MrsCodoma

I'm having terrible luck on getting a second year retention offer on Amex Plat so I will likely close it. I want to preserve my MR and am wondering if I should do the Amex Gold with the elevated offer of 90k ($4000 in 6 months) or the BBP which right now is showing 75k ($15k spend in 12 months).

The Amex Plat is the only Amex I have. I am 3/24. I'll be eligible for the CSP/CSR SUB again in August or September so I can potentially get lounge access again which is the only thing I'll really miss from the Plat. I am not a big spender (put less than $3k/month on credit cards) so I can't do anything concurrently.

If you had to choose one, which one and why? Or even better, which one should I choose?

ETA: I have a FHR booking from my $200 hotel credit in October and I know I need an Amex card. I know Gold would work, but unsure on BBP.

dinkoh

I would do Gold due to elevated offer ONLY if you eat out frequently or buy groceries (4x). Otherwise, get BBP since it's no AF.

MrsCodoma

Thanks. I would say that restaurants and groceries are about a third of my cc spending is on looking over my budget.

MrsCodoma

Also found this offer, but not sure how it compares to the 90k.

Dr Jabadski

BBP (for you right now) is a no brainer, that's a comparatively massive SUB with sufficiently long timeframe to meet the minimum spend. AmEx Gold often has similar SUB offers and NLL offers (for Gold biz allowing for multiple identical accounts each with a SUB). BBP on the other hand usually has no or a rather pathetic (10K-15K) SUB and we’ve not seen any reports of NLL offers for BBP. Additionally BBP is frequently mentioned as a strongly viable way to keep MR alive, considering no AF possibly “forever”, even with the minimal SUB. If you’re lucky enough to have been targeted, get it while the getting is good. The Gold (offer) will (probably) still be there for you.

MrsCodoma

Thanks for your reply. I didn’t know the SUB was rare for BBP. Found it on doctor of credit.

MrsCodoma

So I went ahead and tried to apply but it requires me to log in to get the 75K BBP offer. Once I log in it says it's no longer available. Boo. Now I'm stuck again.

mia

This means that you were not targeted for the offer. This is one of the perils of "finding" offers online.

MrsCodoma

Yep. I got too excited because I saw the offer on the link I clicked, but didn't realize I needed to login. I was having decision fatigue last night so I wasn't thinking it through. Now I'm stuck again with which card to choose. Sigh.

notquiteaff

Another card you could consider is the Everyday Amex. I have one in my sock drawer in case I decide to close my Plat.

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...amex-everyday/

DTS

I think the Gold for 90k is also a very good offer. Back-up is always the Everyday.

MrsCodoma

oh boy another to add to the mix 😂 I have to stick to BBP or gold for my sanity.

Dr Jabadski

Just in case you (MrsCodoma) are a (points/miles/credit card SUB) nugget*: That’s DoC’s way of writing it’s a “targeted” offer, made by email or snail mail or upon logging into your account, either as a pop-up or in the list of AmEx Offers to one specific individual or business, occasionally transferrable to another person or biz. As MIA wrote, if you haven’t been targeted, upon application you’ll see some version of (paraphrasing) “get lost”.

Yes, it is frustrating and annoying when one is not targeted for a lucrative desirable offer. Targeting as an incentive may be more directed at those with less use of AmEx cards, rather than those who have lots of AmEx cards, AmEx probably thinks they don’t need to offer additional incentives. Although they recent spate of targeted NLL biz plat and gold offers goes against that theory. Some of us take some consolation in the knowledge that we’ve already ripped AmEx off for received from AmEx many SUBs and points.

Everyday is an excellent option but it will count toward (Chase’s) 5/24. Some prefer the BBP for that reason. Like most of this game, it’s a highly individual decision, no one correct answer for everyone. Yup, that’s the ongoing struggle in this game, points and miles and SUBs and applications and recon calls VERSUS sanity. Sometimes it seems like the 2 are mutually exclusive .


(*”Nugget”, Naval Aviation slang for newbie or FNG, F..ing New Guy, a lump of raw precious metal. “A Nugget was defined as a brand-new Naval Aviator who’d just received his wings of gold and was now enrolled in advanced flight training.” “A Nugget is a first-tour Naval Aviator or Flight Officer, especially applicable during their first deployment.”)