate times when vendors don't take Amex. I'm considering the DC MC, but haven't decided yet.

I'll be moving the thread to the Amex credit card forum, in keeping with FT housekeeping traditions......

My hotel branded cards from Amex [Hilton and Starwood] have provided the most return for me. The best card has to be relative to providing what you need most; in my case that would be hotels. I rarely use my other Amex cards as they don't provide as much return or I have to go out of my way to use their particular benefit.

Is the True Earnings Business card from Costco. 5% rebate on gas everywhere you pay at pump and 3% at restaurants and 2% on travel and 1 percent everywhere else. The every where else I use my Delta Skymiles which has no annual fee either, If Amex is not allowed then I use my Choice Visa. These are in my opinion the best cards ever and no fee.

I have a Delta Skymiles card that I get miles for but what other Amex card can I use to bank milles, points and mqm's??

If you are interested specifically in points that are convertible to Delta miles, but with the flexibility to also convert to other airline programs there are three possibilities:

American Express Membership Rewards points can be earned with a Green, Gold, Platinum or Centurion charge card. (Some American Express credit cards participate in a program called Membership Rewards Express, but Express points cannot be converted unless linked to a charge card.) Generally, $1,000 = 1,000 MR points = 1,000 Skymiles, but there are promotions that improve the return. The points accumulate at American Express and can be transferred to Delta instantly when needed for a redemption. Paying the annual fee for an American Express charge card entitles you to a reduced or waived annual fee for the Delta card.

Starwood Preferred Guest points (as mentioned by others) can be transferred to Delta. The best value is to transfer in blocks of 20,000 because $20,000 = 20,000 Starpoints = 25,000 Skymiles.

Diners Club Rewards is useful for merchants who do not accept American Express because in USA and Canada Diners Club is a Mastercard. $1,000 = 1,000 Club Rewards points = 1,000 Skymiles, and there are periodic 25% transfer bonuses.


All three programs transfer to many other airlines and hotel loyalty programs, but none of these cards give bonus points for Everyday Spending at supermarkets, pharmacies or gas stations, nor will they hekp you earn MQMs. I would continue to use the Delta for those transactions, but perhaps one of the others for general spending, depending on your spending pattern.

If you are interested specifically in points that are convertible to Delta miles, but with the flexibility to also convert to other airline programs there are three possibilities:

American Express Membership Rewards points can be earned with a Green, Gold, Platinum or Centurion charge card. (Some American Express credit cards participate in a program called Membership Rewards Express, but Express points cannot be converted unless linked to a charge card.) Generally, $1,000 = 1,000 MR points = 1,000 Skymiles, but there are promotions that improve the return. The points accumulate at American Express and can be transferred to Delta instantly when needed for a redemption. Paying the annual fee for an American Express charge card entitles you to a reduced or waived annual fee for the Delta card.

Starwood Preferred Guest points (as mentioned by others) can be transferred to Delta. The best value is to transfer in blocks of 20,000 because $20,000 = 20,000 Starpoints = 25,000 Skymiles.

Diners Club Rewards points is useful for merchants who do not accept American Express because in USA and Canada Diners Club is a Mastercard. $1,000 = 1,000 Club Rewards points = 1,000 Skymiles, and there are periodic 25% transfer bonuses.


All three programs transfer to many other airlines and hotel loyalty programs, but none of these cards give bonus points for Everyday Spending at supermarkets, pharmacies or gas stations, nor will they hekp you earn MQMs. I would continue to use the Delta for those transactions, but perhaps one of the others for general spending, depending on your spending pattern.

In your opinion, would you say that the Diners MC is the best backup card for someone who already has a SPG Amex? I don't buy gas, and everyday purchases at supermarkets and such only makes up a small % of my overall spending. I maxed out my Citi Advantage MC annual mileage cap for 2008 with one purchase a week or so ago...so I need to find a decent card to use for a few hundred thousand in purchases from vendors who don't take Amex. I try to put everything on my SPG card, but that isn't always possible.

RE: Back-ups to SPG AMEX,

I've had DC for a long time, it's auto insurance is "primary coverage" which is great. However, their self-service web site is poor, and their customer service is not as good as AMEX.

I think I might switch to Citi AA Visa (there's a 40K bonus) or one of the VISA/MC issued for UA, AS or CO -- all of which have 20k bonuses + a few other sign-up perks; some of them pay small anniversary bonuses too. Most of those cards waive the first year on annual fee. Most also offer purchase protection perks.

Part of your choice is the airline account where you earn the miles. Part of your choice is whether you want Citi v. Chase v. BofA as the issuer.

If your credit allows, I recommend getting at least 1 card from each to exploit the sign-up bonuses!

Note, re: all the other cards that offer rewards points and thank you points. It is possible to come out ahead on those cards for some people, and the annual fees are less. But for serious FT folks, I think the true mileage cards are generally better -- especially for the sign-up bonuses.

Also, note it is still possible to get a 25K SP bonus if you have sign-up for Personal SPG AMEX, you just have to find the right links!

RE: Back-ups to SPG AMEX,

I've had DC for a long time, it's auto insurance is "primary coverage" which is great. However, their self-service web site is poor, and their customer service is not as good as AMEX.

I think I might switch to Citi AA Visa (there's a 40K bonus) or one of the VISA/MC issued for UA, AS or CO -- all of which have 20k bonuses + a few other sign-up perks; some of them pay small anniversary bonuses too. Most of those cards waive the first year on annual fee. Most also offer purchase protection perks.

