Can someone explain the Amex deal to me?

[Russiamomm]

I’ve never had an Amex card.  I do have an airline card which I use for just about everything and an NCL card that I use for NCL cruises.  I book through CAS.

 

I’ve read a lot about deals when you pay with an Amex.  Will any card work - even the ones without an annual fee or do you need a higher level card?  Also, do you need to book the cruise through A,ex Travel?

 

what are the standard deals and what are some of the limited time bonuses?  I have a cruise booked for April.  Payment is due in December.  Is it worth getting an Amex and using it to pay the balance?  (I really don’t want another card with a high annual fee.  I pay for the AA card but get a huge value for what I pay, considering how much I fly.)

 

TIA for any tips!

[destar]

Simple, log in to Amex account, go to offers, view all, find NCL offer, add offer to Amex card.

When you spend $1000 on NCL.com or via telephone using that card, you get a $350 credit. You had to add the offer to Amex card before Oct 14 or 18 (forgot exact date). And you have till Dec 31, 2022 to redeem the offer.

[Russiamomm]

Just now, destar said:

Simple, log in to Amex account, go to offers, view all, find NCL offer, add offer to Amex card.

When you spend $1000 on NCL.com or via telephone using that card, you get a $350 credit. You had to add the offer to Amex card before Oct 14 or 18 (forgot exact date). And you have till Dec 31, 2022 to redeem the offer.

Thanks.  Is it for any Amex card or certain levels of cards?  What are the fees?

[destar]

1 minute ago, Russiamomm said:

Thanks.  Is it for any Amex card or certain levels of cards?  What are the fees?

Its a targeted offer, I use my card for a final payment on a cruise on July, I received the offer. 

[Sigyn]

Not everybody gets the offer. I have an AmEx Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card and I get a lot of offers, but not this one. 

[ngrund]

There are many cards that have these "deals" not just Amex.

 

For Amex, they are for personal cards that are issued by Amex-I get them on both my Delta and Blue Cash Rewards-both are the no-fee versions.

 

These are targeted offers and not guaranteed to be available to you just for obtaining the card.

[Russiamomm]

Thanks, all.  I keep researching.  The cash back offers look pretty good regardless of if I get this offer.  May just go ahead and get one of the no fee cards.  Couldn’t hurt.

[Sigyn]

6 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

Thanks, all.  I keep researching.  The cash back offers look pretty good regardless of if I get this offer.  May just go ahead and get one of the no fee cards.  Couldn’t hurt.

Ah, yes. Mine is a fee card. $550 a year. I love it, though, because of the miles I rack up for Delta. It gave me 120,000 miles when I first got it, plus I get free access to all Delta lounges, and two companion passes a year, or $39 pp for guests after those two passes are used up. And free access to all AmEx Centurion lounges. I love the lounges because they have amazing free food and the free cocktails and drinks are nice, too. And clean bathrooms that smell nice! 🙂 I also get a free companion ticket once a year on Delta, from main cabin up to first class, whichever I choose to fly myself. And a lot of other free benefits, like my first bag checked free for myself and up to 8 traveling companions, etc. 

I advise comparing all of the various AmEx travel cards, fee or no-fee, and seeing which ones might suit you best, with the deals and such that they offer. 

[Russiamomm]

3 minutes ago, njsmom said:

Ah, yes. Mine is a fee card. $550 a year. I love it, though, because of the miles I rack up for Delta. It gave me 120,000 miles when I first got it, plus I get free access to all Delta lounges, and two companion passes a year, or $39 pp for guests after those two passes are used up. And free access to all AmEx Centurion lounges. I love the lounges because they have amazing free food and the free cocktails and drinks are nice, too. And clean bathrooms that smell nice! 🙂 I also get a free companion ticket once a year on Delta, from main cabin up to first class, whichever I choose to fly myself. And a lot of other free benefits, like my first bag checked free for myself and up to 8 traveling companions, etc. 

I advise comparing all of the various AmEx travel cards, fee or no-fee, and seeing which ones might suit you best, with the deals and such that they offer. 

I hear you.  I have a similar AA card.  Access to the Admirals Club alone is with the cost, plus the other benefits.  Where I live it’s all AA.  I haven’t flown Delta in years.  Hence, I don’t want another card with a huge annual fee.  But I’m not opposed to getting another card if the fees are reasonable and the benefits pay for them.  😃

[davencl]

Just be aware.  My Delta Amex card with a fee does not receive these offers.  It never has.  My Blue Cash Amex card which has no fee always receives these NCL offers.   Most everyone that's commented on these threads has mentioned their Delta Amex card has not received these offers.

