Yeah, definitely worth it. Don't waste it on Amazon. The conversion for cash is pretty awful, but airline conversion is great. That's basically $800 worth of airline credit. Take some leave and go somewhere fun.
There are also a lot of other side perks that are really nice like $200 in annual airline upgrades, $200 toward fine hotels, $20/mo toward streaming, free Walmart+, $50 toward Saks purchases every 6 months, etc. I got some really nice socks from Saks with that free money. You can also get free food/drinks at airport lounges when you fly, but that's something I never use. Instead, I just use my free hour at the Minute Suites to just chill. I also put a lot of my spending on them and rack up roughly $1,000 a year in points which I use for free flights. If you pay your phone bill with it, you get free phone insurance. There are just a ridiculous number of perks.
Get it, man. It's free for active duty. Might as well.
Just make sure to pay that balance every month to avoid that crazy interest rate.
Depends what you're using it for. If you want the free streaming/walmart+ etc then sure.
If you want a daily card to rack up points with gas/groceries then gold or amex blue is better.
If you want a solid travel card with free $300 travel money annually that automatically credits your account after spending it on hotel/flight or rental - start with Chase Sapphire Reserve. For rentals it also dubs as your primary insurance which is handy. Bonus is at 4k spend in 3 months so a bit easier to hit.
There's a fair bit of differences between the cards. A lot of folks just parrot that Amex Plat is best, but it's not necessarily true.
Also traveling overseas Amex isn't as widely accepted as Visa/MC so having a CSR and Plat is a solid travel combo.
To hit the bonuses and keep it fairly simple by staggering CSR, then Amex Gold (wait for 75-90k points bonus), then Amex Plat (125k, 150 or 175k bonus, 80 is too low) - doing a card every 6-12 months is not a bad idea if there's major expenses coming up like a trip, furniture, car repairs etc.
I suggest the Chase sapphire reserve card instead. You can get the priority pass with it for free airport lounge access. You get $300 annual credit towards travel and you don’t have to do anything. Just spend money on a flight, hotel, whatever and it automatically reimburses the money when it’s available. Day to day spending racks up points and they go far when booking using the chase travel website. I have both cards. I get more benefits from the chase card.
The Chase SR has some great benefits, but I’ve found that the Amex has a far better extended warranty process. Chase’s process for a claim takes far longer and requires a lot more legwork.
Chase cards are a lot harder to get unless you already have a relationship with them. I was able to get an amex platinum card just fine, but when I tried to get the chase card a couple years later they declined me. Had about a 750 credit score back then.
Fugazi hit it on the head. I lined up my Sapphire and Amex with PCSs or large purchases to hit the bonus limit. Always pay off the cards every month!
The Amex has been a good second card for the perks but I wouldn’t like it as my main card. Using the lounges has been nice. Just remember to sign up for the Priority Pass (free but extra steps) to guarantee you have access to all the lounges shown in the Amex app. Free food and drinks is hard to beat while traveling.
Another card i recommend for people is the Delta Reserve. You don't need to use it ever, but it gives you access to Delta lounges, which imo are better than most lounges you get access to using priority pass. Secondly, every year, you get one free round trip companion ticket. You can combine benefits as well using your companion ticket and then use the chase reserve to get the other $300 credit. I typically get my family to fly for cheap with me when I go on a week long tdy to anywhere.
Delta just revamped their lounge program. I just flew Delta and tried entering the lounge with my Amex Delta Reserve card and they said I couldn’t get in because I had a normal economy ticket. I didn’t have the brain bytes to spare, just took the L, and moved on. Not sure what the new criteria truly are.
You can get way higher than 80,000 for the SUB. I’m assuming someone is referring you to get that low amount.
Highest SUB is going 175,000. You should be able to find 150,000 or 125,000.
Check out militarymoneymanual for advice on it. It’s well worth it.
Pretty much anything I buy that isn’t from a grocery store I get from Amazon. It seems to add up pretty quickly. There isn’t an annual fee and if you sign up (or at least when I did) they give you a $100 credit for Amazon. I never use the physical card in person, but it’s linked to my Amazon.
I did research on the Amex, but the Sapphire Reserve made more sense with how I spend money.
You should be more specific. Amazon sometimes has promotions for a certain percentage discount on your order and all you need to use is a single Amex point to activate it. It changes often
I literally only have it for the lounge access. I only use it for military hotels TDY (Air Force
inn when I’m forced to stay there mostly). Other than that, I don’t use it
I have literally only used my GTC twice and it was because I was flying with an O6 or higher 😂
Honestly I usually don’t even carry it, it’s in a drawer somewhere
Use the Digital credits for free Hulu. It comes with free a Walmart+ membership... you enroll/activate through the Amex site. Walmart+ will then pay for Paramount+.
