Strategy to obtain US Amex

[_TheTraveller_]

Do you know if I would be able to get SUB for both amex business gold and amex business platinum? Not sure if they are affecting each other's SUB, like person cards.

I think so but I'll let others chime in as well.

In case you were thinking about applying for Biz cards, they aren't reported so they wouldn't link to your ITIN.

 

[mike0430]

I think so but I'll let others chime in as well.

In case you were thinking about applying for Biz cards, they aren't reported so they wouldn't link to your ITIN.

Arh, that’s right. It’s a bit tricky now, I have to cancel at least 2 x cards to apply for new Amex personal card with itin.
Thanks again.

 

[levelnine]

Do you know if I would be able to get SUB for both amex business gold and amex business platinum? Not sure if they are affecting each other's SUB, like person cards.

Yes, there's no family card rule on the biz cards like there is with the personal cards.

Edit: Also, with the personal cards, you can still get all the SUBs, but you have to go in ascending order (Gold then Plat, not the reverse).

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Hi All,
I am currently looking to apply for either amex business or Chase Aeroplan card (other chase card does not have great SUB ATM). Appreciate if someone could enlighten me next steps please.

FYI - CSP has an 80K offer which is probably better than Aeroplan?

I was also thinking that maybe you should just try and apply with Chase and see how you go?


Edit:

American Express Card Shop

www.americanexpress.com

Interesting offering that may make US cards less attractive for day to day spend incl food.

Assuming you have the US Gold Amex:

$50 AUD Meal | AUD: USD = 0.65

Essential's card = 50 x 5 = 250 AU MR = 162.5 US MR

US Gold Amex = 50 x 0.65 = 32.5 x 4 = 130 US MR

Capped at 10K points per month = $2,000 on eating out. Assuming you spend $24k on dining out, that's 120K AU MR/78K US MR for 109 AF.

 

[levelnine]

Interesting offering that may make US cards less attractive for day to day spend incl food.

It is an interesting option, but the cap really hamstrings the value proposition, no?

Maximum of 10,000 points per month at the elevated earn rate, which converts 2:1 to Virgin/Qatar/etc, meaning 5,000 points per month.

That's 60,000 points per year. In other words, less than a single sign-up bonus on an Australian card and way less than what you get on an American card.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

It is an interesting option, but the cap really hamstrings the value proposition, no?

Maximum of 10,000 points per month at the elevated earn rate, which converts 2:1 to Virgin/Qatar/etc, meaning 5,000 points per month.

That's 60,000 points per year. In other words, less than a single sign-up bonus on an Australian card and way less than what you get on an American card.

Indeed. If anything, only useful if paired something else like an explorer or a platinum card. The essentials be a dining card only.

I wonder if the explorer will also be revamped.

This is in the context of non churners obvs.

 

[mike0430]

FYI - CSP has an 80K offer which is probably better than Aeroplan?

I was also thinking that maybe you should just try and apply with Chase and see how you go?


Edit:

American Express Card Shop

www.americanexpress.com

Interesting offering that may make US cards less attractive for day to day spend incl food.

Assuming you have the US Gold Amex:

$50 AUD Meal | AUD: USD = 0.65

Essential's card = 50 x 5 = 250 AU MR = 162.5 US MR

US Gold Amex = 50 x 0.65 = 32.5 x 4 = 130 US MR

Capped at 10K points per month = $2,000 on eating out. Assuming you spend $24k on dining out, that's 120K AU MR/78K US MR for 109 AF.

FYI - CSP has an 80K offer which is probably better than Aeroplan?

I was also thinking that maybe you should just try and apply with Chase and see how you go?


Edit:

American Express Card Shop

www.americanexpress.com

Interesting offering that may make US cards less attractive for day to day spend incl food.

Assuming you have the US Gold Amex:

$50 AUD Meal | AUD: USD = 0.65

Essential's card = 50 x 5 = 250 AU MR = 162.5 US MR

US Gold Amex = 50 x 0.65 = 32.5 x 4 = 130 US MR

Capped at 10K points per month = $2,000 on eating out. Assuming you spend $24k on dining out, that's 120K AU MR

FYI - CSP has an 80K offer which is probably better than Aeroplan?

I was also thinking that maybe you should just try and apply with Chase and see how you go?


Thanks, I wonder if CSP as a first card for chase would be too challenging? Is there an easier card to get from chase first card, saw many people complaining about difficulty on getting chase approval.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

^I'm assuming your quotes have bugged out.

Tbh anything could be difficult. My first card was chase and it was a PITA to get approved but it happened. Cards with an elevated offer also usually are a bit more lax from what I've heard as well. You can always try and if unsuccessful, go back to amex.

 

[exmc]

This thread just gets longer and longer with no end in sight. Waiting for a delayed flight at the moment and just want to reflect on the journey for me.

