French FlyingBlue AmEx card for non-residents
Jul 12, 16, 5:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LON
Programs: FB Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 108
French FlyingBlue AmEx card for non-residents
Has anyone from outside France had any success applying for the French Air France/KLM AmEx Gold card? I have called them and they said I need a French bank account (which I hopefully can create on my next trip to France), but they also mentioned that this account should be more than 1 year old. Of course I don't want to go through all this if after waiting 1 year my application will be rejected based on some strange reasons, so if anyone has some experiences going through this process, please share them.
Jul 12, 16, 6:12 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Cologne
Programs: FB Plat, IHG RA Spire, TK Elite+, HH Diamond, LH SEN, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 972
I've been interested in this for a while but not sure how to go about it either.
How do you intend to get a French bank account if you don't live there?
I'm a UK resident and want the card you mentioned but have no idea how to get the bank account and then the following Amex.
Please share what details you have, if any
.
How do you intend to get a French bank account if you don't live there?
I'm a UK resident and want the card you mentioned but have no idea how to get the bank account and then the following Amex.
Please share what details you have, if any
.
Jul 12, 16, 6:33 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LON
Programs: FB Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 108
Jul 12, 16, 7:46 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Blanche, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 7,467
Jul 12, 16, 9:23 am
#6
formerly B7e7US
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA/DL PLT, Priority Pass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,590
I was able to apply for an Amex several months after my arrival to France, so the age of the bank account is not an issue. The rest of the paperwork is what might prevent you from getting the card in the first few months. You need to send them a bill (utilities except cellphone) and the first one usually takes a few months to arrive.
Jul 13, 16, 1:22 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,338
I was able to apply for an Amex several months after my arrival to France, so the age of the bank account is not an issue. The rest of the paperwork is what might prevent you from getting the card in the first few months. You need to send them a bill (utilities except cellphone) and the first one usually takes a few months to arrive.
One thing is clear, Amex really, really wants new customers. They are always begging me to get my friends to sign up.
Jul 13, 16, 2:11 am
#8
formerly B7e7US
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA/DL PLT, Priority Pass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,590
Do you mean send Amex your utility bills? I never did that. All I did was fill out the online application and was instantly approved for the card. And if you have a friend living in France you can use their address and phone number for your bank account. It's not like the bank or Amex will come by to see if you are at home.
One thing is clear, Amex really, really wants new customers. They are always begging me to get my friends to sign up.
One thing is clear, Amex really, really wants new customers. They are always begging me to get my friends to sign up.
Jul 13, 16, 6:46 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,338
OK, maybe I just don't remember showing bills.
BTW I just got another 50K FB miles for getting again the Platinum card. I dropped to Gold for a couple years, and then started getting the 50K offer once more and went for it.
BTW I just got another 50K FB miles for getting again the Platinum card. I dropped to Gold for a couple years, and then started getting the 50K offer once more and went for it.
Jul 14, 16, 6:27 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: KBL
Programs: FB Gold - M&S Gold
Posts: 279
I don't want to high-jack the thread but about those 50k FB miles, do you know if you were offered that because you're an ex-Plat? I'm willing to move from Gold to Plat but I missed last year anniversary campaign and the 50k miles that came with it, and all I see these days are just a 20k miles offer
Jul 14, 16, 6:35 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,338
I don't want to high-jack the thread but about those 50k FB miles, do you know if you were offered that because you're an ex-Plat? I'm willing to move from Gold to Plat but I missed last year anniversary campaign and the 50k miles that came with it, and all I see these days are just a 20k miles offer
Jul 14, 16, 7:23 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: UK/FR
Programs: FlyingBlue Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 886
If you aren't french resident don't really expect receiving any insurance from the card. Everytime you make a claim for something happening abroad, you need to justify of a trip of less than 90 days outside of your the country where the card is registered.
Jul 14, 16, 10:18 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 414
The utility bill is usually a way to prove that you actually live at the address you registered. It's common practice in France. If you get a non-resident account in a French bank, AMEX might still require a proof that you actually live at that non-French address you provided them.
I don't want to high-jack the thread but about those 50k FB miles, do you know if you were offered that because you're an ex-Plat? I'm willing to move from Gold to Plat but I missed last year anniversary campaign and the 50k miles that came with it, and all I see these days are just a 20k miles offer
I don't want to high-jack the thread but about those 50k FB miles, do you know if you were offered that because you're an ex-Plat? I'm willing to move from Gold to Plat but I missed last year anniversary campaign and the 50k miles that came with it, and all I see these days are just a 20k miles offer
Jul 17, 16, 3:26 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: KBL
Programs: FB Gold - M&S Gold
Posts: 279
Not saying that the offer is related to the FB status, but was wondering if the fact that stimpy was a previous holder of a Platinum Amex card (not FB status) was in any way related to Amex offering 50k to subscribe to a Plat card again.