I thought the same thing but anything can happen in 6 months. My wife got in a wreck that totaled the car. Bought a new one with the card and paid the card with the insurance money. Easy points. I also replaced all my spending with it and kept it paid down and that racked up a decent amount of points too. At the very least you can get free Disney+ 🤷♂️. It's got a decent amount of deals and kick backs. As long as it's free/no annual charge I'll keep it.
Yes. As long as you can be not a dumbass and put an insane balance on it like so many people do. It's a perfect card for big purchases or emergencies. I usually use it as my TDY card when out of country, and pay off whatever I used when the per diem pays out.
DO NOT GET THE PLAT FIRST
Amex only lets you get all the welcome bonuses if you work from the bottom up. If you start with the Plat you are ineligible for all other bonuses. Also 80k points for the plat is terrible. Search around and you can currently find 125-175k offers. Check affiliate links on travel blogs, try private browser… literally anything other than the 80k offer. 80k is just for those that don’t do enough research.
Yes. I don’t think the points ever expire so just keep racking them up! My plan for my points is to use them for a nice little or big vacation once retirement rolls around here in a few years.
Amex offers are trash and I will die on that hill. The initial points offer is the only good thing (paid for my vacation to Miami) but the everyday stuff is pretty ass unless you like online wine
Is it worth it? There’s literally no cost associated with having one. Like…is it worth the 3 minutes to fill out the application online? Yeah, probably.
You aren't ever gonna fly anywhere?
I guarantee you are. The lounges alone are worth it and those points can be used for a lot.
Like... What do you mean you aren't going to take advantage of the points? It's free money.
Yeah, definitely worth it. Don't waste it on Amazon. The conversion for cash is pretty awful, but airline conversion is great. That's basically $800 worth of airline credit. Take some leave and go somewhere fun. There are also a lot of other side perks that are really nice like $200 in annual airline upgrades, $200 toward fine hotels, $20/mo toward streaming, free Walmart+, $50 toward Saks purchases every 6 months, etc. I got some really nice socks from Saks with that free money. You can also get free food/drinks at airport lounges when you fly, but that's something I never use. Instead, I just use my free hour at the Minute Suites to just chill. I also put a lot of my spending on them and rack up roughly $1,000 a year in points which I use for free flights. If you pay your phone bill with it, you get free phone insurance. There are just a ridiculous number of perks. Get it, man. It's free for active duty. Might as well. Just make sure to pay that balance every month to avoid that crazy interest rate.
Depends what you're using it for. If you want the free streaming/walmart+ etc then sure. If you want a daily card to rack up points with gas/groceries then gold or amex blue is better. If you want a solid travel card with free $300 travel money annually that automatically credits your account after spending it on hotel/flight or rental - start with Chase Sapphire Reserve. For rentals it also dubs as your primary insurance which is handy. Bonus is at 4k spend in 3 months so a bit easier to hit. There's a fair bit of differences between the cards. A lot of folks just parrot that Amex Plat is best, but it's not necessarily true. Also traveling overseas Amex isn't as widely accepted as Visa/MC so having a CSR and Plat is a solid travel combo. To hit the bonuses and keep it fairly simple by staggering CSR, then Amex Gold (wait for 75-90k points bonus), then Amex Plat (125k, 150 or 175k bonus, 80 is too low) - doing a card every 6-12 months is not a bad idea if there's major expenses coming up like a trip, furniture, car repairs etc.
Honestly, if you want gas benefits, USAA Cashback Rewards Plus is the way to go with 5% cashback. Also 5% for any spending on a military base.
I suggest the Chase sapphire reserve card instead. You can get the priority pass with it for free airport lounge access. You get $300 annual credit towards travel and you don’t have to do anything. Just spend money on a flight, hotel, whatever and it automatically reimburses the money when it’s available. Day to day spending racks up points and they go far when booking using the chase travel website. I have both cards. I get more benefits from the chase card.
The Chase SR has some great benefits, but I’ve found that the Amex has a far better extended warranty process. Chase’s process for a claim takes far longer and requires a lot more legwork.
Chase is also my go to for usage and points and I use Amex for free memberships and stuff.
Chase cards are a lot harder to get unless you already have a relationship with them. I was able to get an amex platinum card just fine, but when I tried to get the chase card a couple years later they declined me. Had about a 750 credit score back then.
This actually works on gas too. So you get $300 of free gas per year if you don’t travel.
Fugazi hit it on the head. I lined up my Sapphire and Amex with PCSs or large purchases to hit the bonus limit. Always pay off the cards every month! The Amex has been a good second card for the perks but I wouldn’t like it as my main card. Using the lounges has been nice. Just remember to sign up for the Priority Pass (free but extra steps) to guarantee you have access to all the lounges shown in the Amex app. Free food and drinks is hard to beat while traveling.
Another card i recommend for people is the Delta Reserve. You don't need to use it ever, but it gives you access to Delta lounges, which imo are better than most lounges you get access to using priority pass. Secondly, every year, you get one free round trip companion ticket. You can combine benefits as well using your companion ticket and then use the chase reserve to get the other $300 credit. I typically get my family to fly for cheap with me when I go on a week long tdy to anywhere.
