# Understanding American Express AMEX: 14 Credit Cards Explained

## First, Understand Two Basic Concepts

**Credit Cards - Traditional Credit Cards**
- Fixed credit limit
- Monthly minimum payment required

**Charge Cards - Fee Cards (also called Charge Accounts)**
- No fixed credit limit
- Spending authority based on Amex's assessment of your income, repayment history, and credit
- Key Point: Must pay balance in full every month; partial payments not allowed
- Platinum Card, Gold Card, and Green Card all fall into this category
- No opportunity to carry a balance

## Application Requirements

**Credit Score**
- 670-700+ is reasonably safe
- 650+ has also been approved
- Students with $10k annual income can be approved
- 700+ has close to 99% approval rate

## Two Special Rules

**Five Card Rule** - applies to both personal and business cards; charge cards don't count
- If you have two credit cards and three charge cards, you can still apply for three more credit cards
- **Application Frequency Limit** - applies only to credit cards; charge cards are not affected
- Maximum one card approved within 5 days
- Maximum two cards approved within 90 days

## Cash Back Cards

**Blue Cash Everyday - No Annual Fee**
- 3% back at US supermarkets, gas stations, and online shopping (capped at $6,000 per category annually, then 1%)
- 1% on other purchases
- Save $84/year on streaming
- Welcome offer: $200 statement credit after $2,000 spending in 6 months
- 0% APR for first 15 months
- Best for: People with high everyday spending who don't want to pay an annual fee

**Blue Cash Preferred - First Year Free, Then $95/year**
- 6% back at US supermarkets and streaming services
- 3% back on transportation and gas
- 1% on other purchases
- Welcome offer: $250 statement credit after $3,000 spending
- Best for: Families with large grocery expenses and multiple streaming subscriptions to easily offset the annual fee
- Everyday suits individual users; Preferred suits larger households

## Membership Points Cards

**Platinum Card - $895 Annual Fee**
- Up to 5x points on flights and hotels booked through Amex Travel
- Airport lounge access included
- $320/year Uber credit
- $400/year Resy dining credit
- $600/year hotel credit
- Welcome offer: Up to 175,000 points (requires $8,000 spending in 6 months)
- Consider: Whether you'll actually use these benefits to justify the cost

**Gold Card - $325 Annual Fee**
- 4x points at supermarkets and restaurants
- 3x points on flights
- $10/month dining credit
- Restaurant platform discounts
- Welcome offer: 90,000-100,000 points
- Focus: High rewards on everyday spending

**Green Card - $150 Annual Fee**
- 3x points on travel, transportation, and restaurants
- Includes Clear Plus airport security fast pass credit
- Welcome offer: 40,000 points
- Best for: New Amex users; covers daily commuting, dining, and travel without being too expensive

## Co-Branded Cards

**Delta Airlines Series (4 Cards)**

*No Blue - No Annual Fee*
- 2x back on restaurants and Delta flights
- 8% discount on airport purchases
- Not recommended; limited value

*Gold - $150 Annual Fee*
- First checked bag free
- $200 flight credit after $10,000 spending
- Pays for itself with just 2-3 flights

*Platinum - $350 Annual Fee*
- Main highlight: Companion Certificate - complimentary companion ticket annually (valid for US domestic, Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America routes)
- Best for: Frequent travelers who always travel with a companion

*Reserve - $650 Annual Fee*
- For dedicated fans
- Wider companion ticket coverage
- 15 Delta Sky Club lounge visits annually
- $240 dining credit

**Hotel Co-Branded Cards**

**Hilton Series**

*Honors - No Annual Fee*
- 7x points at Hilton properties
- 5x points at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas
- Silver Card membership included
- Best for: Occasional hotel stays looking to accumulate points easily

*Surpass - $150 Annual Fee*
- Gold Card membership included
- Complimentary breakfast
- Higher room upgrade probability
- 12x points at Hilton properties
- Pays for itself with about 10 nights per year

*Aspire - $550 Annual Fee*
- Diamond membership included directly without needing to accumulate nights
- Nearly guaranteed room upgrades including suites
- $400/year resort credit
- Enjoy the highest benefits immediately

**Marriott Series**

*Bevy - $250 Annual Fee*
- 6x points at Marriott properties
- 4x points at restaurants and supermarkets
- Gold Card membership included
- Upgrade and late checkout benefits add value if staying 10+ nights annually

*Brilliant - $650 Annual Fee*
- Platinum Elite membership included directly
- $300 global dining credit
- One free night at luxury hotel annually
- Easily offsets most of the annual fee

## Summary

Amex's card lineup offers diverse options - there's something for new immigrants, small business owners, and those with years of stable income and financial freedom.

The goal isn't to blindly chase benefits, but to let the card serve your lifestyle, not let the card control you.

Ask yourself three questions before applying:
1. What are my primary spending categories?
2. Can I actually use these benefits?
3. Is the annual fee worth the rewards?

Think it through before applying - avoid unnecessary detours.