Part of your choice is the airline account where you earn the miles. Part of your choice is whether you want Citi v. Chase v. BofA as the issuer.

If your credit allows, I recommend getting at least 1 card from each to exploit the sign-up bonuses!

Note, re: all the other cards that offer rewards points and thank you points. It is possible to come out ahead on those cards for some people, and the annual fees are less. But for serious FT folks, I think the true mileage cards are generally better -- especially for the sign-up bonuses.

Also, note it is still possible to get a 25K SP bonus if you have sign-up for Personal SPG AMEX, you just have to find the right links!

My problem is most/all of the Citi cards have an annual mileage cap...and I've already used mine up for 2008. :( That's why I'm thinking about the DC MC.

The DC is a good card as there is no mileage cap and you can transfer mileage to a number of programs. By the way, if you are an "elite" member in AA (gold, platinum or ex. platinum), you have no cap on annual earnings on your citibank card. Sounds like as much as you buy, you will make million miler status (gold) on AA in no time and the cap will no longer apply to you. In the meantime, use the Starwood and if Amex is not available as an option, use the DC.

The DC is a good card as there is no mileage cap and you can transfer mileage to a number of programs. By the way, if you are an "elite" member in AA (gold, platinum or ex. platinum), you have no cap on annual earnings on your citibank card. Sounds like as much as you buy, you will make million miler status (gold) on AA in no time and the cap will no longer apply to you. In the meantime, use the Starwood and if Amex is not available as an option, use the DC.

Thanks. I think I'm gonna go for the DC. It seems like a good choice. I haven't seen any good sign up deals, but I'll keep searching. Guess I should pay off my Citi Mastercard balance (86k) off first to maximize the credit limit they offer me on the Diners card.

And yes, I hope to make lifetime gold by the end of '08...I'm a bit more than half way there at the moment, but have some large purchases pending.

I recommend the Costco Amex. 2% on travel, 3% on resturants, and 1% on "other." Once a year you get $ back. My travel destinations are diverse, bordering on strange. Seldom is there a choice of carrier, so it is difficult to concentrate points with one airline. Such points as I have are difficult to redeem. My AA tix for IAD-UIO are freakin' WAITLISTED for upgrade for a trip 3 months away! :mad:

So I go with cash rewards cards.

I recommend the Costco Amex. 2% on travel, 3% on resturants, and 1% on "other." Once a year you get $ back. My travel destinations are diverse, bordering on strange. Seldom is there a choice of carrier, so it is difficult to concentrate points with one airline. Such points as I have are difficult to redeem. My AA tix for IAD-UIO are freakin' WAITLISTED for upgrade for a trip 3 months away! :mad:

So I go with cash rewards cards.

That might be a good deal for those who put a lot of $ on the card for travel and restaurants...but 1% doesn't sound like a great deal. Compare that to SPG Amex. 20k (of "other") on your Costco card gets you $200. That's a free domestic ticket through my SPG, or two free nights at a Cat 4 hotel. To me either of those are worth considerably more than $200. But to each his own.

FWIW, MR transfers 1:1 to Delta, but does not transfer 1:1 to AA (SPG does).

I buy high-ticket items on the PLAT, to get the extra purchase protections, but any walking-around items (gas, groceries) go on the SPG...I've got gold on AA, but don't mind throwing a little business to Delta now and then (they fly to locations like Savannah, GA, where I find myself occasionally)...one can also always supplement using sites like AAdvantageEshopping.com...

Whatever card you decide upon, be sure you get all of the bonuses available for signing up for it. They are listed in the Credit Card section of my website below. They include miles and points, and cash back deals I negotiated for my readers that not available anywhere else, so far as I know.

I currently have a Blue Cash card that I am not too thrilled with. Any reccomendations on how to go about switching to the SPG card without hurting my FICO but still getting any bonuses being offered?

Another vote here for SPG AmEx....I feel the best value to annual fee ratio (not to mention it's free for the first year).

I currently have a Blue Cash card that I am not too thrilled with. Any reccomendations on how to go about switching to the SPG card without hurting my FICO but still getting any bonuses being offered?

When you switch to an eligible card (you have to call to be sure what cards can convert to SPG) you just make sure they give you the standard opening bonus. You cannot, however, get any special bonuses that you may find with various links.

For example, on the SPG consumer card you'll still get 10,000 bonus points for switching to the card. You will not and cannot get the 15,000 bonus points after $15K spent in 6 months through a conversion. That must be a new card through the appropriate link - i.e. https://www201.americanexpress.com/cards/Applyfservlet?csi=6/19539/b/226&PID=1&BUID=CCG&PSKU=SPG&CRTV=A000005E8VSPG&EAID=ZXePwMMENmg-0lxPt%2AnqP9m1FOYvIMpkEQ

I currently have a Blue Cash card that I am not too thrilled with. Any reccomendations on how to go about switching to the SPG card without hurting my FICO but still getting any bonuses being offered?

Just go ahead an apply for the SPG card. One new card should not hurt your score much unless you are already on shaky credit ground. Since there is no annual fee on the blue cash just leave it open. It may actually help your score since your utilization % will go down if you let the blue cash sit at $0.

I'm probably going to switch to the Citi Amex that is giving 3-5 points for all purchases for 24 months once my blue cash year resets in March.