Strategy to obtain US Amex

[sudoer]

If amex nz run the 50% Bonvoy bonus in May, it works out better for me to wait and see if they run the bonus than a transfer to US MR would be. Our NZD:USD exch rate is so poor (.60) that it tips the scale in favour of that Marriott bonus whereas you guys in Oz are better off with the straight transfer to US MR.

What is the Amex NZ MR earn rate per dollar spent, and usual transfer rate to Bonvoy?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

If we take fees into account:

2% (1% for US Amex FX and 1% for Wise):

$100,000 AUD on a x3 category (Direct Spend) = 65,000 USD = 195,000 US MR/Aeroplan Points.
$100,000 + 2% = $102,000 AUD for 195,000 US MR/Aeroplan Points.

$100,000 AUD on general spend (Direct Spend) = 65,000 USD = 65,000 US MR/Aeroplan
$100,000 + 2% = $102,000 AUD for 65,000 US MR. This also applies to general foreign spend.

$100,000 AUD on general foreign spend = 225,000 AU MR = 65,000 Aeroplan Points
$100,000 + 3% = $103,000 for 65,000 Aeroplan Points.

$100,000 AUD on AUD spend (Xfer via US Amex) = 225,000 AU MR = 146,000 US MR/Aeroplan Points

$100,000 AUD on AUD Spend (Via Marriott) = 225,000 AU MR = 65,000 Aeroplan points

I updated the numbers and categories/examples since they weren't very clear yesterday.

Essentially if you're spending heaps on bonus categories (I would assume many AFF members fall into this category) or foreign spend then it's worthwhile spending directly on US cards. For all general AUD spend, you'll be better off spending directly on your AU Amex and transferring to US Amex.

There are enough cards out there to cover many categories which should be more than sufficient to help you get above the threshold of deeming the venture worthwhile.

 

[mike0430]

I opened my account a few years ago so reckon would have chosen AU account...you can easily add a USD account as long as the account name matches...once added you will see the option to transfer money in/out for both the USD & AUD account...

Hi Maverick,

Are you referring to Amex saving account here?Amex aus does not seem to have saving account but only credit card here.

 

[qq2233]

Hi All,

I'm very new to this but have read a ton of this thread.

Quick questions:

1. From what I read, I can initiate a GT transfer to US from my AU AMEX Plat and retain by AU AMEX Plat. To do this, I just need an address in the US, US bank account? I'll have by HSBC US bank account set up soon.
2. From here, can I continue to accumulate points on my AU AMEX and just transfer it over to my new US AMEX? And the points will be transferred at the AU:US exchange rate. Is this a simple process?
3. For best bang of buck AMEX card that's applicable, I assume Green and Gold are best for everyday use?

Thanks in advance!

 

[sudoer]

1. From what I read, I can initiate a GT transfer to US from my AU AMEX Plat and retain by AU AMEX Plat. To do this, I just need an address in the US, US bank account? I'll have by HSBC US bank account set up soon.

Basically yes, you also need a US phone number to receive verification texts. There's a few providers, some members use TextNow, Tello, T-Mobile, etc.

2. From here, can I continue to accumulate points on my AU AMEX and just transfer it over to my new US AMEX? And the points will be transferred at the AU:US exchange rate. Is this a simple process?

Yes it's very simple, you call Amex AU to initiate the process. It takes one phone call, but the actual transfer takes 1-2 weeks. You can transfer once per year.

3. For best bang of buck AMEX card that's applicable, I assume Green and Gold are best for everyday use?

Really depends on your spend profile and whether any of the Gold benefits are useful to you.

Green ($150 AF) gets 3X points on all travel (airlines, hotels, taxis, uber, public transport, etc) and restaurants worldwide
Gold ($250 AF) gets 4X on restaurants worldwide and 3X on airline spend (but not other travel categories). Gold gets $120 dining + Uber credit for us in USA only.

 

[qq2233]

@sudoer - absolute legend, thanks so much!

 

[Ecco]

What is the Amex NZ MR earn rate per dollar spent, and usual transfer rate to Bonvoy?

It’s $1=2MR with nz amex plat and the transfer rate of MR is 1:1 to bonvoy. I think our MR:bonvoy transfer rate is better than yours but your earn rate is better. In the end, nz amex mr to airline miles = 2.7:1 and au amex mr to airline miles = 3.6:1 (assuming you transfer in 60k from bonvoy).

