[Albion] Do you have an American Express credit card?

[RandyWanger]

I have the BA AMEX, use it daily, never had an issue with people not accepting it. Pay it off in full each month. Collect the points and go on holidays with it.

 

[Knocky's Nose]

Our simple process is...

- Buy all groceries and petrol from Tesco. Retain Clubcard points until there is a boost with an enhanced conversion rate running, and then convert them to Virgin miles.
- Use the Virgin Atlantic cards for ALL purchases everywhere. There is a free card and a c£150/year card. I use the latter for the enhanced miles it rewards.

You can also get the Amex Gold Rewards card - which is free for the first year - hit the early spend threshold that triggers a bonus reward and then convert all points to Virgin miles. Then "introduce" your spouse/partner/whatever to the card, earning you both bonuses and they repeat the spending. Cancel both cards when done. You used to be able to rinse and repeat this every six months, but I understand this loophole has been closed now.

Doing this, which doesn't involve spending anything we wouldn't otherwise do, nor spending anywhere we wouldn't otherwise go, we've flown Premium and Upper using miles a fair few times, even in school Summer holidays.

I take it you visit this site then? If you don't, it sounds bang up your street...

https://www.headforpoints.com/

 

[Bozza]

I take it you visit this site then? If you don't, it sounds bang up your street...

https://www.headforpoints.com/

I'm aware of it (as well as https://thepointsguy.com) and have visited in the past but at no time recently. I don't doubt we could be more efficient in both how we accrue and spend miles. but I'm not obsessive about it. What we do works for us, so I'm happy with that.

 

[dazzer6666]

I pay for the Amex BA Premier card. The benefits outweigh the cost (£140/year) massively. Spending 10k pa gets me a Companion ticket for any reward flight I book, so essentially a BOGOF (except taxes). So far I've always been able to use this on a long haul business class flight meaning its usually worth at least a couple of grand. The Avios for general expenditure are good too and bolster what I get through my BA membership card.

Acceptability really isn't much of an issue these days. Where it is, I put virtually all other expenditure on a (free) Hilton-branded Barclaycard. This gives me an automatic Hilton Honors Gold Card and enough Hilton points a year for several free hotel stays, plus free breakfasts, room upgrades etc on virtually every stay.

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[nwgull]

Another with the Amex BA Premier card. Not only do the air miles build nicely, but you also appear to have a better chance of being upgraded when you fly with BA. Most places seem to accept it these days.

 

[ChickenBaltiPie]

Disagree as I have negotiated much better rates with other card providers so never offer Amex to customers anymore

He is right, you’re wrong. AMEX is cheapest for small business. FACT

AMEX charge (large) merchants more because AMEX Cardholders spend more (otherwise big/smart business wouldn’t pay it)

I can use mine (with huge/endless benefits) everywhere I wish to and no where I don’t

Merchants that don’t accept do not understand/appreciate the strong business case for doing so and/or AMEX will not lower their rate enough and essentially undercut themselves to achieve acceptance cardholders don’t really want anyway

AMEX benefits outweigh the other networks 10/1, if I can’t use it 1/100 who cares

 

[Wrong-Direction]

I had a duo American Express/Mastercard for years but Lloyd's have just got shot of the amex one, don't know why.

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[ChickenBaltiPie]

I had a duo American Express/Mastercard for years but Lloyd's have just got shot of the amex one, don't know why.

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AMEX got shot of Lloyd’s

 

[Return of the Rev]

Got one a few years ago and also signed 10 others up and got 4 return flights to New York worked for Amex for 17 years

 

[Official Old Man]

I accept Amex in my shops purely because they sponsor my team.

 

[Mileoakman]

I've had the Amex Nectar card since 2005 and use it for over 90% of my purchases with no problem. Usually earn about 3000 points a month which equates to about £15. Mind you the annual fee is only £25 so I'm about £150+ up a year. I pay it off each month so interest isn't a problem.

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[Dorset Seagull]

He is right, you’re wrong. AMEX is cheapest for small business. FACT

AMEX charge (large) merchants more because AMEX Cardholders spend more (otherwise big/smart business wouldn’t pay it)

I can use mine (with huge/endless benefits) everywhere I wish to and no where I don’t

Merchants that don’t accept do not understand/appreciate the strong business case for doing so and/or AMEX will not lower their rate enough and essentially undercut themselves to achieve acceptance cardholders don’t really want anyway

AMEX benefits outweigh the other networks 10/1, if I can’t use it 1/100 who cares

Not sure how you can make that claim when you have no idea the rates I have negotiated with my provider