Mar 30, 2015, 7:53 am
Last edit by: TravelingZoomer
American Express typically allows USA cardholders to have a maximum of four credit cards, plus an unspecified number of charge cards. Personal and Business cards count against this cap. Some individuals have more credit cards if opened before the cap was instituted. Anecdotal evidence indicates the limit may have been raised to five in early 2016.
Edit: As of May 19, 2020, Amex has confirmed the limit is four lending (credit) cards, and ten charge cards. Source
Centurion, Platinum, Plum, Gold, and Green are charge cards.
American Express issues both charge and credit cards for three co-brand partners:
All others are credit cards. This includes all variants of Everyday, Blue, and many discontinued cards. It includes all co-branded cards currently issued for:
Edit: As of May 19, 2020, Amex has confirmed the limit is four lending (credit) cards, and ten charge cards. Source
Centurion, Platinum, Plum, Gold, and Green are charge cards.
American Express issues both charge and credit cards for three co-brand partners:
- Charles Schwab
- Morgan Stanley
All others are credit cards. This includes all variants of Everyday, Blue, and many discontinued cards. It includes all co-branded cards currently issued for:
- Delta
- Hilton
- Lowes
- Marriott
Amex USA 4 or 5 "Credit" Card Limit.
Mar 15, 2021, 9:30 am
#542
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: ORD
Posts: 701
When applying for a new card, do I have to be below 4 credit cards? I currently have four and tried to apply. I got the dreaded pop up. My wife has 6 cards and tried to apply and she got the pop up. Pre COVID, I was able to apply for a card even though I was over the limit. Then call, cancel the card over the phone and get approved. I am trying to figure out if the pop up is due to being over the 4 card limit.
Apr 25, 2021, 1:01 pm
#543
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
Apr 25, 2021, 1:55 pm
#544
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,903
Apr 25, 2021, 9:17 pm
#545
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,397
That's irritating. I closed an AMEX Hilton less than a month ago that I would have kept, just so I could use the current SUB offer on an AMEX Delta Gold... having bumped up against the 4 card limit.
Apr 25, 2021, 10:23 pm
#546
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CA
Programs: AA PLT / MR LTPP 1/1/19 / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 541
Random. I did the exact same thing (closed Hilton for Amex Delta Gold), except on Friday! I believe they can reinstate the card, but for a fee.
Apr 25, 2021, 11:03 pm
#547
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,903
Apr 28, 2021, 9:15 am
#551
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, MR Titanium, MR LTP, AA EP, UA Silver
Posts: 743
Applied on Monday, denied due to quantity of lending products.
Called recon on Wednesday, agent counted (out loud) the cards I have open and said "hmmmm, let me check on this for you, the number has changed a lot with the COVID".
After about a 5 minute hold, agent came back with approval.
Called recon on Wednesday, agent counted (out loud) the cards I have open and said "hmmmm, let me check on this for you, the number has changed a lot with the COVID".
After about a 5 minute hold, agent came back with approval.
Apr 28, 2021, 10:34 am
#552
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,903
Applied on Monday, denied due to quantity of lending products.
Called recon on Wednesday, agent counted (out loud) the cards I have open and said "hmmmm, let me check on this for you, the number has changed a lot with the COVID".
After about a 5 minute hold, agent came back with approval.
Called recon on Wednesday, agent counted (out loud) the cards I have open and said "hmmmm, let me check on this for you, the number has changed a lot with the COVID".
After about a 5 minute hold, agent came back with approval.
Apr 28, 2021, 10:58 am
#553
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, MR Titanium, MR LTP, AA EP, UA Silver
Posts: 743
I called the automated status line and entered my information, it recognized the application (stated specific card) and provided the reasoning.
I was not able to access the denial letter online, the portal always timed out. I decided to call instead of waiting on the letter to come in the mail.
Total of a ten minute call with the status line/recon, ending with approval.
I was not able to access the denial letter online, the portal always timed out. I decided to call instead of waiting on the letter to come in the mail.
Total of a ten minute call with the status line/recon, ending with approval.
Aug 13, 2021, 7:57 am
#555
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,897
New data point here
Until today, I had three Amex "credit cards" (Delta Platinum, Delta Reserve, Bonvoy Brilliant) and two Amex charge cards (Amex Platinum, Charles Schwab Amex Platinum). I applied for the Amex Green card today, was approved. I then applied for the Amex Hilton no fee card, and was also approved. Allegedly Amex is counting the Amex Green card as a "credit card" - this would mean I would have five credit cards, which I guess is now approved under the new Amex rules. However it could have been the case that I wasn't identified as having four "credit" cards when I was approved for the fifth (Amex Hilton no fee).
Long term, I will cancel one of the two Platinum cards, decide whether I should keep the Green or upgrade it to Gold, and maybe see if I should upgrade the Amex Hilton no fee to Aspire...
Until today, I had three Amex "credit cards" (Delta Platinum, Delta Reserve, Bonvoy Brilliant) and two Amex charge cards (Amex Platinum, Charles Schwab Amex Platinum). I applied for the Amex Green card today, was approved. I then applied for the Amex Hilton no fee card, and was also approved. Allegedly Amex is counting the Amex Green card as a "credit card" - this would mean I would have five credit cards, which I guess is now approved under the new Amex rules. However it could have been the case that I wasn't identified as having four "credit" cards when I was approved for the fifth (Amex Hilton no fee).
Long term, I will cancel one of the two Platinum cards, decide whether I should keep the Green or upgrade it to Gold, and maybe see if I should upgrade the Amex Hilton no fee to Aspire...