mia

This is incomplete information. You must have another card linked to the same Membership Rewards account or the points will void in 30 days. All documented here:

https://rewards.americanexpress.com/...=footer-tandc#

gnomey

Ok I should make clear that in my case and also in the scenario where that statement was made, one will still own at least one other MR-earning card after the intended cancellation

So having said that , is it true that cancelling an MR earning card while still having points pending (or about to become pending) for that cancelled card, but not yet posted , will still allow you to get those points posted later (i.e. not forfeited) ?

sdsearch

Why don't you list the 5 credit cards you have from Amex? Are you sure they're all credit cards and not charge cards? (I ask that because most Amex MR cards are charge cards.)

Amex doesn't seem to spell out what happens in the case you're asking, and perhaps not many people have performed that "experiment" (and that's what it would take for data points). So that's why wondering if there's any other possible solution to your dilemma, but I can't being suggest that without a list of your 5 Amex credit cards.

gnomey

1 SPG
1 EDP
1 Delta
1 Blue for Biz
1 Hilton surpass

All are obviously credit cards. It is not that hard to figure out when the CL is clearly listed in your online login. And I have a couple of charge cards as well but they are irrelevant to the issue here

And I want to apply Hilton no AF before May 31

sdsearch

How long have you have the Delta and what are you getting out of it? In my case, I'd probably dump that (or an other airline card) first in such a dilemma.

The other thing to look into is how long your HH Gold status will last (if you need the Surpass for it) if you cancel the Surpass right now. Once you have had the no-fee Hilton Amex for a while, you'll be able to upgrade back to the Surpass from that.

Any card which earned partner points doesn't have the long-wait issue of Membership Rewards points.

eajusa

Agreed. The Delta card is only going to give you free bags or a $30 discount on entrance to Sky Clubs. Unless you're using the card for that, why keep it?

gnomey

Delta card was only for sign up bonus miles to redeem an expensive intraregional international flight

Yes - agree that canceling a non-MR card might circumvent the problem slightly since points post immediately and not with one statement delay. Just that I prefer to cancel a card that is closer to 11 months old which is the EDP card out of the pile. However canceling a non-MR card will technically allow me to cancel it sometime after 6/5 after its points post - which allows me to apply Hilton no AF on 5/31 , get declined, then recon a week later I guess. Hopefully it works

I might also consider canceling Hilton surpass since I beleieve having that account precludes you from getting the upgrade offer when you also have Hilton no AF right? So that is also another thought

aviationwiz

Is there any specific amount of time I should wait from the time I close my 5th credit card to the time I apply for another one?

mhdena

No there is not, in fact lets hope you're still eligible for the fifth one.


If they want you to have five its available now.

I got my fifth instantly approve March '16.

I applied for a sixth (Blue for Business) last month (Feb '17), got a pending. They called me and told me five was the limit and asked me what card I wanted to close, They moved the credit to the new card.

You don't have to wait.

azepine00

hit with a rejection with 5 current cards - first ever from amex
in the past it was never a problem however the card i closed recently was pretty old (prob 10 yr) so perhaps it wasnt included in count
closed one more, requested a manual review - they couldn't do anything over the phone

eajusa

I'm at the point where I don't need or desire over 4 Amex credit cards. In fact, 2 is enough along with 1 or 2 of their charge cards.

barbh2

I have 5 Amex Credit cards (plus some charge cards.) My credit cards are:

Hilton Surpass
Platinum Delta
Starwood Preferred Personal
Amex Everyday
Starwood Business

I would like to apply for The Blue Business Plus card but I expect my application would be denied if I apply now since it would be my 6th AMEX credit card.

I am OK with cancelling my Starwood Business card if it will facilitate approval for the Blue Business Plus but I am not sure when to cancel:
Should I apply and let AMEX turn down my application and try to get them to reconsider in return for cancelling the Starwood Business card?

Or should I cancel my Starwood Business card first and subsequently apply for the Blue Business Platinum?

If so, how long do I need to wait after cancelling the Starwood Business before I apply for the Blue Business Plus?

mhdena

/\
Do this.

When I applied for my Blue Business while holding five, it went pending and they called me the next day to ask what card did I want to close. I closed my BCP and transferred the credit line to Blue Business.

Another fellow closed his fifth card and applied and couldn't get back to five.

gnomey

100% agree. I do the same as well.

barbh2

mhdena and gnomey:
Thanks for the GREAT ADVISE. I applied even though I had 5 credit cards already, and just like you said, my application went to pending and AMEX called me to tell me I could only have 5 credit cards, and offered to close one of my cards so I could open the Blue Business Plus card. I told them which card I wanted to close, they closed it and approved me for the Blue Business Plus card during the phone call. My Blue Business Plus card came by UPS today.