With the 50%bonus MR-Bonvoy and then if you transfer to United program from bonvoy with the 50% United bonus you end up with quite a few United miles. I like United program because of the free change/ cancellation of award bookings.

wow I’ve done a fair few spreadsheets trying to get my head round this…

 

[maverick1]

Hi Maverick,

Are you referring to Amex saving account here?Amex aus does not seem to have saving account but only credit card here.

no. I'm referring to Amex US Checking account....

 

[_TheTraveller_]

no. I'm referring to Amex US Checking account....

Any updates to your W9?

 

[maverick1]

Any updates to your W9?

No mate, haven’t had the chance to call them. Might do it tonight…

 

[Chino Y]

Wow it's surprisingly easy for me. Been with AU Amex for 12 years, requested relocating to US (Amex Everyday card), entered US relative's mobile number and home address, called +1 866 929 5160 and got approved straight away. No ITIN no SSN or bank account at all.

 

[Viridis]

Better off spending on the AU card and transferring to the US.

[…….]

The only time it might make sense to spend on the US card is bonus categories like 3x restaurants/travel on the Green etc, or transactions in non AUD currencies.

Apologies, I think this has been answered but my search skills couldn’t find it.

What about paying government bills with the US card? Theoretically 0.65 instead of 0.5 airline miles; anyone had an experience or success with that?

Just about to make a minor contribution to the kids’ HECS and thought that, in return, they might be able to contribute to our next vacation

 

[sudoer]

What about paying government bills with the US card? Theoretically 0.65 instead of 0.5 airline miles; anyone had an experience or success with that?

I've read (but have no first hand experience) of government payments earning at the usual rate on US Amex cards.

I'm just not sure the loss on forex is worth the marginal increase in earn.

 

[sudoer]

I tested this myself on the weekend, and the transaction was processed by the resort a day after booking a prepaid rate on the Hilton site. This opens some interesting opportunities to stack up to 3 x US$200 credits fairly easily with consecutive nights bookings. And that US$600 can go a fairly long way with the weak yen right now. I haven't received the credit yet, but I will be very surprised if it doesn't post - will update in the coming week or two.

Confirming this worked

 

[DC3]

A few posters reported the $200 credit was still crediting on prepaid resort bookings in Japan - where transactions appear to be processed by the property instead of the Hilton website.

Interesting find. Is this a Japan-centric ‘loop hole”? Usually booking pre-paid via the web doesn’t work for the credit, only booking direct with the hotel.

 

[levelnine]

What about paying government bills with the US card? Theoretically 0.65 instead of 0.5 airline miles; anyone had an experience or success with that?

Australian Government bills earn at the full rate on US cards.

 

[sudoer]

Interesting find. Is this a Japan-centric ‘loop hole”? Usually booking pre-paid via the web doesn’t work for the credit, only booking direct with the hotel.

The thread I was reading suggested all online bookings in Japan behaved this way. Perhaps Hilton.com isn't capable of processing JPY payments so processing is done by the property, or maybe it's related to Amex transactions routing via JCB in Japan? Anyway, others reported success with Tokyo Bay and Okinawa Chatan resorts, so I would be relatively confident prepaid purchases will credit at all Hilton resorts in Japan

But also...

I think I have seen advance purchase rates for Europe and APAC hotels count towards the credit, it's only the NA based non-refundable rates which are processed by Hilton centrally which don't count. However occasionally I have seen special saver rates for US resorts which require some deposit and that is processed by the hotel.

Sounds like it might be helpful for AFF members making cash bookings at non-US Hiltons to share some screenshots of how their transactions are posting! Could be a country specific thing.

 

[dein_gesicht]

I have 2 businesses so I pay all my taxes with US amex cards for SUB. Yes you get the full earnings rate too. About to get my 2nd biz gold card too

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Does anyone have the IHG Premier Biz card from Chase?

Has anyone had any issues adding the card to their Apple Pay/Google Pay?

 

[levelnine]

Does anyone have the IHG Premier Biz card from Chase?

Has anyone had any issues adding the card to their Apple Pay/Google Pay?

Co-branded business cards cannot be added to digital wallets for some strange reason: Accepted cards | Digital Payments | Chase.com