I have 7 cards at the moment which is the culmination of endless calls on crackling phone lines at odd hours, numerous address changes (due to provider cutting service), verification failing, SMS not coming through and the nervous tension as you wait for approval.

Having gotten your card, you find the credits constantly changing and new hacks needing to be discovered to make good use of them especially as Australians.

My partner often asks me why I spend so much time on this, I just say you shall see - cue the Ritz-Carlton, the St Regis and the Park Hyatts and more of the pointy end of the plane. The annual certificates and bonuses that fall down from the sky being my saving grace.

Just yesterday as I go into the C1 portal to transfer my points, I get this dreaded message as I try to trigger my phone SMS verification:

• The number is not registered to your name.
• The number is not a US based number.
• The billing address does not match what we expected.
• The number is billed to someone else.
• The number is a VOIP or WiFi based service.

All the annual fees and spend I do, back to square 1 I go. What a journey.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

This thread just gets longer and longer with no end in sight. Waiting for a delayed flight at the moment and just want to reflect on the journey for me.

I have 7 cards at the moment which is the culmination of endless calls on crackling phone lines at odd hours, numerous address changes (due to provider cutting service), verification failing, SMS not coming through and the nervous tension as you wait for approval.

Having gotten your card, you find the credits constantly changing and new hacks needing to be discovered to make good use of them especially as Australians.

My partner often asks me why I spend so much time on this, I just say you shall see - cue the Ritz-Carlton, the St Regis and the Park Hyatts and more of the pointy end of the plane. The annual certificates and bonuses that fall down from the sky being my saving grace.

Just yesterday as I go into the C1 portal to transfer my points, I get this dreaded message as I try to trigger my phone SMS verification:

• The number is not registered to your name.
• The number is not a US based number.
• The billing address does not match what we expected.
• The number is billed to someone else.
• The number is a VOIP or WiFi based service.

All the annual fees and spend I do, back to square 1 I go. What a journey.

How deeply I can relate to this.

Are most of your cards with C1? I'm guessing you'll need to give them a new phone number...

 

[desafinado74]

How deeply I can relate to this.

Are most of your cards with C1? I'm guessing you'll need to give them a new phone number...

Just to let everyone know that Tello does receive Capital One OTPs without any problems.

 

[sqrt()]

Has anyone made ATO payments with a US card, with points received without issue? Appreciate there is a 1.99% fee for MC and Visa and ~1.5% for Amex but interested as I am anticipating a big HELP levy at the end of the year and could use it for Chase SUBs when I get back under 5/24.

 

[Daventry]

Just to let everyone know that Tello does receive Capital One OTPs without any problems.

Is it possible to activate a Tello eSIM outside of the US?

 

[exmc]

How deeply I can relate to this.

Are most of your cards with C1? I'm guessing you'll need to give them a new phone number...

Nah, I have Amex (3) , Chase (3) and just one Venture X card that I use for non-bonused spend overseas.

Just to let everyone know that Tello does receive Capital One OTPs without any problems.

I actually use TextNow and I can receive C1 OTPs fine for login, its just went I go onto the transfer portal then it requires SMS verification again that the error message pops up. May have to swap to Tello if it can bypass the transfer portal problem...

 

[Martin999]

Is it possible to activate a Tello eSIM outside of the US?

yes, you can. Enable WiFi calling.

 

[Daventry]

yes, you can. Enable WiFi calling.

Thanks!

 

[sudoer]

My partner often asks me why I spend so much time on this, I just say you shall see - cue the Ritz-Carlton, the St Regis and the Park Hyatts and more of the pointy end of the plane. The annual certificates and bonuses that fall down from the sky being my saving grace.

This hits close to home

 

[levelnine]

What a journey.

Your post is a nice reminder that this technique isn't for the faint hearted. The US card market is a hard one to crack and involves a lot more effort, setbacks and frustrations.

In terms of your specific problem, IIRC I've seen people encounter this problem a number of times before. I don't think it has much to do with your phone number, and more that C1 has terrible fraud prevention mechanisms that trigger at random.

I've decided not to bother with C1. With their unreliable approvals process and need to book things through their portal to make the AF back, I'm keeping things simple and plodding along with Amex & Chase (with a bit of Barclays and Citi sprinkled in just for AA miles).

 

[desafinado74]

yes, you can. Enable WiFi calling.

I would like to add that there is a Tello reddit group, and Tello reps do check the group for questions and are pretty responsive and helpful.

 

[maverick1]

Has anyone made ATO payments with a US card, with points received without issue? Appreciate there is a 1.99% fee for MC and Visa and ~1.5% for Amex but interested as I am anticipating a big HELP levy at the end of the year and could use it for Chase SUBs when I get back under 5/24.

Yes, I have and earned full points.
Below is from my Bevy card from last year.