Help needed – Best route for new card

[sentio85]

Hi

I would appreciate some help re: best sign up strategy for the following scenario:

Canada / US – summer road trip planned – still time to get a card
Partner has existing Gold Charge Card – I have no recent Amex history (i.e. qualify for bonuses)

– There is a 16k referral bonus (for Gold I assume)
– Have been offered 5k MR for 1k spend (prob due to limited spend on Gold card) to keep the card

I am already HH Gold and Bonvoy Gold – prob most likely to use Hilton on trip – so no advantage for Plat.

I am thinking about getting the Plat for the lounge access (we are visiting 4 different airports – 1 with Centurion lounge) and Hertz car hire. Would probably cancel after a month or so.

I know we have just missed the 60k sign up, but do not plan to sign up until beginning of July.

What is the best route here? Get referred for Plat by partner. Partner takes retention bonus and then transfers to Green once spend target has been met? Am I missing anything?

Thanks

[memesweeper]

My 2p: Your partner should look at ICC Platinum dollar card before the road trip (you can’t apply). Spend on that during the trip and top up on your return to hit the bonus. Then consider what UK Amexes to get on your return.

[sentio85]

Thanks @ memesweeper – just had a quick look – it suggests that you don’t get the signup bonus if you have held a MR-eligible card in the last six months but you can’t apply unless you already hold an Amex which seems contradictory unless I am missing something. How does anyone earn the bonus?

Also, it says you need a USD account to pay the bill. How does this work – do we just use one of the newer accounts like Chase to pay it?

Thanks

[Reney]

sentio85 wrote:

Thanks @ memesweeper – just had a quick look – it suggests that you don’t get the signup bonus if you have held a MR-eligible card in the last six months but you can’t apply unless you already hold an Amex which seems contradictory unless I am missing something. How does anyone earn the bonus?

Also, it says you need a USD account to pay the bill. How does this work – do we just use one of the newer accounts like Chase to pay it?

Thanks

This post has the answers you are looking for:

https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/01/02/american-express-international-dollar-euro-currency-cards/

[memesweeper]

sentio85 wrote:

Thanks @ memesweeper – just had a quick look – it suggests that you don’t get the signup bonus if you have held a MR-eligible card in the last six months but you can’t apply unless you already hold an Amex which seems contradictory unless I am missing something. How does anyone earn the bonus?

Also, it says you need a USD account to pay the bill. How does this work – do we just use one of the newer accounts like Chase to pay it?

Thanks

It is contradictory. You’ll get the bonus if you have a UK MR card account.

To pay I recommend using Wise, and I’ve actually got a proper USD bank account. Wise is far more straightfoward than most US banks!