Thread: Curiosity about AMEX underwriting for charge cards

I currently have an AMEX Blue credit card, which I've had for a little over three years. I've been interested in getting one of their charge cards, mostly to use for business and expenses for which I expect to get reimbursed by someone else, so I can build up rewards points. On their website, it displayed that I was pre-approved for a classic Green card and for a Platinum card, but curiously, I was not pre-approved for either a Gold or a Premier Rewards Gold card. I made the decision just to get a Green card to start, and I suspect that at some point I'll try to upgrade to a Gold card. At this point, I just don't see the value in paying for a Platinum (I don't have the travel lifestyle to justify it).

For people who may know, I'm just curious why I would be pre-approved for what I perceive is their "enry level" charge card and for their "top level" charge card, but not for the "intermediate" Gold card. Any thoughts?

I'm saving a little money by going with the Green and may upgrade to a Gold down the road, but I just found this a bit odd.

I doubt it means anything that you weren't pre-approved for the Gold cards; if you are approved for their Platinum then you would automatically be eligible for the Gold cards. A lot of people are against the Green card since Zync came out, and they have good reason to be. I'd definitely check it out as an alternative to the Green card if you haven't already.

Thanks to all. I kind of made an assumption that they were hoping I'd spring for the $450/year Platinum card, which I really don't need. I opted for the Green card, but I was told today by someone in customer service that I shouldn't have any trouble upgrading to a Gold at some point in the future. I have a good history with them based on my Blue card, so I'm hoping they'll let me get a Premier Rewards Gold, which seems like a really good deal for accumulating points.

Originally Posted by Mogul of Pineapples

If you're a light spender the Green or Gold is a much better choice than the Platinum.

Really the only people who should be applying for Platinum are the heavy travelers and I'm not talking about the type that fly Jet Blue and stay at Econolodge. It's really designed for those that go first class all the way.

Not necessarily. You get $200 in airline fees refunded every year. At $50 per trip per person for bag check, that pays for almost half the annual fee right there. And you get 20% discount on rental cars plus various other perks. I recently got a free hotel night plus $100 food credit just for being a platinum card holder. I also got an airline ticket for half price by using points I've earned for regular spending. I've had the card since March and have already saved more than the annual fee on things I would have bought anyway. And that does not even include some of the extras I've received.

I agree that most of the perks of the platinum card are travel-related. But you don't need to go first class all the way to benefit nor do you have to travel a lot. I think a couple that makes as few as 2 airline trips a year can almost pay for the card from the savings while enjoying substantial other perks. Two trips a year is really not all that much.