[ontheweb]

There is no guarantee you will get the offer. I have a no fee card, and the offer was there, and then a few days later it was not there.

 

I did much earlier have and used a $100 credit offer for spending $500. I used it for the deposit and deposited $500 even though only $250 was the minimum requirement. ($250 paid earlier than necessary, but will be $250 less at final payment, and who gets that kind of interest payment. 🤣)

[PATRLR]

11 hours ago, Russiamomm said:

Thanks, all.  I keep researching.  The cash back offers look pretty good regardless of if I get this offer.  May just go ahead and get one of the no fee cards.  Couldn’t hurt.

You may want to spend some time on The Points Guy website where they spend a lot of time comparing various cards.  While I don't agree with his valuation of points, he is consistent and it can be helpful when comparing cards.

Edited October 20, 2022 by PATRLR

[graphicguy]

12 hours ago, njsmom said:

Ah, yes. Mine is a fee card. $550 a year. I love it, though, because of the miles I rack up for Delta. It gave me 120,000 miles when I first got it, plus I get free access to all Delta lounges, and two companion passes a year, or $39 pp for guests after those two passes are used up. And free access to all AmEx Centurion lounges. I love the lounges because they have amazing free food and the free cocktails and drinks are nice, too. And clean bathrooms that smell nice! 🙂 I also get a free companion ticket once a year on Delta, from main cabin up to first class, whichever I choose to fly myself. And a lot of other free benefits, like my first bag checked free for myself and up to 8 traveling companions, etc. 

I advise comparing all of the various AmEx travel cards, fee or no-fee, and seeing which ones might suit you best, with the deals and such that they offer. 

That’s the way I view it, too.  Delta Platinum does not offer the same perks that the Platinum AMEX branded card does.

 

Over the last 12 mos, I’ve received $1,000 in on board credit for my cruises, 3 speciality dinners, 3 bottles of wine.  Had to renew my TSA pre-check renewal @$70 which AMEX covered. Gained entrance to either Priority Lounges, Centurion Lounges and Delta Lounges at the airports when I fly ~$500/year.

 

Used two “Fine Hotel” dining vouchers AMEX provided that equaled $250

 

The travel insurance that’s offered isn’t the best, but it’s pretty good.  

 

Someone mentioned I should take advantage of CLEAR airport pre-screen as AMEX Platinum would cover it.  I’m not sure about that, though.

Edited October 20, 2022 by graphicguy

[Selion]

2 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Someone mentioned I should take advantage of CLEAR airport pre-screen as AMEX Platinum would cover it.

You should.  Pre-Check is getting popular and there are (gasp!) lines at bigger airports.  Got CLEAR for free through AMEX Plat, and breezed through MCO's security in under 2 minutes during Labor Day weekend.

 

CLEAR also offers discounts if you have FF with certain airlines.  I used my UA FF account and the membership dropped by $60, just enough to add DW to the CLEAR account to take full advantage of the AMEX credit.

[graphicguy]

3 hours ago, Selion said:

You should.  Pre-Check is getting popular and there are (gasp!) lines at bigger airports.  Got CLEAR for free through AMEX Plat, and breezed through MCO's security in under 2 minutes during Labor Day weekend.

 

CLEAR also offers discounts if you have FF with certain airlines.  I used my UA FF account and the membership dropped by $60, just enough to add DW to the CLEAR account to take full advantage of the AMEX credit.

Thanks so much.  That's great to know.

Just signed up.  AMEX Platinum does indeed cover the annual fee, and I can use CLEAR with TSA Pre-Check.  Also got the discount as I am a Million Miler with both Delta and United.

 

 

[mister_two]

I have three amex cards, 2 blue ones and the clear EveryDay card. None of them have annual fees.  The two blue ones is under one billing statement but they receive separate offers.  My upcoming NCL cruise I split the payment between 3 credit cards, 2 of which were the Amex cards. I put enough on each amex card to meet the spending requirements and it was booked directly on NCL.com.  The total savings were 375 between the 2 Amex cards, it's taken right off the statement no need for any reward redemptions, etc.  That's probably the best thing about it.   You still receive membership rewards points for the purchases although the reward is not as lucrative as a good travel reward credit card. The worse thing about it is you need to keep an eye on the offers and that takes time and some planning. The current offer states you need to book thru online or over the phone but I bet it may work if I use it to prepay my gratuities, soda package, spa, etc.  Just need to get it over a $1000.  You know right away if it worked or not because you will receive an email stating you just used one of the offers. 

[Russiamomm]

Thanks again for all the insights.  I took the cash back card with the $95 annual fee which is waived for the first year.  Will get $300 statement credit after spending $3000 in first six months.  The NCL deal either expired or the card I got didn’t have the offer.  Either way it’s $300.  I’ll wait to pay the balance on the April cruise and hope more offers pop up.  
 

