UPDATE – Got an email a morning later and was APPROVED! I then called in to have it overnighted!
Why you want this card TODAY – because this card gives you a $200 airline fee credit every CALENDAR year, if you apply for this card today and ask for it to be rush delivered, you could get the $200 credit for 2014, 2015, and 2016 before cancelling the card, thus giving you $600 in credits for just 1 $450 annual fee. Besides all the other benefits, it’s rare for this card to give a publicly available 100,000 offer. So due to the timing of the offer (100K in December), it is truly the best time to apply.
I was debating on whether to get this card for the past couple of weeks since last month, I had applied for the Biz Gold 75,000 offer, but today, as I was having lunch with a coworker, I told him about the card, and so he applied for and got approved for it. I figured it couldn’t hurt for me to apply as well although I figure my chances were low of getting this card since 1) my credit score is a minefield this year due to the Citi AA 100K Exec cards, 2) just getting the biz gold card and 3) having just put nearly 30K on the biz gold card in a matter of days (AMEX AGCs). Anyway, I applied using doctorofcredit‘s tip, and the phone call took nearly 15 minutes due to the script that they had to read. After all that, they said they couldn’t approve me immediately and that I would hear from them in 7-10 business days.
I knew immediately that I didn’t have to wait that long, so I asked the lady for a number I can call. I called up the reconsideration line, and they could usually tell me if I’m approved or not, but this time, they said the “executive team” was handling my application. I asked why that was, and she said it was because I had existing AMEX cards with them. She said I would hear from them in 3-5 days. I told her that I needed the card ASAP and if there was a phone number for them. She said no there wasn’t, but she did say she would put in a note to rush deliver the card if I was approved. And that was my night.
Later that night, I had my wife call and she was immediately approved with the first rep. I had her call back to ask for overnight delivery, but that department was closed.
Remember, 100K AMEX MR (well really 110K after the $10K of spend) transfers to 150K British Airways points, which gets you 6 free roundtrip awards on Alaska Airlines!
As for the $200 airline credits, you MUST register which airline first here – https://rewards.americanexpress.com . I’m going to pick Alaska. Then you can buy either 4 $50 Alaska gift cards, or just 2 x $100 Alaska gift cards. Recent reports say you’ll get the credit back.
Call the same number and go to ‘application status’. You’ll be routed to India who can help you.
As for the $200, you get it dec 24 2014, anytime 2015, and jan 2016. AMEX gives you 90 days to cancel the card after paying the annual fee, so you’ll cancel after you get the last $200 credit
Thanks. I called and they said since the application was already processed that they can’t expedited it any faster than delivery in 24-72 hours. Oh well, I’ll try not to spend any $ until I get the card I guess.
Re: the MR points, the rep that took my application didn’t seem to agree that I can get 2016’s $200 flight credit before Dec 24, 2016. She said it’s given at the anniversary date versus calendar year.
The rep is wrong. It’s based on calendar.
The AmEx rep is saying the $200 flight credit is only given every anniversary year. If I claim it today after approval that means they’ll give another $200 on Dec 24th, 2015. So that means I’ll pay a $450 annual fee (in my January 2015 statement) for $400 in flight credits. In order to get the other $200 flight credit by Dec 24th, 2016 I’ll have to pay another annual fee in my January 2016 statement. Can you confirm?
One more thing: what number did you call to have the card overnighted? Both the original rep and my 2nd rep (when calling in again) said they can’t go faster than 3-5 business days via UPS.
Thanks Vinh. I applied, got approved.
Cool Sud. Make sure you call back to get it overnighted.
Call 800-971-6736 and tell them you accidentally threw away the offer, but it was 100K for $10K spend. Both my wife and I got it.
Thanks. If I don’t normally spend $10K in 3 months using credit cards what ideas do you have to meet that requirement? I’d like to avoid buying all kinds of merchandise to then resell on eBay.
It’s easy to spend those $10K in 3 months. I’ll talk or link to that in another post shortly.
FYI, I just called AmEx (1-800-519-OPEN) and the rep said I can’t get 100K MR points (after $10K spend in 3 months) as it’s only for targeted people who received a specific rsvp code. She was only able to offer the standard 40K MR points (after $5K spend in 3 months). I passed on this as she wasn’t able to match it.
I do need to mention that you can transfer MR to Delta, but I wouldn’t do that since Delta Skymiles are almost worthless. You can also transfer to ANA miles to fly on United and Star Alliance airlines.
Is there a chart somewhere that shows AmEx MR points exchange rates with different airlines? I’m trying to determine if this is worth doing for airlines around the Cincinnati area.
I’m in awe at the hefty $450 annual fee: are you saying that you pay it once as you’re billed in Dec 2015 then you cancel before Dec 2016?
You can Google the exchange rates, but for the most part, they are 1:1. The best use for Cincinnati would be to transfer to British Airways to fly domestic flights on American Airlines (you’d have to connect through ORD for almost all flights though). Although the absolute best redemption would be to fly in Singapore Airlines Suites class from JFK to Frankfurt or Singapore. That’s what I’d use them for.
The $450 annual fee is offset by the 3 $200 airline credits you’ll get – one now before end of 2014, 2015, and January 2016, before you cancel the card. Since you’ll probably use this for Delta, read this on Flyertalk