r/AmexAus

The premium Amex cards include enough travel benefits that keeping track of all of them - the credits, the status benefits, the insurance covers, the lounge access arrangements - is genuinely difficult and certain benefits seem to be used far less than they should be simply because the cardholder either doesn't know they exist or doesn't know how to access them effectively. Would love to know which specific benefits people here think fall most commonly into the underused category and whether there's a practical way of ensuring you're actually capturing the value the annual fee is supposed to provide.

I am thinking of upgrading my Explorer credit card to platinum.

What should I do?

Will I get the bonus points and is it really worth the annual fees?

I do have decent monthy expenses but me already holding Explorer card might not get me the sign up bonus points. I have also heard amex invites people to upgrade the card with certain bonus points. Is that true?

Many of you are aware that Amex has voluntarily agreed to abide by the new surcharging rules come Oct 1st. Businesses will no longer be able to surcharge customers for the use of Amex.

What many of you aren't aware however, is that whilst the major banks will be capped by the government on how much they charge businesses, Amex will not be.

Amex has sent a letter to all its merchants saying that they won't be reducing the fee they charge businesses. The major banks WILL be reducing the fee as it is being capped by the government to reduce the pressure on small business.

This means we are likely to see a huge number of businesses no longer offering Amex as it will no longer be financially viable for them, especially our small local businesses who are aleady being squeezed tight.

So less opportunity to earn points and another question mark as to whether the exorbitant annual fee is actually worth it in Australia.

I’ve got a decent stash of Membership Rewards points sitting there, but I’m always hesitant to transfer them too early. I’d rather wait until I know I’m getting good value and there’s actually a flight I want to book. Interested in hearing how others approach it, especially if you’ve learned any lessons from transferring too early or waiting too long.

I've currently got one Amex and keep seeing people here with two, three or even more cards to maximise different bonuses and benefits.

At what point does it become more hassle than it's worth? I'm tempted to add another card but don't want to end up tracking annual fees and minimum spends across a bunch of accounts

Does anyone have any tips on how to hook Qantas flights with AMEX points? I’m trying to look for flights to Japan (HND) around January but there’s no classic rewards flights listed that I can see. Have I left it too late or have they not released any available seats yet?

In Amex's continued efforts to lose even more customers, they have now come up with this gem:

2. Payments to your Card Account (who can pay your Card statement)

We are making changes to who can pay your statement and consequences of third parties paying your statement. The following will be added to the Payments clause: 

Payments to your American Express Card Account must come from a personal bank account in your name or if applicable, the name of an Additional Card Member. Payments can also be made from a joint bank account if you, the main Card Member, or an Additional Card Member are one of the signatories. We may require additional verification for any payment received from an unrecognised source and we reserve our rights to suspend or cancel any Card Account in breach of this requirement.

The ability to transfer Membership Rewards points to multiple frequent flyer programs sounds like a significant advantage but whether that flexibility actually translates into better value than earning airline points directly - when you account for the transfer ratios, the availability of reward seats and what the points are worth at the redemption options most people can realistically access - is a calculation that the marketing around Amex cards doesn't always make straightforward. Would love to know how people here who've thought about this properly have landed on which ecosystem produces the best real world value for their specific spending and travel patterns.

I’m thinking of putting more of my regular bills through Amex instead of just using it for bigger purchases. Things like subscriptions, utilities and other monthly payments could add up for points, but I’m not sure how many people actually use their Amex this way. Would be useful to hear what recurring payments people have set up on theirs and whether it’s been worth doing.

Logged in today and there's a banner to earn 15k bonus reward points for adding additional cardholders.

My wife has a AMEX platnium - can I add her as an additonal card holder?

Apologies if this has been previously posted - but am I missing something?

Removal of dining credit and Amazon prime and the reduction in cost of the Accor membership is more than $500 worth of value - ie a 3rd

And now changes to priority pass incoming with the removal of membership for supplementary card holder.

Justifying annual fee was easy - but now there is a $500 plus gap to fill…
Has anyone got any insight into any positive changes?

Hi Everyone, just recently, i applied for the American express platinum edge credit card around 10 days ago to be exact and am super curious as to whether i will be approved for this credit card or not.

Here are my stats:

- 22M

- An Australian Citizen

- Own an Australian Drivers License

- Currently with Jobseeker Centrelink

- Earn little over $800 per fortnight through Jobseeker Centrelink

- Own a debit card

- Have no Credit History as of yet

I am also new to American Express

Thanks guys :)