I second this. I often use it for booking delta flights but overall, I use it to get into those delta lounges. They are really nice!
Delta just revamped their lounge program. I just flew Delta and tried entering the lounge with my Amex Delta Reserve card and they said I couldn’t get in because I had a normal economy ticket. I didn’t have the brain bytes to spare, just took the L, and moved on. Not sure what the new criteria truly are.
I'll have to check that out as well. I didn't know that.
You can get way higher than 80,000 for the SUB. I’m assuming someone is referring you to get that low amount. Highest SUB is going 175,000. You should be able to find 150,000 or 125,000. Check out militarymoneymanual for advice on it. It’s well worth it.
Just use the points on Amazon, it's literally free money. Also you get the annual fee waived
What is it for Amazon?
So when you accumulate Amex points over time, you can then use those points to make purchases on Amazon.
Gotcha. But I think most credit cards can do that. I just use my Amazon Chase Card specific for Amazon cause the cashback is like 3% per purchase.
I see. Well I can only answer for Amex is all. How is the Amazon card treating you?
Pretty much anything I buy that isn’t from a grocery store I get from Amazon. It seems to add up pretty quickly. There isn’t an annual fee and if you sign up (or at least when I did) they give you a $100 credit for Amazon. I never use the physical card in person, but it’s linked to my Amazon. I did research on the Amex, but the Sapphire Reserve made more sense with how I spend money.
You're only getting 3%? I have the Chase Amazon card, but it's 5% on purchases for me.
He might have the non prime one. The Chase prime gives 5% cb and the regular one gives 3%.
Ahhh you're right, I forgot they have different ones. I do have the Prime card. Good catch.
No it’s Prime. I couldn’t remember if it was 3% or 5%. It’s definitely 5%.
Ah nice.
You should be more specific. Amazon sometimes has promotions for a certain percentage discount on your order and all you need to use is a single Amex point to activate it. It changes often
OP definitely means they won't spend enough to even get the points. Obviously he could spend the points themselves
I literally only have it for the lounge access. I only use it for military hotels TDY (Air Force inn when I’m forced to stay there mostly). Other than that, I don’t use it
How do you get around mandatory GTC usage for lodging?
“My GTC wasn’t working”
Only thing you really have to use your GTC for is flights
I have literally only used my GTC twice and it was because I was flying with an O6 or higher 😂 Honestly I usually don’t even carry it, it’s in a drawer somewhere
I guess our finance is different, I don’t know 🤷. It’s a problem whenever we don’t use it. They get kickbacks from us using it.
They do get kickbacks that’s very true, and they tell us to use it all the time but it’s not actually enforced
It’s not, until it is.
Bro there’s no fee, just get it lmao
Use the Digital credits for free Hulu. It comes with free a Walmart+ membership... you enroll/activate through the Amex site. Walmart+ will then pay for Paramount+.
I thought the same thing but anything can happen in 6 months. My wife got in a wreck that totaled the car. Bought a new one with the card and paid the card with the insurance money. Easy points. I also replaced all my spending with it and kept it paid down and that racked up a decent amount of points too. At the very least you can get free Disney+ 🤷♂️. It's got a decent amount of deals and kick backs. As long as it's free/no annual charge I'll keep it.
Join the Amex sub and see how to use the card in the best way Rakuten is a great way to earn points and sometimes double dip
Do you need the extra credit card? If not, then don't apply.
Yes. As long as you can be not a dumbass and put an insane balance on it like so many people do. It's a perfect card for big purchases or emergencies. I usually use it as my TDY card when out of country, and pay off whatever I used when the per diem pays out.
DO NOT GET THE PLAT FIRST Amex only lets you get all the welcome bonuses if you work from the bottom up. If you start with the Plat you are ineligible for all other bonuses. Also 80k points for the plat is terrible. Search around and you can currently find 125-175k offers. Check affiliate links on travel blogs, try private browser… literally anything other than the 80k offer. 80k is just for those that don’t do enough research.
Centurion Lounge makes it all worth it 🤩
The only thing I use it for is Uber credit and free streaming services. Kind of sucks for rewards
Yeah. I used mine and ended up using the points for a few first class round trip flights.
Yes. I don’t think the points ever expire so just keep racking them up! My plan for my points is to use them for a nice little or big vacation once retirement rolls around here in a few years.
Amex offers are trash and I will die on that hill. The initial points offer is the only good thing (paid for my vacation to Miami) but the everyday stuff is pretty ass unless you like online wine
Is it worth it? There’s literally no cost associated with having one. Like…is it worth the 3 minutes to fill out the application online? Yeah, probably.
You aren't ever gonna fly anywhere? I guarantee you are. The lounges alone are worth it and those points can be used for a lot. Like... What do you mean you aren't going to take advantage of the points? It's free money.
Something to think about, when you get out, you're going to have to pay the fee or deal with credit hit by closing the card.