Thanks again!

[LadyZolt]

5 hours ago, graphicguy said:

 

Just signed up.  AMEX Platinum does indeed cover the annual fee, and I can use CLEAR with TSA Pre-Check.  Also got the discount as I am a Million Miler with both Delta and United.

 

 

CLEAR generally costs $189 so that is what AmEx Platinum will pay toward the cost of CLEAR.  But if you sign up via Delta Airlines, you can get it for less (for me, it was $119), and you can also sign up others (up to three more for $60 each) under your account -- like I signed up my husband, and his was $60.  So, since AmEx covers the cost up to $189, my AmEx Platinum covered both mine and my husband's CLEAR enrollments because we signed up via Delta Airlines.  

 

[davencl]

5 hours ago, Russiamomm said:

Thanks again for all the insights.  I took the cash back card with the $95 annual fee which is waived for the first year.  Will get $300 statement credit after spending $3000 in first six months.  The NCL deal either expired or the card I got didn’t have the offer.  Either way it’s $300.  I’ll wait to pay the balance on the April cruise and hope more offers pop up.  
 

Thanks again!

Yes the $350 credit on $1000 had to be added to the card by Oct. 14 and used by Dec.31 so it has "expired" if it's a new card.  Yes it's likely another offer will pop up, I'm guessing in January but have no way to know for sure.

[PATRLR]

18 hours ago, Selion said:

I used my UA FF account and the membership dropped by $60, just enough to add DW to the CLEAR account to take full advantage of the AMEX credit.

What are you saying, you burned points to reduce the price, or, your status gave you a reduce price?

[Selion]

1 hour ago, PATRLR said:

What are you saying, you burned points to reduce the price, or, your status gave you a reduce price?

Neither.  Just add your FF account number with CLEAR to qualify for the discount.

 

https://www.clearme.com/partners/united-airlines

https://www.clearme.com/partners/delta-air-lines

[graphicguy]

17 minutes ago, Selion said:

Neither.  Just add your FF account number with CLEAR to qualify for the discount.

 

https://www.clearme.com/partners/united-airlines

https://www.clearme.com/partners/delta-air-lines

Yes…..the only down side is the only two airlines who allow for the reduced price is Delta and United if you have a frequent flyer account with them.   The annual fee for Clear is $189.  IF you have a Delta or United FF account, the annual rate drops to $109.  Clear is also offering a free 2 month trial right now.

 

@Selion….Not sure if the fees changed, but the one I noticed were $189 annually and $109 discounted with the FF numbers.

 

Bottom line, it doesn’t matter since AMEX Platinum picks up the annual fee for CLEAR.

 

Most of the sing up can be done on line.  But, I still have to complete it when I get to the airport so they can take my pic and answer a few questions about myself.

 

I called CLEAR.  They were quite helpful in sorting out the fees, discounts and procedures to sign up.

[PATRLR]

I suppose we're hijacking this thread at this point, but, what the heck...

 

So if I understand it correctly, with CLEAR Plus, I scan at a kiosk and then someone escorts me to the front of the security line?  I've got TSA pre so I assume I got the front of the TSA pre line so I don't have to do the shoes and laptop dance?

 

I see references to CLEAR and CLEAR Plus - sounds like CLEAR Plus is the product of interest. 

 

The 2 month free trial sounds awesome for me considering I have two trips coming in the next two months, all flying from airports that have Clear

[PATRLR]

43 minutes ago, Selion said:

Neither.  Just add your FF account number with CLEAR to qualify for the discount.

 

https://www.clearme.com/partners/united-airlines

https://www.clearme.com/partners/delta-air-lines

thank you.

[graphicguy]

7 minutes ago, PATRLR said:

I suppose we're hijacking this thread at this point, but, what the heck...

 

So if I understand it correctly, with CLEAR Plus, I scan at a kiosk and then someone escorts me to the front of the security line?  I've got TSA pre so I assume I got the front of the TSA pre line so I don't have to do the shoes and laptop dance?

 

I see references to CLEAR and CLEAR Plus - sounds like CLEAR Plus is the product of interest. 

 

The 2 month free trial sounds awesome for me considering I have two trips coming in the next two months, all flying from airports that have Clear

Clear Plus fee is what’s covered by the AMEX Plat card.  And yes, according to the CLEAR agent I spoke with, you scan, have your facial recognition done at the kiosk, and go directly to the front of the line…no shoe, belt, laptop fumbling.

 

Since I just signed up, won’t try it for myself until next weekend.