AmEx credit cards
American express or AmEx is a credit card issuing bank and financial company with its own global payment network.
AmEx became famous in 1950-60s with its charge cards, targeting affluent customers. Since then, a strong competition from almost all major banks in the upper end pushed AmEx from catering high net worth individuals to a more ‘retail spending’ category.
Today the company extended its product lines with EveryDay revolving credit cards. Now AmEx offers typical credit cards with great rewards, no annual fee options and ability to carry a balance on a card.
| regular APR | |
- 2x points for travel booked through American Express
no annual fee
1-2x points on $1
$5.95 monthly fee
1% cash back on all purchases
no credit check
free ATM withdrawals
| regular APR | |
- get 2% on all purchases
- need to have Fidelity account - free, no minimum, no maintenance fee
no annual fee
2% flat rate cash back
need to open Fidelity account (free)
| regular APR | |
- up to 8 miles on a dollar for your individual JetBlue flight purchases (3 miles for a flight base fare purchase plus 3 miles for booking at jetblue.com, plus 2 points as a cardmember)
- up to 8 JetBlue miles on your individual portion of JetBlue vacation packages (6 points as JetBlue member and 2 points as a cardmember)
- 2 points per dollar charged by JetBlue
- 1 point per dollar on other purchases
- get 20,000 miles bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- get $50 bonus each year you buy a JutBlue vacation package
- 50% off on on-flight purchases
$40 annual fee, waived for the first year
up to 8 JetBlue miles
+20,000 bonus miles
$95 annual fee, waived for the first year
a charge card - not a revolving credit
no credit limit
Benefits
Some important benefits, included in AmEx cards package are:
- Car Rental Insurance. It offers Collision Damage Waiver for rental cars with MSRP below $50,000 for 30 days or less.
- Lost or stolen baggage. It covers up to $500 per trip for all persons combined. It works only if you pay for your tickets with American Express card.
- Global Assist Program or 24/7 Premium Assist Hotline Program for Platinum card holders.
Pros
- AmEx still has a good recognition. You will not necessarily impress people with AmEx card, but some still look at AmEx as an upper end brand.
- The company has good standards for customer service.
- Usually high credit limits.
Cons
- American Express is accepted at fewer places than VISA or MasterCard. The company is improving the situation, but small merchant locations tend not to accept AmEx cards. Overseas acceptance is worse than for VISA or MasterCard as well.
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