So I just got the SPG AMEX last week and AMEX was way cool getting it to me next-day and all. So, kudos AMEX. I'm not such a big fan of SPG anymore, which is a shame, but it's their fault. Despite that falling out, I'm sure I'll be able to put the 30,000 bonus points to good use. ^ Speaking of which, I have to spend $4500 in three months to get 20,000 of that bonus. I thought $4500 wouldn't be a big deal because I routinely put $5000/month on my Chase Continental Presidential Plus card. I'll simply divert most of that Chase spending to AMEX for a month or so and...voilą!
But nooo! So many merchants don't accept AMEX, I've been vexed at nearly every turn. I managed to spend $700 on jewelry for TSMRSRNE at Jared, and about that much with both Google and Net Sol, but that totaled like $1600 and it'll be September before I spend that much again. So despite an expected total spend of $15,000+ for August-October, I'll barely make my $4500 AMEX-spend goal within the 3-month time limit.
How do you SPG AMEX aficionados maximize use of that card?