American Express Basic Charge Card

thegoodman

rodmace wrote: »

TBH, I dont see any so-called AMEX fan-boys here, but I do see an AMEX-hater keep bashing it. :T

It's normal not to see your mistakes other can.
Because you are a fan boy you can't see it. That's what fan boy is.

pleasedelete

thegoodman wrote: »

Without the pp card you will pay £ 15 per person or £30 for two.
If you travel four time a year and also use the card you will pay £120 per year. Eight times will be £240.

Most people don't travel more than four times a year unless it's for business.

How have you worked out £500?

Yes you can usually go in lounges if you pay. What I would say though is that a few lounges seem to have stopped people paying on the door or booking on line. Seen a lot turned away at airports recently as some have changed policy. Some disgruntled people saying but we have always done xxx

If you fly with united you get to go in their lounge whatever the class with a plat Amex which they don't promote in the uk.

thegoodman

The Amex card is find if you are high spender or travel a lot.
For everyday people better deal are available outside Amex cards.
Most people don't travel more than 2-3 times a year unless it's business.

Venusflytrap

thegoodman wrote: »

What rewards are you getting with AmEx?
If you moved to CapOne cashback at 1.25% would you save more

My AmEx is not a charge card but an AmEx Nectar CC. I get nectar points wherever I spend and also bonus points on threshold as well as nectar partners' purchases.

Hadn't worked out if cap1 is better until now: since April I have spent circa £2200 on the card and already have £45+ in nectar points. On the face of it, looks a better deal...

chattychappy

thegoodman wrote: »

The Amex card is find if you are high spender or travel a lot.
For everyday people better deal are available outside Amex cards.
Most people don't travel more than 2-3 times a year unless it's business.

Well, I do travel a lot. Long haul every 4 to 6 weeks, other flights every 2 to 3 weeks. And I found Amex just doesn't fit in anymore. The business travellers I meet don't use Amex much either.

It's all part of their marketing - exclusivity, the card of successful young business executives, opens doors all over the world etc. A bit of a myth really.

But if you are a regular leisure travel using airports that have PP lounges, then it might be worth it just for that. (Obviously use a 0% card for spend.)

thegoodman

pleasedelete wrote: »

Depends. We put everything on. I cleared the points in December and have about 55k now so spent about 55k in 10 months. Some is business not all personal.

That will give me 5 nights in a great hotel through one of partner hotels which would be about £1k to £1500 to buy. We save them up usually for Asia or USA trips. So a better return than cash back I think.

You are making use of the points which is good

rodmace

thegoodman wrote: »

Without the pp card you will pay £ 15 per person or £30 for two.
If you travel four time a year and also use the card you will pay £120 per year. Eight times will be £240.

Most people don't travel more than four times a year unless it's for business.

How have you worked out £500?

Well, clearly you are not that familiar with airport lounges. If you want to pay £15 to get in to the lounge without a gold/plat frequent flyer card issue by the airline, you have to pay £60 or so per year to get a basic PP card first.

In the previous posts, you simply said that people can find better deals by getting the same services separately. I was just trying to get the facts straight. The fact is if you do want to have just a pair of PP prestige cards, you have to pay £259x2. Some people may not be able to fully utilise their PP cards, which probably means the AMEX cards is simply not for them. But, that is a different topic.

rodmace

thegoodman wrote: »

It's normal not to see your mistakes other can.

This is simply perfect for you. lol

rodmace

chattychappy wrote: »

Well, I do travel a lot. Long haul every 4 to 6 weeks, other flights every 2 to 3 weeks. And I found Amex just doesn't fit in anymore. The business travellers I meet don't use Amex much either.

It's all part of their marketing - exclusivity, the card of successful young business executives, opens doors all over the world etc. A bit of a myth really.

But if you are a regular leisure travel using airports that have PP lounges, then it might be worth it just for that. (Obviously use a 0% card for spend.)

Amex is trying to target the mass market not just the niche market they have been focusing on for years. It probably back-fired a bit.

jay87

I can use AMEX most places I go like high street shops, supermarkets, petrol etc and if you put a lot through them work expenses etc they are really rewarding with world class customer service. Top notch stuff!